"That we'd wait and see. I know. But I told him. Mac knows how important it is that we keep this secret, though."
"Lies, bodyguards, secrets," she murmured. "This is getting very complicated, Ollie. I hate the deception."
"Me, too. I had a thought about that last night after I got back here, too."
She was so afraid to ask. "Oh?"
"Yeah. I got to thinking about you, and me, and since it's bothering us both, why not end the lie by making it real?"
"Excuse me?" She couldn't have heard him correctly. Did he just say—
"Marsali, what if we didn't pretend? What if we played this out? See where it could lead? What could happen? Would that be such a bad thing?"
"I… Seriously?"
"Is it that crazy of an idea?"
She blinked at him, unsure of what to say when she seriously wondered if she hadn't actually woken up yet this morning and this was all a dream. A really sweet, unbelievably sexy, totally weird dream. "Um…"
"Unless you don't… like me that way. Is that it?"
Heaven help her. Had he just asked that question of her? Not like him? Seriously? "I-I do. I mean, Ollie, this is… It's a surprise. I'm a little confused. No, not really. I'm a lot confused," she said.
"About what?"
A huff left her and she struggled to form words. "Well, if you've felt that way, why haven't you said anything before now? Are you sure this doesn't have anything to do with—" A thought formed and she took a step back from the overwhelming sight that Oliver was. "Mac? Is this some weird guy thing? Mac said something and you're feeling guilty now and that's why you're… Ollie, no. No, we are not doing this."
She turned away from him and headed toward the door, but halfway there, he gently caught her arm and held, stopping her in her tracks.
"This is between you and me, Marsali," he said, tugging her stiff body gently toward him.
Her hands flattened against his chest and heat seared her, shooting through her body like a rocket. How could his chest be so hard and soft at the same time? How could he smell so good when he was post-workout and hadn't showered yet?
When am I going to wake up?
"This has nothing to do with Mac. Okay? This is me, wondering if the girl I've wanted to kiss since the moment I first laid eyes on her has ever felt the same way."
The moment he first…? "That's impossible."
He stared down at her with his piercing gaze, and her heart pounded hard in her chest. The way he looked at her… The expression on his face as he waited for her to…
"Why is that so impossible?"
"Because I was a high school freshman a-and a hot mess."
"You were… a freshman," he clarified, a gentle smile forming on his gorgeous face. "But definitely not a hot mess. What you were was too young and I had a lot left to figure out."
"Fine. But what about since then? Ollie, it's been years. You've had plenty of—"
"By the time you turned sixteen, Mac had caught on to my interest and me wanting to join him whenever he came home from college. He made it clear friends didn't cross the line when it came to little sisters. I had to promise to keep my hands to myself."
She winced at the news and wondered if Mac had ever known just how hard she'd fallen for his friend over the years. "But if that's the case, why are you speaking up now? You and Mac are still friends… Aren't you?"
Oliver slid his hand under her chin and lifted her face higher, and she caught her breath when his thumb brushed over her lower lip.
"We are. But he also thinks we're pretending."
"So we'd be lying about our lie." She tucked her chin to her chest and groaned.
"Marsali, I know this is hard but… I'm thinking life is too short to let this slip away. When I heard you say my name during that interview… I don't know, I guess I thought maybe this was our chance. So, what do you say to making us the real deal?"
She opened her mouth but no words formed, because she thought about the book she'd written on dating for good girls and the details and boundaries laid out within. Lines she believed shouldn't be crossed until vows were exchanged. How did Hollywood fit in that scenario?
It doesn't. "You… I don't… Oliver, I don't know."
His gaze narrowed on her and she got the impression she'd hurt him. But if that was true, that meant he did mean what he said and… "This is a lot. There is so much to consider. I-I mean your career and mine and how this would work, a-and… I'm not one of those women. I'm not… the women you're used to who'll do whatever, whenever. Hollywood women who… I'll never be one of them."
"If I wanted one of them, I'd be with them. Marsali—"
"I won't fit in. You'll grow tired of me and want someone more like one of them, and I'll try to make you happy but I'll resent you wanting me to change and—"
"Sweetheart?"
"Oh, Ollie, it would never wor—"
He lowered his head and kissed her but this time the kiss was different. He was different. She felt his hand fist in her hair and gasped against his mouth, giving him the invitation he needed and took full advantage of.
In the space of seconds, she went from standing strong and firm on her own confused feet to sagging against him and clinging to him like a vine. A breathless, trembling, can-this-be-happening mess who struggled to remember her own name by the time he lifted his head. It took her still longer to realize the "practice" kisses they'd shared were a seriously watered-down version of those he'd held in check, because this… this was the difference between Oliver the actor and Ollie.
"Marsali, I don't want anyone else," he said. "I want you. Even if it means Mac gets angry for a while and we have to kiss up to him to get his forgiveness. I'll do it. I'll do whatever it takes. Let's see where this can go."
Marsali stared up at him. The lump in her throat made it hard to breathe, because she knew saying yes would bring nothing but trouble and saying no would mean she'd always, always wonder.
