by Renee Ryan
Connor shared a look with Olivia. “I always do. But right now you need to say good-night to Miss Olivia.”
Both girls hugged her. She told them to sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite, then watched as they shuffled out of the room.
“Bedtime in twenty minutes,” he called after them. “You can go on home, Olivia. I’ve got this.”
“I’ll clean up in here while you take Samson outside. Then I’ll head out.”
“Okay, thanks. Be right back.”
As he marched the dog out the back door, Connor realized how much his life had changed since Olivia’s arrival. Two months ago, he wouldn’t have accepted her help so easily, no questions asked. She’d managed to move into his life and ease his burdens without him realizing it. She’d squirmed her way past his defenses and moved straight into his heart.
Ten minutes later, the dog was asleep in his crate and the girls were brushing their teeth. Connor took the opportunity to walk Olivia out to her car.
He reached to open her door, but she stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Connor, I want you to know, no matter what happens next, I plan to keep in touch with the girls.” She looked up at the house, released a heavy sigh, then leaned back against her car door. “I want to be in their lives, any way I can.”
The offer made him admire her all the more. “Does that offer include spending time with me, too?”
She answered without hesitation. “Absolutely.”
“I don’t want to lose you, Olivia.”
Fat tears slid down her cheeks. “Oh, Connor.”
He opened his arms and she launched herself at him. He caught her against his chest. They didn’t speak, just stood there, holding on, both knowing things were about to change between them.
“Connor?”
He stared down into her face, saw the sadness. The hint of fear. And something else, something that mirrored the choke-hold clutching at his own heart. “Yeah?”
She smoothed the hair off his forehead, a gesture so full of care his throat ached from trying to keep it together. “I don’t want to lose you, either.”
He set her away from him. Maybe the changes coming didn’t have to be for the worse. Maybe they could be for the better. They wouldn’t know unless they tried. “I have to attend the Village Green Hospital’s annual gala Friday night. I was hoping you’d come along with me.”
“You want me to go with you to the gala?”
“I do.”
“Okay.”
Was that a yes or an acknowledgment of his question? Asking a woman on a date was turning out to be harder than he remembered. Except...he hadn’t actually asked her on a date.
He cleared his throat and tried again. “Olivia, will you go to the hospital gala with me? Will you be my date for the event?”
She stared at him a full ten seconds, which for the record was a very long time to wait for an answer.
“Yes, Connor, I would love to attend the gala with you.” As she gave her answer, her guard dropped and he glimpsed the contents of her heart in her beautiful eyes.
She loved him. Olivia loved him.
A blessing he hadn’t earned, and surely didn’t deserve.
Momentarily overcome, he had to blink past the sting in his eyes. “I’ll pick you up at six-thirty?”
“I’ll be ready.”
He reached for her, needing to say more, to assure her his heart was full of the same emotion that was in hers. But he stepped back and said nothing. The words wouldn’t come.
Something deep inside kept him from declaring himself.
Wise? Or unwise?
Time would tell.
Chapter Seventeen
“I’m in love with Connor Mitchell.” Olivia made this pronouncement to Keely in a whisper hidden behind her hand. She wanted to share what was in her heart before the other women in their Bible study showed up at the Turkey Roost.
Keely set down her cup of coffee and leaned back in her chair, her gaze never leaving Olivia’s face. “So tell me something I don’t already know.”
“You...know?” Olivia all but gasped out the words. “But how?”
“Well, let’s see.” Keely wiggled her fingers in the air. “There’s the way you look at him when you think no one’s watching.” She lowered one finger. “Not to mention the way your eyes light up whenever you talk about him.” She lowered another. “And the way you manage to find him in a crowd, lock eyes with him and—”
Olivia held up her own hand to stop her friend from continuing. “I get the picture. I’m terrible at hiding my feelings.”
Keely laughed, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “If it makes you feel any better, he’s just as obvious with his.”
Only one to thing in response to that titillating comment. “Explain.”
“He’s as in love with you as you are with him.”
“No, he’s—”
“In. Love. With. You.” Keely jabbed a finger in the air, aiming straight at Olivia.
“But...how can you tell?”
Up went Keely’s splayed hand again. “There’s the way he looks at you when no one’s watching.” She lowered one finger. “Not to mention the way his eyes light up whenever he talks about you.” Down went another finger. “And the way he manages to find you in a crowd, lock eyes with you and...” She lowered her hand. “Do I need to continue?”
“No.” Yes.
Olivia shut her eyes a moment.
Was Keely right?
Did Connor have feelings for her that went deeper than friendship and gratitude for taking care of his daughters? He treated her with respect and kindness and even encouraged her to go for her dream.
“When I told him about my appointment with Hardy Bennett at Village Green National Bank, he was supportive. Really supportive.” Humiliatingly so.
“Yeah, I can see how that would make you think he doesn’t care about you.”
