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Rourke
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When I open the door to the house, the quiet seems loud. Concerned, I move fast through to the kitchen, where I see Olivia and my mother sitting outside under the shade of the patio set that hasn’t been used in almost a year. Even in February it’s warm enough to be out on the patio; today it’s seventy-three, in two days it will be forty degrees. Mom used to go out and use the pool my father had built for her weekly. However, I noticed during my trip home last year that after our neighbor moved, Mom lost all interest in going out to the patio. Now, for the first time since the stroke, she’s my mother again, smiling, laughing. She’s touching Olivia’s hand. I always thought of my mom as small, yet her hand envelops Olivia’s.
I’m not surprised in the slightest to see them looking like they’ve known each other for years. Olivia has a calm and honest air about her I knew Mom would love. It had annoyed the hell out of me when Olivia called me out on my lie. If it made my mom happy to be friends with Hitler, I’d grit my teeth and bear it. Mom knows it too. I was never going to deny her a thing I had within my power to give her. So if she wants Olivia here, that’s what my mother will get.
Olivia throws back her head in laughter, and even secure in the ponytail, her long hair flows in the wind. Why the hell do I want her so badly? Why is my body tight with anticipation at being close to her again? In the weak sun she glows like a beacon my whole body is guided to. Stop it. Get it together, she’s now obviously going to be working here for you, which means she’s off-limits.
When I open the sliding door to the patio, they both look up at the sound. I try to keep my focus on my mother. “I’m glad to see you out here. How about we eat here like we used to?”
My mother’s smile is blinding with happiness. “That sounds delightful. I would love to. Did you get our sweet treat? I love those things, Olivia is being kind enough to share them with me so I don’t have all the calories to myself.”
“Yes, Mother, I got you your horrible-for-you dessert.”
I set down the two bags of food and the tray of drinks. My mother dives into the first bag with glee. “Okay, these two are my tacos. Two for Olivia and two for you. How cute you and Olivia have the same order.”
“It’s surprising, Mother, it’s not cute.” I shake my head as I take the tacos. I’ve already taken off my suit jacket, leaving it in the car. I undo my cuff links, slipping them into my pocket, and roll up my sleeves for comfort. Although I loosen my tie, I don’t remove it. Sitting down across from my mother, I’m careful to keep Olivia out of sight so I don’t stare.
“Well, I think it’s cute. Would you like one, son?”
“No, Mother, thank you. I do not want deep-fried chocolate chip cookie dough that is then laced with powdered sugar and allowed to roll around with maraschino cherries. If you’ll remember, I’m trying not to get diabetes.”
“Oh no, dear, pay no attention to Rourke. His father had diabetes and his great-grandfather.” I look up to see Olivia looking pale and hurt.
“It was a poor joke, I’m sorry. Please enjoy your dessert, don’t listen to me.” Fuck, I would never ever want my own neurotic preoccupation with eating healthy to be pressed on anyone else, let alone Olivia.
She shakes her head as she smiles weakly. “It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m used to it, really, it’s not a big deal. I’ve been trying to lose the same twenty pounds for years anyway.”
Everything stops inside me. “Used to what?”
Her soft brown eyes are wary as they meet mine. “Digs about what I should and shouldn’t eat. I know better, I’ve read all the books. It’s nothing really.”
“First of all, it’s not fine. No one has a right to say a fucking word about what you eat or don’t eat. It’s bullshit for someone to inflict their way of thinking on you. What you want and what you feel comfortable with is the only thing that matters. And I sure as hell hope you don’t lose those twenty pounds, because your body is perfect as it is.” It’s killing me not to reach out and touch her. Not to take her in my arms and wipe away the doubts I see in her eyes. My whole body is tense with longing, with need. I want her, and I want her right fucking now. I fight to breathe deep; this is not ignoring my attraction to her. Damn it, none of this is me. I’m an ice-cold bastard when it comes to women, ask any woman I’ve fucked for the last ten years yet one look at Olivia and the ice melts so fast there is only steam left behind.
“Rourke is right, Olivia. You are quite perfect in every way I can see. Now, come, come, dear, you promised me you’d help me with these. We wouldn’t want to disappoint Rourke with you losing an inch.”
Over the next hour I keep my eyes down, not trusting myself not to eat Olivia up with my eyes because it sure as fuck isn’t food I’m hungry for. As the chattering between them winds down, I find an opening. “Going forward, those scrubs or whatever they are called are not necessary. No uniform, wear what you feel comfortable in.”
