Page 76 of Freedom's Kiss
His hands pressed into her lower back, pulling her even closer to him.
“I promise I won’t let you down. You might have to teach me how to drive the beast, but I assure you, I’m up to the challenge.”
Adam laughed, and Olivia’s smile brightened. She’d always loved his easy laughter, but it wasn’t until then that she realized the strain and forcefulness that had been behind the sound before. Now his laugh rang with light and had an ease that invited others to join in.
Her mind spun with ideas. She’d keep the most popular items on the menu for as long as they were in season. Once fall settled in, she could try a few new flavor combinations. Pumpkin was always a crowd pleaser, but maybe she could incorporate some lesser-known autumn ingredients like yucca and parsnips. Maybe on weekends she could—
She pulled up short. How could she have forgotten her weekend plans already? She eased out of Adam’s arms and gave him a mischievous smile. “As manager I can decide Southern Charm’s hours, right?”
He looked at her quizzically. “Uh, sure?”
“So it would be okay if the doors remained closed until after the weekend?”
His lips turned up in a flirty smile. “Why? Got a hot date or something?”
She wanted to laugh but instead pressed her lips down and shrugged with a pretend nonchalance. “Maybe.”
He gave her a chaste kiss but looked apologetic. “I wish I could take you out somewhere, but if I’m going to take on Curtis Haywood as a client, I’m going to need to start working on his case right away. But maybe—”
“Who said my hot date was with you?”
Color drained from his face, and Olivia felt a pinch of guilt as he stammered. “But…I thought…what about…” He started to pull away.
She tugged on his arm. “I found my sister. Rather, she found me.”
“Your sister?” His face lit. He bolted off the bench and pulled her up with him, swinging her around. He set her feet back on the ground and tugged on the end of her braid. “I’m going to forgive you for being so mean. Wait. You’re going to see her this weekend? Maybe I can postpone compiling Haywood’s defense.”
She rested her hand on his chest. “No. You need to go. You’ve been trying to get away from this thing long enough. There’s no way I’m going to let you use me as an excuse to keep running.”
“But I don’t want you to have to do this alone. I want to be with you.”
“I know. And I appreciate it.”
“So I’ll call and arrange the meeting for next week.”
“No, you won’t. You’ll call and arrange the meetingtoday.”
“Olivia.” His brow dipped, voice coated in exasperation
“Adam.” Her cheeks pulled upward in the dance they’d established weeks ago.
They stared at each other, neither backing down.
Adam sighed. “Fine. But I don’t want you having to go alone.”
“That’s sweet of you, but I’ll be fine.”
“I know. Because you’re going to let your parents go with you.”
She bristled. Not so much because he was telling her what to do—hadn’t she done the same to him?—but because lingering anger still took up residence in her heart toward her parents.
He tucked her against him. “Look, I know there are still some hard feelings toward your parents, but they love you and want to be there for you, and moreover, you need them to be there.”
She didn’t say anything but could feel her muscles tightening, her defenses going up. He turned her with both hands on her shoulders and dipped his head to meet her eyes. “Sometimes the right thing to do is the hard thing. The thing that goes against our feelings and makes us uncomfortable, if it is God’s will, ultimately not only strengthens us but allows the work of sanctification to transform our hearts.
“Going to the jailhouse and interviewing Curtis Haywood, compiling his defense, arguing his case before a judge and jury…each step is going to be a battle between the truthyoureminded me of—amazing grace—and my feelings of failure and guilt. But I can’t let those feelings get in the way. Not when I know what I need to do.”
Betrayal. Lies. Deceit. Selfishness.
The hurt washed over her again, still as fresh as when she’d learned she wasn’t David and Eileen Arroyo’s biological daughter after all. The sting of her identity being ripped from her. She blinked away the fog of pain, acknowledging the heart and spirit of the two who’d raised her.
Adam didn’t say another word to convince her, just implored with a steady look.
If he could push past his feelings to walk along a grace-filled road, so could she.
