AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Olivia was gob-smacked. She was speechless and didn’t know how to respond to Dane’s gallant support of her. “But, Dane, you don’t even know me.” Even though they’d just spent the last few hours talking about all sorts of personal things.
“But I want to get to know you better. Will you let me?”
Heat rushed through Olivia’s blood and she even felt a tingle in an area she shouldn’t be feeling any pleasurable sensations in right now.
“Dane, I…” Olivia squeezed her eyes shut, dazed and torn. “Yes, I do want to get to know you better. But everything is happening so fast.”
“I understand. That’s okay. We can take it slow.”
“How do I know you’re not a heartbreaker, too?”
“You don’t. You can’t know. All you can know is how you feel. Life is about taking chances and living. Don’t let that jackwad's leaving you spoil you from seeking happiness elsewhere, Olivia. You’ll be letting him hurt you twice. You are so lovely, Olivia, and even though we’ve just spent a few hours talking and getting to know each other, I feel more connected to you than I have with girls I’ve dated for years. There’s a bond I can’t explain. Have you ever met a stranger on a bus or in a park walking a dog and you draw into a conversation that sparks something?”
“Yes, I have actually. Plenty of times.”
“Right. How do you think friendships begin?”
Olivia’s heart sank to her knees. Right. Friendship. Of course, he could mean nothing else. What on earth was she thinking? That he’d fallen in love with a jilted bride within hours of meeting her? Especially when he was so wary of recently-heartbroken women. Hell, he probably just felt sorry for her in the same way he would if he’d seen an abandoned kitten on the road.
But then he said, in his deep, rich voice: “And friendships can turn into something more.”
Olivia wondered what he meant by that. She felt heat rush to her cheeks and hoped he didn't see her blush. Shame on her for jumping to conclusions in her mind and thinking about a possible future with this really nice guy. She still had the business of the wedding guests to sort out. For now, she would enjoy Dane’s comforting company for as long as she could.
“So, let’s discuss the new and revised program for tomorrow.”
Olivia smiled. They spent the next few minutes briefly going over what she should do to make it her day. Olivia couldn’t believe Dane’s suggestions.
* * *
They both realized it was best to leave since it was in the wee hours of the morning.
“You need to get some beauty sleep, Ms. McAlister.”
“I will,” she assured. Would she?
They turned to walk out of the empty restaurant with the music fading in the background. Olivia thought that was so sweet of the staff to keep the ambiance going for their last customer even though they were officially closed.
When they reached the intricately-etched glass doors, she couldn’t miss the mistletoe hanging over the door.
“Well…” Dane had a wicked grin on his lips. He wasn’t about to let her off the hook, was he?
Olivia's heart fluttered in her chest. Dane held her gently in front of him and lowered his head to hers. Olivia thought she was going to pass out. Her knees were weak and the intoxicating scent of his sweet cologne sent shivers down her spine.
Was he really going to kiss her?
Was she going to be kissed by this hot new friend on Christmas Eve? The eve of what would have been her wedding day?
His lips hadn’t even touched hers yet but silently she was quivering, begging him to take her in every way. To feel the softness of his lips on hers.
“You’re a beautiful girl, Olivia,” he reiterated in a low moan as he stroked her chin and traced the outline of her jaw with his soft, slender fingers. Oh, God! The electricity of his sensual touch raced through her. She was going to die if he didn’t embrace her immediately. She needed him to be with her—like yesterday.
Slowly and gently Dane pressed his soft, warm lips to hers and parted her lips with his moist tongue sending shock waves of erotic pleasure through her veins. He French kissed her passionately under the mistletoe, leaving her breathless, hungry for more. But he pulled away, leaving her lips tingling, buzzing uncontrollably.
No one had ever kissed her like that before.
What was he? A master kisser? This man could bring a woman to the brink of orgasm with his salacious lips.
This man could kiss.
Olivia thought about how it would feel if he had his hands over her body—and what he would feel like on top of her. Within her.
She was dazed.
A wicked grin of amusement touched the corner of his sweet lips.
“Merry Christmas, Olivia.”
And it was a very merry Christmas, wasn’t it?
