VEGAS follows you home (29 page)

Shaking my head, I shrug off his hands.

"You…how…you can't possibly be falling in love with me. You hardly know me, Damon," I stutter over my rebuttal.

"You're wrong and you know it." He grins. "I
am
falling for you and I
will
fight for you. I cannot sign you out of my life like you're asking me to do."

He reaches out for me, but I step away.

"Don't touch me."

Grabbing the coffee mug, I hurry around him toward the kitchen. Depositing the mug in the sink, I lean, press my hands to the counter, and breathe. Hating the fact that part of my feels a small amount of happiness at his confession, I focus on the over-the-top stalker and bullying behaviors he's displayed.

"Olivia—"

"We need to get Alex."

Not wanting him to see the tears forming in my eyes, I avoid looking at him when I exit.

"Shit," he growls low.

Slipping into a pair of shoes, I wait for him next to the door. When he gets close to me, I move away. Knowing his touch becomes a catalyst to the feelings I don't want, I'm sure to keep the distance between us.

The elevator descent and car ride are silent and uncomfortable. When we reach his father's home, I exit the car without acknowledging him.

"Are you going to give me the silent treatment for the rest of the day?" he asks with annoyance.

I don't look or speak when we reach the door; instead, I press the doorbell.

The Knyght's butler greets us, motioning for us to enter. Damon's hand grazes my lower back, so I walk a step faster. He sighs.

"Good morning," Damon's father greets from over his newspaper. "Heidi is gathering Alex's things." Folding his paper in his lap, he motions for us to sit.

I step to the lone antique chair and sit, taking my first look at Damon. His nostrils flare as he sits alone on the loveseat.

Heidi enters the room with Alex on her hip.

"How was he?" I ask.

"Perfect, of course." She smiles, setting him on his feet.

"Momma!" Alex runs into my arms, allowing me to hug him tightly. Fighting back the tears threatening to expose themselves, I kiss his cheeks until he's pushing to get away from me.

Once on his feet, he turns to Damon.

"Daddy!" He rushes to climb into his lap.

"Hey there, little buddy." Damon repeats my hugging actions.

Our visit is brief, since we are going to Millie's, so we collect Alex's things and Damon carries him to the car. Before I can leave, Heidi pulls me aside.

"Olivia, please give him a chance."

I open my mouth, but she puts up a hand.

"He is so…so…you make him Damon again. He's more himself than I've seen in such a long time. You both complete him, make him whole again." She hugs me tight. "And don't keep my handsome little angel away too long." Her smile is broad, dazzling.

In the car, Alex is the only one making any sound. Damon tries to talk, but I refuse to submit. My thoughts are all over the place and right now, I need to focus on lunch with Millie.

It's clear Millie doesn't want me in Damon's life, so, as crazy as it is, she's become my only ally. But, at the same time, I fight the urge to do things just to spite the self-righteous snob.

Pulling up to her home, a feeling of unease washes over me. After taking a few deep breaths, I finally exit the car and follow Damon inside. Her butler shows us to a large white and lavender room. Mildred Banks is sitting at a round table, facing the entrance of the room.

"Damon, darling," she gushes in an overly dramatic fashion. "I'm so happy you are joining me today."

Her eyes flicker to me and I feel Damon tense.

"Olivia, dear, you look lovely today."

I don't know her well, but it's clear something is going on.

I wonder if she poisoned my food.

"Mother." Damon nods, stepping forward and kissing her cheek. "Thank you for having us."

"And there's my lovely grandson." She leans toward Alex, rubbing his back.

That is one too many lovelies, if you ask me.

Alex burrows his face into Damon's shoulder.

I don't blame you, baby. I wish there was an armpit for me to hide in, too.

"He's so shy." She tries not to sound irritated. "You will need to bring him over as much as possible so he gets more familiar."

Unless as much as possible means twice a year, if you're lucky, not happening.

Brunch is served and conversation is surprisingly light. Mildred inquires about the things we've done to enjoy New York. She even offers an invitation for us to stay in her home during future visits.

I remain quiet, forcing polite smiles. Unsure of her overly nice and sweet behavior, I'm still suspicious.

"So, Damon, have you seen Dr. Strikner since you've returned?" Mildred casually looks at Damon.

His jaw tenses, the muscles flexing.

"Not recently," he growls through clenched teeth.

There's a weird glint in her eye, like she's enjoying his discomfort.

How can a mother purposely manipulate her son?

"So, he's not aware that you’ve remarried?" she asks, glancing to me, obviously looking for my reaction.

When neither Damon nor I speak, she presses her hand to her chest.

"I'm sorry, she does know about Rebecca and DJ, does she not?" Fake innocence oozes from her.

"Yes," he growls again. "She knows, Mother." Damon turns hard eyes on her.

She nods and turns to me.

"And you're still around after learning about the horrible night and all of the skeletons in my Damon's closet?”

This is my opportunity to choose a side, to work her distaste for my presence in my favor. With a glance toward Damon, my heart aches. The sick and devastated look on his face makes up my mind.

"Damon has been very open about the tragic loss of Rebecca and DJ," I respond, straightening my spine. "He's told me about it all."

I don't have to look at him to feel his eyes on me. Sure he's shocked by response, I turn my gaze toward him. My intentions are to reassure him, but the mask of panic he's wearing catches me by surprise.

"Hmm, is that so?" Millie's question pulls my attention to her smug face.

