“And your girlfriend?” Olivia tried not to sneer the last word. She wasn’t entirely successful.
“She’s not my girlfriend. And she’s gone now.”
“Mm-hmm.” More silence. More standing and staring. Olivia swallowed the lump that had suddenly appeared in her throat. “You should have told me,” she repeated. She really was at a loss for any words beyond those. Her stomach felt sour, and she could feel a headache starting in the base of her skull.
“I know.” Hayley nodded. “You’re right. I should have. There were reasons, though.”
“Oh, really? Reasons for hiding your true identity? Are you a superhero?”
“No.” Hayley’s scoff wasn’t sarcastic, it seemed more self-deprecating. “My father wanted me to show him that I could be responsible, that I deserved to be a part of the family business without getting special treatment because of my name. He put a freeze on my spending.”
Olivia felt the surprise roll through her but wasn’t sure she bought the story. “Wow. What did you do to warrant that?”
Hayley sighed and Olivia’s phone vibrated. “It’s a long story and I will gladly tell you, but we’ve got to handle things around here first. It’s a busy night.”
She was right, Olivia knew that, but a big part of her didn’t want to stop the conversation here. Now. She had so many unanswered questions. So many things she needed to say. A new job to prepare for. Her phone buzzed again and she glanced at it. An issue in housekeeping, apparently.
“What’s going on?” Hayley asked, indicating the phone.
“Housekeeping is shorthanded.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Really?”
Hayley nodded. “Yeah, I got it. Go over to Split Rail. I know you said your mom’s coming for dinner. Go mingle. I’ll take care of housekeeping and whatever else there is.” She stopped talking, swallowed hard, wet her lips—which Olivia watched.
Olivia was furious with her, but that insane attraction she had didn’t seem to be affected at all, and that ticked her off. She had to tear her gaze away. “Okay.” She made a move for the door but was stopped by Hayley’s hand on her arm.
“Wait.” Hayley didn’t speak until Olivia looked her in the eye. “Would you meet me at the rooftop bar later? Please?”
Those green eyes were pleading with her, the expression on her face one of regret and apology and sadness and worry. Olivia wanted to say no, wanted to tell Hayley what she could do with all her lies and deception.
But she couldn’t.
Goddamn it, she just couldn’t.
“Fine,” she said, on an exhale. And then, she had to get out of there. Away from Hayley so she could catch her breath and regroup. She didn’t look back as her heels clicked down the hall toward the buzzing of commotion and festive conversation and the whole time she walked, only one question rang through her brain.
What the hell had just happened?
* * *
Split Rail was bustling. Not completely packed, but very close to it. Only a few tables were unoccupied. The bar was taken up and people were standing behind those sitting on the barstools. It was loud but not unbearably so, and the heavenly aromas wafting up from plates and from the kitchen made Olivia’s mouth water, despite the fact that she was sure her roiling stomach wouldn’t allow her to eat.
She put on her happy manager face, aware that her name tag was visible, and smiled at guests as she passed. She stopped to chat with regulars she knew as well as locals who’d come in for dinner. It turned out to be a good way of taking her mind off the current turmoil in her brain and in her heart.
Olivia finished checking in with the Barnards—a couple she knew because Mrs. Barnard had been her English teacher in high school—making sure their dinner was to their liking (it was). Then she craned her neck to see if she could find her mother. It was almost seven, and she’d told Olivia she’d be there by six thirty. Olivia pushed herself to her tiptoes to see over a group of friends standing near the bar, and finally she saw her mother at the corner of the bar, talking animatedly to somebody. Her smile was big. Radiant. It made Olivia smile to see it, and she sidled past customers as she made her way to her mother…and then stopped.
“There you are,” Angela said, reaching out a hand to Olivia. She had half a martini in front of her and her cheeks were flushed, leading Olivia to believe it probably wasn’t her first one.
Olivia took Angela’s hand and reluctantly let herself be pulled toward her mother.
