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“Since the day you got here.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t want you to think she would distract me from doing my job, and I knew Mom wouldn’t approve of the two of us being alone together every night.”
“Well, you’re right about your mother, but I know how hard you’re working on the house. I can tell you’re not slacking off.” He chuckled. “And I guess that explains why Olivia’s working so hard on it too. She’s got a vested interest.”
“She’s just a hard worker.” He said this in an attempt to show his father her good qualities. “She’s worried you don’t like her.”
“Why would she think that?”
“You hardly ever talk to her.”
He scoffed. “I’m an old married man. It would be inappropriate if I went out of my way to talk to a young woman. Besides, I thought you didn’t like her. I thought you wouldn’t want me to be friendly with your old nemesis.”
Fair points. “Well, now I want you to be friendly with her.”
“Your mother has always liked her,” his father’s voice lapsed into lecture mode. “Because Olivia had standards and the gumption to stand up to you and your friends.”
This topic again. “As much as I love to hear you dredge up my high school mistakes, I’m going to let you go so I can concentrate on driving.”
“All right. When you find Olivia, tell her Mom will want to have the two of you over for dinner soon.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t speed.”
Carson was totally speeding and wasn’t planning on slowing down. “Goodbye, Dad.”
Carson stared at the long road ahead and wished he could go even faster.
20
Carson drove to Olivia’s apartment building. Her car didn’t seem to be in the parking lot, but perhaps there was parking somewhere he couldn’t see. He climbed the stairs to her door and rang the bell.
After a couple of minutes, a pretty brunette opened the door. He vaguely remembered that she’d been three years younger in school. Riley something.
She fixed him with a glare. “Let me guess, you want to speak to Olivia?”
“Yes. Is she here?”
Riley’s expression was nothing but sass and disdain. “What is it with you Clark men? Do you think that you’re so handsome and charming that you can treat women like trash and get away with it?”
Clark men? Oh, right. She’d dated Lucas. Apparently, that hadn’t turned out well. He ran his tongue over his teeth and tried for patience. “Olivia must be here because you’ve obviously talked to her. Can you get her?”
Riley continued to glare at him. “Being incapable of loyalty—is it nurture or nature?”
“You’re bringing my parents into this?” The girl had some serious anger issues. What had Lucas done to her?
“You’re right,” she conceded. “Your parents are nice people. We’ll go withnatureas the cause of you and your brother treating women badly.” Riley wasn’t moving to get Olivia and seemed to have no intention to do so. Was Olivia even here? He’d expected her to come into the living room when she heard his voice.
“Look, I don’t know what happened between you and Lucas, but I didn’t cheat on Olivia. I broke up with Megan weeks ago. My father just didn’t know. That’s what I need to explain to Olivia. Is she here?”
Riley’s arms remained folded. “If you want a real relationship with Olivia then why are you hiding her like she’s your dirty little secret?”
“I’m not. I set my father straight on the drive down. He wants to have Olivia over for dinner, and from here on out neither of my parents will give her a moment’s peace. I’m not sure that will actually make her happier, but that’s how things stand. Now can you please tell me where I can find my girlfriend?”
Riley relaxed a little, relented. “She’s downtown running errands. If you want, you can wait for her here.” She opened the door wider. “And if what you say is true, I apologize for ripping your head off.”
