Ever After (Love to the Rescue Book 3)

by Rachel Lacey

  “Hi,” his sister said. “I was just calling to remind you about dinner at mom’s tonight.”

  “Tonight? But it’s Sunday.”

  “I know, that’s why I called to remind you. We didn’t do dinner this Thursday because I had a work thing, remember?”

  Well now he did, but shit, they were going to have a field day with him if he brought Olivia to family dinner. “Rain check?”

  “Are you still at work?”

  “Just got home.”

  “Well, Mom went to church with Mr. Barnes this morning. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to hear how that went.”

  “Really?” He stepped out of his cruiser and clicked the locks.

  “Yep. So I’ll see you at six?”

  “I, ah, may bring someone with me.” He held the phone away from his ear and cringed.

  “Someone, as in, a girl?” Maggie’s voice rose.

  “Yes a girl, but don’t get too excited. She’s just staying with me while she gets some things sorted out.”

  Maggie squealed. “But you are sleeping with her?”

  He cringed again. “Jesus, Maggie.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes. Tonight’s dinner is going to be epic. What’s her name?”

  “Olivia.” And she was probably going to hate him when he told her what he’d just gotten her into.

  “Well, I can’t wait to meet Miss Olivia. See you at six.”

  Pete shoved the phone into his pocket and opened his front door. He followed the sound of cabinets closing and found Olivia in the kitchen, putting away groceries. Bailey lay on a dog bed in the corner, asleep.

  “You didn’t have to grocery shop,” he said.

  She turned with a smile so warm, so bright, that he lost his breath. “Well, I had a lot of free time on my hands today so I stocked up on some essentials. I was thinking about making a stir fry tonight.”

  “My sister just called to remind me I’m supposed to have dinner with her at my mom’s tonight.”

  Olivia’s brow wrinkled. “Oh.”

  “Want to come with me?” he asked.

  Her face brightened. “I’d love to.”

  He was never going to live this down, not with any of the women involved. He was so screwed. Bailey scampered over to say hello, tail wiggling, and he bent to pet her.

  “I sat with Timber for a while today. Dr. Johnson thinks he’ll be ready to come home tomorrow,” Olivia said.

  A knot in his chest loosened. “That’s good. Real good.”

  She clipped a leash on Bailey and walked to the back door. “Hang on. I’m trying to walk her more regularly to keep her from peeing in your kitchen.”

  “I appreciate that.” He went upstairs to change, only to be reminded of the rabid kitten that now inhabited his bedroom. His house had been taken over by Olivia and her critters. When he came back downstairs, she was sitting at the kitchen table, typing something on her laptop.

  “I’m organizing a protest,” she said.

  “What?” He wasn’t sure he liked the sound of that.

  “We’re going to protest outside Town Hall on Friday. And before you ask, I’ve been planning it since before what happened to Timber. That undercover video was swept under the rug. Halverson Foods is getting away with abuse, and now they’re trying to scare me into backing off. Well, it won’t work.”

  “Liv—” But he couldn’t say it. He couldn’t tell her the sheriff would have a fit when he heard about this, even more so if he knew Olivia was staying with him.

  “This has gone on long enough. I’m ready to end it. The abuse has to stop.” She stood and closed the laptop. “But I know you don’t approve, so I’ll work on it later. What should I wear to dinner? And what do we need to bring?”

  He looked down at her purple sweater and jeans. “You’re fine, and we don’t need to bring anything. My mom loves to cook.”

  “And my mom taught me you never go to someone’s house for dinner empty handed. We still have about a dozen of those cookies left. Will that do?”

  Another thing he’d never live down, once his mom and sister realized he’d baked with Olivia. “Yeah, that’ll do.”

  “Okay.” She started rummaging through his cabinets then, coming up with a large white plate, which she started arranging cookies on.

  “I have to say, I didn’t expect this domestic side of you.”

  She gave him a smile over her shoulder. “I’m full of surprises.”

  And wasn’t that the damn truth. An hour later, he stepped through his mother’s front door with Olivia at his side.