Dane pulled her closer and hugged her tightly. She felt the warm energy from his body transferring to hers.
But the mood was killed in seconds when she heard the clicking of cameras outside the window.
“What the—?” Dane pulled away, his tone morphed into one of darkness. Anger seethed through him.
“What is it?” Olivia belted out, stunned.
“Paparazzi.”
“Paparazzi? What? Here? Us? Why?” Olivia watched in horror as Dane swung the door open with such a full force, the photographers scattered swiftly. He held up his chin, his jaw was clenched and anger flickered in his dark blue eyes. His lips were pressed into a thin, hard line.
“What was that all about, Dane? Why were they taking pictures of us?”
Dane reached for Olivia’s arm. “Come on, let’s go back to the hotel. There’s something I didn’t tell you that I think you should know.”
Olivia’s mind swirled with confusion. This could not be happening. Twice in a twenty-four hour period. She’d been screwed by a hot looking guy.
Great! By the morning this snapshot of them kissing on what should have been hours before her wedding would be splayed all across the Internet.
Olivia walked closely with Dane to the Bentley parked outside the restaurant. Once safely inside, they drove to the hotel.
This night could not possibly get any worse.
Chapter 6
The next morning, everything was a blur.
Olivia could not believe what had happened the previous night. Just thinking about it shattered her. What if she ended up on the Internet gossip sites making out with the hotel manager on the eve of her wedding? The question was a stab to her heart. A deep sense of inadequacy gnawed at her. She really knew how to land herself in a pickle at the worst of times, didn’t she?
Luckily, her sister Bria, also one of her bridesmaids, was pre-occupied on her cell phone when she dropped by Olivia's suite that morning.
“You look so out of it, hon,” Macy, her cousin commented while assisting her by zipping up the back of her silk Vera Wang gown.
“Yeah, I’m just a little tired,” she whispered. The truth was she could not sleep for the rest of the night after Dane dropped her back at the hotel. She was still buzzed about the hot, passionate lip lock with Dane Romano! And then she was still stunned about the paparazzi capturing it all with their zoom lenses.
What on earth were they doing there?
Dane promised he would explain but changed his mind when Olivia started to yawn last night. He probably wanted her to get some sleep before her ceremony.
He was right. Why cancel the "wedding of the century" and break everybody’s hearts? What Dane had in mind sounded so much better than her sorry-for-spending-all-your-money-on-gifts-and-expensive-dresses-for-the-occasion-but-Jack-called-it-off speech.
One fraction of Olivia still really didn’t want to go through with the wedding after what had transpired but Dane and she had talked it through. He was right. This was her big day. Like hell she was going to let Jack screw her over twice. Three hundred guests were already waiting for her at the chapel next to the hotel. The ballroom was decorated in her favorite winter wonderland theme with bright sparkling snow crystals everywhere and tables draped with the finest Christmas linens. It was an awesome sight. She had taken a peek yesterday to make sure everything was in place. The hotel staff had gone out of their way to make it a special day.
“Have you spoken to your groom today?” Macy interrupted her thoughts.
“No. We’ve broken up.”
Macy’s face turned as white as the snow falling outside.
“What?” she gaped. Her mouth formed a perfect O and her eyebrows knitted together. Fury wasn’t the word to describe her expression. “I knew something was up but…but…”
“It’s okay, Macy. We’re still going through with the wedding. It’s our…my big day.”
“But…Olivia…Oh, God! I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be, Macy,” Olivia said, fixing her gown as if she hadn’t said anything out of the ordinary. “He did me a favor really. What’s that saying? It’s better to be rejected than used because they’ll both amount to the same thing in the end but being used takes longer.”
“Oh, Olivia!” Macy was still choked up. It was Olivia’s turn to console her cousin now. She rubbed the woman’s shoulder and told her not to worry.
“I’m okay. Really. I mean, I was heartbroken yesterday but a good friend of mine helped me through the night. Merry Christmas, cuz.” Olivia held Macy’s arms, pulled her closer and gave her a huge bear hug. “It’s family time today. A celebration of love. Our love for each other, friends and family alike.”
