Garrett started to follow them, a stubborn look on his face.
Keane held a hand out.“Tonight is not the time.Tonight wefigure out how to update Jack Barnes on everything that’s happened.”
“How do we tell him we’ve been topping his baby girl?”
“I wasn’t going to tell him that, though I am going toexplain that we’re dating Olivia.”
“Are we?”The question sounded oddly hollow coming fromGarrett’s mouth.
Keane sank down on one of the uncomfortable chairs.“I thinkso.I think we’re making progress.”
“Or she’s enjoying the sex and likes knowing we have an enddate.”Garrett sat down next to him.
Garrett could get seriously morose at times.
“She would tell us if that’s her plan.She also mentionedshe wanted to take us to Gabe’s club.That’s her home club.She wouldn’t offerif she was only playing around,” Keane pointed out.
“She wouldn’t.”Miranda walked back toward them, sliding herphone into her purse.“I know you started out with all these parameters, andshe needed them to feel safe, but I don’t think she’ll walk away easily.She’sbeen more herself than I’ve seen in a long time.Scott took a lot of herself-confidence.She didn’t love him.She didn’t mention love once when shetalked about him.He fit into her life, and she thought it was time to start amarriage.But him leaving hurt her pride in a way she’s just now getting over.”
Pride.Olivia had a lot of it.She was the type of woman whotook responsibilities on that she didn’t have to.
Miranda knew a lot about Olivia and her family.She might beable to help him understand.“She seems to be afraid she’s letting her parentsdown.”
Miranda sighed and sat back.“Her parents adore her.Her momand sister might be a bit aggressive when it comes to matchmaking, but theydon’t measure her worth based on her relationships.That doesn’t mean shedoesn’t feel pressure.Even when it’s not from her family.It comes from allaround.From society.From the shows we watch and the books we read.We wantlove.We want what we think is normalcy.Don’t think her parents are pushingher to be anything but happy.I think her mom’s been worried about her becauseof the situation with Bobby.Please don’t give up on her.”
Keane’s head shook.How did one give up on one’s soul mate?On the one woman who could finally bridge all the gaps between him and Garrett?“The only way we leave her is she kicks us out.I’m going to tell you somethingI hope you don’t pass on, but I need you to understand how serious we are.Garrett and I have already discussed trying to stay close to Willow Fork.Wedon’t have any interest in a long-distance relationship.We want to be withher.I’m worried her parents already don’t like us.”
Miranda waved the thought off.“Jack doesn’t like anyoneuntil he does.Sam and Abby are easy.If Livie likes you, you’re in.Treat herlike the queen she is and Jack will follow.You didn’t bring a personalvehicle, did you?”
He snorted.“I am not letting that man cube my truck.”
Garrett shrugged.“We can get a new one.We should thinkabout it because we need something we can drive Olivia around in.You hatedriving mine.”
Olivia wasn’t the only one with a pride problem.“I don’tthink she cares about what we drive.She cares that we show up.”
Miranda’s lips curled.“Then you’re already getting to knowher.That’s what people don’t get.She grew up with wealth, but they worked forit every day.She would tell you her family was lucky.They had someopportunities her dad turned into wealth, but she doesn’t take any of it forgranted.She spent her childhood riding horses and running across this ranch,not in some prep school wearing designer clothes.She doesn’t care about whatcar you drive as long as it’s safe.She cares about whether you love her.Ifyou love her.”
“It’s too early to tell her that.She’ll get scared.”Notthat he hadn’t thought it a million times.“I’ve also got some things about mypast I need to tell her.Unless she read my background check.Then she alreadyknows.”
“She doesn’t,” Miranda replied.“She knows you’re hidingsomething, but she wants you to tell her when you’re ready.Did you get intotrouble when you were a kid?”
Trouble wasn’t the word for what had happened.Hell.Thatwas a better word for what he went through.“I need to talk to her first.”
He had been putting it off.It was cowardly.He usuallydidn’t talk about his past because the women weren’t around for anything but agood time.
Olivia was more than a good time.She was the whole future.
Would she look at him with soft eyes and trust when shefound out he spent three years in prison for assault?
Miranda nodded.“Yes, you should, but I think it’s going tobe all right.You’ll see.”
The clinic’s doors came open, and he was faced with thesight of the sheriff walking in.He was a large man who had seen fitter days,but he still wore his khakis with authority.He had two deputies behind him,and blue and red lights flashed from the parking lot.
A low knot formed in Keane’s gut.
“We’re here for Keane Rollins.”
Keane stood, that knot rolling into something nasty now.“That’s me.”
