Lost Without You: Book 2 in the Chasing Olivia Series

by Jillian Anselmi

  Food vendors who have set up booths offering home-made goodies surround the area, and a lady squawks slogans in perfect rhyme to promote her cookies. It’s outrageous. I stand and watch in awe.

  Hand in hand, Chase and I thread ourselves through the crowd to get a better view of the sunset. Nearing the edge of the dock, he stands behind me with his hands around my waist and chin resting on my right shoulder. Standing in complete silence, we watch the tangerine sun sink lower and lower, dipping down into the water, painting the sky in magnificent hues of fiery red and crimson. The water gleams in the last rays of the dying sun and as cool as the air becomes, I stay warm in Chase’s loving arms.

  When it’s over, I turn to face Chase. “This has to be the best day I have ever had. Thank you.” I put my arms around his neck, lean up, and kiss him. He returns the kiss with fervor, nipping on my bottom lip. I groan low in my throat.

  Breaking loose, Chase gazes down at me, his eyes searching mine. “What is it, what are you thinking?” I ask.

  Shaking his head, he grabs my hand and we work our way back the way we came. When we get back to my room, I swipe my key card and open my door with Chase following behind. As I close the door, a feeling that’s been brewing all day overwhelms me. Seeing Chase standing in front of me and knowing everything he’s done for me, not just today, but each and every day, makes me tingle all over. I’m overcome with multiple emotions—love, admiration, lust. I watch him cross the room like a predator stalking it’s prey.

  “Liv?” he asks, cocking his head slightly to the side, not quite sure what to make of me.

  “You are amazing,” I murmur inching toward him, my voice low and sultry. “I had the most amazing day.”

  “That was the plan,” he says, his voice smooth as silk.

  Not being able to control myself any longer, I lunge at him, my hands fisting in his hair as I pull his mouth toward me. I force his lips apart with my tongue and a low groan escapes from his throat as he kisses me back.

  Placing his hands on either side of my face, he breaks away. He takes a deep breath and looks down his nose at me. “No sex,” he murmurs with a sly smile.

  “What?” I say in between breaths.

  “That’s what you said this morning. No sex.”

  “Wait . . . but . . . I . . .” He shakes his head slowly, a Cheshire grin spreading across his lips. “Crap, you took that seriously?”

  “I’m going back to my room tonight. You might want to think before you speak next time,” he laughs. “I’ll be here at ten to take us to the airport.” With that, he walks out the door.

  Right on schedule, Chase shows up to take us to the airport. The car drives around to the back of the airport where Chase’s plane is waiting. This is my first time on a private plane and I’m a little nervous, not knowing what to expect. The puddle jumper to get here doesn’t count; that plane was a death trap. This is so much nicer.

  As we walk hand in hand from the car to the plane, Chase gives me a rundown of what we are about to fly in. “So, this is the Gulfstream G550,” he starts, matter-of-fact. “We own three identical planes.”

  “It’s bigger than I expected,” I mutter in awe.

  “She has a large, comfortable cabin and she’s able to fly non-stop for more than twelve hours, or over sixty-seven hundred nautical miles.”

  “You had me at comfortable,” I say, giggling.

  We take the steps leading up to the cabin. The captain is at the top, waiting to greet us. “Good morning, Mr. Remington.”

  “Donald, this is Olivia. Olivia, this is Captain Donald Fahey,” Chase says, smiling.

  “Hello,” I murmur back. We shake hands and he ushers us onto the plane.

  When Chase said the plane was spacious, he wasn’t kidding. It’s huge. As I step in, the cockpit is to my left and the capacious cabin to the right. There are these ridiculously comfortable looking cream leather chairs and a large tan microfiber couch. Giddy, I jump into one of the chairs. Not only do they look comfortable, I would have no problem napping in style on one of these suckers. Chase laughs, shaking his head at me.

  “What?” I ask innocently, continuing to bounce up and down.

  “Christ, you’re adorable.”

  Finally sitting still, Chase buckles me in before taking the seat next to me. “Good morning. We will be taking off shortly. I have turned on the Fasten Seat Belt sign, so please make sure to do so,” the captain says over the PA.