She cleared her throat and fought off the surge of panic sliding through her and decided that, if nothing else, dating Oliver in truth was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity she just couldn't pass up. "Um, okay."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, let's— Oh!"
He lifted her up off her feet and swirled her around and she held on to his broad shoulders and laughed. By the time her feet touched the floor, he'd lowered his head to kiss her, and the world and all of its problems disappeared with the touch of his lips on hers. "Mmm," she said against his mouth. "Wait. W-we can't tell Mac," she said when she regained a little bit of sanity. "If we do this, he can't know."
"Marsali—"
"I won't have him hating you and angrier than he already is and… we don't know the future, so why upset Mac even more if things don't work out? He thinks we're pretending so just… let him. Please?"
She could tell Oliver didn't like her statement or the hesitation loaded within it, but after a long moment, he nodded. "Okay." He smoothed his hand over her hair. "We won't tell him."
"Thank you."
Oliver was silent a moment, then inhaled.
"Do you have plans today?"
"Yeah. More new client interviews later this afternoon. I had Claire squeeze as many of them in as she could before we have to do the ones you promised the press."
"Denz will go, too. He'll stay out of your way so long as he doesn't feel there's danger. Okay?"
Her thoughts must have shown on her face, because his mouth took a downward turn.
"Look, I know it's weird having a stranger tailing you but it's just to be safe. You can't argue with that, right?"
"I suppose. Oliver…"
He drew her close and kissed her again. "What?"
"I can't stay here in your hotel room for long. People will talk. Can we eat this downstairs?" People would talk regardless of where they ate, but she knew for her own sake and business brand that she needed to stand firm on some things.
Oliver stared at her a few seconds as though unable to
believe it would be an issue, but after a moment, he nodded.
"Give me five more minutes to shower," he said against her lips before releasing her.
Oliver headed for the bathroom and Marsali stood awkwardly in his hotel suite. The view drew her once more and she moved to the window.
The last thing she wanted was to do something that would end her friendship with Oliver. She'd rather have his friendship for the rest of her life and deny herself than…
Risk losing him forever.
Was this wise?
Too late now.
She inhaled a shuddering breath and left the window only to pause by the desk. The front page of the newspaper had a picture of her and Oliver walking hand in hand on the beach. Another, smaller picture taken from their burger-and-fry lunch date appeared below it.
Outside in the hallway, she heard Denz's deep voice as he spoke to someone. Yet another intrusion into her life.
Dating Oliver came at a cost higher than that of her family's opinion and upset. It meant no privacy. No true boundaries, because as far as other people were concerned, their private life was fair game.
When added to her family drama when Mac learned the truth…
Was she really ready for this?
The Matchmaker’s Secret: Chapter 11
Oliver made a quick phone call to his assistant in California before jumping in the shower. Marsali's acceptance of their change in status meant more to him than she'd ever know, and a celebration was in order, however brief it had to be due to her next appointment.
Making arrangements didn't take long, thanks to an assistant who knew how to work worldwide via a few clicks of the keyboard and phone calls. It also didn't hurt that he was able to use Oliver's name. Sometimes fame had its advantages.
Denz slid behind the wheel of a rental while Oliver ushered Marsali into the large SUV. They headed toward the marina address sent by Sam, his assistant.
"What are we doing here?"
"You'll see. You said you have a couple of hours free so… let's go."
Denz parked and Oliver took Marsali's hand to lead the way to the charter his assistant had booked for them.
"Really?"
He grinned at her excitement and squeezed her hand gently. "What is it with you and boats?"
"They're just so cool," she said, a laugh bubbling out of her. "I never understood how my dad could live here and not own one."
"He probably knew you and Mac would be joyriding on it if he did," he said, turning to steady her once he'd made it aboard. "Safer to have a friend with a boat than to own one himself. If you get too cold, I'll be happy to keep you warm," he added, not letting go of her until he saw the flush rise in her cheeks once more.
That was the thing he loved about Marsali. When he looked at her, touched her, kissed her, she responded in such a sweet, insanely hot way that turned him on like nothing and no one else ever had.
"Welcome. Mr. Beck, it's nice to meet you. I hope you don't mind my saying so, but I'm a fan. I've seen all your movies. Miss," the captain said, dipping his head in greeting.
"Thanks, I'm glad you've enjoyed them. This is my girlfriend, Marsali Jones."
"A pleasure to meet you, miss. It's a beautiful day to be on the water, but if you get chilled, there are blankets and windbreakers laid out below."
"That's great. Thank you, Captain," she said.
"Everything has arrived, Mr. Beck, and is ready and waiting for you."
"Great. Ms. Jones has an appointment in Carolina Cove at three, so we'll need to be back in plenty of time for that," he said.
"No problem, sir. I'll get us underway. Enjoy, and if you need anything, you let me or Justin know," the captain said.
Justin looked all of twenty and a little star-struck as he showed them below deck. Lunch had been set up in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the luxury yacht, giving them a break from the wind and cooler temp while they ate.
"Oh, Ollie," Marsali breathed softly as she stared at the interior.
He realized then that he'd grown a little too accustomed to things like this, whether it be via his friends’ yachts or trailers on a set that cost more than ninety-five percent of the homes in America. It wasn't a pleasant thought, and he vowed then and there to do a better job at remembering his roots. "Do you like it?"