“This is my oldest daughter,” Angela said, to the man in the expensive suit she’d been chatting with. The man who had apparently been making her smile so big.
“Olivia is your daughter?” Benton Markham said, his eyes widening for a split second, then settling to a twinkle. He chuckled, and his grin looked so much like Hayley’s right then, Olivia caught her breath. “We met not an hour ago.”
“You did?” Olivia’s mom looked puzzled as her eyes went from Olivia to Benton and back.
“We did. Mama, this is Benton Markham. The CEO of Markham Resorts.” She cleared her throat. “And, also, Hayley’s father.”
“Hayley’s father—what?” She was clearly confused, but Olivia didn’t have it in her to explain. Everything was so raw, and there was a moment—a horrifying moment—when Olivia thought she might start crying right there in front of them.
“Yeah, it’s a long story.” She squeezed her mother’s shoulder. “Listen, I need to take care of some stuff. New Year’s Eve is so busy. But I’ll see you on the roof later?” Her mother nodded as Olivia bent to kiss her cheek. Then she escaped. She had no choice; she had to get away and think. Absorb. Deal.
She wished badly to be able to sit down with Tessa and spill the whole story, but she knew the kitchen was a bustling madhouse of activity tonight and there was no way she could expect Tessa to stop what she was doing and help manage her emotional tornado.
Mike was behind the bar, martini shaker in hand, pretending he didn’t see the admiring glances of some of the women, which made Olivia smile. Mike caught her eye as he strained the drink into a glass, added a garnish, and handed it over. Without a word, he pulled out a shot glass, filled it with the mango habanero whiskey he knew Olivia loved, and slid it her way. At her raised eyebrows, he simply said, “You look like you could use this.” Then he was off to take another order.
He wasn’t wrong.
Olivia picked up the glass and downed the shot, savoring the sweet taste of the mango, waiting for the kick from the habanero on the back end. She set the shot glass back on the bar and left Split Rail, feeling the slight burn from the whiskey on her tongue, the alcohol settling into her blood and calming her as she walked back to her office.
She prayed Hayley wasn’t there, because she didn’t know where else to go. She needed to be available to do her job but couldn’t imagine putting on a happy face with Hayley right now. She needed a little time to sit and sift through her head. She crossed the lobby, feeling Stephanie’s concerned eyes on her as she came behind the front desk. A squeeze of reassurance to Stephanie’s shoulder, and she went back into her office. Her prayer was answered, as she was alone, and she dropped into her chair as if she hadn’t sat in days.
There was so much to contemplate, so much to roll around in her head that she didn’t even know where to begin. It was mind-blowing, really.
Hayley had lied to her. About her identity. About why she was there. About who she really was.
Did she lie about her feelings for Olivia as well?
That was the big question. Was it all a lie? Was Olivia some pawn in Hayley’s daddy issues? Was she something Hayley had used to blow off steam? Was everything an act? Could she have been pretending the whole time?
As Olivia’s eyes welled up, her gaze landed on the painting Hayley had given her for Christmas. God, was that only a week ago? She allowed herself to focus on it, to study it. The colors and the detail and the love. That was the thing that stood out. Olivia’s love for Walter was so apparent. C
ould Hayley have painted that if she didn’t actually feel something for her? Was it possible to fake emotion that was so obvious in a piece of art?
The questions plagued Olivia. She knew she needed to focus on something else. She’d thought taking some time alone to absorb it all would be helpful, but it was making things worse.
Her phone buzzed and she snatched it out of her blazer pocket. Lenny needed her in maintenance.
“Thank freaking God,” she mumbled, as she jumped up from her chair and beelined out of the office. She hoped Lenny’s problem was a big one, then made a face at herself for that.
But seriously. Anything to take her mind off Hayley.
It was New Year’s Eve. In a few hours, the slate was wiped clean and everybody had a chance to start fresh.
Somehow, that didn’t make her feel any better.
Chapter Twenty-Four
It was nearly eleven thirty.
