by Wood, Vivian
Does the fact that I can't think of anything or anyone else count?
How about the fact that it’s been way longer than a one night stand at this point?
I reach over and brush my fingertips down her sheet-covered side, sighing silently to myself.
The first thing I hear about Eve’s visit is in a text from Nate at Whiskey Bend.
Your sister showed up here looking for you. I told her where you were, although I didn’t explain the circumstances.
I put my phone down for a second, my brain whirring.
Eve is here? She’s coming now?
I can’t help but dread her arrival just a little. Even though I’ll be glad to see her, I’m also kind of dreading it. Eve has always been the good kid, where I have been the coal black sheep. And because Olivia is my dirty little secret, I can’t afford for Eve to find out about her.
To think of the way that my sister will look down her nose at me just makes me freeze up inside. I glance over at Olivia, tracing a finger over her arm. She doesn’t deserve to have any of my shit with my family put on her, but if I don't wake her up and get her out of here soon, Eve is going to find her in my bed.
Actually, it’s better for me if Eve doesn’t even make it back to my apartment. That thought in mind, I look up bars in Port Angeles. Choosing the best rated one, I send Eve the address.
You’re in town, apparently. You can find me here in an hour… The Limelight.
Eve responds pretty quickly. So much for surprising you. That’s right by my hotel… so I’ll see you in an hour.
Great, I text back, but I feel anything but. Just knowing that she is here gives me a sour feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Reaching over, I gently rouse Olivia,
“Hey. My sister is in town,” I whisper.
She cracks open an eye. “She is?”
I nod, hooking my finger in the sheet and pulling it down a few inches. “Mmhm. I’m meeting her at a bar in an hour.”
Olivia sits up halfway, her long dark hair falling behind her like a silken curtain. “Do you want me to go?” she asks, her voice soft.
More than anything, is my first response. But I lick my lips.
“I do,” I hedge. “It’s just… you know, we’ll have to keep the fact that we’re fucking quiet. My sister is… she jumps to judge. She’s kind of a bitch like that.”
She raises a brow, which feels like a shot to the gut. “We have to keep it secret from your sister?”
I wrinkle up my face. “Especially her. Not all siblings have a relationship like you and Grayson.”
She shoots me a look, her eyes narrowing. “Grayson can't know about us either. Or Carter. Or anyone else, apparently.”
She yanks the sheet aside, getting out of bed. I know a moment of pure shame, hanging my head.
“I know,” I say. “It’s my fault. We shouldn’t be together, Olivia. But…” I reach out, catching her wrist and pulling her back toward me. I look up into her eyes. “I don't want to stop. Not yet. Do you want to?”
She pushes a sheaf of her hair behind her ear, her eyes wary. “No.”
I smile briefly, though I feel no amusement. “Good.”
She crosses her arms, pulling her hand from my grip. “You didn’t answer my question. Do you want me to go?”
I sigh. “Yes. I really do.”
She pauses for a second, opens her mouth as if she’s about to say something. But her face is blank. Whatever she’s hiding under the mask she’s put on, I wish that I knew.
She just sighs. “I should go get ready.”
She starts pulling on her clothes, making me wish for the thousandth time that we never had to leave the comfort and safety of my bedroom. I keep feeling that way, the sense of dread only growing as eventually we head to my Jeep. I don't say anything about it, but I do send a heated look over her chosen outfit.
Not that I would say anything about what she chose to wear, but the short denim dress shows off her legs a little more than I would like. I’m especially worried when Olivia spots Carter and invites him along, which sends a shiver of cold jealousy through my gut.
I drive us to the Limelight, that gnawing feeling in my gut threatening to take over as Carter and Olivia chat about the history of Port Angeles. We get in the door of the bar — which is a hotspot, if the crowded bar, the pounding music, and the patio full of people talking are any indication. I spot Eve immediately.
