“I told you, she was special to me.”
“I guess I didn’t realize how special.”
Looking down, my gaze settled on the engraving, Etta Reid—Beloved wife and mother. Loving grandmother and friend.
“I should have visited more. I should have been here,” I said softly, settling down onto the grass in front of the granite stone.
“She knew you loved her. She always talked about her Jax,” Liv said, giving a wistful smile.
“She’s the only one I ever let call me that.”
“Really? Why? I kind of like it. It’s mysterious.”
I shrugged. “Sounds like I belong in a motorcycle gang.”
She laughed and gave a wink. “Exactly.”
We got up and said our good-byes to Nana and Granddad. I stepped back, allowing Liv a moment alone with Nana, and I waited.
She touched the top of the stone and smiled before saying, “See you next week, Etta.”
We walked back to the pathway in silence before I decided to lighten the mood.
“Did she ever bake those cookies for you?”
“The ones with the dried cherries and toffee pieces?”
I nodded, grinning.
“Yeah, she did,” she answered. “They were like an orgasm in a baked good.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “They’re damn good, but if that is your comparison to an orgasm, you’ve been with all the wrong men.”
“And just who is the right man? You?” A wicked smirk spread across her face.
Reaching the entrance, I stepped in front of her, causing her cool confidence to falter slightly. Inching forward, I breathed her in, nearly molding our bodies together. I could feel her breath against my neck.
“Babe, a night with me would be better than all the fucking cookies in the world.”
Her eyes widened, and I watched her lips part and her chest rise.
Perfect. Be flustered, Liv. You fluster me constantly.
My mouth curved upward, forming a large grin, just as I abruptly turned around. “Sorry, but I’ve got to get home. I have quite a mess to clean up. Someone TP’d our house last night. You wouldn’t know anything about that, Liv, would you?”
Looking over my shoulder, I saw her collect her composure once again.
“No, I wouldn’t know anything about that.” She grinned.
“Hmm…of course not.”
Recognizing her little blue car next to mine, I unlocked my doors and waited for her to do the same. “You know, I’ll have to retaliate, right?”
Her eyes lit up before she slowly slipped on a pair of shiny black sunglasses. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”
~Liv~
My weekend finished much like it always did—dinner for one and a quiet night of reading. I might have been the only single one left in my small group of friends, but that didn’t mean I had the most exciting life either.
Despite my job and love for my friends, I was actually quite reclusive. I could flirt and mingle when the occasion demanded it, but most nights, I’d rather be home, curled up on the sofa or making something in the kitchen.
I’d spent every last dime I had left from my old life on this little piece of property. The money was a parting gift I’d tried to refuse from my parents when we were torn apart. The sizable sum could have paid to further my education for a PhD, but I had chosen stability instead.
It was the best decision of my life.
This house had allowed me to take the job downtown at the counseling center for a wage that I probably never would have been able to survive on otherwise. Not having to worry about a mortgage had given me the freedom to save my earnings and tuck it away until I was able to finally fulfill my own dream and go into business alone.
This house was more than a home to me. It was where I felt connected—to myself, my friends, and even my family and the life I’d once had.
After my quiet weekend ended, I fell back into the weekday pattern, rising early to exercise and then meet clients before they went to school. My hours were long and sometimes grueling, but I loved what I did. Children were always easy for me to connect with. Maybe it was my weird clothes or the bright tattoo on my back, but they always found me interesting and different, and I would use it to my advantage when counseling.
Every young boy who passed through my doors that week reminded me of Noah and the way his face had lit up like a Christmas tree when I invited him to play in the fun night of debauchery.
Days had passed since I last saw either of them. I knew Jackson had started his new job. I’d hear his car leaving around the same time as mine, and the other night, I’d caught a glimpse of him in a suit and tie.
I would be lying if I said he’d looked horrible.
The days had flown by, and it was now Thursday evening. After arriving home late from work again, I frantically raced around my room, trying to make myself presentable for my date with Victor.
I looked in the floor-length mirror and frowned at my dress choice.
Too frumpy.
Running back into my closet, I picked out a little black number and held it out in front of me. It was sexy, tight, and hugged my curves in all the right places.
A sly grin slowly spread across my face as I pictured Jackson taking it off.
What the hell?
Okay, that was going back in the closet.
Instead, I slipped on a summery dress that was slightly fitted, and I paired it with coral wedges. Just as I was putting the finishing touches on my makeup, the doorbell rang.
I looked at the clock on my nightstand. “Right on time, and I’m not late!”
After slipping on my jewelry, I hopped down the stairs, trying to focus on the fact that I was going on a date with Victor, not Jackson.
I opened the door, plastering a large happy smile on my face, and I came face-to-face with my handsome date—and Jackson.
Huh?
Both men smiled back at me as I stared blankly at them. I was so confused by the scene in front of me that I nearly reached up and scratched my head like one of those large gorillas in the zoo.
“Um…hi?” I finally said.
Maybe I also had the IQ of a gorilla as well.
“Olivia, so good to see you again,” Victor greeted in his smooth Brazilian accent. He stepped forward and touched his lips to my cheek, slowly and possessively. “I was just meeting your neighbor,” he added, giving Jackson a less than friendly look.
Jackson, seeming unfazed by the death stare, just smiled and turned toward me.
I ushered both men inside, not feeling the least bit uncomfortable.
Nope, not at all.
“Yes, I was tending to my flowers because I wouldn’t want anything to happen to them,” he said with a wink. “I saw this particular flower, and it reminded me of you, so I felt the need to come right over and give it to you. It is the neighborly thing to do after all.” His accent became thicker and sweeter as he spoke.