All About You (All Series Book 6) (7 page)

Dangerous

“So, would this could be considered our second date then?” Olivia asked a few days later.

“If we say that, then the first date kind of makes me a piss poor excuse of a man. Eating lunch at your work station was a pretty sad first date.”

He wanted to do better by her. Even sitting in the pub right now wasn’t that wonderful, but it was the best he felt he could do right now.

He liked her idea about a lunch date. Start slow. No worries, no stress, and no babysitters for him. No having to explain to anyone why he needed a babysitter either.

“Why? Do you think I’m so shallow that I can’t appreciate lunch with good company outside of a fancy restaurant?”

“I didn’t mean it that way.” And now he felt shallow himself assuming that, or making her feel that way. “I just meant that though it’s been a long time since I’ve been on an actual date, I still can figure out how to handle one.”

“A long time, you say?” She lifted her eyebrow at him, smirking slightly.

He brought it up, might as well lead in with it. They were on the clock, so there was only so much they could talk about. He wouldn’t be able to go into depth, not that he would even consider it.

“Hard to get a sitter.” She hesitated for a moment—he couldn’t miss it, not with her opening her mouth and closing it. “Go ahead, ask.”

“I’m assuming you’re a single parent. You mentioned you weren’t married and didn’t have a girlfriend, so…divorced?”

“Would it matter if I was?”

“Not at all. Just curious.”

He believed her, believed there wasn’t much more than that. “Trey’s mother decided motherhood wasn’t for her and took off shortly after he was born.”

“Oh.” She looked sad for a moment and the last thing he wanted was pity. He’d seen and felt enough of that in the last four years. “I know a bit about that, you could say.”

Somehow, he doubted that. “How’s that?”

“I haven’t seen my father face to face in close to fifteen years. Maybe longer. He doesn’t talk to me, not unless it’s through his assistant. He’s in the picture, but not really. Just a name to me, not even a voice or a face at this point. Checkbooks don’t mean a whole lot to me.”

“It’s not really the same thing.”

“No, you’re right. I still had my mother, kind of. When she wasn’t jet setting around the globe looking for her next conquest, the next man to help her get through her broken heart. And trust me, I’m ruining this date, so let’s change the subject. I’m sorry you’re on your own, but from what I can see Trey comes first to you and that’s the way it should be.”

Not what he expected at all. Not after listening to the brief description of her parents and her relationship with them. Maybe that was all the more reason he expected her to want to be put first.

“It
is
that way. Trey has to come first.”

She nodded. “Let’s move on to something a bit lighter, but I’ll tell you that I’m okay with that. With Trey coming first, I mean. I wish I had a father figure like that with me as a child, so I wouldn’t begrudge it of someone else. So how did you end up working two completely different jobs, pretty much full time each?”

He was relieved she changed the subject. He wasn’t ready to talk about his past with Trey or Trey’s mother. It wasn’t a subject he talked about often, and no one really knew everything. Pride had kept him from voicing the things that happened after Becca left.

“It just sort of fell in place that way.”

“Why firefighting? It’s pretty dangerous. Are you someone that likes the thrill of that? Living on the edge?”

“There’s no thrill rushing into a burning fire. Not like you’re thinking. It’s not for enjoyment, I can tell you that much.” He knew Becca was turned on by his job, by the risk factor of it, and it had always bothered him deep down.

“What is it, then?”

He shrugged, not used to talking about it.

“I guess you could say ever since I saw that big red firetruck in kindergarten, I was hooked. Bright red and shiny, the lights flashing, the sirens. What’s not to love to a five-year-old boy?”

She laughed softly. “Ah, big red firetruck. That’s all it took, huh?”

“Pretty much.”

“What about the woodworking?”

“My grandfather was a cabinetmaker and he passed his love of woodworking on to me. It stuck and was a good hobby that turned into something more.”

“How long have you been at Harper’s?”

“Just a few years.”

He’d been on his own, picking and choosing his own jobs, but when Trey came along and he alone was responsible for him, it was too much to juggle everything. The stability of Harper’s and them deciding the jobs and times was what he needed in his life. They worked around his schedule easily.