Olivia made a face at her friend. She treasured the fact that Connor understood why she wanted to chase after her dream, but she hadn’t expected him to be quite so...encouraging. His response made her wonder if he wanted to get rid of her. “He said I shouldn’t let anything stop me from opening my own tearoom.”
“Again, not getting why that’s so confusing to you. The man is not giving you mixed signals.” Keely let out a wistful sigh. “It’s obvious he cares enough about you to want to see you happy.”
“I know. It’s just...” She swirled her finger around the rim of her cup, a pang of disappointment clutching at her throat. “He didn’t ask me not to open my own tearoom.”
“Okay, now you’ve lost me.” Keely leaned forward, hands flat on the table. “Why would he do that?”
“Because he couldn’t bear to lose me? Because he knows how many hours it’s going to take to make a go of it.”
“Seriously?”
“His crazy schedule is hard enough to deal with. Add in me opening my own business and I have no idea how we’ll ever find time to be together.”
She looked down at her lap, baffled and confused and not sure what to think. Although Connor’s support meant a lot to her, Olivia wanted him to make a stand. She wanted him to ask her to put family ahead of everything.
The way Sheila had?
Olivia sighed as wistfully as Keely had. Falling in love was real and it was hard and it was really, really complicated.
“Olivia, Olivia, Olivia. My dear, sweet, naive friend.” Keely laughed. She actually laughed at her! “You can’t really believe a man who loved you would ask you to sacrifice your dreams for him.”
Warner had expected that of her. He hadn’t used the specific words. But he’d made it clear he expected her to make his life easier. She was supposed to be there for him, his career and life more importan
t than hers.
Olivia had told Connor this. Oh, goody, he’d been listening and taking notes. No wonder he was pushing her to pursue her dreams.
Not only because Olivia had told him about Warner, but because Sheila had given up her career to raise the twins and had come to resent Connor for it.
Olivia thought she might cry.
Pressing her fingertips to her eyes, she sighed heavily. How did she convince Connor she wasn’t Sheila? And he wasn’t Warner?
Eyes still shut, she tried to picture herself with him in her life.
“Olivia, you’re getting all worked up before you even meet with the banker.” Keely reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Trust me, you don’t want to make any decisions before you take that meeting.”
Olivia opened her eyes, saw the look of sorrow in her friend’s eyes.
“Decisions made quickly are always regretted later.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right.” Keely planted her elbows on the table and rested her chin on top of her linked fingers. “Haven’t you learned anything since you’ve been back in Village Green? I’m always right.”
A masculine snort sounded a second before Ethan moved in behind Olivia. “In what lifetime are you always right?”
Keely dropped her hands to the table with a hard slap. “Nobody asked you, Dr. Scott.”
Confused by the fierce scowl on her friend’s face, Olivia swiveled her gaze to look up at her brother. A matching scowl etched deep grooves across his forehead.
“Ethan, what are you doing at the Turkey Roost at this hour?”
Had he heard her confession of love for Connor? Probably not. He barely acknowledged her. Keely, on the other hand, held his undivided attention.
Keely’s scowl disappeared, morphing into a far-too-sweet smile. “You’re staring, Dr. Scott.”
He said nothing.
“And your sister just asked you a question,” she goaded. In Ethan’s case, it was the equivalent of pulling a tiger’s tail.
He tore his gaze away from Keely, the task appearing extremely difficult. Which seemed to make him even more tense.
Interesting.
“I’m picking up breakfast for the office.” He spoke to Olivia, lifting a large to-go bag in his hand. “I came over to ask you what time your meeting at the bank is this afternoon.”
“Two o’clock.”
“I’d wish you luck but I read through your proposal. You don’t need it.” His voice held nothing but sincerity and brotherly admiration. “I know you’ll do great.”
He sounded sincere. “Thanks, Ethan. Your support means a lot.”
He studied her face, looking as though he wanted to say more. But then the bell over the door jangled and one of the other women in their Bible study group entered the restaurant.
Olivia rolled her shoulders. Lacy Hargrove wasn’t one of her favorite people, but the woman was honest about her flaws and openly admitted her soul needed work.
Who was Olivia to question her motives for joining their Bible study?
“Lacy.” Olivia waved a hand in the air. “We’re back here.”
The woman wound her way through the tables. Ethan’s gaze took on a hunted look. “That’s my cue to cut and run.”
Before he turned to go he dropped a smile in Olivia’s direction. “Let me know how the meeting goes. I’d really like to hear about it.”
“I’ll call you as soon as I’m finished.”
“Good enough.” He shot one last scowl in Keely’s direction, then set out, taking a wide berth around Lacy.
Lightning quick, the woman changed directions and cornered him halfway through the restaurant. Hand clutching his arm, she leaned into him and said something.
He answered with a curt shake of his head, pulled his arm free and left the Turkey Roost without a single look back.
“Whoa.” Keely blew out a slow breath, her eyes tracking his progress as he passed by outside the plate-glass window next to their table. “Who was that man and what did he do with your brother?”
