Page 27 of Between Desire and Denial
“I am,” I blurted out. I shut my eyes as if I could hide from him, because he didn’t need to know my fears.
He chuckled at me, though, so relaxed while I was wound tight. “What’s so bad about a family with me, huh? I’d be a good-ass father. And—”
“Families inevitably fall apart. So please stop talking about it,” I blurted out. My heart twisted at the idea of having children and losing them like I’d lost my mother or being like my father that neglected them. I didn’t go into details with him about it though.
Still, the smile dropped from Dimitri’s face and a frown replaced it. He waited a moment before he asked softly, “Olive, do you really think that?”
“Mine did.” I winced as the words tumbled out.
He stared at me for so long, like he was studying everything about me before he said, “I hope you know that’s not always true.”
“Maybe not for yours.” He waited for me to continue on with my thoughts.
Dimitri was someone I was finding I’d confide in without even thinking about. I didn’t know if it was because he’d been around here and there for years or if it was because he’d already seen me break down with Rufford. It’s like he’d seen me at my worst and now I wasn’t scared to show him any part of me. “I just…when my mom passed, things sort of crumbled.”
He took my hand in his, like he wanted to provide comfort if just for a moment. “I’m sorry.”
“And I hate saying that because I had great memories before, you know?”
He nodded. “Even when there’s the bad memories, there can be the good ones too. Both can be true.”
“Yeah.” I sighed and squeezed his hand before letting it go, trying to distance myself a bit. “It’s just most of the time, now, with my father, it’s bad.”
“I hope you know, even if your family now isn’t good to you, you canfindsomeone who will be. You can find a family, Olive. You know that right? Hell, now I’m inclined to show you that and make you believe it.”
What could I say to a man that had beliefs like that? I sighed and patted his shoulder, trying to dispel the tension in the car. “Maybe. But I doubt you’ll change my mind. So, you better start coming up with a plan to tell them the freaking truth. They aren’t going to trust you if you’re flat out lying to them once I’m gone after this week.”
“Or maybe we try and see how this plays out? Act like we’re thinking of having a little one together.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me, like he was trying to lighten the mood too.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Oh, come on. I think about having kids now all the time, if I’m being serious. My brothers and sisters are bringing the next generation to life. My nieces and nephews are a damn riot. It’d be fun as hell to have some. Fun as hell to act like it too. So, say you’ll do it with me?”
I swear the man enjoyed taking chances and dancing on the edge. “You know, some girls would kill for the chance to have you saying this to them? Like you could make me obsessed with you by just offering up this idea.”
“You’re not some girls, though. I’m realizing that very quickly. Play house with me, Honeybee.”
He gave me his green puppy dog eyes and I had to quickly swing open the door of the SUV as Mr. Preston pulled up to the massive home to get away from him and his outlandish ideas.
Instead, I focused on the home I’d be staying in. It looked straight out of aCoastal Livingmagazine with its beautiful wraparound porch and white siding. Yet, I could see it wasn’t at all quaint with the high roof and massive pillars supporting the overhang. I waited for him to open the door with his HEAT watch, a mere scan of a small pad instead of using a key.
“I’ll get you one of these soon so you can get in and out whenever,” he murmured as he held his hand out for me to walk in first.
Immediately, when I stepped in, I could smell the fresh paint, but it didn’t take away from the old charm the place had with the architecture of the doorways having arches, the exposed wood beams on the cathedral ceilings, and the dark flooring that matched those beams.
Dimitri slipped his shoes off as he watched me take in the space. There wasn’t much furniture, just a large white couch and a table and chairs in the dining room. The open concept wasbeautiful though with the granite countertop overlooking the living room and connecting to the dining room.
“The place is beautiful, Dimitri.” I turned to him. “But I won’t need a watch. As I said, I won’t be here long.”
“Why exactly can’t you stay a bit longer?” He narrowed his eyes on me as I ran a hand over the white couch and felt the plush fabric that I could tell was expensive immediately. “It seems Lucille loves you, and an opportunity to write in her paper—”
“Sheseemsto love everyone, but she’s also the most nosy person you’ll ever meet.”
“Still, if you have a foot in the door with her, that will be good for getting an ordinance passed for my condos and office space.”
I shrugged. “Paradise Grove is her first priority. And then probably her husband, Earl.”
“He wasn’t at the meeting.” Dimitri frowned.
