Page 68 of Falling for the Bad Boy
“I hadn’t thought of that.” He captured my hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. “I mean, obviously zoning is a pretty big deal, but I figured if they’re so desperate for people to revamp the area they might not be so concerned about the zoning piece.”
I looked around the room. With the shades pulled on the giant windows, the interior of his apartment was a hazy gray. Not too dark to see the pained expression on his face but dim enough that I didn’t feel so exposed. Maybe that’s why I felt it was safe enough to share. “There’s another reason, too.”
“What’s that?” His palm had come to rest on my stomach. It almost felt like he was keeping me grounded, pinning me in place on the queen-sized mattress so I didn’t float away.
Inhaling through my nose, I held my breath for an extra beat before letting out a slow exhale. “This building is special.” There, that wasn’t so bad.
Oliver’s brows knit together, causing his forehead to furrow. “This place?” He cast a skeptical eye around the room. “What do you mean?”
I nibbled on my lip. It was only fair for him to know. If we had any hope for a future, I ought to be able to share the deepest parts of my heart with the man I…the man I loved? Did I love him? The idea of “love” made me sit up with a start. Is that what was happening? Was I falling in love with Oliver Martin?
“You okay?” He pushed himself up to sit next to me.
“Yeah.” Maybe. Maybe not. I’d never been in love before. Is this what it felt like? Fear of hurting him played against the worry of leaving myself so open that I’d get hurt myself.
“Come here.” He leaned against the headboard and pulled me into his arms.
I nestled in, pressing my cheek to his chest. Talking to his abs seemed easier than meeting his gaze. I’d started, I may as well finish. Swallowing the angst rising in my throat, I continued. “My grandfather used to own this building.”
“Really?” He shifted and glanced down at me.
“Yeah. But then he lost it.”
“How?” His hand smoothed over my hair, encouraging me to go on.
“Bad business moves. I don’t know. It was a long time ago. He was financially ruined.”
“But your grandmother’s trust…if he went broke, how did she end up with so much money?”
I cleared my throat. “She left him.”
“What?” His hand paused on my hair.
“She left him and married someone else. Someone she knew before my grandfather. Someone rich.” I didn’t like sharing this part of my family history. I’d grown close to my grandmother late in life and learned about what it meant to harbor regret.
“So that’s how she got the cash to leave in your trust fund…” Oliver seemed to be puzzling it all out for himself.
“Yes. But the whole reason she did it was to save his business. Her new husband gave her the cash she needed to buy out my grandfather and take over. She passed it on to my dad when he was old enough to take charge, but her husband still owned a huge portion.”
“Her second husband,” he said.
“Right. My grandmother intended on going back to my grandfather when her husband died, but never got the chance. That’s why she wanted me to follow my heart. My parents and siblings care so much about status and appearances and money. But Grandma had both. She found the love of her life and had to leave him to save his business. When we used to talk about me opening up the co-op, she would get a sparkle in her eye. This building is the one my grandfather lost. Buying it back and being able to build my own business in the space where my grandfather used to work, where he and my grandmother started the business that she sacrificed their love to save…it’s everything to me.”
Oliver just laid there, and I cursed myself for saying too much. The family history and my grandmother’s actions had faded from everyone’s memories. But not mine. Buying the building was my way of honoring my grandmother. While I didn’t fully understand her choices, I could learn from her experience. If I wanted to build a business in downtown Newbridge, it had to be this building.
“I can see why it’s so important to you.” He let out an exhale, and I watched his chest rise and fall.
“Please don’t tell Wyatt the whole sordid history.”
His hand moved to cradle the back of my head. “I won’t.”
I rose to meet him, pressing my lips to his. I’d never shared that story with anyone. Not even Macy. I hadn’t expected anyone to understand. But Oliver did. His capacity to listen without judgment amazed me. Made me want to open up more to him. I’d never felt that way with anyone and I didn’t want it to end.
The sheet slipped. His hands roamed over my bare back, skimming my ribs. I edged his shirt up and he broke contact with my lips just long enough to yank it over his head. I got to my knees and worked on the button of his jeans. It was like I’d peeled off another layer and needed to know he still accepted me and wanted me. The need to feel him inside me took over.
He kicked off his pants and sat on the bed, facing me.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.” His hands went to my shoulders.
