Page 21 of She’s a Big Deal

Of course, she would. And already knew how.

“We’ ll speak to your lawyer. Get him to set up a meeting so you can speak to your accusers and apologize properly. Then you won’t feel like a coward, which I know you are not.”

“Thank you,” he murmured.

“Then I’ll find you a good therapist, and a personal trainer as well.”

“A PT?” He looked surprised.

“Yes. Mind and body for a holistic approach.” She paused and considered briefly. “How would you like to come to Miami and spend time with me? I could find you a job with my company if you’re up for a bit of hard work.”

He hugged her again as gratitude flooded his face. “You bet I’m up for it! And a change of environment too. Jeremy will have a fit, but…”

“He’ll live. It’s about time you moved out from under his circle of influence.”

“I believe so. Grace, thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “This won’t be a vacation. I expect you to earn your keep in the job and work hard on yourself outside of it. No drugs. No alcohol.”

“Fine. I’m ready. I won’t let you down.”

“You got someone?”

“Someone?”

“A guy, Reece.”

“Uh. No.” He blushed like a well-ripe tomato. “I did, once. But it didn’t work. He was out to everyone he knew, and I didn’t want to be.”

“Alright. Well, you’re still young. There’s time for this sort of thing yet. Okay?”

“Okay.” He rubbed his eyes and flashed her a tired smile. “I’m all out of juice.”

“But you feel better. Yes?”

“Oh yeah. Hell of a lot better.”

“Welcome to the light, brother,” she told him.

Fatigue and guilt hit her on the drive back to Red Falls. For sure, Reece was a grown man. And there was never, not under any circumstance, any excuse for bullying a woman. Grace had been crystal clear with him on that. It was also obvious now that he had been on a downward slide for some time. Years! And she hated the fact that she had not been there to support him. Then again…

“He never asked until today,” she muttered.

And who could blame her for staying away and cutting all ties when every bloody interaction with her family was always so charged with hostility? Still, she felt for the young man that he had been, struggling on his own and too confused to reach out. Grace parked in front of her aunt’s house, cut the engine, and sat for a while with her eyes closed. Mulling it over. After a while, a soft knock on the passenger side window made her look. Expecting Charlie, she fell instead into a pair of large, smiling dark eyes. Olivia… Her heart rate shot up. She disengaged the locks.

“Hello, Ms. Michaels! How are you?”

“Not too bad. I was just having a think.”

“Sorry to interrupt.” Olivia dropped onto the seat and shut the door behind her. “We saw you out the window. Charlie sent me to drag you in. I’m going to kiss you.”

“Are you now?”

“Yeah.”

Grace secretly enjoyed Olivia's taking the initiative and the way Olivia cradled her jaw as she leaned in. The kiss was warm and surprisingly intimate—easy and comfortable. When Olivia pulled back, too soon for her own taste, Grace grabbed hold of her by the collar of her sweater. She kept her close and took her mouth for a longer and deeper kiss.

“Right back atcha,” she murmured.

“Yeah.” Olivia chuckled. “Hi.”

“I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. Had to deal with urgent business stuff, family drama… I haven’t had a minute to breathe since we got back from Ottawa.”

“That’s okay, I understand.” Yet Olivia held her gaze, and obviously waited her out.

Grace did not hold back.

“You have to know… I don’t do relationships.”

“Like you warned me you don’t bottom very well.” Olivia’s smile widened. “Gotcha.”

“Are you laughing at me?”

“No.” These gorgeous eyes grew earnest. “Just using humor to protect myself against how devastated I’m going to feel if you tell me the other night was a mistake. And that we’re done, you and me.”

She was right. It was exactly what Grace had been planning to tell her. But now…

“Are you always so open and honest?” she asked.

“Yes.” Olivia shrugged. “What would be the point of faking it through life?”

“You should talk to my brother.”

“Oh? Well—”

“Look.” Grace raised a hand to stop her from getting sidetracked. “I’ll be honest with you as well. I don’t think the other night was a mistake. Number one.”

“Okay.” Olivia held her breath.

“Two, I like you.” Heart starting to race a bit at the blatant admission.

“Oh, gosh!” Olivia exhaled sharply in relief. “I like you too, Grace. A hell of a lot!” She grinned. “I wouldn’t have slept with you otherwise.”

“Yeah. And I can’t make any promises. I won’t.”

Olivia nodded. Several seconds of silence followed, during which she just stared, before asking. “Is that all?”

“That’s all, yes.”

Olivia had said it herself: no point in faking it. Or forcing things, Grace might add. It was all she could realistically give at the moment. Her anxiety simmered just admitting to the fact that she did like her. A hell of a lot. The other night, far from being a mistake, had been some kind of a miracle for her. No need for play, no dominant games... No ‘Call me Mistress’ and ‘On your knees’. Grace had only yearned for genuine connection. She had wanted to make love to the woman. Jesus… Make love ! And it was amazing. Since then, she had spent time rationalizing, minimizing, and putting everything into perspective. Getting cold, and ready to let go, according to her standard MO. Now she just sat as hammers pounded on her skull and waited for Olivia’s reaction to her stern assessment. Would the woman understand? What would she say? As it turned out, not a lot. But her reaction spoke volumes. Olivia leaned close for another soft brush of the lips. She smiled. Nodded toward the house.

“Charlie’s going to wonder what we’re doing. Ready to go in and get warm?”

