Page 45 of Reckless Intentions
Olivia strode along the promenade, radiating an outward confidence that she didn’t feel inside. The Roca Bar was quiet, although there still seemed to be a couple of workmen busying themselves with tasks. Hesitantly, she pushed the door open, marvelling at the completed site. Caro’s vision for the bar had been carried out and it was reminiscent of The Indigo Lounge. She headed towards the office, hearing voices.
Brody had his arms around a dark-haired woman, hugging her close to him as he kissed her. Olivia’s stomach lurched. He didn’t care about her at all. He’d gone back to Valentina.
Over Valentina’s shoulder, Brody caught sight of Olivia and jumped back as if he’d been burned.
“Olivia! What are you doing here?”
“I shouldn’t have come. It was a mistake.” She turned away, not expecting Brody to catch up with her.
He grabbed her arm and span her around to face him.
“Valentina was just leaving,” he said.
“I wouldn’t want to interrupt anything between you. Again.” Her words weren’t lost on him.
“She came to say goodbye. She and her fiancé are moving to Palma for his work.”
“And that’s my business because?” Olivia extracted her arm from Brody’s grasp, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach.
“Because she’s the one who helped me see sense and made me realise I shouldn’t have walked away from you. I shouldn’t have listened to Nic. I should have listened to myself and my feelings.”
Valentina walked up to the pair. “Brody cares about you very much, Olivia. His relationship with me was nothing compared to how he feels about you. I think you’re the one who has changed him.” She kissed Olivia on both cheeks, then did the same to Brody. “I hope the two of you will be very happy together.” Then she was gone.
Olivia stared at Brody. Valentina’s words rang in her ears as she thought about what the woman had said. He looked sheepishly at her.
“She’s right. She was the one who made me see sense. I had a couple of things to finish up here, but then I was going to come back to North Ridge to see you.”
“Seems like Caro had other ideas.”
“I’m very glad she did.” Brody took her in his arms. “I think we need to have a proper conversation.”
They went along to Restaurant Miramar, taking a table outside underneath a large sun umbrella. Brody ordered the white Rioja again, which Olivia was mindful to sip carefully this time.
“When you arrived, it was easy to see you as another holiday romance, another notch on the bedpost. That’s what I do,” began Brody. “I mean, that’s what I did.” He took a sip of his own wine. “Then I got to know you more, and something changed. I began to see a future with someone for the first time.”
Olivia’s heart contracted. She hadn’t realised the depth of his feeling and how quickly it had happened for him. “And I guess I was on a rebound, looking for something fun, a holiday fling, which was how you operated. I tried not to let myself fall, but I couldn’t. When you came back to North Ridge, seeing you there, then realising how you made me feel in comparison to Nic. I knew you were the one I wanted. I would never have gone back to him.”
Brody’s mouth curved up at one corner. “I’m pleased to hear that. I mean, he’s a nice guy and all that, but he’s not me.”
“Ugh, I was right about you all along, you really are an arrogant pig, aren’t you?” teased Olivia.
“Would you have it any other way?” He quirked an eyebrow.
“Not at all, Brody Fox. Not at all.”