Oh no, what did I do?

"I'm astonished he was so open about his therapy, mental breakdown, and his little indiscretion. What astounds me more is you weren't scared off." She sits back in her chair. "I must say, I misjudged you."

"Mother," Damon warns.

My eyes shoot toward Damon and back to Mildred. She daintily picks up her teacup and sips. Once her lips are free of the porcelain rim, she continues.

"How
is
Vivianne?" She narrows her eyes on Damon. "She still works in your office, correct?"

Damon practically vibrates with anger. His face reddens and his hands clench the arms of the chair.

Vivianne? That sounds familiar. Who is…?

"You know damn well she does, Mother," Damon sneers.

Vivianne Lachlan. Miss Lachlan. The woman he sent to my bakery. Oh, to hell with this!

Having had enough of the games, the drama, the half-truths, I stand from my chair, drawing all attention to me.

"Thank you for lunch. I'll be going now."

The bastard lied to my face. I asked him specifically if there was anything else to tell me and he lied.

"Olivia, please, let me explain."

His pleas fall on deaf ears as I take Alex from him and hurry to leave.

"Olivia, wait!" he yells.

"Damon, don't make a fool of yourself. Let her go!" Mildred shouts after him.

"Shut up, Mildred!" he shouts, gaining on me.

As soon as I'm out the door, I don't know where to go or how to get there. All I know is I need to get away. I foolishly took a leap of faith, feeling awful for how his mother treats him, and chose his side. And it all just blew up in my face, with his mother holding the detonation switch. With Alex tight against my chest, I increase my pace down the sidewalk, hoping a cab would drive by soon.

Damon's car pulls up on the sidewalk about ten feet ahead of us and he jumps out of the car.

"Are you insane? What if you had hit us?" I scream.

"I made sure to be far enough away. Now, get in the car." He stalks toward us.

"Stay away from us!" I scream, causing Alex to jump.

"Olivia, the air is cold. Think of Alex and get in the car." He opens the back door.

Rational thinking finally sets in. Not wanting Alex in the cold air and not wanting to frighten him further, I calm enough to secure him in his car seat. When I stand and close the door, Damon is next to me.

"Let me explain." He cups my face.

Shoving his hand away, I step back.

"You had your chance. Instead, you lied and I end up being the fool."

Seething, I climb into the passenger seat. The drive back to the apartment is silent and once inside, I immediately retrieve the annulment papers.

Alex is on a blanket in the living room playing when I get back downstairs. Damon sits at the breakfast bar with his head in his hands.

Putting the papers on the counter, I slide them toward him.

"Sign them," I demand in a hushed tone.

He doesn't move or say anything.

"Sign them now."

"No," he whispers, shaking his head.

"Sign the damn papers, Damon," I hiss, quietly, slamming a pen down on the papers.

"No," he growls, pushing away from the bar so roughly, the stool falls to the floor.

With my attention on the stool, he's able to grab my arm and pull me against his chest.

"I won't let you go."

I try to pull from his hold.

"No, Olivia. I've made my mistakes, but let me explain."

Struggling against his hold, I growl, "Let go of me."

"I wasn't having an affair."

"I don't care. Let me go, Damon."

I attempt to get away once more. When my efforts prove useless, I look toward Alex. Thankfully, he’s absorbed in his blocks.

"It was
that
night, Olivia. The same night I lost them," he croaks. "Vivianne was working with me on a large client project."

He sighs and releases me, but stays close.

"We were at dinner with the client that evening and ended up at the bar by the end of the evening, just the two of us. At first, it was innocent and nothing happened with her before this night. She was familiar with the business, so the conversation was easy. In the beginning, her advances were subtle and I brushed them off. But then a part of me, the part that needed to be comforted instead of comforting someone else's emotions, took over.

"So, you cheat on your mentally and emotionally unstable wife? That's awesome. I'm glad you were only selfish that one time," I sneer.

"You don't understand." He inhales sharply before continuing. "Yes, I encouraged Vivianne's attentions and I reveled in them. It had been so long since someone wanted me and my ego flourished under her attention."

I roll my eyes.

"I'm not proud of how far I let the flirtation go. She caressed my arm, wrapped a leg around mine, and the physical contact sent me into a lifetime of regret. It haunts me."

"Good," I spit the words. "It should."

"You don't understand. I didn't sleep with her."

"Yeah, okay."

"Olivia, we got a hotel room and things were out of control, but I stopped." His eyes meet mine, daring me to question his admission. "I couldn't do it. All I could think about was DJ and how disappointed in me he would be. So, I told her I couldn't do it and straightened my clothes. That's when Rebecca called and Vivianne answered my phone."

My stomach twists.

"And yet she works for you? You send her to
hire
me for a job? It's disgusting."

With quick movements, I get Alex and go upstairs. Damon is close on my heels as I start putting our things in suitcases.

"What are you doing?" he asks, full of panic.

"Packing," I snap.

Pulling the rolling luggage out of his room, he grasps the handle to stop me.

"Your flight isn't until tomorrow." He grits his teeth.

"I know when my flight is."

Tearing the handle from his hand, I roll the bag into Alex's room and set to work on his bags.

"I don't want you to go," Damon pleads from the doorway.

I don't bother responding.

"At least don’t go like this." He arms wrap around my waist, surprising me.

"Don't," I warn.

"Daddy," Alex calls out from where he plays on the floor.