“Yes.”

“You should take something for that headache.”

“How do you know I—” Grace started before catching the look in Olivia’s eyes. A mix of warmth, compassion, and pure affection, all rolled into one. Something else, too? She noticed it for sure, but could not go there. “Guess it must be obvious,” she muttered instead.

“No, you hide it very well.” Another smile, a patient look. “But I can see.”

Outside, Olivia took her hand. Again, without asking. Okay, okay… Grace wasn’t too sure about holding hands in front of her aunt. Charlie and her loving enthusiasm… It could be too much, and she was in no mood for pointed questions. But it was fine this time. Charlie clocked the contact as they walked in together, beamed a megawatt smile, and directed the way into the kitchen, where all the action seemed to be taking place.

“We’re making vegan stew, darling Grace.”

“Ah. Smells great.”

Olivia poured some wine and whispered in Charlie’s ear. A glass of water and a headache pill magically appeared in front of her. Still, with no probing questions or undue attention. Grace took off her jacket, and she sat at the table as Charlie went back to stirring a big pot on the stove. Michael Bublé was singing about Christmas in the background. Two happy dogs snoozed in a basket in the corner of the room. Olivia flashed her a lingering smile. This is the feel of home, Grace decided. Welcoming, warm… Safe. And Olivia was a part of making it so. Grace swallowed the pill, sipped her wine, and watched her chop a bunch of herbs. Handy with a kitchen knife. Chef skills. She wore threadbare jeans, thick red socks with little white snowflakes on them, and a lumberjack shirt reminiscent of the one she had on the first time they met. Olivia Bianchi-style through and through. Grace observed her thoughtfully. The outfit struck her as incredibly sexy this time around.

“You two need any help with the cooking?” she asked.

“It’s almost done,” Charlie declared, then clearly could not resist reminding her of the one time she’d made a potato explode in the microwave. “It went off like a hand grenade,” she said, and Olivia laughed.

“In my defense, you never told me I had to stab it to death first.”

“Best if you leave the cooking to us,” Charlie grinned. “You just relax now, honey.”

“I’ll second that,” Olivia said with another long, warm look.

“Okay.” For once in her life, Grace found it actually wasn’t so hard to comply.

◆◆◆

“There, it’s happening again. She clicks her fingers and you go. Or rather,” Dana pointed out, “she sends the ticket, and you fly off.”

“Well, it’s not like she’s forcing me.” Olivia grinned at her friend. “Thanks for the ride to the airport, by the way.”

“That’s fine. But she paid for your flight?”

“It was a surprise. So, yeah, she did.”

“Hmm.”

“Be happy for me, Dana,” Olivia said. “Aren’t you the one who kept saying I should get back in the saddle?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure about this particular horse.”

“Oh, gosh. Her name is Grace, okay? And be more specific.”

“Specifically, Olivia, Grace is absolutely not your usual type. She’s older, powerful, a business tycoon who thinks nothing of sending you a plane ticket to Florida for the weekend.”

“I know. Great, huh?” Olivia beamed, intentionally teasing.

“If you say so. But you know what I mean.”

“Not sure I do, to be honest.”

Dana flashed her a sobering glance. “Well, to put it bluntly, I think you’re biting off more than you can chew with this one. Which would be a regular occurrence for you, actually.”

“Talk about blunt, uh. And hurtful too.”

“I don’t mean to be, babe. You know that.” Dana squeezed her shoulder in a soothing gesture. “I just think she’s too much. Too mighty. Too experienced for you.”

“When is experience not a good thing?” Olivia shrugged in light irritation. “Yeah, she’s older. Fourteen years in between us. Not a big deal as far as I’m concerned. And she’s a designer. An artist, just like me. Anyway, I’m still single, right? Sticking with my regular type isn’t likely to get me anywhere.”

“Fair enough,” Dana was forced to concede.

“Yeah. And I didn’t choose. You know I wasn’t looking for a new relationship. Attraction happens or it doesn’t. With us…” She smiled. “It sizzled from the start.”

“I just worry she’s a control freak who’ll take advantage of the situation and easily manipulate you.”

“Give me a break, D. I’m not a total idiot.”

“I never said that.”

“You think I’m too soft.”

“Well.” Dana’s expression turned fondly exasperated. “You can be. A little too nice, too trusting, and it comes back to bite you on the ass.”

“She did.”

“What?”

“Bite me on the ass.” Olivia laughed. “I loved it.”

“You slept with her?” Dana all but shrieked.

“When we got stuck the other day, yes.” Olivia did soften at the memory. “She opened up to me. Her past made her tough and resilient. She likes to be in control, you’re right. But I like her power and authority. She takes no shit from anyone, and why should she? Underneath it all, she’s also warm and funny, kind and caring. Vulnerable, and deeply emotionally switched on. It’s beautiful.”

This time, Dana’s glance was loaded with resignation. “Too late to warn you off, by the sound of it.”

“Too late,” Olivia said firmly. “But thanks for looking after me, even though it can be irritating as hell sometimes.”

“That’s what best friends are for.”

“Yes. I don’t take you for granted, D. And your babysitting Everett for me yet again.”

“Then show me your appreciation.”

“How?”

Olivia groaned, wary again, but her friend broke into a mischievous grin. “How was the sex in Dodger? Ass-biting, eh? You’ve got to tell me more about that!”