Page 8 of Between Desire and Denial

“Yeah, I could hide my identity but, let’s be honest, they would figure it out anyway. I just want my degree now. I can’t go through a whole new program.”

“The university is going to tear you apart,” I told her because someone had to.

She sighed and then pulled at the little fake flower behind her ear that she always wore like she was thinking about it. “So be it. Better enjoy the rest of my night before the staff and chancellor read their email tomorrow.”

“Alcove University, huh?” I knew the name, knew who funded it, knew I would have ties outside of hers. Yet, I didn’t say a thing. This was her battle. For now. “I underestimated you I think.”

She chewed the side of her cheek before her chin wobbled. “Most people do. Including my ex, I guess.”

“What’s your plan for the rest of the night?” I asked her.

“Gearing up to take that bartender back to my hotel room.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me and without her glasses obstructing the view of her eyes, I saw how they sparkled with mischief. “Can you believe Rufford didn’t even sleep with me when he got to town yesterday?” She slapped her hand overher mouth. “Okay I’ve come to the point of the night where I’m sharing too much with you.”

I hummed. “Or maybe I’m more of a friend than you first thought.”

She chuckled. “In that case, friend, I was really looking forward to screwing my boyfriend, but since he’s now my ex, I’ll be taking home the bartender if he’ll have me.”

“You’re not taking some random guy home.” My voice was low as I said it, and I couldn’t help how my muscles tightened in anger at the thought.

“It’ll be fun.” She shrugged and smiled a lazy smile at me. “I’ve never had a one-night stand before.”

Fuck me, she was cute tipsy. I stood up and looked down at her. “And you’re not going to have one with him tonight.”

Her stare was determined, and I saw the fire light in her eyes. “I’m living my life and getting over Rufford tonight, Dimitri. I’m fucking someone who will make me forget.”

“Not him.”

“Oh.” She licked her full lips slowly. “You offering instead?”

“No.” I shook my head, taking a step back immediately, because my dick jumped with her idea even though it was a bad one. “You’ve had way too much to drink.”

“Three shots. And a glass of champagne from earlier tonight is hardly too much.”

“Don’t make me take you to your hotel room and watch you all night. I have two women and work I could be doing instead.”

“Go on then.” She waved me away and leaned on the bar. Her damn cleavage was on display, and Mr. Mohawk’s eyes were laser focused there.

“That’s it. We’re going.” I put my arm around her shoulders, but she didn’t budge.

“I’m not, Dimitri.” She looked up at me, and her face was so close now, those lips pouting out lushly like she wanted me to taste them. “I can’t leave without someone.”

She said the words softly and painfully.

“Olive—”

“I really, truly can’t. If I’m alone tonight, I’ll just think of him. I’ll want only him, and I don’t want to want him ever again. I know that sounds crazy but… I just can’t.” I saw her vulnerability then, not the determination or the strength. Or maybe that was where her strength came from. She admitted her truth even if it hurt her to do so.

I hated being around women who cried or anyone who was too emotional, honestly, but even the tears in her eyes didn’t make me want to back away. Instead, I was mesmerized by them, by the depth in them that I hadn’t seen before.

“I’ll stay with you, Olive,” I said against her ear. “Come on. You don’t know that guy,” I coaxed her.

“You’ll stay with me?” Her eyebrows knitted together. “In my bed?”

Goddamn, she was serious. “You don’t want me in your bed, pretty girl. I don’t do relationships or sweet nothings or any of that.”

“I’m not asking for that. I’m just asking for someone to help me forget the best sex of my life. Rufford was it for me.” She said it so seriously and held nothing back at all. Had she always been this honest with me and Kee? “He was all I needed. I hate saying that knowing he used me, but it’s true. I can admit that.”

“All you needed? There are billions of other men in this world and that’s all you needed? You’re selling yourself short. And there’s no way he was the best you’ve ever had.” Why was I arguing this? I shouldn’t care if her best was that asshole.