Chapter 17

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

Blakely

“I need to get moving,” I tell Oliver but make no move to do so. It’s Saturday morning and we’re in my bed. We’re naked and warm under the covers. His arms are wrapped tightly around me, and I really don’t want to move.

“Do we have to?” he groans.

“We do. I have to go to the manor and check on things before coming back to get ready for the gala. You’re still coming, right? You’re not going to back out on me?” I know he hates these things. I was shocked earlier this week when he asked me if he confessed he bought two extra tickets. He gave two to his parents, and the other two were for us. I don’t need a ticket, but the thought hit me with all the feels. He said he wanted to support me. I smile when I think about the kiss and the subsequent naked time that came after his confession.

“What are you smiling about? And, yes, I’m still going. I told you I want to be there to support you. You’ve been putting your all into this gala.”

“I’m smiling because of you,” I tell him honestly. “And if you changed your mind, I wouldn’t be upset with you.” Disappointed? Absolutely, but I wouldn’t be mad at him.

“I can be an asshole, but I wouldn’t do that to you, Blake.”

“I just wanted you to know I won’t be mad if you’ve changed your mind.”

He nuzzles his face into my neck. “You got another man you want to be on your arm tonight, baby?”

“No. Never. Just you,” I assure him. I can hear the unease in his voice, and I know the insecurities from what his ex and ex-best friend did to him are going to take some time to heal, but he’s come a long way already.

“Good.”

“Come on. I’ll take you to breakfast before I head to the manor to check on things.”

“You need me to go with you?”

“You can if you want. I’m just going to make sure maintenance set everything up as it should be.”

“Will Mason be there?” he asks.

“I’m not sure, but he is in the maintenance department.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“Are you jealous, grumpy?” I ask, rolling over to face him.

He studies me with a furrowed brow. “I guess I am.”

“Wow. I didn’t expect you to admit it.”

“I’ll never lie to you, Blake. To myself, yes, never to you.”

I want to ask him what he means by that, but we don’t have time. I really need to get my day started. “Come on. Breakfast at the diner is calling our name.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He winks. We both climb out of bed, get dressed, and handle our business in the bathroom. I don’t bother showering in case I need to jump in and help with something at the manor. I’ll do that when I come back to get ready for tonight.

When Oliver turns his SUV into the diner parking lot, I almost tell him to turn around. However, I keep my mouth shut. I’m curious how he’s going to handle what’s about to happen. He has no idea that my dad and my uncles are inside eating. At least from the trucks in the parking lot, that’s what it looks like. Oliver said he didn’t want to hide, and we haven’t, but we haven’t really made a point to meet each other's families either—not in an official capacity. He met my family at the tree lighting, but that was in passing, or so they think. He planned to be there, which makes my heart yearn for him even more.

“I’ll get your door,” he tells me.

Normally, I’d take a page out of his book and grump that I can open my own door, but today, I keep that reply locked away deep, just in case my family happens to notice us. Oliver is a good man, and I want them to see how he treats me.

“Thank you,” I say when he offers me his hand and helps me out. “I should warn you, my family is in there,” I blurt. I can’t let him go in blind.

“Okay.”

“If you want to go somewhere else, we can, but I recognize their trucks.”

“Who are we talking?”

“I’m not sure, but if I had to guess, all of my uncles and my dad. They do this sometimes, go out, just the group of guys.”

“Do you want to go somewhere else?”

This feels like a pivotal moment. “No. I’m not hiding. But I know this isn’t ever going to be a forever relationship for you, so if you want to back away now, we can go somewhere else.”

“I’m not hiding. You know that. This might not be forever, but I respect the hell out of you, Blakely Kincaid, and that includes your family. I’m not ready for our time together to end, and if that means a run-in here and there with your family or mine, then so be it. Besides, you know my parents are going to be at the gala tonight, and I’ve already met your parents, just not like this.” He looks down to where his fingers are laced through mine.

“So, we’re dating? That’s what we’re telling them, because this”—I raise our joined hands—“is going to cause questions.”

He smiles. It’s one of the ones that he only offers to me. “Yeah, baby, we’re dating. Come on. Let's get you fed.”

Hand in hand, we make our way into the diner. I don’t even pretend not to look for my family, because that would be obvious. I see them in the back corner, taking up three tables scooted together. Uncle Maverick smiles and waves, and I wave back with my free hand and lead us toward them.

