No Regrets (A Stepbrother New Adult Novella)(25)

“Dad, I don’t understand. What is going on?” He frowned, even more puzzled than before his father had started the conversation. He watched his father sigh heavily.

“Olivia got a job, did you know that? She is working for Braden County, out there Monday through Friday.” He watched Parker intently.

“That’s great for her, Dad, but I still don’t understand.” His father rolled his eyes at him.

“Parker, I swear, sometimes, you are more than a challenge for me. Go see her, son. Go see her and talk to her…I mean, really talk to her. I know something bad happened in Paris, I got that much from Linda. She doesn’t want to get involved, but now that I know…” He trailed off.

“Now that you know what, Dad?” Parker felt anxious, and he knew something was definitely wrong. He watched his Dad stand to leave.

“Just go see her, son. And trust yourself.” He walked to the door slowly. He turned around at the last minute. “Oh, and Parker, take it easy on her. She may be full of fire, but she really is fragile sometimes.”

Parker sat back in his chair once more, thinking. He glanced at his watch and pressed the intercom button.

“Lisa, cancel the rest of my afternoon. On second thought, reschedule tomorrow as well. I have to go out of town.”

He saw his father get into the car on the street below. Somehow, he knew he had to go to her…and go now. He reached into his desk drawer and looked at the box sitting there accusingly. He grabbed the box and quickly walked downstairs. Sliding into the seat of his car, he set the GPS for the hour ride. He had given her the space she wanted, not attempting to contact her. Why his father had gotten involved, he didn’t know.

Soon, he was pulling into the parking lot of her new job. It was a huge government building, complete with security measures.

He walked towards the door when he heard a laugh. Just the sound alone made him freeze in his tracks. He knew it was her, would have known her anywhere. That’s when he noticed her on a bench, chatting with another woman who was just rising to leave.

He felt his palms sweating, and his heart was beating out of his chest. Even from a distance, he was once more reminded of how beautiful she was. Her friend passed him as he continued on towards her.

Before he reached her, she stood and stretched slowly. He felt as if his world had stopped. It struck him like an electric shock. Am I seeing right? Her belly was slightly swollen. Could this be true? She had never been more beautiful to him than she was right at that moment. He stopped moving.

“Olivia,” he croaked out her name.

“Parker,” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”





Chapter Twenty-Three





Olivia





She wanted to be swallowed up by the ground she was standing on. She could see it in his eyes…he knew now, there was no way to hide it. He knew, and things would change now. She put her hand on her stomach lovingly. This was her whole world, he had to understand that.

“Why, Olivia…why wouldn’t you tell me?” His voice was shaky and loud.

“I…I was going to tell you, in Paris…but then you told me how you felt and I didn’t want…”

“Didn’t want what, Olivia? And what are you talking about? How did I tell you anything?”

She watched his expression as he remembered what he had said.


“I believe the term you used was ‘not in the cards for you’.” She sighed. “I don’t want you to feel obligated, Parker. I would never want yo to have any regrets about what your life could have been without me…without us. I am doing fine, actually. We will be fine. Really, we will be.”

“Olivia, if you think for one moment that I am going to just drive home as if this didn’t happen, then you don’t know me at all. Oh my God, Olivia, did you really think I wouldn’t want to be a part of my child’s life? All that stuff I told you was because it wasn’t real. It wasn’t a reality right in front of me then. This is very real.” He took a step towards her. “I can’t do this anymore, Olivia. I came to Paris to tell you that I was in love with you. I got on that flight to get there as soon as I could, because I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you…with both of you.”

Her tears were falling freely now, as she wiped at them with both hands, and he went on.

“I know you think you have to be tough all the time, Olivia, but I want to be your rock. I’ll also be the person you turn to when you need help, and the guy who pisses you off more often than not. I want to go to bed every night with you beside me, and wake up to your face every day.” He stopped to regain his composure. “You are the most stubborn, hard-headed, beautiful, and loving woman I’ve ever met, and I can’t…I won’t, keep going this way. I’m miserable, Liv. I’ve been in love probably from the moment I asked for your help picking out sugar in that store. I never had any regrets about what we had done, or what came of it as a result. Don’t you ever think that way. No regrets, ever.” He took a deep breath. “Tell me you will marry me?”

He had gotten down on one knee and opened the box to her. She wiped at the tears on her face.

“I love you too, Parker. Oh my God. Yes, I'll marry you!”

He slipped the ring on her hand. His lips met hers in a deep and promising kiss.