She gave him a look that made it clear his assistant had done well in answering his request.
"It's beautiful. All of it."
"Come on, let's eat. I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry."
"Hey, I burn a lot of calories in those workouts. And this is a treat I think you'll like even more than the boat if I remember correctly."
"Are you ready to be served?" Justin asked.
Oliver seated Marsali at the well-appointed table just as the engine started with a low growl of power. Justin emerged from somewhere with a rolling cart of dome-covered plates and a bottle of champagne.
"I know it's early, but we're celebrating," Oliver said.
"Would you like to do the honors?" Justin asked Oliver.
"Yeah, I got it. Thanks, Justin." Oliver set to work on the bottle of Dom Perignon and smiled at Marsali's laugh when the cork popped. He poured them both a glass and lifted his toward her. "To us."
Marsali clinked her glass to his, and they gazed into each other's eyes as they sipped.
"So what's under here?" she asked, eyeing the silver cover closest to her.
"I'm beginning to think your love language is gifts or surprises," he said, referring to one of their previous conversations.
"Hmm. I do like them," she said.
His gaze shifted to the curl on her full lips and he immediately wondered what she'd taste like now after the champagne. "I'll add that to the list along with puppies and boat rides. What else do you like?"
"Ah, you're trying to cheat again. You have to figure it out by sheer observation."
"Okay, if that's the case. Gifts and quality time. Now, tell me what I like." He'd asked the question half-heartedly, not really expecting more than a general response, but Marsali's cheeks began to flush and he realized… Oh, man.
"You like… puppies."
"Now who's cheating? Most everyone likes puppies. Come on, what are mine?"
"Words of affirmation and physical touch," she stated confidently.
"Mmm. Anything else?"
"You, um, also like your steak cooked medium rare, you hate pickles but love olives, and… you… seem to like me."
He leaned forward in his chair. "Oh, that is definitely true."
"See? I'm good. Can we eat? This smells heavenly."
"Have at it," he said, watching while she removed the cover. Her lips parted with a gasp when she spied the shrimp scampi beneath. He grabbed the top of the larger dome in the middle of the table and revealed a pile of crab legs.
"Oh, my word."
"Still your favorite?"
"Oh, yeah. Lord, bless it, and let's eat."
He laughed at her excitement and handed the covers off to Justin. "That's my girl."
Half an hour later, he watched as she finished her dessert, and it took everything in him not to order the captain to marry them. Was that still a thing? Being able to marry at sea? Did the Intercoastal Waterway count?
All he knew was that he'd enjoyed himself more in the last couple of days spent with Marsali than he had in years. Maybe his lifetime.
He shifted out of his chair and snagged her hand, lifting it to his lips to get a taste. Her gorgeous eyes darkened as he swirled his tongue and gently sucked the buttery goodness from her fingertip. He kept hold of her hand and braced his free hand on the chair at her back, leaning low to capture her lips with his.
She tasted like salt and butter and the miniature New York style cheesecake she'd just consumed. The kiss deepened because he couldn't help himself, and he tugged her up out of her chair, letting his fingers slide up her back to tangle in her long curls.
Marsali ended the kiss with a gasp,
and he pressed a kiss to her forehead and lingered over the contact. "You," he whispered huskily, "like romance."
A low huff left her that sounded more than a little sarcastic.
"Totally obvious observation—like knowing each other's food choices after being friends for so long."
"Mmm. But this is different. You like old-fashioned romance. The kind that's real and honest and wholesome. Holding hands and kissing, flirting. You like it when I tug on your hair and kiss your neck," he said, doing just that.
"You," she whispered, "l-like making me blush."
He lifted his head and skimmed a finger lightly over her soft cheek. "You're right about that, sweetheart. I would love to know what naughty thoughts run through that sweet head of yours."
She stared up at him a long moment, lips parted. More often than not, he had some sense of what she was thinking, but right now, here, she kept him wondering.
"We should, um, go up top before it's too late and we have to head back."
Was that her way of cooling him down? Was she afraid he'd press her for more even though, having read her book, he knew her limits when it came to dating and sex?
The Matchmaker’s Secret: Chapter 12
The following few weeks were filled with television, radio, and podcast interviews for them because of Oliver's upcoming premiere and their newsworthy romance.
Oliver sensed Marsali's tension and hesitation and knew she worried about saying something she shouldn't. He found himself staring at her like a lovesick teenager, much to his hosts' enjoyment, but he watched with pride as Marsali became more confident with every exchange.
Now Oliver entered through the back door of her house with Ginger at his heels and moved through the room to her kitchen. "Chow time, eh, girl?"
He found the dog's food and measured out the allotted amount, then made sure she had fresh water. The dog got so excited over her dinner her back end danced with every wag of her tail.
"I'm going to miss seeing her do that," Marsali said from behind him.
"Does that mean you're not going to keep her?"
"I don't know."
He turned to find Marsali leaning against the doorframe to her kitchen and frowned. "Hey, you okay?"
Cupid to the Rescue: A Tail-Wagging Valentine's Day Anthology Page 53