  A flight attendant comes out from the front area to check that our seatbelts are fastened correctly and then makes her way forward.

  As the plane starts to move, I grab Chase’s right hand. My other hand clutches the arm of the chair, my knuckles turning white. I hate take-offs and landings. “Hey, I’m right here,” he coos. As the plane ascends, my anxiety lessens and I loosen my grip on Chase. Taking a deep breath, I try to relax.

  “See, everything is fine,” he murmurs. “Are you okay?” he asks, leaning over to gaze at me.

  I nod my head and give him a tight-lipped smile.

  Just as I’m starting to relax, another panic washes over me. I’m going home. I haven’t told my mom what happened yet. That is one conversation I don’t want to have, even though I know I have to.

  “What?” Chase asks, noticing the tension around my eyes.

  “I still haven’t talked to my mom,” I mumble.

  “She doesn’t know?”

  “No, and she’s going to totally freak out.”

  “Are you sure? Once you tell her about Brandi, won’t she understand?”

  “I don’t know. I hope so, but knowing my mom, she’ll think it wasn’t his fault. I wish she didn’t see my father when she looks at Evan.”

  “Were they that close?”

  “Yes and no. He liked Evan, so she liked Evan. If he were still alive, he would hunt him down and kill him for what he did to me.”

  “There are times I want to hunt him down—”

  “She needs to hear me, but most of the time, she isn’t listening,” I say, not playing into Chase’s need to hurt Evan.

  “Do you want me to come with you?”

  “Thanks, but no. I need to do this alone.”

  After work on Wednesday, I finally get the nerve to head to the island to talk to my mom. During the drive, I think about how much more relaxed I am than before Key West. Funny how things seem to work out. I still can’t believe Chase followed me all the way to the Keys. I definitely can’t believe I came back with him. Pulling into her driveway, I jump out and let myself in, calling out for her.

  “In the kitchen,” she responds, none too happily. Shit, she knows.

  “Hi.”

  “So, when did you plan on telling me,” she asks, an edge to her voice.

  “Tell you what?” I ask, trying to play stupid.

  “Olivia, Evan came over on Sunday.”

  “Wait, he came over. Here?”

  “What the hell, Olivia?”

  “What did that asshole tell you, huh?” I ask, raising my brow in defiance.

  “That you were at the altar and you changed your mind.”

  “Changed my mind! Seriously? Did he tell you why?” I shriek.

  “Yes, he said that other guy, Chase, showed up to stop it.”

  “Oh, you have got to be kidding me,” I say, seething. “Did he tell you anything else? Like, he got Brandi pregnant?”

  “How do you know it was him? You said she was promiscuous, could be someone else’s.”

  “Oh, for Christ’s sake, mom, they have been together for years! He admitted it.” I start to tear up.

  “He said he wants you back, and that he and whatever her name is, aren’t a thing,” she says, actually believing it.

  “He’s lying.”

  “Olivia, he loves you.” She takes a step toward me, but I back up.

  “I can’t do this right now,” I say, still not believing the words coming out of her mouth. Tears streaming down my face, I ask, “Mom, why don’t you ever take my
side?”

  “I am always on your side. I just don’t want you to ruin something over some guy you barely know.”

  “Well, that guy I barely know is sweet, and kind, and most importantly, honest.” I turn around and head for the front door.

  “Olivia, get back here. This conversation is not finished,” she yells as I head to my Jeep. Without turning around, I get in, back out the driveway, and drive away.

  After driving aimlessly for a few hours, I arrive back to Manhattan a little after eight. Pulling my car into the parking garage, I step out and hand the keys over the valet.

  The few hours of driving didn’t seem to quell any of my anger, but most of all, I’m hurt. My own mother didn’t even stop to listen to me for even a moment. She didn’t stop to think about how I felt, or what’s best for me versus what she thinks is best for me. I kick at some loose rocks on the sidewalk and pause at the entrance of my building.