She’s the very young blonde, sipping her drink and being fawned over by a flock of adoring men. She knows exactly how pretty and smart she is, so she always dresses seductively and carries an arsenal of insults around with her.
Tonight, she rolls her eyes over to me from her spot at the bar. Smirking, she stands up, smoothing a hand over her tight little velvet dress and picking her drink up.
She whispers something to the three men standing just behind her. She points at me then glides my direction, leaving all three men glaring at me. I glower at her as she heads my way.
“Aiden!” she says. “I’ve been waiting. Where have you been? This place is so… mmm… quaint.”
She is such a snob, it makes me grit my teeth. I tower over my sister, easily more than a foot taller than her. She just peers up at me, her perfect smile knowing.
Why does my sister turn me into one giant knot inside? She can’t possibly know anything, and yet here I am, breaking into a sweat.
“Eve,” I grouse. I give her a perfunctory hug, then turn toward Olivia and Carter.
Olivia is looking Eve up and down, assessing her. Carter looks like he’s just swallowed his own tongue, his look at Eve one of straight longing. I roll my eyes. Eve has that effect on all the guys I’ve ever known, and I guess Carter isn’t immune.
Still, the way he’s staring at her is a little predatory. I glare at him, stepping back and purposefully bumping his shoulder. He stops staring at her, averting his gaze awkwardly.
I should’ve known better than to introduce a red-blooded male to my little sister. He probably has no idea that she’s already slipping her fingers around his heart.
“Eve, this is Olivia and Carter. Olivia is Grayson’s little sister. Carter…” I pause, then give up. Explaining how we know each other is too complicated. “Carter is related to my boss.”
Carter and Olivia murmur their greetings.
Eve smiles softly as she takes them both in, her gaze turning hard as it lingers on Olivia. “Where’s Grayson?”
I clear my throat. “Let’s go get a drink. Or better yet, let’s grab a table.”
Eve looks at me, a little smirk on her lips. “Sure, big brother.”
We grab a table outside, Olivia and Eve sitting on one side, me and Carter sitting on the other. We order a round of drinks from the waitress, then settle in. Eve tosses her blonde hair, narrowing her eyes at Olivia.
“How are you acquainted with my big brother, Olivia? I mean, you must know each other outside of Grayson.” She looks self-satisfied as she says it, as if she’s pretty sure Olivia has done something bad.
She’s not wrong, but she doesn’t know that. At least until Olivia turns six shades of red.
“I… we…” Olivia says, choking. I feel like Eve is almost bullying her, but if I jump in and save Olivia, Eve will know that her suspicions are right.
I still can’t help it. “Lay the fuck off of her, Eve.”
Eve shoots me a smoldering glare.
“They both work together on my family estate,” Carter cuts in. Olivia shoots him a grateful glance.
“It’s funny,” Eve says, cutting her eyes to me. “I was under the impression that you had a cushy job at the National Park Service.”
“I’m off this summer,” I say with a shrug. “I applied to work at the estate as a handyman. Olivia applied to work as an archivist…” I notice that Olivia’s shoulders straighten a little as I get the title right. “It was just a random coincidence, us working together.”
“Ah.” Eve sips her drink. Her lips curl as she lo
oks at Carter. “You don't think you have room for one more, do you?”
Carter leans in. “Why? Please say you’re coming to stay with your brother…”
“No,” Eve says. At the same time, I say, “Absolutely not.”
She gives me a frosty smile. “I mean to say that I’m moving out here, but not staying in Port Angeles. It’s a little too country for me.”
Oh no. Fuck no.
Before anyone else responds, I shoot to my feet. “Eve, will you come with me? I need to… to get us all a round of shots at the bar.”
Eve takes another sip of her drink, then slowly rises to her feet. “Sure. It’ll give us a little sibling bonding time.”
She slips her arm into mine, beaming up at me. “Oh, Aiden. I do believe you’ve been a very bad boy, haven’t you?”
