AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, it’s just things I need that I forget to buy. Like a can of winterizer to put in my car.” She laughs. “A timer for the hoses in that section of my lawn that’s just out of reach of my sprinkler system. It’s so nice that I don’t have to go outside and pull the hose around.”
Oliver’s looking at her like she’s lost her mind. “You never told me he keeps in touch with you.”
“Is that a problem?” She glances at me and then back to Oliver, her eyes narrowing. “He’s been doing it for a long time. And he always has some cute story about Navie to share, but I don’t think he gets to see her too often, sadly. He mails her stuff more often than he mails me stuff.”
Oliver swallows hard. “Do you know where he’s living now?”
Stella looks up, scrunching her nose. “I want to say Crete? Or maybe he’s staying somewhere else for awhile before going back to Crete. I don’t know. He doesn’t mention much about where he is.” She shrugs. “I know his security job is hush hush.”
Before Oliver can ask more questions, she changes the subject and turns to me.
“Have Patricia and Vernon forgiven the Tates for ruining their plans?” She’s asking it sincerely, and I’m taken back by her concern. My grandparent’s plans for filling the valley with wind turbines to cut down on city power costs was a divisive subject. Many people in town were happy, or at least satisfied, when the Tate brothers came in with their resort idea. Hundreds of trees were saved, too. There are others who still wish for lower power bills, though. And my grandparents suffered financially after all that went down.
I cock my head to one side. “They’re making peace with it.”
It was true, the sting of the Tates sweeping in with their money and upending their bid for the property had subsided in my grandparents over the last three years. Grandpa’s ashen coloring and slumped shoulders were nowhere to be found these days. At least most of the time.
But they still wouldn’t like it one bit if they knew I was going to consult for the Tates. Oh, I love the way the term “consultant” makes me feel. I should add that to my Linked In profile.
Validate Sophie’s work and the importance of it.
Check. Check. Check. Check.
My grandparents have no idea about me and Oliver’s rendezvous at Shake Shake Shake every year since the age of eighteen. And they don’t know I’m here now.
It’s okay, I tell myself. I can do whatever suits my fancy. Even if it means hanging out with Oliver Tate in this “gross monstrosity,” as my grandparents call it.
They’ve got it all wrong, though. The resort is built to the highest standards of ecological care and concern. It’s an asset to the area, anyone with eyeballs can see that. But that doesn’t mean I’ll share that I’m working for Oliver.
“I’m glad they’re coming to terms with it,” Stella says. “Even though they don’t live here anymore, I know it was a hard setback to lose that bid.”
The Tates and the Hansons—head to head. And now I’m consorting with the enemy.
Oliver scowls. I’m sure hearing the Hanson name has the same effect on him as their hearing his name has on them.
He holds up his palms. “Sophie and I’ve managed to be pretty much Switzerland on this, haven’t we, Soph?”
“Yes, we have. I think we’ve been very mature.”
Stella glances back and forth between the two of us. I’d bet she’d be happy with our union.
Our “union?” I’ve got to stop thinking of words like that when I’m around Oliver. And all words that indulge my long-running feelings.
“I’d better go,” Stella says. “The dogs will be anxious for their evening walk.” She says goodbye, but not before gathering me in another hug and calling me “beautiful.”
Where my grandparents are formal and at arms’ length, everything about Stella is sunny. She accepts me as I am.
Oliver hugs her, too.
But Stella’s words about my grandparents’ pride niggle at the back of my brain. And I can’t very well talk to Oliver about it. Hello, conflict of interest!
When she’s gone, I sign the freelance contract paperwork and he tells me he has to speak with human resources. “You can hang out in my office until I get back. Take a nap on the sofa…I’ve dozed off a time or two. It’s so soft.”
I shake my head. “I’ll just find a space in the lobby to sit.” I can’t very well hang out here. I have to be the consummate professional. “I’d like to start pulling together some ideas for titles to order.”
“I’m really happy you’ll be working on this for us, Sophie.” He draws near me, and I find myself leaning into him. He smells so good, the cedarwood and pear filling my nose and head.
“Anything for a friend,” I say, straightening my t-shirt and turning to the door. My voice is cheery, casual. But to my ears, it sounds foreign and hollow.