  My stomach twists in a knot at the thought of going up to my apartment right now. I don’t want to be alone, trapped in there with my thoughts. Crossing my arms over my chest, I turn on my heel and continue down the sidewalk, my head cast down, looking at my shoes as I put one foot in front of the other.

  A shiver bolts up my spine even in the warmth of the night and a feeling of dread washes over me. I lift my head and look around, taking in the busy street. Headlights flash toward me and the chatter of couples on the sidewalk resonates around me, but nothing unusual.

  I pick up my pace and turn to look behind me, the feeling becoming almost palpable. Nothing looks out of the ordinary, but it’s a busy street. I veer toward the street lights and businesses, staying in the light, probably freaking myself out more than anything.

  Taking the path I know well, I all but jog toward Chase’s building, feeling on edge. A car on the street honks and I almost jump out of my skin, stopping just short of running into a man on a phone. With a hasty apology, I dart around him and walk through the grand set of double doors encasing Chase’s building, not feeling settled until the familiar setting washes over me.

  I reach his apartment and knock on his door, since I threw his key out my window the night I thought he was having an affair. I really need to stop jumping to conclusions.

  “Well, this is an unexpected surprise,” he says as he answers the door. I walk right past him, through the kitchen. and into his office. “You busy?” I ask, looking up.

  “When it comes to you, never,” he says, his eyes soft and caring. I flop down on the couch. “You okay?”

  “I went to see my mother today,” I mutter.

  “Oh. That good, huh?”

  “She. Is. Impossible!” I throw my arms up in the air to accentuate my point.

  Chase stops what he’s doing to sit next to me on the couch, placing an arm around me. “So, what happened?”

  “All she could talk about was how Evan wanted me back,” I mumble into his chest and he gives me a comforting squeeze. “Why does she continue to be his advocate?”

  “I don’t know. I wish I could help.”

  “Just being here helps.” I lift my head to glance up at him. His expression is schooled, his features guarded. I can’t tell what he’s thinking. When he catches me looking, his lips twitch up into a smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

  “I don’t like seeing you upset,” he whispers.

  “Help me forget about today,” I whisper. “I need you to make me forget.” Standing, Chase scoops me up and brings me to his bedroom.

  I wake, once again, tangled up in Chase. And once again, I untangle myself without waking him. I swear, he thinks he’s a blanket. Scooping my clothes up from where they lay on the floor around the room, I dress as I tiptoe out the door, trying to make a quiet exit.

  Out of his building, I sprint to mine, not wanting to be late for work. A quick shower and I’m back out the door.

  As I’m heading to a job site in Long Beach, my cell phone rings. “Hello?”

  “Good morning, beautiful. How’s my girl?”

  “Good,” I murmur.

  “I missed you this morning. I didn’t hear you leave.” He sounds wounded. I didn’t mean to stay there last night, but I was so wound up from the shit with my mom and sore from the multiple orgasms Chase bestowed upon me, I didn’t have the energy to walk home. If I didn’t need to go where I’m going now, I would have stayed in bed.

  “No, I needed to leave early so I could grab work clothes from my apartment.”

  “You should keep some stuff here—”

  “Chase,” I cut him off, “I will, just give me some time.”

  “You’re here anyway.” He has a point, but I’m not going to discuss this over the phone.

  “Can we talk about this later? I’m running late as it is.”

  “Sure, but that isn’t the reason I called. I forgot to ask you something last night.”

  “Oh?”

  “Remember my friends from Davis, Nathan and Amanda?”

  “The one’s I’ve never met?”

  “Yes. Their wedding is this weekend. Can you take tomorrow off? The ceremony is Saturday and the pre-party is Friday. We can fly out tonight.”

  “Tonight!” I shriek. “I haven’t even unpacked from the Key West trip!”

  “Well, the climate’s the same, that should make packing quicker,” Chase quips.

  “Chase!” I roll my eyes, knowing he can’t see me. Breathing deeply, I try to regain my composure. “You should have given me more notice than this,” I murmur, displeased.

  “Sorry. It’s been a trying few days.”

  “Look, I’ll call my boss when I get to the site. Let me call you back later.”