  “You must be Olivia.” His mom came and took Olivia’s hands in hers. “I’m Elizabeth, Pete’s mom.”

  “Elizabeth, it’s so nice to meet you.” Olivia gave her a genuine smile, reminding Pete that she was a chameleon of many colors. She was just as at ease here in his childhood home as she was with her animal rights group, raising hell against Halverson Foods.

  “And I’m Maggie, Pete’s sister.”

  The women went into the kitchen. Pete trailed after them. Maybe this would go smoother than he’d thought.

  “So how did you and my brother meet?” Maggie asked.

  And then again, maybe not.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Olivia’s cheeks burned. How in the world could she answer Maggie’s question?

  So how did you and my brother meet?

  For one of the first times in her life, she felt ashamed. Ashamed to tell Pete’s mother and sister that they’d met when he arrested her. More than anything, she wanted to make a good first impression on his family. But she’d never been one to make excuses for herself, so she lifted her chin to face the music.

  “We met through a case at work,” Pete answered.

  “Oh,” Elizabeth said. “That sounds interesting.”

  “Anything you can tell us about?” Maggie asked.

  And now Olivia was annoyed. She might not be proud of her actions, but she was frustrated that Pete had covered up the truth.

  “No,” he answered his sister, just as nonchalant as he could be. He took the plate of cookies from Olivia’s hands and set it on the kitchen counter. “It smells delicious in here. Lasagna?”

  “Baked ziti,” his mom answered. “With salad and garlic bread.”

  Pete glanced at Olivia, then back at his mom. “Does that have meat sauce?”

  “Not tonight. I sautéed some fresh spinach and peppers instead. Hope you don’t mind.”

  “Nah, that’s perfect,” he answered. “Olivia’s a vegetarian.”

  Maggie snickered. “Maybe you can actually get my carnivorous brother to eat some veggies now and then.”

  Olivia winked. “I’ve had some luck.”

  Maggie’s eyes widened, and she pointed a finger in Olivia’s direction. “Oh! I knew your name was familiar. You’re the one who—” She slapped a hand over her mouth.

  “The one who what?” Elizabeth asked.

  “I was arrested for spray-painting animal rights propaganda on the Halverson Foods chicken-processing plant.” And phew, she was glad the truth was out.

  “Arrested?” Elizabeth gasped.

  Maggie grinned.

  Pete grimaced.

  “Not my finest moment,” Olivia said. “But I’d been trying to bring attention to the abuse happening to the birds there for months, and in a roundabout way, getting myself arrested has actually done just that.”

  “And Pete arrested you?” Maggie looked like she might start tap dancing with glee.

  Olivia nodded. “Yes.”

  He cleared his throat. “That case is now closed.”

  “And yet you’ve brought her with you to meet the family.” Maggie clapped her hands in delight. Their mother looked less thrilled.

  “It’s not like that,” Pete said. “Olivia just needed a place to stay for a little while.”

  And that stung. Her cheeks heated again. “Right. My house has been vandalized several times. The other day someone left chicken c
arcasses in my backyard, and the dogs got into them. Timber choked on a bone and almost died. Pete didn’t think it was safe for me to stay there until the sheriff’s office caught who did it.”

  Elizabeth pressed a hand to her mouth. “Pete, you told us Timber had gotten into something, but you didn’t say he almost died.”

  “He’s going to be fine,” he said.

  “And your dog, Olivia?” Elizabeth asked.

  “She was lucky. No ill effects.”

  “Well my goodness. You’ve had quite a month.” Elizabeth ushered them toward the living room.

  The house gave Olivia warm, homey feelings. Its wood-paneled walls and floral-print couch and loveseat were right out of the eighties. It reminded her of the little house she’d spent her first years in, before her parents started bringing in enough money to move them into a brick-front colonial in a fancy neighborhood with snooty kids who’d teased Olivia for her tomboy ways.

  She sat on the loveseat next to Pete, while his mom and sister took the couch.