I halfway drag her towards the bar inside, stopping as soon as we’re indoors. Then I round on her. I get in her face a little. “What are you doing here, Eve?”
Eve’s eyebrows rise a little, perfectly innocent. “I don't know what you mean. I thought you would be pleased to hear that I’m moving here. This is my way of telling you that I got accepted into med school.”
I frown. “That’s good, Eve. But you can’t be serious about moving out here.”
She looks hurt, her lower lip sticking out into a pout. “I am, big brother. I thought you would understand my need to escape Daddy as much as anyone.”
“What? You finally decided that you didn’t want the life he has planned out for you forever?” I say, my tone mocking.
She draws herself up, giving me a look of ice. “I think I’m going to go to the restroom. Maybe when I come back, you’ll have realized that you weren’t the only one trapped in that house when we were kids.”
She whirls and stalks off, leaving me disgruntled. Miss Golden Child, as haughty as ever. I clench my fists.
“Aiden!” a drunk voice declares.
I turn hesitantly, only to find a pretty blonde making a beeline toward me. She looks familiar and she obviously knows me. I squint at her, unable to remember her name.
Dorothy, maybe? No. Debbie?
I open my mouth to greet her, but she has other ideas. She storms right up to me, tries to scale me like a tree, slaps me in the face, and then tries to get her mouth on my mouth. I am so startled by her actions that the fact that her breath is practically all vodka almost slips past me.
She does manage to plant her lips against mine briefly before I push her back. I whirl, looking for help getting her off. And of course I make eye contact with Olivia, who looks as shaken as if she’d seen a fucking ghost.
“Olivia—” I try to call out to her, at the same time as Debbie tries to kiss me again.
Olivia turns back toward the patio and flees, anger in every single movement.
Fuck!
Prying Dottie off of my body forcibly, I follow Olivia out the door. But there she is, cuddling up to Carter, avoiding eye contact with me. I slink back to my seat, unsure how to try to talk to Olivia without telling Carter everything that we’ve been up to.
I open my mouth, figuring that I’d rather have him know about our relationship than have this settle between us like lead. But in the next second, Eve is back.
And she has a devious smile on her face, like she knows what is going on.
What in the fuck?
“You left the shots,” Carter points out, his brow wrinkling.
Olivia stands back up, gripping Carter’s shoulder. “I’m not feeling well. Carter, do you think you would mind seeing me home?”
My eyebrows go up almost as fast as Eve’s and Carter’s do. “I’ll drive us home!” I declare, loud enough that everyone at the tables near us looks over. “Let’s go. Eve… I’ll call you.”
“Sure.” Eve looks unruffled. “See you around, Aiden.”
I rush Olivia and Carter out of the bar without delay, all the way home facing Olivia’s withering look and Carter’s confused one.
Fuck me.
And fuck Eve, the snide little brat.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Olivia
By complete and utter accident, I find the box hidden in the library. It’s silly, really… I was just doing a double check of all the books in the library, trying to make sure that there were no family records tucked away among the shelves. I was two thirds of the way through checking the dusty leather-bound volumes, on the antique wheeled ladder, and there it was.
A few of the volumes appeared stuck together. When I gave one a pull, I actually pulled the corner of the box away from its resting place against the wall. My brows lift in surprise. Frowning, I use both hands to pull at the box. I get it halfway out before I realize I need help.
Climbing down the ladder, I grab my phone from my pocket and text Aiden.
Would you come help a girl with no upper body strength get a very stuck box out of the library?
A minute later, he responds. I dunno. Is there something in to for me?
Just continued adoration. And… we can do that thing you’ve brought up a couple of times.
Really? he texts back. Tonight?
I giggle. He’s like a horny schoolboy.
I’ll think about it, I answer.
I bet I can convince you. Be right there.
Sure enough, a few minutes later he pops his head into the library with a grin.
“Anal?” he asks, wiggling his brows.