Her eyes meet mine; melting gooey chocolate makes my mouth water to taste her. “What if I do feel comfortable in the scrubs?”
Sassy brat. “I don’t like the scrubs. Kittens?” My eyes flick down to her breasts, damn it. “Surely you have something else you could wear.”
“I do, but I love kittens, but as I’m allergic to them, I have to show my love in other ways. I have a few other smocks, if the kittens offend you. There are ones with hearts and unicorns and some with mermaids on them.” She’s teasing me.
“Interesting how brave you get when my mother is here.” At least she has the grace to blush.
Mom laughs. “Rourke hates uniforms, dear, he absolutely loathes them. We could go shopping if you need new clothes.”
Shaking her head, Olivia’s eyes drop from mine. “I’m fine, thank you. My last client hated me wearing scrubs too.”
My eyebrows go up at her admission. “Ah, so you like to argue for the sake of arguing?”
“Or maybe for the sake of attempting to retain my right to wear what I want and not get bossed around.”
“Touché. Wear what you want.” I gather up the trash then take it inside, no longer trusting myself to be close without losing my control. In the kitchen, I take my time washing my hands before wiping down the counter. The sliding glass door opens, I know it’s her because I can feel her eyes on me.
“I’m going to head home now. I—we, Cheryl and I clicked very well. I’d like to take the assignment. Skyler leaves with his mom the day after tomorrow.”
“I’ll have someone move you tomorrow. Just make sure you’re packed and ready to go.”
She shakes her head. “That’s not necessary—”
“I don’t care whether you think it’s necessary or not. I’m going to have someone move your things tomorrow. They’ll call you to set a time.”
Her hands go to her hips, her top tightens over her breasts making my cock hard at the sight. “God, you have to control everything and everybody.”
“So you can move yourself in the little car you drive in one trip? You won’t need two or even three trips all the way from Round Rock to South Austin?” I allow my eyes to run over her, giving into the need eating at me. One of my eyebrows up, daring her to tell me I’m wrong. While at the same time biting my inner lip not to smile at her frustration. She is adorable when she’s mad.
Sighing, she shakes her head. “Okay fine, you know everything. You’re sooo much smarter than me.”
Damn, it’s hard not to laugh at her exasperation. “What I know is it doesn’t make sense for you to spend three or four hours doing what could be accomplished in half that time. What I know is no one else has ever bothered arguing with me for making their life easier, except you. There will be an employee contract here for you to sign. I’ll leave it between you and mom to set the things outside of the contract. If you need me for anything, you call my cell.”
Her brown eyes glow up at me. “Yes, sir, anything else, sir? Would you like me to go down on my knees in supplication, sir?”
“Olivia, I want you on your knees, have no doubt about that, but you’re now officially off-limits as my employee. It’s my second rule, after get it in writing.” My cock jerks at the lust in her eyes, at the way her breath catches and breasts swell and sway. Fuck. What the hell was I thinking? Why am I even acknowledging the attraction that will die soon anyway? “Leave, Olivia, before I make a liar of myself.”
She doesn’t fucking move; her tongue comes out to wet her bottom lip and I moan at the sight. The moan is loud in the silence. It shocks her. Now she runs like she should have when she first laid eyes on me. Seconds later I hear the front door slam closed. I’m so fucked. No. I won’t allow it to happen again. One slip, I was allowed one slip, and that was it.
It takes a hell of a lot longer than it should to get myself together enough to go outside. It’s almost cold now that the sun has gone down. I sit down across from my mother. “She’ll start tomorrow. I’ll have her moved in by the end of the day. I’m going to be busy tomorrow, so I won’t be by. Doreen will drop off the employment contract. Read through it and have her do so as well before she signs it. If something needs to be changed, call me.”
“I quite liked Olivia. She’s an amazing young woman. I always worried about you picking out some plastic pretty thing or even worse, one of those brittle women who cared more about your money than you. I’m glad you picked Olivia.”
I take a very deep breath before letting it out slowly. “Mother, Olivia is here for you. She will be an employee. I don’t get involved with employees. I also don’t get involved with women like Olivia Casey.”
