Hearts in the City Read online

  He glanced skeptically at her. “Okay, let me must say, I have a really hard time believing you’re single.”

  She stopped buttering her roll long enough to shoot him a look. “Well when I say single I mean single as in unmarried. I am attached at the moment,” she said, letting him know he didn’t have a chance in hell, no matter how witty, intelligent and drop-dead gorgeous he was. She had more than enough on her hands with one man already.

  A look of realization swept across his face. “Ah...color me crazy but I just knew there had to be a guy.” He glanced around the banquet hall, looking like he expected to be accosted by a jealous boyfriend at any moment. “Is he here?”

  “Oh don’t worry...he’s not here.” She grinned, taking another sip of wine. “He’s away on business. And do you really think he wouldn’t have come over and cut in between us by now?” She was smiling as she said it, but she was dead serious. Theo could have an awful jealous streak at times.

  “Well that’s what I figured. I just hope he knows how lucky he is.”

  She looked at him assuredly. “Oh you’d better believe he knows.”

  Theo had come into Olivia’s life by chance. The two of them had literally bumped into each other two years earlier when Olivia was in a hurry to meet with a client to discuss a merger. The merger just happened to involve the company Theo worked for. She’d rushed into the elevator as soon as it opened, running smack-dab into him as he was stepping off. Her briefcase had crashed to the floor scattering papers everywhere and he’d graciously picked them up for her, apologizing profusely for the mishap while she’d assured him it was okay and it was actually her fault for running late.

  The first thing she’d noticed was that he was one of those coffee-skinned brothers and had a set of full, luscious lips. She’d thought about how handsome he was as she cordially thanked him then hurried of to her meeting. With the incident long forgotten, she’d been working late one evening later that week when her cell-phone rang. Hastily she answered, perturbed the call had broken her concentration. She soon realized the person on the other end wasn’t calling for legal advice. He introduced himself as that guy who had almost mowed her down a few days earlier outside of the elevator. He’d confessed to finding one of her business cards on the floor after she’d left and said he’d held on to it just in case he ever needed legal advice.

  As Olivia sat listening to him she wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or frightened. The last thing she’d needed was some weirdo or some stalker making her already busy life a living hell. Then he’d finally confessed how stunning he thought she was and asked her to forgive him for being out of line, but he’d be honored if she’d let him take her out to dinner. Against her better judgment and usual level-headedness, she’d agreed to dinner with him that Friday evening. She’d thought it would do her good to get out from being cooped up in her office every evening. The whole incident had been surreal. The way they’d met, the way he’d pursued her, the way she’d accepted his dinner invitation. It had been very out of character for her but for whatever reason she’d decided to go with the flow.

  He took her to a fancy downtown restaurant where they dined on fine cuisine, drank expensive wine, and chatted and laughed with each other as though they’d known each other for years. After dinner they took a stroll on the waterfront boardwalk and listened to a live band playing. At end of the evening, all Olivia’s apprehensions about accepting a dinner invitation from a man she’d met by chance and didn’t even know had disappeared. He asked her out again and she accepted. They had been together every since.

  “I hope he treats you well,” Alistair said, cutting into her thoughts.

  “He’s knows better than not to. I love him for it, but I don’t expect him to take care of me. I can do that for myself.”

  “You mean that whole modern, independent women thing?”

  “Oh please...it’s hardly just a thing,” she said, eager to dispel the myth that women needed men to take care of them. Plenty of women had top paying careers and lived their lives on their own terms. She was one of them.

  He stared at her with eyes that bore into her soul, studying her. Searching her. “Actually that came out wrong. What I meant was its very common place for women to take care of themselves these days. And I’m down with that. My apologies if that offended you.”

  “Nah...I’m not so thin-skinned that something like that would offend me. Besides, if I’d been offended, you’d have known. So how about you? Attached or unattached?” Olivia was unsure why she asked.

  “Not at the moment. I’ve been keeping things casual. I find that works best for me.”

  “Ah...I see.” She nodded, pressing her lips together.

  “Oh, you don’t approve?” He raised his brow, looking amused.

  She shrugged. “Who am I not to approve of your dating choices? What you do with your life is your own business.”

  “Come on...” he coaxed, the smile never leaving his face. “Be real with me. What’s the consensus on men who date casually?”

  “Players,” she said curtly.

  He looked perplexed. “So women would rather a man front pretending to be serious instead of dating casually until he’s ready?”

  “No. But at the same time women don’t like men using casual dating as an excuse to sample the goods.”

  He nodded. “Okay. Fair enough. Fair enough.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not giving women a free pass. Women are far from perfect.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Simone making the rounds talking to her guests.

  He looked thoughtful. “I’m just trying to be the guy who doesn’t make a big step like marriage until I’m absolutely ready.”

  “I hear you.”

  He grinned. “Marriage will come down the line for me, I’m sure, although Mom thinks I’m a little too cavalier about it.”

  “Well she probably wants grandbabies. Are you an only child?”

  “Yes, she wants grandbabies, but I’m not her only hope. I have a younger brother and sister—both away at university right now. Well, when I put it like that I suppose I am her only hope for grandbabies, at least in the foreseeable future anyway.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I don’t put too much pressure on myself about it. When it happens it happens.”

