Part 25 (1/2)

Lainie winced at Michael's tone. She'd never heard him sound so raw. She looked at him pityingly, wondering why he wasn't going after Olivia.

Apparently, Rick was too. He shook his head incredulously. ”I can't believe you aren't going after her. Olivia is one of the most amazing women I've ever known. She's beautiful, smart, fun, s.e.xy as h.e.l.l-”

Michael growled. ”Stay the f.u.c.k away from her.”

”That's what makes you such an idiot. You'd think you'd notice that she doesn't want me. She wants you.” With a disgusted shake of his head, he stalked off.

Michael stared after him for a second and then left too.

Leaving her alone with Everett.

She took a deep breath and faced him. He'd composed himself. The emotion that had for once leaked into his eyes was hidden again. He watched her with the cool gaze of a predator.

And it really made her mad. She jumped up to her feet. ”I hope you're happy.”

”Happy isn't the word that comes to mind.”

”You are so infuriating.” She didn't realize how hard her hands were clenched until her nails bit into her palms. ”What were you thinking?”

She had to give him credit for not slinking away with his tail between his legs. He stood facing her, his gaze never wavering from hers. But then again, Everett wasn't that kind of man.

He rubbed his chin. ”I only had Olivia's best interests in mind.”

Her heart melted at the fatigue etched on his face. She'd never seen him so tired, not even after several all-nighters when they were buying out another production company.

She frowned. She wasn't going to let him soften her up. She had backbone. She wasn't going to cower in pa.s.siveness. ”Well, you have a funny way of showing it.”

He reached out to her. ”Elaine-”

”Don't.” She stepped back. If he touched her she'd be lost, and she had things to say to him. ”What you did was despicable. I know you love Olivia and want what's best for her, but you were wrong eleven years ago and you're doubly wrong now.”

His eyes narrowed coolly. ”You have no right-”

”Yes I do. I love Olivia. She befriended me and helped me when I needed it. No questions asked and without regard to her own feelings.” She stepped closer, her anger making her bold. ”When she figured out I was in love with you, she didn't throw me out or point out your bad qualities-which I'm very well aware of, by the way.”

He opened his mouth but she cut him off with a jab of her finger to his solar plexus. ”She just said she'd help me if you were what I really wanted.”

”Am I what you want?”

She s.h.i.+vered at the low huskiness of his voice. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and faced him again. ”You're what I wanted, but now I'm not so sure.”

The way he blinked at her made her wonder if any woman had ever turned him down. She sighed. No woman in her right mind would.

Right now, she qualified as certifiable. ”Everett, I can't believe you manipulated everyone like you did. Did you expect to get away with it?”

He didn't have to answer. She could see that he did.

She got right under his nose and glared. ”You know the worse part of it all? That you had someone spy on me. That's just awful.”

She turned and walked out, the clicks of her heels echoing in angry staccato.

”Elaine.” He grabbed her arm and spun her around. She lost her balance and tripped into his chest.

Beneath her hand, his heart pumped strong and fast. She savored the rhythmic beating, knowing she'd never feel it again.

”Everett, I quit.”

He gaped at her.

She smiled grimly. She'd finally caught him off guard.

She pulled back. ”I'll head back to LA in the morning to make necessary arrangements. Under the circ.u.mstances I'm sure you'll agree it's best if I leave right away rather than observe the typical two weeks notice.”

She got up on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his cheek. She inhaled his scent one last time, deeply so she could remember it when she lay in bed alone at night. ”Goodbye, Everett.”

She thought for sure the tears would fall as soon as she walked away. But they didn't fall. Even later, curled under the comforter in Mae's house, there wasn't a trace of moisture on her cheeks.

Her heart, on the other hand, felt like it was bleeding dry.

Chapter Thirty-two.

First thing the next morning Olivia ran into the one person she didn't want to see.

Gran looked up from her cup of coffee. ”You're up early.”

”I'm going to the gym.” She poured herself a cup. While she added a generous amount of sugar, she debated sitting down with her grandmother. Chances were the woman already had the full scoop on what happened last night. Gran's gossiping network was legendary.

She'd have to face Gran sooner or later. Might as well bite the bullet now. ”You knew what was going on. You helped him.”

Gran didn't bother to deny it. ”The man loves you. He only wants to set the past right.”

”Kind of a weird way to show love if you ask me.” She grimaced as she scalded her tongue.

”He manipulated the situation to get to you, but how is what you did any different? You manipulated things too.”

She frowned. ”I did not.”

”What do you call the game you and Lainie have been playing?”

She struggled not to squirm under her grandmother's too-knowing stare. ”I was just helping Lainie.”

”And he was just helping you. You needed something to help you break out of your rut. Isn't it time you let go of the past and moved on?” Gran slowly pushed up from the table and rinsed out her mug. She turned around before she walked out to tend her gardens. ”And, love, any attempt to win back your affection is better than nothing, don't you think?”

Olivia pouted into her cup. What if Gran were right and Parker was trying to get back in her life?

She shook her head. She couldn't think about it right now. What she needed was a sweaty workout to help her focus.