“So how did you end up there? I’ve heard Phil talking to Sophia. It’s not easy to get hired at Harper’s. You must have been pretty good.”

“I am pretty good. And yes, it’s not easy. I’d done a few custom wood pieces for Alec personally on his flips, and it just evolved from there.”

He paused while their lunches were set in front of them and watched as she picked up her napkin and placed it in her lap, looking like the lady of the manor getting ready to pick up her burger and bite in.

“You know, you aren’t like any other woman I know.”

She finished chewing, wiped her lip and said, “I would like to think I’m not. Then again, maybe you mean that in a negative way. So why am I different?”

“Not negative, no. We’ve spent the entire time talking about me for the most part, nothing about you.”

“Ah, the shallow misconception again?”

She was laughing at him, he saw, even though she took a huge bite of her burger and continued to chew. It was the twinkle in her eye, shining so lively at the moment. He fought to keep the embarrassment from creeping up his neck and almost succeeded until she winked at him.

“I’ve been put in my place,” he had the grace to say.

“Have you? Somehow I don’t picture you as someone who gets put in his place often.”

“Misconceptions,” he told her.

“Points for you. So let’s say we both have them concerning each other. Okay, ask away, what do you want to know?”

“Why jewelry?” It was a safe enough question. “I figured you could do anything you want, or nothing at all and still live comfortably.”

“Yes to both assumptions. But I like shiny things. Kind of like you, only my likes are smaller than big red firetrucks.” He grinned at her, he couldn’t help it. “Anyway, I like to draw, too. But I got sick of having pieces of jewelry like everyone else had. I wanted different, unique. What better way to get them than to make them myself?”

“Different and unique, just like you.”

“You could say that.”

“And yet you never wear your pieces.”

“You’ve noticed.”

“I’ve noticed a lot about you.”

“You know, Finn, you’ve got a smoothness to you.”

“You’re the first to ever say so.” Seriously, no one had ever said he was smooth. Must be she brought it out in him.

“I’ll take that as a compliment. As to why I don’t wear much jewelry, well, that’s easy. It gets in the way when I’m working, and that is really the only environment you’ve seen me in.”

“Don’t forget the playground.”

“Jewelry and toddlers at the park don’t go hand in hand either.”

“So if I take you on a real date, you’ll let me see more of your designs?”

“You mean this isn’t a real date?” She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “I’m hurt. Here I was all proud of myself with the suggestion.”

She was dangerous, no doubt about it. Every time he thought he had a handle on her, she did or said something that threw him off track.

“It was a good suggestion,” he said trying to make her feel better.

“Well then, whenever you think you want to try for a
real date
, I’ll make sure I give you something to look at.”

Yep, dangerous. Really, really dangerous.

***

“This is crazy,” Olivia said. “Why did we have to take two cars?”

She parked her car in the newly painted spot marked for owner and then walked over to Finn as he was getting out of his truck.

“Because no one needs to see we left together.”

“Is it a problem if someone does?” She didn’t think it was a big deal if anyone knew. They weren’t doing anything wrong.

“I figured it would be easier for everyone.”

“For you maybe, not for me. Actually, it would have been easier for you if we just took my car. Then you wouldn’t be parked so far away this time,” she said, smirking at him.

“True.”

“Next time we can take my car. I’ll even let you drive.”

“Drive your car?” he asked, his eyes shifting over to where it was parked.

“It’s just a car, Finn. I could care less who drives it. Besides, you know this area better. I had all I could do to find the pub just now.”

“You’re a piece of work.”

“I thought we established that already. It’s a good thing too, right?” She took a step forward, more into his personal space. “You know, I know you said it had been a while since you dated, but you really need to catch up. Two dates, and not even a touch on my hand, let alone a kiss.”

“Maybe I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

“Or maybe I scare you? Now wouldn’t that be funny.”

“It would be, if it were true. If you want me to kiss you, why don’t you ask for it?”

He lowered his head, teasing her, holding her stare as those words came out in a deep whisper, almost rumbling in his chest.