Olivia had no idea. When she’d told him her idea for a tearoom in town, he hadn’t scoffed. He’d asked tough questions, yet had asked them as he would an equal, treating her like a grown woman who could make her own decisions.
Who had he been talking to?
Connor, of course.
Olivia wasn’t sure what to think about that. She didn’t need the man to step in for her. She could fight her own battles. But, okay, admittedly, it was nice to know she didn’t have to fight every one alone.
Lacy joined them at the table, greeting them cheerfully, her gaze lingering on Olivia. “I know this is probably inappropriate at a Bible study and all, but that brother of yours is one tall drink of water.”
Keely snorted. “I can think of several other, far more accurate tags for the man. Bullheaded, stubborn and, my personal favorite, arrogant.”
Lacy laughed, her features relaxing. “I take it you don’t get along with Dr. Scott.”
“Oh, he’s fine. In small doses.” She glanced over her shoulder, frowned at his retreating back. “Very small doses.”
Her response seemed to satisfy Lacy.
Before Olivia could stop and wonder over either woman’s reaction to her brother—opposite and yet somehow the same—the bell over the door jingled again. Two more women in their group stepped inside, the other two right behind them, with Avery bringing up the rear.
“The gang’s all here,” Keely said, straightening in her chair. “Let’s order up some breakfast and dig into the Word.”
* * *
Connor always enjoyed time off from the office, especially when that time included his two favorite daughters. As was their weekly habit, he took them to Hawkins Park. Samson was bored, according to Molly, and needed another trip to the dog walk—his third.
Megan supported this observation with an enthusiastic head bob.
Connor sent them on their way, with the requisite warning “Keep him on his leash.”
Although the weather was spectacular, the girls both in excellent moods, something was missing.
Or rather, someone was missing.
Olivia. She’d been on his mind all day. He sat down on the fountain’s ledge and checked the time on his cell phone, just shy of three. She should be finishing up her meeting with Hardy at the bank. Connor had wanted to call her beforehand, to give her a personal word of encouragement, but he hadn’t. He didn’t want to interfere in the process. She had to make her decision on her own.
It was hard, Connor realized, trusting the unknown. He didn’t like feeling helpless. Total surrender was not in his nature, and no doubt explained much of his current difficulty with the Lord.
Knowing Olivia had given Connor the desire to work his way back to the Lord, to let go of his anger, to trust God’s greater plan for his life.
He hadn’t called Olivia, but he’d sent her a text.
She’d texted back her thanks, or rather her THANJXS. He smiled as he scrolled back to her text, affection swirling through him as he reread the misspelled word.
Assuming she’d turned off her phone during the interview, he decided to send her another text so it would be there when she was through with the interview. CALL ME WHEN YOU’RE DONE WITH HARDY. I WANT TO HEAR HOW IT WENT.
Her response came immediately. ALREADY THRU. WALKING BACK TO CAR NOW.
Even if the meeting had started on time, it had lasted under an hour. THAT WAS FAST, he typed out.
MY PROPOSAL ROCKED!!!!!!!!!!!
Of that he had no doubt. He was happy for her. He was. But the sudden rush of longing made his eyes sting.
SO IT WENT WELL?
He waited for her answer, drumming his fingers on his thigh, t
hroat tight.
Her response came a bit slower. HARDY LIKED WHAT HE SAW!!!! J J J J J
Connor’s heart dipped, sorrow battling with the affection already there. He could hear Olivia’s voice as she said the words, could see her give a little happy, heel-toe dance right there in the parking lot by her car.
He could continue seeing her, he told himself, dating her, giving their relationship a chance. The future didn’t have to be an either/or scenario.
It would be difficult, though.
His time was already tight. Hers would be even more limited. Yet not trying wasn’t an option. He’d spent four years barely feeling anything. Olivia had opened the floodgates. He couldn’t return to the way things were before she’d come into his life.
The fact that he was considering a continuation of their relationship beyond the summer was a big step for him. And the girls. He needed to think things through, roll scenarios around in his head, analyze the various outcomes.
But first, he typed another message to Olivia. WILL CELEBRATE TONIGHT. At the last moment, he decided not to press the send button.
He hit the call button instead.
Olivia answered on the first ring.
“I take it congratulations are in order,” he said into the speaker.
Her throaty laugh traveled through the phone, spreading warmth to the darkest edges of his soul. He loved her laugh. Loved her sense of humor.
He loved her.
He loved Olivia?
Of course he loved her. Still, the revelation would have knocked him to the ground if he hadn’t already been sitting on the fountain’s ledge.
“Although I appreciate the sentiment,” she said through the phone. “Don’t congratulate me yet.” Her voice echoed in his ear, sounding as if she were in a tin room. An elevator, he guessed.
“Hardy say something to discourage you?”
“Actually, the opposite.” She paused. “He thinks my idea is a good one. He even knows of a building coming open, a Mexican restaurant going out of business, that will be a perfect location for my tearoom. Right on Main Street.”