I don’t bring men to meet my family. Ever. I’ve never met someone who I thought would be worth the questions or who was willing to take on the gauntlet of questions that are sure to be rapid-fire tossed their way. Not until Oliver. The worst part about all of that is that he’s not mine. Not really. Sure, he’s mine for now, but I’ll never have him forever, and there is a piece of me that’s already broken from the thought.

“Blakely, whatcha doing?” Uncle Maverick asks. His eyes are twinkling when he looks between Oliver and me.

“We came to have breakfast before we head over to the manor to check on things for the gala tonight.”

“Your mom is there now. She had some paperwork to get caught up on,” my dad tells me. He then looks over to Oliver.

“Good to see you again, sir,” Oliver tells my dad when he sees his attention on him.

“Dr. Thompson, right?” Dad asks.

“Just Oliver.” He looks over and smiles down at me.

“Guys, this is Dr. Oliver Thompson. Oliver, this is my crazy, nosey family. You’ve met my dad, and these other jokers are my uncles.” I start pointing them out. “Orrin, Sterling, Archer, Maverick, Merrick, Brooks, Rushton, Ryder, my dad—Declan, and Deacon.” I look up at Oliver. “Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to remember all of their names. No test.” I grin.

“Thanks, baby.” He smiles at me before turning back to my uncles and my dad. “It’s nice to meet all of you. Blake talks about you all the time.”

Is this what butterflies feel like? This crazy dancing feeling in my belly at him calling me baby in front of the men in my family? In front of my dad?

“Doctor, huh? What kind of doctor?” Uncle Merrick asks.

“Never heard of you,” Uncle Rushton says, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’m an orthopedic physician,” Oliver tells them. “I work with Blake at Willow River General.”

“And me,” Uncle Brooks speaks up. “Didn’t know this was a thing when I ran into the two of you the other day,” he muses.

“You didn’t ask,” I counter.

“How long?” Uncle Orrin asks.

“A while,” I answer.

“What are your intentions with my niece?” Uncle Sterling asks.

“My intention is to treat her like the precious gem that she is, and anything further, we’ll just have to see,” Oliver tells him, meeting his stare.

“Enough,” I say when I see Uncle Archer open his mouth to add to the interrogation. “It was good to see you all, but I’m starving, and Oliver promised me pancakes.” I pull my hand from Oliver’s, go over to stand behind my dad, and hug him from behind. “Love you, Daddy.”

“Love you too, sweetheart.” I go to pull away, but he stops me with his hand over mine. “Is he good to you?”

“He looks at me like you look at Mom.” I kiss his cheek and hurry back to Oliver. “I’ll see you all later.” I wave.

“It was nice to meet you.” Oliver waves and allows me to lead him to the other side of the diner. “That wasn’t so bad,” he says once we’re seated and have placed our order.

“I’m sorry. They’ve never seen me with anyone. Well, not outside of prom dates here and there, but since I’ve been home from college and while at college, no one, so this is different for them.”

“What in the hell is wrong with the men you’ve been surrounding yourself with? How could any man let you be in their orbit and not want to worship you?”

My heart feels all gooey inside when he says things like that. I shrug. “I guess I was just waiting for you.” Something passes in his eyes, but it’s gone before I can name it. That’s fine. I know what this is. It’s not going to stop me from being with the one man who’s ever made me feel special.

This night has been, in a word, incredible. The silent auction raised a ton of money. The meal was fantastic, and the guests are all smiling and happy. Things are finally starting to slow down, and I head off in search of my date. I find him sitting at our table with an older couple, and I can tell immediately from the resemblance that they’re his parents. I approach slowly. I knew I was going to meet them tonight, but being faced with it is altogether different.

“Hey, baby.” Oliver smiles.

That’s the thing about him. I don’t even think he realizes he calls me baby instead of Blake. That’s just what he calls me. He called me that earlier in front of my dad and uncles, and from the wide eyes of his mother, his doing it now is a surprise to her.

“Mom, Dad, this is Blakely. Blake, these are my parents, Dave and Theresa Thompson.”

“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” I tell them with a kind smile.

“You too, sweetheart,” his mom says.

“Sit. You’ve been on your feet all night.” Oliver stands, pulling the chair out for me.

I take it willingly.

“Do you need a drink? Water? Champagne? Something stronger?” he asks.