  “Same here.”

  “So your guy is okay with that?”

  “Honestly, we’re both busy with our careers so it’s not a focus right now.”

  Olivia felt a tinge of guilt, knowing it was she who was putting more emphasis on her career than growing their relationship. Theo was somewhat career-driven but he wasn’t consumed with it the way Olivia was. She was turning thirty in a matter of weeks and Theo was months away from turning thirty-one so as far as she was concerned they still had lots of time before settling down together.

  He studied her intently. “Do you have any children?”

  Olivia took a long sip of wine. “None yet. Although if Mom was still here I’m sure she’d be hounding me about having them.”

  He gave her a puzzled look. “By still here you mean...?”

  “She died eight years ago of breast cancer.”

  The inquisitive look on his face turned sympathetic. “I’m really sorry to hear that. I can’t even imagine how difficult that must have been.”

  It had been difficult. The day her mother announced she had breast cancer, Olivia’s entire world had been turned upside down. She’d been in the thick of planning her first year of law school. The cancer had been discovered too late and had spread to other parts of Myrna Putnam’s body. She was gone within six months, leaving a just turned twenty-two year old Olivia to take care of her ten year old sister. The past eight years had proven to be the most challenging years of her life. But in the end she had managed it all. She’d gone on to law school despite her mother’s untimely death. Looking back, she had to admit she’d accomplished what few others probably would have been able to given the same set of circ
umstances.

  “And your father...?” he asked, cutting into her thoughts.

  “Wouldn’t know him from a hole in the ground. He ran off when I was seven.”

  “Wow, that’s tough.”

  “Jazlynn and I never really knew him. Let’s just say we don’t lie awake at night wondering about him.”

  “Jazlynn?”

  “My baby sister, actually—just turned nineteen two months ago. I’ve been her legal guardian since mom died.”

  “You two must be really close.”

  “Most of the time. We’ve gotten closer as she’s gotten older. According to her I used to be the meanest, most boring sister in the world.”

  His eyes were fixed on her, drinking her in with a gaze of unfettered interest. “Having only met you hours ago, boring is not an adjective I’d use to describe you.”

  “Her teenaged brain wouldn’t let her see past that. She didn’t’ like that I gave her curfews...didn’t fly with her at all.” Olivia thought about it for a moment. “But I was only doing what Mom would have done.”

  “Well, you were quite young when you became her guardian. In a way, you were still maturing too.”

  “I was twenty-two. And Jazlynn never missed the opportunity to tell me I was too young to be telling her what to do.”

  “You were being protective because of losing your mother.”

  “I was terrified something would happen to her, afraid I’d lose her, too,” Olivia said reflectively. “And Mom would have wanted me to continue with raising her just the way she would have had she lived. Jazlynn is a legal adult now so there’s not a whole lot I can do even if I wanted to.”

  “Is she here?”

  She shook her head. “No. Gone away with friends for the weekend.”

  “I’m guessing she’s probably a lot like you, then.”

  She laughed. “I suppose. We’re actually more like friends now. But she’s a great kid...very intelligent and studious, always kept her grades up in high school. We’ve come really far in the eight years Mom’s been gone.”

  “I can tell. I see it in you. You have a really strong, confident way about you.”

  “Well I’m in a very grueling business. I couldn’t survive without it.”

  “You’re an attorney, right?”

  She nodded. “Uh-huh...I am, yes.”

  He shook his head in amazement. “Hat’s off to you. Law school is serious business. Getting through that with what you had to go through is amazing.”

  “We have an aunt who looked out for us, too. She lives in Boden but made regular visits to town for holidays and helped out whenever she could. Other than that I pretty much flew solo. I made it through and graduated. I articled for a year and passed the bar then was lucky enough to get hired back on as associate at the firm where I did my articling year.”

  “You’re an amazing woman.

  “Well thanks...but seriously...”

  “Well it’s damned impressive. What’s your area of expertise?”

  “Corporate.”

  “Damn. Too bad I’m fresh out of lawyer jokes.”

  “Well there aren’t any I haven’t already heard anyway. I’ve heard ‘em all.”

  He fiddled with his bow tie, clearly annoyed with it. “This thing here is easily the most annoying piece of clothing I’ve ever worn.”

  “Well take it off then. I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

  “I like the way you think.” He sneaked a glance around the banquet hall. As he did, a boyish look of mischief swept across his face. “Do you think anyone will notice?”

  “I doubt they’ll care if they do. The wedding’s all over with now so really, other than annoying you, what purpose does it serve?”

  “You’re probably right,” he said. And with that he yanked the bow tie off and laid it on the table in front of him. He paused in thought for a moment. “So I guess this marriage makes us friends in-law—if there’s even such a thing.”

  “Friends-in-law,” she mused, furrowing her brow. “Hey, I kind of like that.”

  Chapter Two

  Fresh from mingling with guests and well-wishers, Simone arrived at the table, looking every inch like a queen in her Italian silk, ivory wedding gown. There was a curious look on her face at the sight of her maid of honor and best man in deep conversation with each other. She gave Olivia a brief, yet inconspicuous raise of the eyebrow.