Any problems that had arisen and needed Olivia’s attention had been dealt with. Everything else could wait until tomorrow. She was officially calling herself off the clock, even though she never really considered herself that, especially if she was still on the premises. She’d left her blazer with her name tag on it draped over the back of her chair in her office and headed up to the rooftop bar in black slacks and a white button-down top. She’d rolled up her sleeves and ordered herself an extra-dirty martini with three gorgonzola-stuffed olives as soon as she walked in.
The place looked beautiful. Twinkling lights, soft holiday music, tons of windows with the outdoor Christmas lights visible from any spot in the room. Fresh pine garland with tiny lights was draped lushly everywhere—on the windowsills, along the front of the bar, lining the lit shelves behind it—and the big, full tree in the corner still looked like it had just been chopped down that morning. The whole place smelled of pine and cinnamon, and the festive atmosphere let Olivia relax. At least a little bit.
“I was wondering when you’d get here.” Olivia’s mom suddenly appeared at her elbow holding a glass of white wine. She put an arm around Olivia’s waist and gave her a gentle squeeze.
“Now.” Olivia sipped her drink, which was deliciously strong and burned its way down her throat.
Angela looked at the drink and raised an eyebrow. “A martini, huh? That can’t be good.”
Olivia’s eyes tracked the room, watched the different groupings of people. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I have only ever seen you order a martini when something is bothering you. I asked you about it once and you said, and I quote, ‘Numbs my soul, Mama. Sometimes, I need that.’”
Olivia couldn’t help but smile at the vocal impression her mother did of her, furrowing her brow and lowering her voice. “Yeah. Well.”
When Olivia glanced at her, Angela was holding up a finger toward somebody at the bar, signaling, “I’ll be there in a minute.”
Following her mother’s gaze, Olivia saw Benton Markham ordering drinks, and she let her shoulders sink a bit. “You guys an item now?” she asked, hoping it came off as playful and not sarcastic. Judging by the stern look Angela gave her, she failed.
“You watch your tone with me, young lady.”
Olivia sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“If you must know, he’s a nice man and I am enjoying his company. I’m allowed to do that.”
“You are. Absolutely.” She’d struck a nerve in her mother, and the guilt washed in like water flooding her system.
Angela gave it a beat, then nodded once and said, “So. Why does your soul need numbing?” When Olivia didn’t answer, she ventured a guess. “Is it Hayley?”
Olivia turned to look at her and, not for the first time, was shocked by how much knowledge her mother’s dark eyes held. It always amazed her, and when she was a small child, she was sure her mother knew everything there was to know about everything in the world. Olivia had never been able to lie to her mom, not when Angela was looking directly at her like that.
She nodded, tried to keep her eyes from welling up by blinking a lot.
“Can I tell you some things that I know?”
More nodding.
“I’ve been chatting with Benton for the better part of four hours now. He had no idea you and his daughter were a thing, and I didn’t tell him. At first.”
“Mama.”
Angela held up a hand. “Wait. Let me finish.” She threw another glance Benton’s way. “The man has needed to unload for a while now, I think. I know much more about him than most people.” Olivia wasn’t really surprised by this, as her mother was somebody people felt safe opening up to.
“Do you need rescuing?”
“Oh, no. He’s actually quite charming. In fact, I’m very much enjoying my time with him.”
Olivia took a big sip of her drink and didn’t comment.
“He and Hayley have been through a lot the past couple of years.”
Olivia knew this, obviously, but let her mother keep talking.
“He said he put her in an impossible situation here.”
That got Olivia’s attention. She took another sip and this time, made eye contact with her mother as she spoke.
“He said she’s never run a resort, that she grew up in them as a kid but was never really interested in joining the business. That he threw her into the deep end here and expected her to swim, and he should’ve known better, that she’s got an artist’s heart. That’s when I told him about having her over for Christmas, about that gorgeous painting of you and Wally, how she made you light up in a way I haven’t seen in a long time.”
