Page 2 of Shadow
Somehow, she ended up on the dance floor with Darci and Samuel, and she shoved all thoughts of Ripley out of her head in order to focus on the gorgeous people showering her with attention.
She was shamelessly bisexual and loved the opportunity to be sandwiched between Samuel and Darci this way.
They both lavished her with attention, and she soaked it in through blurred vision and slurred laughter.
She twirled Darci and switched places with her, so the pretty redhead was in the middle, then settled her hands on Darci’s hips. They danced like that for a few minutes, and Olivia loved the way Darci was playful and flirty. Then they switched places again. Olivia pulled her so her back was against her, and she could wrap her arms around her from behind.
As Olivia twirled Darci out and back against her, they came face to face with Bradley Givens. He looked angry and hurt. But he pulled Darci away from Olivia and crushed her to him.
“Are you trying to kill me, Darci? Because you’re doing a damn good job of it if you are.” Bradley’s voice was raw with emotion.
Wanting to give them some privacy, she turned and put her arms around Samuel, and together they danced away from the couple. She hoped they worked things out. Darci and Bradley looked good together.
“You smell really nice, Samuel Carter,” She shouted above the music.
He chuckled. “I’m glad you think so. Why don’t we go sit down and try to get some more water into you?”
She frowned but let him lead her off the dance floor.
“Whoever you’re trying to forget isn’t worth it, Olivia.” He motioned her into the booth.
She shook her head. “I told you. I’m not forgetting anything. Besides, I’m not that drunk.”
Samuel laughed. “I beg to differ, sweetheart. Whoever it is must be stupid if they let you go.”
She closed her eyes and willed herself not to cry. “Yeah. He can be stupid sometimes. But I miss him. And he has a tough job, so I feel like a dick for telling him not to call until he’s done with it.”
Samuel sat across from her instead of sitting next to her. What? Was he afraid she was going to come onto him? She was too heartbroken for that.
“I don’t think that makes you a dick, Olivia. It’s better for you to let him go if you can’t handle the work he does. You’re drunk, so you probably won’t remember this, but I’m not only an investor. My job is very demanding too, and it’s going to take an incredibly special woman to put up with it. Even if I find her, I’ll feel like a jerk asking her to make that sacrifice.”
Olivia narrowed her eyes. “Are you a top secret undercover super spy? Because that’s apparently what my Ripley is. Well… my ex-Ripley.”
For a split second, she thought he blinked at her question. Shit. What if he knew Ripley? No. That wasn’t possible. Drinking made her paranoid.
But he just chuckled. “If that’s what he is, he’ll come home, eventually. We all have to. It’s impossible to stay in the field forever.”
Some of the others in the group came back, and their conversation was left hanging. Not that it was going to change anything. But it had been nice to talk about Ripley with someone who didn’t look at her with sad eyes.
The rest of the night flew by in a blur of dancing, music, and more booze. By the time the club closed, and they were in the limo dropping Darci off, she was past ready to go home and get in her own bed.
When they were alone, Samuel made her drink more water, then picked up right where they left off over an hour ago.
“If you love him, give him a chance to hang it up and come home. If you don’t, maybe it’s time to let him go.”
She hiccupped and tangled a hand in her long brown curls. Then waved a finger at Samuel. “That’s the problem, Sam. He never stays in town long enough for me to know if I love him. It’s always wham bam, thank you Ma’am. Or Sir. Definitely Sir. He would never call me ma’am.” She fell into a fit of giggles at her own little inside joke.
Samuel laughed and opened the door. “You’re telling on yourself now, Olivia. We’re here. Let’s get you inside and safe.”
She stepped out of the car and swayed on her feet, then planted a hand in the middle of the big man’s chest.
“Nope. You’re not going to tuck me in or try to get in bed with me. I’m a big girl.” She was appalled at how slurred her words were.
“You’re a drunk girl. And I have no intention of trying to get into bed with you. Iamgoing to walk you inside and make sure you drink some more water before you pass out though. You won’t argue because I promised your friends I would take care of you, and I refuse to break that promise.”
Olivia didn’t remember going inside or Samuel helping her into bed. But when she woke with a raging headache the next day, there was a note and some painkillers on the nightstand next to her.
Don’t waste your life waiting. If it’s meant to be, it will happen.
