Page 63 of She's a Big Deal

Outside, Olivia took her hand. Again, without asking.Okay, okay…Grace wasn’t too sure about holding hands in front of her aunt. Charlie and her loving enthusiasm… It could be too much, and she was in no mood for pointed questions. But it was fine this time. Charlie clocked the contact as they walked in together, beamed a megawatt smile, and directed the way into the kitchen, where all the action seemed to be taking place.

“We’re making vegan stew, darling Grace.”

“Ah. Smells great.”

Olivia poured some wine and whispered in Charlie’s ear. A glass of water and a headache pill magically appeared in front of her. Still, with no probing questions or undue attention. Grace took off her jacket, and she sat at the table as Charlie went back to stirring a big pot on the stove. Michael Bublé was singing about Christmas in the background. Two happy dogs snoozed in a basket in the corner of the room. Olivia flashed her a lingeringsmile.This is the feel of home,Grace decided. Welcoming, warm… Safe. And Olivia was a part of making it so.Grace swallowed the pill, sipped her wine, and watched her chop a bunch of herbs. Handy with a kitchen knife. Chef skills.She wore threadbare jeans, thick red socks with little white snowflakes on them, and a lumberjack shirt reminiscent of the one she had on the first time they met. Olivia Bianchi-style through and through. Grace observed her thoughtfully. The outfit struck her as incredibly sexy this time around.

“You two need any help with the cooking?” she asked.

“It’s almost done,” Charlie declared, then clearly could not resist reminding her of the one time she’d made a potato explode in the microwave. “It went off like a hand grenade,” she said, and Olivia laughed.

“In my defense, you never told me I had to stab it to death first.”

“Best if you leave the cooking to us,” Charlie grinned. “You just relax now, honey.”

“I’ll second that,” Olivia said with another long, warm look.

“Okay.” For once in her life, Grace found it actually wasn’t so hard to comply.

???

“There, it’s happening again. She clicks her fingers and you go. Or rather,” Dana pointed out, “she sends the ticket, and you fly off.”

“Well, it’s not like she’s forcing me.” Olivia grinned at her friend. “Thanks for the ride to the airport, by the way.”

“That’s fine. But she paid for your flight?”

“It was a surprise. So, yeah, she did.”

“Hmm.”

“Be happy for me, Dana,” Olivia said. “Aren’t you the one who kept saying I should get back in the saddle?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure about this particular horse.”

“Oh, gosh. Her name is Grace, okay? And be more specific.”

“Specifically, Olivia,Graceis absolutely not your usual type. She’s older, powerful, a business tycoon who thinks nothing of sending you a plane ticket to Florida for the weekend.”

“I know. Great, huh?” Olivia beamed, intentionally teasing.

“If you say so. But you know what I mean.”

“Not sure I do, to be honest.”

Dana flashed her a sobering glance. “Well, to put it bluntly, I think you’re biting off more than you can chew with this one. Which would be a regular occurrence for you, actually.”

“Talk about blunt, uh. And hurtful too.”

“I don’t mean to be, babe. You know that.” Dana squeezed her shoulder in a soothing gesture. “I just think she’s too much. Too mighty. Too experienced for you.”

“When is experience not a good thing?” Olivia shrugged in light irritation. “Yeah, she’s older. Fourteen years in between us. Not a big deal as far as I’m concerned. And she’s a designer. An artist, just like me. Anyway, I’m still single, right? Sticking with my regular type isn’t likely to get me anywhere.”

“Fair enough,” Dana was forced to concede.

“Yeah. And I didn’t choose. You know I wasn’t looking for a new relationship. Attraction happens or it doesn’t. With us…” She smiled. “It sizzled from the start.”

“I just worry she’s a control freak who’ll take advantage of the situation and easily manipulate you.”

---