Page 37 of Secrets & Desires
Livia’s eyebrows shot up and she looked around. “Well,um…”
“If you can’t,that’sokay.”
Livia glanced at Marcel. “I guess I’m due a break but I’ll have to run it pastmyboss.”
“Ofcourse.”
Livia spoke to Marcel who seemed surprised but shrugged. “Go for it. We’re slowing down nowanyway.”
“It’s just for ten minutes atthemost.”
Livia sat down with Odelle, feeling oddly out of place. The blonde woman smiled at her, but her eyes were searching Livia’s face. Finally, she spoke. “Nox is very takenwithyou.”
Livia nodded. “And I with him,” she said carefully, having no idea where Odelle was going. Was she about to give Livia the full-on ‘gold-digger’warning?
Odelle picked at her omelet. “Nox is very important to me. You may have noticed that I don’t make friends easily. I have a tendency to speak my mind and people tell me I have no tact so forgive me if I say anything outofturn.”
“Sure.”
“I like seeing him happy. Hedeservesit.”
Livia held up her hands. “Odelle, let me pre-empt you. I’m not interested in hismoney.”
“But he doeshavemoney.”
“It’s his,notmine.”
Odelle nodded. “For what it’s worth, I actually never considered you to be that kind of woman. You genuinely do seem to careabouthim.”
Livia lifted her chin. “I do care. I love him,Odelle.”
“I believe you. What I wanted to say was this—be careful which of his friends you trust. They are not always who they seemtobe.”
“Like…Roan?”
Odelle smiled. “Roan, god bless him, is not blessed with brains or cunning. No, I mean…AmberDuplas.”
Livia felt awkward. “She has been nothing but kind to me,Odelle.”
“And I’m sure she means it. But she’s also been fucking Roan behindmyback.”
Livia was shocked. “Odelle, I’m sosorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m not naïve. I know who Roan is, I know who Amber is. I’m going to marry Roan; did youknowthat?”
Livia shook her head. “I didn’t…Odelle, are you sure youshould?”
Odelle smiled. “You see things as very black and white, don’t you? I’m marrying Roan because, despite his infidelities—and yes, there have been more than one—he needs me. And I need him. You might have seen I don’t do well in social situations. He is my anchor and I am his. Where he puts his dick… I gave him an ultimatum. Get rid of the other women. Do I think he’ll be faithful forever? No, of course not. But he’s trying. For me. Mostly for my money, to be fair, but alsoforme.”
“Why are you telling me all of this, Odelle?” Livia feltuncomfortable.
Odelle smiled. “Because I like you. I don’t often feel that towards other women, but you, Livia, seem like the genuine article. No bullshit. Despite your relative low background…” She stopped and held her hands up. “There goes that sledgehammer tack again. What I mean is, despite the difference in our social standing…that’s nobetter…”
Livia chuckled suddenly. “It’s okay, Odelle, Igetit.”
“Sorry. But what I mean is…you are completely guileless. It’s refreshingtome.”
“Fair enough. Look, I really do have to get back to work but…” Livia pulled her notepad from her apron and scribbled her cell phone number down. She gave it to Odelle. “If you ever needtotalk.”
