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“God, I hate that piece of shit car.”
“I offered Bill the Shelby for your birthday present this year,” Dad said. “He wouldn’t accept it. Said it was impractical and too expensive to maintain.”
I rolled my eyes. “Are you kidding? He would say that. He’s stingy. And proud.”
“So then the bank account is the only real problem,” David continued.
“Doesn’t sound too bad,” my dad said. “I taught you all about socking away savings.”
I cleared my throat. “It’s paltry. It’s nothing, actually. Most of my savings are in our joint account, which I don’t have access to right now. Bill canceled my cards.”
David’s face changed instantly. “You didn’t tell me that.”
“It happened a few days ago. Anyway, my savings aren’t enough for a divorce lawyer.”
“Mr. Germaine – ”
“Harvey.”
“Harvey,” David said, “I know you’ve been through a divorce.”
“Two,” I interjected.
“I want Olivia out of this marriage as quickly as possible. If it were up to me, it would already be over. I’d like to just wipe the slate clean.”
“David, what – ”
“I don’t know if she told you,” he interrupted me, “but he was unnecessarily rough with her.”
“Pardon?” Dad said, leaning forward in his seat. “Is this true, Olivia?”
“He just grabbed my arm,” I stammered.
“And left marks,” David added.
“His pride was hur
t. He’d just learned that David was the one who bought the house.”
My dad ran his hands over his face.
“David broke his nose though,” I said quickly.
David rolled his eyes. “Trying to make a good impression here,” he said under his breath.
My dad laughed darkly. “What are you asking me for, David? Money?”
“No, sir, just some backup if Olivia plans to fight me on this. I’ll get her out, no matter the cost. I’ll pay to have everything taken care of as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, it looks like six months is the soonest it would become official, and that’s if Bill is compliant.”
“David, I can’t ask you to do that,” I said, my eyes wide.
“You didn’t. I’m saying,” he continued, turning back to my dad, “I want to do it. I want to spare her the pain of a long, drawn-out process. Let Bill keep everything – the money, the car, the furniture, whatever. No alimony. I have more than enough for the two of us plus a family, and just so you feel secure, Olivia, you’ll have your salary like we discussed. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“David – ”
“You’d do that?” my dad interrupted.
“In a heartbeat.”
“No,” I said adamantly.
“I tell you, sugar, divorce is a bitch,” Dad said. “I’d hate to see you suffer through it when there’s another option.”
I looked between the two of them, speechless.
“I want to do it, Olivia. You’ve dealt with a lot from Bill. I know he’s been hard on you. Let me take over from here.”
“So we’re just going to let him have everything?”
“Do you care?” David asked.
“No. I hate to put you in that position, though.”
“Don’t look at it that way. Anyway, I own my apartment. This is what we talked about,” he said, staring me down. “Giving up control. Letting me help. It’s nothing for me.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“This is no longer just about you. It involves me too, and this is how I’m going to handle it.”
I gaped at him. “Okay,” I said slowly.
My dad reached over to shake David’s hand. “You’re a good man, David. I think I might be happy that you’re looking after my girl.”
~
“I wish you would just stay here instead of the hotel,” I said to David, running my hands over the fabric of his sweater. The soft cashmere, as always, was the perfect complement to the muscles underneath.
“So do I,” he said. “I’m feeling . . . restless.”
I tugged on the waistband of his pants. “Stay then.”
“It’s not appropriate, and I don’t want your dad to feel uncomfortable.”
“What a gentleman,” I teased.
“Would a gentleman do this?” he asked, squeezing my ass to pull me against him.