I roll my eyes. “I’ll consider it. I’m willing to try it. But you have to make me really like it.”
He steps into the room fully, smirking. Wandering over to me, Aiden grabs me by the waist and pulls me against him, grinding his erection against my hip. And god help me, I love it, though it makes me blush. “I have a plan. It involves fingers and tongues and maybe a butt plug first.” He grins evilly. “I don’t see any way you won’t fucking love it.”
I roll my eyes. “You are the worst. Do you know that?”
He looks down at me, eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’m aware.”
Pushing him back a half step, I shake my head. “You came in here to help me, didn’t you?”
“Sure.” He shrugs. “Whatever you want, I’m yours.”
My heart flutters. I realize that he’s not talking about what I want him to be talking about, but still. I would kill for him to say that about our relationship.
Drawing in a breath, I point up to the box. It’s wedged halfway in, sticking out from the rest of the bookshelf like a sore thumb. “I need you to get that down.”
Aiden purses his lips, then climbs the ladder. He pulls the box free like it’s nothing, holding it under one arm as he brings it back down. Then he bows as he presents it to me.
“My lady,” he says. “Careful, it’s heavy.”
I look around. “Put it down on the table, will you? I want you to be here to open it.”
He carries it over to the table, clearing off stacks of paper to make room for it. I follow, my curiosity piqued. The box is about the size of a legal pad, and less than twelve inches tall.
Aiden clears off the covering of dust with one hand, stilling as he looks down at the box. I see what he sees a few seconds later.
“Property of Thomas Morgan,” I read in a quiet voice. I look up at Aiden with wide eyes. “Does that mean… I mean, that’s your father, I think.”
He isn’t listening to me, though. He is undoing the simple lock at the back of the box and lifting the wooden lid. His breath leaves him in a whoosh. My eyebrows rise.
Inside the box, there is a thick padded envelope marked “Aiden”.
“Oh my god,” I breathe. I glance up at him.
He just looks like his mind is completely blown. “My dad knew about me,” Aiden mutters.
“It seems so,” I say, for the sake of saying something.
Aiden exhales a shaky breath. I move closer to him, slipping my arm around his waist and hugging him. He accepts the embrace wordlessly, taking a moment to look away and bury his face in my h
air.
“Do you… do you want to be alone while you open it?” I ask.
He shakes his head, his fingers tightening on my hip. “No,” he says. “I want you here.”
Although his face is blank, I’m sure that underneath that there is an ocean of feeling. The slight tremor in his hands as he picks up the envelope with his name on it is proof of that. There is a second envelope labeled “Carter” underneath, but Aiden’s attention is riveted on his own envelope.
He opens it, upending the contents inside the box. A ring rolls out first, then a whole stack of papers. He picks up the ring between his thumb and forefinger, examining it; it’s delicate, made of gold, set with a large pink stone.
We both stare at it for a long moment. An engagement ring, maybe? Setting that aside, Aiden shuffles through the papers. There are several stock certificates inside, a short stack of baby pictures that seem to be of Aiden, and a letter.
Aiden lifts the letter up, clearing his throat.
“Aiden,” he reads aloud. Then he takes a deep breath. He doesn’t read the letter, but he does hold it up so that I can read along.
If you are reading this, it means I have passed away. I hope I got the chance to know you first — but if not, know that letting you go in the first place — letting your mother go — was not my choice. I lacked the free will to do what I wished, being married to Sandra when I met Anna.
I hope that the man that raised you did right by you, more than I ever could.
I am deeply, deeply sorry. I hope you and Anna both know that.
Here are some stocks I bought to cover the cost of your education. You should receive an inheritance from my estate — talk to whoever is managing the family trust for that. I’ve also included the ring I bought for your mother, when it looked like my wife Sandra was going to give me my freedom.
Your brother Carter doesn’t know about you, but I hope you’ll come to love each other. Is that too much to ask?
Perhaps so.
With affection,
Your father Thom