Okay, she said he was smooth. He was, and she liked this side of him, too. The side that was a bit rough, a bit scary, and a whole lot of controlling man. She leaned up, not far, not with her heels on, and had her lips hovering just in front of his.

“I don’t like to ask for things. But if I see something I like, I want to give it a try.”

He touched his lips to hers softly, barely a graze, then whispered, “So I’m something you need to try for the first time.”

“No. First time yes, but not just a sample and run.”

She laid her lips over his, kissed him a bit more and a bit longer, until he opened her mouth and swooped in, tasting her, feeding off of her and making her crave more. She didn’t want to stop, not at all, but he pulled back, looked into her eyes, held her stare and then lowered his mouth to hers again.

“You taste so good.” He pulled her closer, but held her lightly. “And fit so perfectly against me.”

She couldn’t speak and she wanted him to stop talking. No more talking, just more kissing, but the sound of a car door shutting pulled her out of the haze Finn had sent her spiraling into. She let out a deep breath and took a step back.

“Now that is how you end a date.”

“I told you I knew what I was doing,” he said over his shoulder as she watched him walk away.

That was fine, that was good, she needed a few minutes to get herself under control.

Place for You

“Was that Mom you were talking to?” Sophia asked when Olivia turned the corner into the kitchen.

“Yeah, how’d you guess?”

“Easy enough. I heard you trying to get a few words in but not succeeding.” Sophia stopped talking and looked over at Addison as she sat in the swing, her eyes starting to close. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, just so you know. But the kids are being quiet at the moment, and the sounds can carry when you’re right below me.”

“No worries. I’ve got nothing to hide.” Which was pretty pathetic for someone who’d always kept such an active social life.

“How is she doing? Enjoying Italy right now? Or are they back in California?”

Victoria Richmond Mansfield Hartman Milan was on her third and hopefully last husband. It’d been over ten years easily for this marriage, so maybe this one was sticking.

It seemed it, anyway. She’d never seen her mother happier if she was honest. Anthony was older and completely doted on her mother. And though Anthony was the closest thing to a father figure Olivia had—and she loved him for it—he’d been there more for her as an adult than as a child when she actually needed it the most.

“Italy for another month or so, then California. She made noises about coming out to see the store this summer. She misses her grandchildren, too.”

“It was nice having her here for Addison’s birth, but I was just as happy when she and my father left.”

“How did you turn out so normal?” Olivia blurted out.

Sophia laughed, deep and throaty, another thing the two of them shared and inherited from their mother. The soft sexy appeal in the way they looked and sounded that drew men in.

“I’m normal, huh? I’m trying to figure out if you just insulted me.”

“Hardly,” Olivia said, but maybe it was time to have this talk. She’d always wanted it before, but never figured out how to broach it.

All afternoon she was remorseful over how she’d described her mother to Finn. Maybe she was harsher than she should have been. “Get off your feet, unless you’re in a hurry for dinner. Can we talk?”

Sophia pulled out a chair and sat at the breakfast table, looked over at Ian quietly playing and Addison sound asleep.

“Phil is going to be late tonight, we’ve got time. What do you want to talk about?”

“Mom.”

“I’m not sure we have that much time,” Sophia joked.

“Let’s just touch on it then. You lived with the revolving door of men more than I did. How did you handle it?”

“I just adapted. I wasn’t around as much as you think. Remember, I was shuffled a lot more than you. There were plenty of times my father wanted me and Mom was just as happy to let me go.”

Sophia was lucky in that her father actually wanted to be a part of her life, even if it wasn’t always with the best intentions.

“Did that bother you? Being a pawn in their games?”

“No. Not really. Looking back, I’m sure it did, but it made me who I am. I just wanted to get along with everyone. It was easy. I always knew it was temporary, so I played the part I needed to until I was moved again.”

“You have no ill feelings toward Mom or your father now, do you? I mean it doesn’t look it from someone on the outside.”

“I don’t. I’ve come to terms with both of them. You will with Mom someday, too.”

“But never my father.”

“Probably not. When was the last time you talked to him?”

