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Index
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
About The Author
Also By Misha Carver
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
EPILOGUE
THE FIRST CHAPTER FROM BOOK TWO – AMALFI COAST!
ARE YOU EXCITED FOR THE NEXT DESTINATION?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my team of beta readers: Anna Baucom Burr, Melesia Tully, Sandi Laubhan, and Brittany Bishop.
Also, I want to give a big thanks to my family and friends who have been so supportive of my writing and me. Thank you.
Chapter One
Four days later…
Chapter Four
"So, how exactly is this supposed to work?" he asked, turning to Olivia. “I’m sure a lot of people want to meet your father.”
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
"When you say hotel…" she trailed off hesitantly.
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
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Forget it. I’ve found a freelance job. There is no need for us to talk or see each other again. - Derrick
Chapter Twelve
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Chapter Thirteen
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Chapter Fourteen
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Chapter Fifteen
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"Then perhaps you and I—"
Chapter Sixteen
Patrice cleared her throat. “Brandy, darling, that’s not our business to tell.” Patrice gave her a fake smile and changed the subject. “Rachel says you are in school. What exactly are you studying?”
Olivia’s mind reeled as she tried to process the previous part of the conversation. Play it off. Don’t let them get to you. You can talk to Derrick later. “I’m pursuing a degree in business. I plan to own a business in the next ten years,” Olivia answered proudly.
“Really? That’s very ambitious, and a lot of work,” Patrice said as if she were trying to patronize her.
“I’m aware of how hard it is. I’ve already started an internship and am working with one of the best wedding planning companies in the city,” Olivia replied.
Brandy blinked, putting on a fake smile. “Which city?” she asked. “I thought Patterson was just a small college town.”
“It is a college town, but there are many big cities nearby that are only a train ride away. Boston, which is where my internship is, is only twenty minutes away. And you’d be surprised how many college students tie the knot. A lot of students at Patterson are obtaining their Doctorate degrees. Not everyone that attends school here is fresh out of high school,” Olivia explained trying to keep her tone friendly. She couldn’t help but feel like she was being tag-teamed.
“Are we ready to order yet? I’m starved,” Rachel sighed as she sank back into her chair.
“Of course, darling,” Patrice smiled. She raised her hand up, waving to the waiter to come to the table.
Rachel gave Olivia a sympathetic look. “Are you okay?” she mouthed.
Olivia nodded. Things weren’t going that bad, at least not yet. But something told her she hadn’t seen the worst of it yet.
***
Olivia stared absently at the TV. She was watching a rerun of her favorite movie on Netflix, but she couldn’t concentrate on Pride and Prejudice right now. Derrick wasn’t home yet and she couldn’t stop thinking about the awkward and disastrous lunch with Rachel, Brandy, and Patrice.
They didn’t like her. That was a first. All of her boyfriends’ parents liked her. Then, there was the bombshell they’d dropped. Derrick had been in jail.
Her head snapped to the front door as it swung open. Derrick walked in, his head hung low. He set his keys on the end table and slumped down onto the couch next to her.
“How was your lunch,” he asked with a sigh.
“Horrible. Yours?” she answered.
“Horrible. What happened? What did they say?” Derrick asked sitting up and glaring at her.
“It was mostly filled with weird silence. But from what they did say, I get the feeling they don’t like me much,” Olivia sighed. It bothered her that his family didn’t even give her a chance. It shouldn’t, but it did. These people were mean and spiteful. She didn’t need their approval—but it would be nice. Then there was the other thing they’d mentioned. Should I bring it up? You’ll never stop thinking about it if you don’t.
“Don’t pay them any mind,” Derrick replied, breaking her chain of thoughts.
“Is that how it was growing up?” she asked curiously.
“Yeah,” he admitted.
Olivia bit her lip as she contemplated her next words. “You know, we aren’t going to be able to avoid them indefinitely. Rachel told me they’ve been smothering her. If we talk about what happened,” she started nervously. “We could help each other get through this better. I know it’s bothering you.”
Derrick stood up and ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t want to talk about it. And we won’t see them again. I promise.”
“So we’re just going to avoid Rachel? Because I think she needs us right now,” Olivia stated, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I’m sure they’re doing other things, too. They can’t spend every waking moment with Rachel,” Derrick argued.
“Maybe. But I do know they’re taking her to lunch again tomorrow. Then going shopping for the baby, and she’s making dinner at Marc’s for everyone,” Olivia countered.
“Why are you making such a big deal about this?” Derrick asked annoyed.
Olivia scoffed as she shot up from the couch and stalked toward him. “Because I care. Clearly it bothers you. Instead of keeping it bottled up inside, talk about it. There’s tension between us and I don’t like it. I want to be here for you, but if you keep me at arms length, I can’t be.”
“Maybe there are just some things I don’t want you to know,” Derrick yelled as red tinged his cheeks.
“I’m the woman you love, supposedly. Why wouldn’t you want to tell me?” Olivia wondered. Why shouldn’t she know everything about him? If they were ever to have a life together, she should know his past. And if he’d spent time in jail she had a right to know. They were practically living together—they were very involved. He should be able to tell her things.
“You’re taking it out of context,” Derrick murmured. He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Look, it’s been a long day. Let’s just order in and we’ll finish watching your movie.”
Olivia threw her arms up in the air in exasperation. He wasn’t going to tell her. “You do that. I’m going home.” She stomped to the front door and grabbed her purse. Would he stop her? Was she being rash? No. If he couldn’t talk to her now, what would it be like when they were even more involved?
Grasping the doorknob in her hand, she turned back to look at Derrick. He didn’t say anything. Olivia swallowed and opened the door and walked out.
Chapter Seventeen
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Chapter Eighteen
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“Well, we’re all together now, for the most part, we should make the most of it while we wait. I don’t know about everyone else, but I don’t think I can just sit around and wait,” Arnold exclaimed. “Are there any good restaurants around here, Olivia? We could do a late lunch—early dinner.”
Derrick’s head snapped up at the mention of Olivia’s name. He was not going to let his father drag her into something.
Olivia gave him a look, the hand on his thigh tensing. “This café has some really nice sandwiches,” she suggested.
“Sandwiches?” Patrice asked. “We were thinking something a little more upscale and filling. We could have a long night ahead of us.”
“Doors right there,” Derrick said, motioning to the entrance.
“You will speak to your mother with respect,” Arnold insisted with a snarl.
“It’s hard to show respect to someone who shows you none,” Derrick retorted.
His mother and father blanched at his comment. But they cared too much about their image to make a scene, even if the café was below their standards.
“You know, I think we can find a place on our own,” Patrice replied as she rose to her feet. She put an arm around her husband and all but hauled him up, too.
Derrick sighed, watching as his parents and Brandy gathered their things. Elliott massaged his temples for a moment before he too stood. They left without a word. How many more encounters was he going to have with his parents before things escalated again? He just had to remember to breathe. They weren’t going to get the better of him this time.
***
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Chapter Nineteen
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Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-Two
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