  “Sorry for putting you on the spot,” Maggie said. She had brown hair and dark eyes like her brother, but unlike Pete, she had a fun, playful air about her that made Olivia think they might be good friends if the situation were different.

  “Not at all.” Olivia shook her head. “I’m glad that you know. I’m pretty much an open book. I don’t like keeping secrets.”

  Maggie darted a look at Pete, reminding Olivia that there were entire chapters of his life that she didn’t know. He’d given her a few glimpses inside, but he wasn’t, and probably never would be, an open book.

  “Well.” Elizabeth clasped her hands. “I’d better go check on supper. It’s almost ready.”

  “Is there anything I can help with?” Olivia asked.

  “No thank you, dear. I just need to pull everything out of the oven.” Elizabeth stood and walked into the kitchen.

  “I’m not sure your mom likes the idea of you bringing a criminal to dinner,” she whispered.

  “She may be hesitant about the idea,” Maggie said, suddenly sober, “but she doesn’t dislike you. It’s just—our dad got into a lot of trouble when we were growing up.”

  “And she doesn’t want her son to end up with someone like him?” Olivia felt her chest cave in on itself.

  “You’re nothing like my father,” Pete said, breaking his silence. His eyes burned into hers with shocking intensity. “Nothing.”

  Olivia didn’t know what to say, but the way he was looking at her right now, all proud and protective, made goose bumps rise up and down her arms.

  “Pete’s right,” Maggie said. “Our dad is an addict. He was high, or out looking for a way to get high, for most of our childhood.”

  Well, Olivia was starting to get a clearer picture of things now. “And they’re…divorced?”

  Maggie shook her head. “Our father is in jail.”

  In jail. No wonder his mom didn’t like the idea of Pete dating a criminal. “Oh.”

  Elizabeth appeared in the doorway, a forced smile on her face. “Dinner’s ready.”

  * * *

  Pete should have known better than to bring Olivia to dinner at his mom’s. Maggie hadn’t stopped talking since they sat down at the dinner table. She and Olivia had definitely hit it off. They were alike that way—eternal optimists who’d never met a stranger.

  And he admired them for it, he really did. But he took after his mom. They were both more inclined to sit back and watch, to keep their emotions bottled deep inside. Every once in a while, he wished he could be a little bit more like Olivia and Maggie.

  “So, Mom, how was church this morning?” Maggie asked between bites of ziti.

  Their mom smiled. “It was nice, thank you.”

  “And your date?”

  Elizabeth blushed. “Well my goodness, Maggie. It wasn’t a date. Steve Barnes is an old friend. It was very kind of him to invite me to sit with him.”

  Pete watched with interest. His mom had actually blushed. He’d seen the interest on Steve’s side too. “You know, maybe it’s time to go ahead and file for divorce.”

  His mother blanched. “Well, I—you know—your father—”

  “Is not getting out of jail for at least ten years. It’s time to move on, Mom. Even if he weren’t in jail, you deserve better.”

  “Well, that just feels disloyal. I promised to stand by him, for better or for worse.” She fidgeted with her napkin.

  “And he promised to love and cherish you,” Maggie said quietly. “Pete’s right. You deserve better. We want to see you happy.”

  “Well for goodness sake, I am happy.” She looked between them. “I am. The two of you are all I need.”

  “In all fairness, Mom, you deserve more,” he said.

  Olivia squeezed his hand under the table. She’d been quiet throughout the conversation, but he knew she was absorbing every word and would use it to sharpen her already uncanny ability to read him.

  And that didn’t make him squirm nearly as much as it should have.

  * * *

  “Thanks for bringing me.” Olivia watched Pete’s face as they pulled into the driveway of his townhouse. He’d been quiet much of the drive home, broody or just tired, she wasn’t quite sure. She’d learned a hell of a lot about Pete Sampson tonight, and it only strengthened her resolve to fight for him.

  Pete gave her a look, as if he knew every thought she’d just had. “Thanks for tagging along. I completely forgot I was supposed to have dinner with them tonight.”

  That was a jab, and it hurt. “Tagging along? Don’t be a jerk.”

