apter 97

    All I could think to do was say, “Thank you.” I forced my gaze away, worried that if I continued to look at

    him, I wouldn’t want to stop.

    “My pleasure,” Julian said. Then shifted, returning his attention to Alice. “Alice, tell me again about this grumpy teacher of yours… What was her name?”

    “Ms. Crabapple!” Alice said and giggled, thoroughly distracted now from whatever game she’d been

    ying with Julian and me.

    The rest of the meal went well enough, with Julian and Alice doing most of the talking. I chimed in now

    and then, but was morepelled to simply watch.

    When it finally came time for Alice to go to bed, and I told Julian he had to leave, my heart was sore and

    my emotions exhausted from the ringer this situation had been putting them through tonight.

    Alice hugged Julian goodbye, then hurried off to brush her teeth. With her getting ready for bed, I ushered

    Julian to the door.

    Julian’s POV

    This night had gone perfectly. I was bonding with Alice, and reconnecting with Amber. I had made Aliceugh, and Amber blush.

    And now, as Amber was seeing me out, I was already thinking of ways I coulde back. I decided on

    the most straightforward.

    “I had a great time tonight,” I said, once I was outside.

    Amber stayed in the doorway. She held the door with both hands, as if ready to close it on me if she

    needed to. With her using it like a shield, I guessed a kiss goodnight was out of the question. That was

    fine. With Amber, I had patience. If it meant I could eventually win her heart back, I would wait forever.

    Forgoing the goodnight kiss, I instead focused on my question. “Can we do this again sometime?”

    Amber hesitated for longer than I would have liked, but eventually, after much consideration, she said, ”

    Okay. But not all the time.”

    I’d take it. Frankly, I’d take whatever I could get. I knew things would be difficult, so I was thrilled that Olivia’s lies hadn’t totally ruined things.

    “Goodnight, Amber,” I said.

    “Goodnight,” she replied and closed the door.

    I had a spring in my step as I walked back to the car.

    Later, at the hotel as I slipped into bed, I did so with a smile, hopeful for the steps I’d been able to move

    forward tonight.

    Soon, I’d win back my wife and have a family.

    I closed my eyes with a smile.

    The roar of a car engine jolted me awake. I sat upright, fingers curled like ws, wolf alert, ready to fight.

    When I heard the noise again, and recognized what it was, I realized it was just some jerk revving his

    engine in the parking lot.

    Forcing myself back down, I tried to close my eyes again. It took some time to find sleep once more.

    Olivia’s POV

    Olivia had stayed up waiting, annoyed at howte he was. But the minute she heard that engine roar, she

    knew it was him. That cocky bastard always liked to make an entrance.

    Still, she waited for him toe to her door and knock before she bothered standing up, crossing the room, and opening it.

    “Chase,i” /ishe said, not allowing any pleasure to show at the sight of him. He had enough ego that the room was already stuffy just with his presence. She couldn’t help herself from dragging her eyes down his

    body though.

    Chase was in his early twenties, dressed head to toe in tight designer clothing. He worked out regrly, giving him a toned stature that he liked to unt. Tight leather pants. A button–up shirt with half the

    buttons undone.

    His blonde hair was permanently tussled, his overpriced hair stylist made sure of that.

    He grinned wickedly at Olivia as he leaned heavily on the doorframe, allowing her to look her fill.

    b“/bMiss me, love?”

    “No,” Olivia said stubbornly.

    His grin widened as he stepped into her. He didn’t reply with words, instead, iming her mouth with his own, kissing her deeply and passionately.

    Following Olivia further into the hotel room, he kicked the door closed behind him.