  Simone put her arm around Alistair. “So nice to see you guys getting acquainted. And here you were worrying you were going to be standing opposite some ugly woman. I told you I didn’t have any ugly friends, but you didn’t believe me.”

  Alistair glanced back and forth between the two of them. He stepped back a few inches broader look. “Ahh...yeah...now see...this is what I missed about Covington the most...all you fine looking sistahs.”

  Simone put her hands on her hips. “Umm-hmm...a man who knows how to tell the truth!” she said with grin. “So tell me...did everything really turnout as wonderful as it seems?”

  Olivia and Simone’s eyes met, sharing the silence of an unspoken thought. Olivia sensed Simone wished her wedding was more than the farce it was. “Everything turned out excellent. It all came together in the end.” Olivia said.

  “Thanks to you, my best friend in the whole world,” Simone said, grabbing Olivia’s hand and squeezing it.

  “Doesn’t she look amazing?” Olivia said, turning to Alistair.

  “Best looking bride in the house,” Alistair said with a wink.

  Simone gave him an endearing smile. “Awww...thank you, Alistair.”

  “Jamal’s a lucky bastard. He’d better do right by you, or I’m coming after him,” Alistair said with a grin as his attention was diverted across the room suddenly. “Speaking of the devil, he’s beckoning to me from across the room.” He gestured to where Jamal stood at the other end of the banquet hall with his other groomsmen. “I guess I’ll leave you lovely ladies and go join the boys.” He stood up, glass of wine in hand, and turned his attention to Olivia. “I’m really glad we got to know more about each other. You’re not just an anonymous beautiful bridesmaid to me anymore.”

  “Maid of honor—now get it right,” Olivia said.

  He stood there looking about as masculine as a man could get. It astounded her he was still single. She decided he must be a closeted homosexual and didn’t have the guts to come out yet. That or he just enjoyed being a player. She caught herself, snapping back to the present moment. “And you’re more than just a tardy groomsman now.”

  The three of them laughed.

  “That’s right—you tell him,” Simon said.

  “Seriously...I enjoyed getting to know you, too,” Olivia said.

  “Well...the night is still young,” he said, raising his glass in the air. “Maybe I’ll steal a dance or two out of you later on.”

  “Sure,” Olivia said. “I’ll be here.”

  Alistair smiled down at her, his smoldering gaze locking with hers momentarily before he turned and walked away. As she watched his smooth strut across the reception hall, she realized on thing one thing was clear, his charisma had engulfed the entire room.

  “Now girl...ain’t he something?” asked Simone, her eyes widening. She plunked herself on a chair. “I wonder how many other fine-ass looking brothers Jamal knows that I haven’t met yet?”

  “Oh, he’s fine all right. Pretty sure he’s nowhere near as he’s as real as he’s letting on,” Olivia said.

  “He’s actually a pretty cool guy,” Simone said. “I’ve only met him a handful of times this past year or so, but he and Jamal have known each other for a really long time. And I’m certainly in no place to judge whether someone is real or not.” She glanced down at the massive diamond ring on her hand.

  “You do realize I wasn’t trying to imply anything about you, right? I just meant that Alistair was...“

  “I know you weren’t but it doesn’t make me feel any better. All I can think of is how dishonest I’ve been w
ith him,” Simone said, tears filling her eyes.

  Olivia glanced around, hoping no one had noticed the emotional bride. She was sure Simone’s cousins would have come over in droves just to be nosey. “Hey...come on...don’t do this to yourself. Not here, not now. It’s your wedding.”

  “All I know,” Simone said in a whispered tone and blinking back tears, “is when I stood at the altar and said my vows...I meant everything I said.” She stole a glance over at Jamal standing amongst his groomsmen. “I love that man more than anything. And if had I confessed everything to him, he’d have called the wedding off and I’d have been done for.”

  Olivia gave her a comforting look. “You don’t know that for sure. You more than likely would have worked things out. You guys have staying power.”

  Simone looked uncertain. “I sure hope so.”

  “You didn’t tell him because you didn’t want to lose him, right?

  Simone shrugged. “Uh-huh. Of course.”

  “Well that’s a testament to how much you love him. I certainly can’t judge you for that,” Olivia said, unsure if she believed what she’d said. She’d done more than her fair share of lecturing Simone about it. She was just trying to be supportive now.

  Simone sighed heavily. “Thanks so much for understanding. I don’t know what I’d do without your friendship and support.”

  At that moment Simone’s mother appeared. She tugged her daughter by the arm. “Come on, sweetie, everyone is anxious for you to throw the bouquet, especially Mama,” she said.

  “And she’s probably having a fit right about now,” Simone joked. “I guess I better get out there.” A couple of bridesmaids appeared just then and whisked her away to go get the bouquet she planned to throw. “Come on Liv, we gotta hurry!” Simone shouted back to her. “I want to see you standing right there along with everyone when I through the bouquet.”

  Olivia reluctantly went over and joined the parade of hopeful ladies clustered together. She smiled when she heard Virginia Whitfield giving Simone directions about throwing her bouquet.