  Maybe he didn’t want her to read anything into tonight, but too bad. If she were just a random hookup, he never would have brought her to his mom’s house. By the looks on Elizabeth’s and Maggie’s faces, it wasn’t something he did often.

  And whether he liked it or not, it did mean something.

  “Liv—”

  She got out of the car and slammed the door behind her. Maybe she was overreacting, but her feelings were hurt, dammit.

  Pete caught up to her at the front door. “I didn’t mean—”

  “Then what did you mean?” She turned on him. “‘It’s not like that. Olivia just needed a place to stay.’ I’m not your fucking pity case. If that’s all I am to you, then I’ll pack my bags and be out of your hair tonight.”

  “Stop it. You know that’s not true.” He took her hands and tugged her toward him, but she yanked them free.

  “No, I don’t know that.” Her voice wobbled. “I have no idea where I stand with you.”

  He raked a hand through his hair. “You’re only the second girl I’ve ever brought to family dinner, okay?”

  She heard the desperation in his tone, and her heart softened. “Your wife being the first?”

  He nodded.

  She leaned in close so that her lips brushed his cheek. “Then stop treating me like I don’t matter to you.”

  He clutched her fingers in his. “You matter.”

  She swallowed over the ache in her throat. “Good. Because you matter to me too. A lot.”

  Then he was kissing her as if his life depended on it, and she was putty in his arms. When he held her and kissed her and made love to her, she felt like the most important thing in his world. But his words told a different story, and she was tired of being brushed aside. This was no casual fling, and it was about time for him to man up and admit it.

  She tugged free and went inside. Bailey waited in her crate in the kitchen, her butt wiggling like crazy. The crate was dry. “What a good girl! Let’s get you outside.”

  She leashed Bailey and rushed her right out the back door. After she’d walked and fed her dog, Olivia went looking for Pete. She found him upstairs, just stepping out of a shower.

  And heavens.

  She stood in the doorway of the bathroom, just drinking in the sight of him, all tall and strong and naked. He reached for a towel and ran it through his hair, then slung it over his shoulder and
pulled her up against him for a kiss.

  “I’m way overdressed for this situation.” She ran her hands over his naked butt and squeezed.

  “Easy problem to fix.” He lifted her in his arms and carried her to his bed.

  By this time he was fully aroused, and so was she. After a frantic tumble to get her out of her clothes, they made love with moonlight streaming in through his bedroom window. She wanted every night to end this way.

  The next morning, Pete went to work, and Olivia drove to the courthouse to get her community service paperwork. There was a long list of approved nonprofits she could volunteer with. The Dogwood County Animal Shelter was one, and she’d be stopping by later this morning to see what they had available.

  The Dogwood Women’s Shelter was on there too. She paused, thinking of Pete bringing them the muffins he’d baked. The muffins he never ate himself. Was there a reason he was partial to that particular charity? Had his family once sought refuge there?

  Maybe she’d stop by the women’s shelter too. She did have one hundred and twenty hours of community service to fulfill, after all. It almost felt like cheating to serve them all at the animal shelter. Maybe she should broaden her horizons and help people in need as well.

  Maybe it would even earn her some brownie points with Pete.

  * * *

  Pete stared down at the middle-aged woman he’d just pulled over for driving forty-eight in a thirty-five. Tears stained her cheeks, and she’d been blubbering nonstop about the Facebook class at the local library she was running late for.

  “Consider this a lesson, ma’am,” he said, as he handed her a written warning. As she’d had a squeaky clean record and seemed remorseful, he’d decided to let her go without a ticket. He must be in a good mood this morning. Maybe thanks to the way he’d started it, with Olivia in his bed.

  “Thank you—I’m so sorry—it won’t happen again,” she spluttered.

  “See that it doesn’t. Have a nice day, Mrs. Franklin.”

  “Thank you. You too, deputy.”

  With a nod, he walked back to his cruiser. He watched her drive off—nice and slow—then sat back to finish entering her citation into the system. His phone rang. It was Hartzler.