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Right. The one drink limit and ten o’clock curfew. The arguments burned on her tongue, but she swallowed them like the bitter pills they were. They’d discussed and she’d agreed to the rules. There was nothing left for her to argue. “I remember.”
He studied her, his head tilted ever so slightly, and she knew he saw through her. He always could. And so, when he held a hand out to her, she knew it wasn’t simply for another kiss goodbye. Reluctantly, she took the offered hand and let him pull her to his side.
“I know you think I’m being a hard ass. But I love you too much to let anything happen to you. Are you going to be a good girl tonight?”
Thank God the rest of the staff had left. Even though they were alone, her cheeks burned at his question. “I’ll try.”
He tapped the top drawer of his desk. “Maybe you’ll try extra hard with a plug in your bottom all night.”
“No, Daddy. I’ll follow the rules. But I still don’t like it,” she added under her breath.
“I know.” He rose and pulled her in for a long, simmering kiss. “Thank you for obeying anyway.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
“Liv! You ready? Where the—well, hey there, Mr. Sexy.” Shannon stopped in the doorway of James’s office, all sex and confidence in her skinny jeans and revealing top.
“Hi, Shannon. How are you?”
Olivia wondered if he caught the flash of grief on Shannon’s face before she winked and tossed her long blonde curls over her shoulder. “Hot, successful, and brilliant. How about you?”
“Same.”
Shannon blinked and then threw her head back and laughed. “Well played, Mr. Sexy. Well played. Ready to paint the town red, Liv?”
“Yeah.” James squeezed her hand and she had to fight not to roll her eyes as she added, “I have a client meeting in the morning though, so I need to be home early.”
“Lame. But, same,” Shannon added with another tinkling laugh.
“You girls have fun. Livvy, I’ll see you at home.”
Olivia lifted her face for another smoldering kiss before Shannon grabbed her hand and dragged her away.
“Don’t worry, Daddy, I won’t let anything happen to your girl,” Shannon called behind them as she pulled Olivia out of the office. “See ya!”
James’s laughter followed them down the hall. Olivia was fairly certain her cheeks could light the way for Santa’s sleigh as they climbed into the backseat of the car Shannon had called for them.
“I found this adorable little Mexican restaurant the other night,” Shannon said as they settled in. “Mondays are jumbo margaritas for two dollars. Sound good?”
“That sounds amazing. James hates Mexican food so we hardly get to eat it.”
Pressing a hand to her heart, Shannon’s expression shifted into one of mock horror. “What kind of monster hates Mexican food?”
With a theatrical sigh, Olivia shook her head. “My monster.”
Laughing, Shannon gave the address to the driver and they were off. Once they were on their way, she turned back to Olivia. “I still can’t believe this whole thing with Angela. Did the cops come talk to you?”
“Yeah. It was weird.” Olivia wiggled her shoulders, trying to shake off the unsettled feeling that came with the memory of two homicide detectives sitting in her living room.
“Way weird. You going to the funeral and stuff on Wednesday?”
“I don’t know. James thinks we should.”
“Which means you’ll go. What?” Shannon asked when Olivia frowned at her. “Where goes James so goes your kingdom or whatever.”
“It’s not like that.” It was, of course, exactly like that. And Shannon understood, or at least she had once upon a time. Still, it grated to be reminded.
“Hon, it’s fine. I was thinking I should go anyway, so we can be there for each other.”