“I haven’t actually talked to him in longer than I can remember. The last time I heard anything was when the car was delivered a few weeks ago with the key in a gift box and a note congratulating me on the store.”

Sophia nodded in understanding, or sympathy maybe. “Do you wonder how he knew about the store?”

“I’m guessing Mom told him.”

“Mom hasn’t talked to Simon in almost as long as you.”

“Then I have no clue. He probably has people keeping tabs on me, just like he did when I was in boarding school and then the last several years traveling.” Which always bothered her.

“You’re probably right. Is that why you went away? Personally, I hated the year I was in boarding school, but you couldn’t wait to go away.”

“You remember that, do you?”

Olivia was young, maybe middle school when she went away to boarding school. She’d hated that first year, but it was a relief to not be around and see her mother go through another relationship.

Besides, Sophia had been sent to live with her father, Spencer, and there was no one around for Olivia but the hired help.

“How could I forget? You cried for a week when you found out you were going. Called me every night asking if you could come live with me and my father.”

“I did follow you around all the time. When we lived together, that is, which wasn’t often.”

“No, it wasn’t. You were like a little puppy dog.”

“And being older, you wanted nothing to do with me.” That wasn’t true, but Olivia was trying to lighten the mood.

“If I’d had my way, I would have brought you with me, but you know it was never my choice. I was a senior, graduating that year too. I was just as happy to finish the whole year in one school. At least you had that stability. Once you went away, you stayed there the whole four years.”

“In another country,” Olivia said.

“That was your choice too. Why is that?”

Spite. But Olivia didn’t feel right saying that.

She was young and ticked off that it seemed no one wanted her, so she wanted to go as far away as possible and make her father pay for it on top of it.

The joke was on her though since no one seemed to care or miss her or even quibble about the cost.

That should have been enough for her to realize she couldn’t win at those types of games, but she was stubborn and immature and just continued on.

“Does it matter now?”

“Probably not. I guess the bigger question is, how are you doing now?”

“I’m adjusting.”

This was a whole different world she was living in, but she found it was better than she could have imagined. Another crazy decision she made, but she didn’t seem to be regretting this one. Not like when she went to boarding school in Switzerland.

“It looks it. You look happy.”

“I do?”

She felt happy, happier than she’d felt jet setting around the world like her mother. There were women who wanted the life Olivia had, told her she had it all, and yet she really wanted no part of it.

Unfortunately, it was all she’d ever known. Visiting Sophia and seeing this life, well, that opened up a window to what she’d felt she was missing her whole life.

“You do.” Sophia reached her hand across and gave Olivia’s fingers a little squeeze. “And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re here. You can come up crying or call me crying as much as you want now. See, I took you in, and I’ll always have a place for you.”

***

“So you’ll watch Trey for me?” Finn asked his sister Monday after work.

After his lunch date with Olivia, he decided it was time. He was ready to at least take the next step, but he needed to make a plan. It wasn’t as easy as it used to be to go on a date.

“You’re working Friday night though, aren’t you? Mom normally takes Trey overnight, you just said you needed a few hours.” Sherri asked, eying him suspiciously. She knew his work schedule, so did his mother. He relied on them to watch Trey when he was at the firehouse.

“I’m not working Friday. I’m pulling a double Tuesday and Wednesday, switching shifts with someone.”

As much as pulling doubles was hard, and it was two full nights away from Trey, he was actually happy to have gotten the call an hour ago. It gave him Friday night off and the whole weekend with Trey now. He’d make it special, just the two of them.

“Oh. Trying to catch up at the store you’re working on then?”

He could let Sherri believe that. If Olivia couldn’t go on the date, he’d take advantage of the time and work a few hours at the store. He didn’t want to get too far behind. He’d already called Andy Palmer, the foreman on Olivia’s store, and explained. They were fine with it; they always were and told him they’d work around it.

“Possibly.”

“Hmm,” Sherri said, crossing her arms. “You’re evading me. What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Will you do it, or not?”

“You’re going on a date, aren’t you?”