“Oh now, I understand things will be tricky at first. Olivia told me she’s only agreed to six months. It’s perfect timing, you two will get to know each other better, then when she’s no longer an employee you can stop dragging your feet and be happy again. Bethany was a long time ago; as horrible as it sounds, it’s best she left when she did, even if the way she did it was less than humane. Let’s be honest, darling: she broke your pride but she didn’t break your heart. It’s still big and in there and ready for a proper woman, and Olivia is that.”
The mention of the woman who broke our engagement while I lay in a VA hospital, not sure if I would keep my arm or not, barely registers. No, Bethany didn’t break my heart, and it’s one of the many thousand reasons why I need to stay far away from Olivia. “Mom, look at me.” She meets my eyes, I hate the way sadness appears in hers. “I’m not going to get involved with Olivia Casey in any way other than her being here for you. There won’t be any biding of time until her contract is finished. Ms. Casey is not my future anything. My future will not include any one woman. I told you this years ago; nothing has changed.”
“Rourke, you aren’t still stuck on your silly worry, are you? Didn’t all the testing that found absolutely nothing relieve your mind? Besides, there are no guarantees on anything in life. Please don’t let what might happen keep you from enjoying what is happening.”
I don’t meet her eyes. We’ve had the discussion so many times there is nothing new to discuss. “If you continue to push the subject, you will push me away. Do you understand?” The pained expression on her face causes an ache deep inside, but I don’t allow it to change my mind. “Cheryl.” The word makes her flinch, I haven’t called her anything but mom since I was seven years old. “I need to make sure you understand. Now do you or not?”
She nods, leaning heavily on her walker as she gets to her feet. “I think I’ll turn in early. I’m more tired than I thought. Goodnight, Rourke.”
I don’t move as I watch her make her way into the house. I’m not above being cruel to be kind; I’m not above being cruel in the slightest. I’ve never been that way to Cheryl, though.
Wind blows over me. It’s still early enough to go home and spend the evening at home like a normal person. Only I know I would go straight to my home gym to work off the fried avocado taco I had. Although I will before the night is over, it doesn’t appeal right now. Tonight is the first night Anthony and Valentina will be working together. I want to go check and see how it’s going. Only it’s the wrong move. They need time to get comfortable in their new roles while working together. The last thing they need is me hanging around making them nervous. I figure now is as good as time as any to make sure my hotel near the Arboretum in North Austin is running smoothly.
***
Olivia
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Once again, I’m sitting in my car waiting for my body to stop trembling after an encounter with Rourke Vega. This does not bode well for the next six months. The moment I saw him again I was on high alert, tense with anticipation of what I didn’t know. Then he made the diabetes remark and I flinched, thinking he was calling me fat. Only to have him say he liked me the way I am, while his eyes told me he wanted me the way I am. His voice, hard and cutting, not about me but about anyone who dared to say I wasn’t perfect exactly as I am, made me shiver. Clearly he was angry that anyone ever said differently about me.
It was bad enough I sat there staring at him while he rolled up his sleeves to his forearms to get comfortable. They were thick and muscular, with a light dusting of black hair. With every new inch of skin he exposed I was transfixed, wanting to see more of him.
As I bit my lip so hard I thought it was going to bleed, only Cheryl’s voice broke the spell and allowed me to look away. I don’t remember much that happened after that over the next hour. Then he finally looked at me, and the feel of his eyes on me brought my whole body to life, almost vibrating with expectation. I couldn’t stop what flew out of my mouth at him laying down the law of what I would wear. A hornet’s nest was kicked to life in my stomach, at the half smile on his face as he responded. When he told me I was brave because of his mother, he had never been more right. I wanted to poke him, to get a response, to have his eyes on me.
The moment Rourke got up to take the trash away I felt lost without him. I’m pretty sure Cheryl saw it, as she told me she would love for me to be her live-in companion. I nodded, unable to find the words to answer.
I thought I was being smart leaving, not realizing I would find myself alone with Rourke. Hell, I’m such a liar. I fooled myself into thinking I could come in close contact with him and not get burned. Oh lord, my body floods in wet heat in memory of what he told me. He wanted me on my knees for him, and I wanted to go down on them for him. When he told me to leave, warned me he didn’t trust himself to get close to me and not break his own rules, I wanted to make him break his rules. The idea of the carefully concise Rourke Vega out of control was achingly appealing.
Oh, Olivia, you are a moron if you think you’re getting out of this unscathed. Was sixty thousand dollars enough to allow Rourke to tear my soul to shreds?