“Water is fine. Thank you.”

He stands, leans over, and presses a kiss to my cheek before heading toward the bar to grab me a water.

“Thank you,” his mother says as soon as I peel my eyes away from their son.

“Um, you’re welcome? I’m not sure what you’re thanking me for.”

“That man, that’s our son. Not the man who’s been going through the motions of life for the last four years. I don’t know what you’ve done, but whatever it is, please keep on doing it. You’re bringing our son back to us.”

“I haven’t done anything. That’s all Oliver. He’s a great man. You raised one of the good ones.” He is. He’s a good man with a kind heart and so much love to give, if he would just allow himself to open up and put his past behind him.

“He’s different with you,” his dad speaks up. “We’ve missed this version of him.”

Oliver pulls out his chair next to me a moment later and sits, placing the bottle of water in front of me on the table. He then stretches his arm out on the back of my chair and plays with my hair. I left it down in loose curls, and he’s been playing with them anytime he’s been close to me all night.

“Thank you.”

He leans in and kisses my temple. “You’re welcome.”

“So, Blakely, Oliver tells me that you love Christmas as much as I do,” Theresa comments.

“Probably more.” I chuckle. “I don’t know what it is. There’s just something magical about this time of year.”

“I could not agree more. You must come to our annual Christmas party next weekend.”

“Mom, the party is on Christmas Eve. Blakely has a big family she celebrates with every year.”

“What time?” I ask Theresa, ignoring Oliver.

“Six o’clock. I do hope you can come.”

“Mom, stop. Don’t guilt her into this. Besides, you know I don’t attend that party anymore.”

“Yes, but I thought this year might be different,” his mom replies quietly.

“It’s not,” Oliver snaps.

“Blakely, how about you make an old man feel young again and we take a spin on the dance floor?” his dad suggests.

“Oh, I already danced with Ollie.” I lean into him with a smile, hoping to wash away this awkwardness. “Did I make you feel younger, old man?” I tease him.

Oliver raises his hand to rest against my cheek and guides my lips to his. It’s a soft peck, but he doesn’t seem to have a single care that we’re sitting in front of his parents. “You make me feel something, baby. Older or younger isn’t on the list.” He nips at my bottom lip before pulling back.

“Son, don’t be stingy. We taught you to share,” his dad teases.

“Not her,” Oliver grumps.

Dave stands and offers me his hand, and I take it, allowing him to lead me to the dance floor. “He’s fighting it,” he says, after a few moments of silence.

“What?”

“Oliver. He’s fighting the connection he feels with you. He doesn’t want to feel it. He’s afraid to feel it after what Hannah and Josh did to him. Don’t let him push you away. He’s hiding behind his pain.”

“We’re just dating. Causally,” I add. I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to say. I mean, this is his dad, but I don’t know that Oliver would want me to discuss our relationship with him in detail.

“Blakely, there is nothing casual about the way my son looks at you. For instance, he’s not taken his eyes off you since we walked away from the table. If I didn’t know better, I’d say my son is staring daggers at me. Trust me, I know him. He’s fighting against what he feels. He’s afraid. Just promise me you won’t give up on him. He might need a little push here and there, but you’re bringing him back to us, and no matter what happens, I will forever be grateful. My wife and I both are.”

“He’s easy to care about.” It’s as much of the truth about my feelings as I’m willing to confess, but Dave is a smart man and can read through the lines.

The song ends, and he steps back. “I better get you back to him.”

When Oliver sees us approaching, he stalks toward us and wraps his arm around my waist. “Mom’s waiting for a dance,” he says, then leads me back to the dance floor.

“What was that about?” I laugh.

“I wanted all your dances.”

“He’s your dad.”

“Doesn’t matter,” he says.

“Ah, man, grumpy Ollie is back.”

“If I’m a grump for wanting all of your time, then so be it.”

“When you say things like that, my heart goes crazy.”

“Yeah?” he asks, his eyes lighting up. With one hand holding me close, he lifts the other and places it over my heart. “Feels a lot like mine.”

There’s something in his gaze that tells me we’re not just talking about the rhythm of my heartbeat. “Yeah, yours,” I agree, because I am. I’m his. Foolishly, I’ve let myself fall hard and fast for a man who is perfect for me in every way, except for one. His heart is locked behind a steel cage, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to help him set it free.