“I take it I gave the right answer,” Pen says, catching our attention.
“Yeah, you did.” He laughs. “I think she was about to dump me if you said no.”
My face is painted in guilt as I sink back into the covers, closer to him now.
“Well, we can’t have that. She hasn’t seen the surprise yet.”
“What surprise?” I ask, but suddenly, Leo fumbles with the phone.
“Okay, thanks, kid. Gotta go.” He hangs up, and the room falls silent.
My mind reels with possibilities, none which make any sense.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Leo
Taking a much-needed deep breath, I step back and admire the work. Black Soul Books is officially a gothic Christmas playground…and under new ownership—the surprise that’s not only been hard for me to keep, but apparently my daughter. I knew after yesterday I needed to get everything finished and revealed to my curious Olive, who never stopped asking questions.
When I saw her lying on the ground and my heart dropped into the acid pit of my stomach, I knew I would rather die than for anything to happen to her. I was furious and felt jealous. My already distant daughter had been spending all of her time with Olive and not me. She confided things in her that she kept secret from me, and it poked at an already vulnerable place in my heart.
Then Olive got hit, and I would have done anything to take back my stupid temper tantrum. I didn’t want to lose her. I loved that the woman I was falling for was so loved by my daughter. The kid hated almost everyone and rolled her eyes ninety percent of the time she talked to me, but she clearly trusted Olive, and instead of hating that fact, I should have embraced it. I wanted them to get along. Never in my wildest dreams did I dare to hope for what they really were to each other.
They’ve already built a foundation of friendship. Penelope told me she loved Olive, and she doesn’t love easily. She’s stubborn and hard-headed, but I guess Olive gets that because she can be too. The thought of being so outnumbered by fiercely independent women should scare the shit out of me, but I couldn’t be more excited. We’ve only just met, and Olive has cemented herself in my life, and I couldn’t, would never dare to, run from this new adventure.
When the door chimes, I take a deep breath and run my sweaty hands down my pants. Its Christmas, and Stephanie and Whitney are planning a big dinner that Olive is excited to go to, but first, I have to give her my gift.
“For the record, it’s not very nice to ditch me right after receiving—” Olive gasps.
She was going to complain because I left so early this morning after we made love, but I promised to make it up to her, and I fully plan to make good on it.
“Leo.”
“I know it’s only been a couple of weeks.” I clear my throat, thick with emotion, as I watch her eyes take in all the dark decorations.
A tall black tree with velvet black bulbs and fake white snow is in the corner. Lights are strung over our heads, and her Edger Allen Poe crow is rocking a Santa hat that matches mine. That’s right, I pulled out the original suite from Fitzy’s auction in hopes it makes her just as horny as I did the first night we met. Maybe she’ll even let me repay her generousity from this morning, the same way I did that night.
“But Olive, you’ve showed me that my excited bachelor life was empty. I wasn’t living until I met you, and I don’t want to spend another day without you. I love you. I want to keep you forever.”
Tears fill her eyes.
“Oh, Leo. I love you too. This is beyond what I could have hoped for. I was so scared you wouldn’t—”
I cut her off with a kiss, not even wanting her to say the ridiculous words out loud.
“I want you and only you, baby.”
“God, I love you,” she says, kissing me back.
Our lips are feverish, but before we get carried away, I still have a surprise up my sleeve.
“I thought for sure you’d need more convincing from me. To prove I was serious and would never change my mind.”
She shakes her head, happy tears now falling from her face.
“I just need you.”
“Well, I guess this is just because I want to, then. Merry Christmas, my love.” I hand her the deed tied in a satin black bow.