Damn her. He wouldn’t lie though. “Maybe. I haven’t asked yet. I’m just trying to work out some details.”

Sherri’s eyes lit up, and he groaned internally. “Finally. You’re finally coming out of hiding. If this woman can’t, I know someone who would be perfect for you.”

“No,” he cut her off before she could start listing names of her friends. “I’m not being set up by anyone. I’ve told you before.”

“Finn, it’s been over a year since you went on a date.”

“Are you keeping tabs on me?”

“It’s ridiculously easy to. All you do is work.”

That was true, and pretty depressing. “I have a life.”

“Sure, and you don’t need to tell me about
that
kind of life. I don’t want to know. Tell me her name?”

He snorted over her comment about not wanting to know his life. It wasn’t that exciting, but he wasn’t going to admit it. “Why? It’s just a date.”

“A first date?” she asked.

“Sort of.”

“Which means no. Give me something, or I can’t watch Trey.”

“You’re something else. Just like when we were kids and you wanted something, always bartering to get your way.”

Sherri laughed and punched his arm playfully. “Just tell me, or it might slip when I talk to Mom tonight.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. The last thing he wanted were his parents knowing he was going on a date. They were almost as bad as Sherri, constantly telling him he needed to find a nice girl to settle down with and help raise Trey.

“Olivia. Olivia Hartman. Happy now?”

“Of Hartman Designs? The store you’re working on.”

Shit, he forgot she knew that. “Yes. So is that a yes or no? Are you going to watch Trey for me?”

“Yes. I’ll do it. Only because I love my baby brother.”

“Sure. You keep telling yourself that.” But he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. Step one down.

Ten minutes later, Finn pulled into the preschool parking lot. The kids were running around outside and it didn’t take Trey long to see him and come skipping over.

“Hey, scout, you ready?”

“Yes,” he said, his smile upbeat and cheerful, and Finn was thankful for that. Thankful for his sister and mother for helping him normalize Trey’s life so much.

He grabbed Trey’s bag and started for Finn’s truck. “I thought we could go out to dinner tonight.”

“Really?” Trey asked, excited. Going out to dinner was one of Trey’s favorite things, as it was a form of “man time” in Trey’s young eyes.

“Yeah. My schedule got changed today and I have to pull a double, tomorrow and Wednesday. I thought I’d take you out today instead.”

“Okay. Can I get dessert today, too?”

“Sure. Why not?”

Finn was thrilled that Trey just took the schedule change in stride and didn’t cry or get upset that he wasn’t going to see him for over forty-eight hours. More actually, since Finn was going to need to sleep at some point too.

They were seated in a booth at a local restaurant, Trey looking at the pictures of food on the children’s menu, Finn looking over his menu.

“What are you in the mood for, scout?”

“A burger. With a soft bun,” Trey said, looking up, his hazel eyes staring back at Finn. Of course Finn knew how Trey ate his burgers. He knew everything about his son.

“You’ve got it.” He figured there was no way to ease into what he was going to ask his son, so he just went straight for it. “So, what do you think about going to Aunt Sherri’s on Friday night? I’ll pick you up from school earlier than normal Friday afternoon, you and I can get some lunch and run errands, and then you can go play with your cousins for a few hours.”

“I’m not spending the night, am I?”

“No, you’ll spend the night home with me. It’s just for a few hours.”

Finn held his breath, hoping that Trey didn’t ask why, not that he thought Trey would, but he really didn’t want to explain to his son he was going on a date. He wasn’t ready for that conversation.

“Can I stay up late when I get home?”

“Sure. If you feel up to it. We can watch a movie together, how is that?”

Trey’s weekday bedtime was seven thirty. Weekends were eight thirty, but if Trey had his way, he’d stay up much later. Since Trey slept in later in the mornings on the weekend, Finn wasn’t completely opposed to it.

“Awesome.” Step two down.

Trey was finally settled for the night, stories read and lights out. Finn walked downstairs to the living room and sat in his chair, pulled his phone out, and stared at it. It wasn’t that late; Olivia should be up. Without hesitation, he started to type.
How about a real date Friday night?