  “Okay, I’ll take care of things on my end in the meantime.”

  “Fine,” I say and hang up. Fly out tonight? To freaking Turks and Caicos? Ugh, what am I getting myself into?

  Twenty minutes later, I arrive at the west end of the boardwalk stretching across much of Long Beach, right along the Atlantic Ocean. Ever since Super Storm Sandy had most of this town under water, NOAA has been trying to figure out how to prevent another flood like that from happening again.

  Before I get out of the Jeep, I call my boss, Jake—the son of the investor Chase called when he went behind my back to get me this job. Although I didn’t interview with Jake, when he heard I wanted a field job, he immediately put me on his team. I’m not sure who’s idea that was, Jake’s or Chase’s. He picks up on the second ring.

  “Hey, Liv. What’s up?”

  “Hi, Jake,” I start quickly. “Listen, I just got off the phone with Chase.”

  “Oh yeah, where are you going this time?”

  “Turks and Caicos tomorrow?” I say, more as a question than a statement. He laughs.

  “Geez, I was kidding. Tomorrow, huh?” He sounds more amused than anything else.

  “Jake, it’s a wedding. I promise, I’ll work over a weekend or two to make up the time I’ve missed.”

  “You know I’ll hold you to that,” he chuckles. Thank God my boss isn’t an asshole.

  “I know, and I’m good for it. I’m really sorry it’s last minute, I just found out this morning.”

  “Will you be able to finish up your report today?”

  “Yes, absolutely. I’ll make sure I do.”

  “Okay, then. I guess I’ll see you on Monday. Make sure that report is on my desk today.”

  “Thank you, Jake.”

  I monitor the beach as quickly as I can, recording how high the high and low tide come up the beach. I’m momentarily mesmerized with the waves, fascinated by the way they softly crash against the beach, their curling fingers brushing each grain of sand with a gentle caress as the wind ushers them toward the shore. I’m amazed how the sun shines off the rippling water, its golden light warped in the glassy waves. There isn’t a more peaceful or tranquil place for me, and it helps me clear my thoughts.

  Bringing myself back to the present, I finish my notes and head to the west office to type
it up, placing it on Jake’s desk, and send Chase a text right before I leave the office.

  Liv: Leaving now

  He texts back:

  Chase: Be ready at four thirty

  This is totally insane. Since the flight is three and a half hours, maybe I can try to take a nap.

  I get back to my apartment just after four and pack like a crazy woman. I toss my suitcase from Key West onto the bed. Chase was right, of course. The clothes still packed are what I would have packed anyway. All I need are a few dresses for the pre-party and ceremony. After throwing in a couple formal dresses, a few casual summery dresses, and two pairs of sandals, I’m rushing out the door.

  As I exit the building, I find Chase waiting for me outside a town car. Paul hands my suitcase and garment bag over to the driver as Chase helps me in.

  “Hello, beautiful,” he says as he sits down next to me.

  “Hi,” I mutter, displeased. I should be ecstatic that I’m being flown to a tropical island, but I hate surprises.

  “Don’t be mad,” he murmurs against my neck, trying to seduce me into forgiving him.

  “I’m not mad, just annoyed.”

  As the car begins to move, Chase nibbles on the nape of my neck. “Don’t be annoyed,” he whispers as he nips at my skin.

  “I hate surprises.”

  “I know, I’m sorry. It was unavoidable.” He makes his way up my neck to behind my ear.

  “I know it was.” I begin to soften. It isn’t his fault there was no real good time to tell me. I tilt my head slightly.

  “Wait until you see where we’re staying. The island is beautiful.” His breath tickles my ear, giving me chills. Kissing my cheek, he pulls me tight against him, holding me close. I snuggle against his side, relaxing for the ride to the airport.

  Just after eight-thirty, we land at Providenciales International Airport. The flight was smooth and fast, getting us there before our scheduled arrival. Once again, there is a car waiting for us as we exit the plane. Chase and I are ushered into the car, then driven to a shuttle boat. Once aboard, it is a quick thirty minutes to our destination island: Parrot Cay.