Page 78 of Shadow

She hoped Carrie was coming. Adara was nice, but Olivia had never connected with her the way she did with Darci and Carrie.

Still, Michael had been after her to hang out, so this was a good thing.

Despite the strange circumstances of the last week or two, Olivia felt like her life was finally getting back on the right track after the disaster that was her attempt at marriage.

Her mind went to Ripley’s declaration that he would marry her someday. She pulled on fresh clothes, wincing as the material of her dress rubbed against one of the rope marks.

Marrying Ripley meant living with him. Would their sex life calm down? Or would she always be sporting his marks?

Something told her things between the two of them would always be raw and primal. They didn’t know any other way.

Chapter 21

“WHYareweableto have company at a safehouse?” Olivia asked as she pulled her thick curls into a ponytail.

“Peter works for the firm protecting us, and if anyone asks, Michael is here on police business. I know you’re a social butterfly and not getting to go to work every day will start to get to you soon, so I’m doing my best to keep things interesting, baby. Besides, we’re not officially in protective custody. This is just a safe place for us to lie low while we come up with a game plan.”

She smiled. “I appreciate it.”

Ripley held out his hand. “Let’s go. They’ll be here any minute.”

When they walked into the living room, he smirked at her expression when she saw the couch.

“You replaced the whole damn thing?”

He shrugged. “The closest furniture store didn’t have any cushions to match the old one. You didn’t like that couch anyway.”

The way her face turned red made him chuckle with delight. She was fun to mess with.

“I heard a commotion out here. It never occurred to me it was furniture being delivered. You’re a slick one.”

He kissed her cheek as someone knocked on the door.

They opened it to find Peter and Michael on the stoop, with Adara and Carrie coming up the walk talking to each other.

“Come in. Welcome to our temporary home,” Ripley invited.

Everyone exchanged hugs and handshakes and moved into the kitchen where Michael unloaded bags of groceries. Carrie plopped three bottles of wine on the counter next to his food and the burly chief of police scowled. “What kind of party do you think we’re having, woman?”

She shrugged. “It seems like we could all use some unwinding. I just got back from fucking Burundi, and have a deadline looming, and Adara was telling me about city council woes. You’re dealing with a lot of stress now that you’re chief of police, and who the hell knows what kind of mess Ripley and Olivia are in.”

The chief laughed. “Fair enough. Let’s get these steaks on the grill.”

Ripley nodded his head to the sliding glass door. “I think Adam already has it hot. Did you bring enough to feed the guys, too?”

Michael grinned and held up two large containers of meat. “Plenty. And I’ve got corn and beans and Adara made some kind of dessert. Come join me at the grill and we can talk shop.”

Ripley glanced at Olivia. “You OK in here?”

She nodded. “We’re fine, Daddy.”

“Good girl.” It pleased him that she felt comfortable calling him Daddy in front of their friends.

As he walked out the door, he heard Carrie laugh and say, “I’ve known you for so long I never thought I’d hear you call someone Daddy. I like it.”

At the grill, Michael checked the temperature and began laying marinated meat on it.

“So, Carrie tells me you have her looking for something in the archives from The Doll House. You think this has something to do with Corbit Upwood?” Peter asked.

---