That damn lump was in her throat again, and she had to swallow several times to get any relief from it. “She lied to me, Mama. A big lie.”
“I know.” Her mother nodded, sipped her wine. “But she was forced into it. Ben admitted that as well. Keeping her identity a secret was his rule.”
So, Hayley hadn’t lied about that. “Did he say why he made such a rule? I mean, I know he didn’t want her getting special treatment because of her name, but why?”
“Apparently, she’d been very irresponsible with her money since her mother passed. Rang up a lot of what Ben considered unnecessary expenses. Nightclubs. Restaurants. Impromptu weekends away.”
“Did it not occur to him that maybe she was blowing off steam because her mom died?” Olivia’s sudden defense of Hayley surprised her. And didn’t. “They were really close, from what she’s told me.”
“I said the same thing to him, though a little gentler than you.” Angela grinned to take away any sting. “He said he realizes that now, but at the time, all he had was anger. And I pointed out that—”
“He was still grieving for his wife and maybe taking it out on his daughter.”
Her mother gave Olivia the same smile she’d used when she was a kid, the one that said she’d gotten the answer right. “He feels terrible and says he has a lot of ground to make up with Hayley.”
“Well, it’s good that he realizes it.”
“He was also very impressed with you.”
One corner of Olivia’s mouth turned down and she gave a half shrug, coupled with a subtle scoff.
“No, really. He said the way Hayley talked about you in her emails? He knew there was something more. He said he hasn’t heard her sound so passionate about anyone or anything since she began painting.” Angela paused to let Olivia absorb that before she added, “I think he’d be very pleased with your pairing.”
With a sigh, Olivia slowly shook her head. “I don’t know, Mama.”
“I’m sorry, and please correct me if I’m wrong, but…didn’t she just get you the job you thought should’ve been yours to begin with? And, at the expense of her own?”
Olivia had actually put that on a shelf for a bit, and the reminder jarred her slightly. Hayley had done that. She’d told her father that Olivia should be managing.
“Have you talked to her about all of this?”
“Not really.”
Loo
king past Olivia, Angela gestured with her chin. “Well, it’s almost midnight, and your chance just walked in.”
Olivia spun around to see Hayley at the doorway, scanning the crowd with those eyes, her expression…nervous? Olivia wasn’t sure, but she did know one thing: Every cell in her body seemed to relax at the sight of her. How could that be? After everything they’d gone through today, all the revelations and the lies, how was it possible? How could laying eyes on Hayley from across a crowded room just feel…right?
Hayley’s gaze landed on her, and the smile that followed—one filled with relief and joy and so much more—told Olivia that Hayley most likely felt the same way.
So, there’s that.
As Hayley gave a small wave and walked toward her, Olivia realized her mother had left. She craned her neck to find both Angela and Benton looking in her direction, and she couldn’t help but shake her head with a grin at how obvious they were.
“Hi.”
Hayley was tired. Olivia could tell by how drawn her beautiful face was.
“Hey.”
“Got a minute?”
Olivia glanced at her watch, gave Hayley a half grin. “Got about eleven.” It was almost midnight.
Hayley gave one nod, then led Olivia to a corner of the room where they were out of the crowd. “I thought maybe we could hear each other better over here.”
It was a good call; the walls that made the corner seemed to block some of the sound around them, and Olivia bent her head a bit so she could hear Hayley’s voice.
“I want to apologize again. For keeping the truth from you. Yes, I had my reasons, and I didn’t do it to hurt you—God, never in a million years would I want to do that. But it was still wrong, and I still should’ve told you.”
Olivia nodded slowly as Hayley spoke, listening to every word, to the sincerity in her tone. Olivia didn’t think for one second that Hayley was doing damage control. The open, uncertain look on her face made that clear.
“And the only reason I took the report was because I knew if I got it into my father’s hands, it would be seen instead of being kicked around the corporate offices endlessly. But—”
One Walk in Winter Page 25
