Chapter 26

26

Olivia

Talking it out with Declan confirmed one thing. Basically, I'm fucked, any which way I look at it. The best option is to get through this dinner and split town. Leave and return to waitressing, and to the endless rounds of auditions. Neither of which appeal to me. What the hell has happened to me? Surely, I'm not going to let the fact that I'm scarred hold me back from embracing my ambitions?

Declan promised to put me in touch with his manager, who he thinks would be a great fit for me, but even that doesn't make me as excited as I should be. It seems, along with scarring my face, I've scarred the dreams I may have once had for myself. Maybe hurting my face ripped off the mask hiding the shallowness of the industry I'd wanted to belong to.

Massimo texted me the address for the restaurant, and I pause in front of it now. It was a business-like text. The address and time of the dinner reservation, that's all. This is just a dinner. I have to go in, eat, leave… Weather Massimo's glower, and his anger, which will surely be directed at me. Not to mention, all the unsaid conversations lurking between me and my sister. This is going to be fun… not. I hunch my shoulders.

"Hey, you're going to be great." Declan presses his palm into the small of my back. "You look amazing, and remember, you're an actress. You can pull this off without effort."

I chuckle. "Yea, I'm a professional liar. It's easier to act on screen than in real life, know what I mean?"

"Not if you put on your movie star persona before you flounce in there. That's acting 101, or have you forgotten?"

It's true. If you walk the walk, and talk the talk, you become the talk. Or so someone said. I draw in a breath, snap back my shoulders, and take a step forward with Declan on my heels. The hostess ushers us to a table at the far end of the restaurant—a Michelin-starred one. Nothing but the best for him, of course.

As I approach, I notice Massimo has his head bent over Solene's. My sister's fair, blonde looks, set off his dark, swarthy ones to perfection. He's dressed in a dark jacket and black shirt that stretch across his wide shoulders. She has her hair coiffured to perfection and is wearing a pale pink dress with a demure neckline. She places her pink-tipped fingers on his shoulder, and he laughs at something she says.

My heart twists, and my stomach churns. I pause so suddenly, Declan bumps into me from behind. "Steady," he whispers in my ear. He wraps his fingers around my wrist and walks forward. As he approaches the table, Massimo looks up. His gaze clashes with mine—storm clouds looming on the horizon, waves rising up to drag me down. I'm drowning. Sinking fast, and not sure how to save myself.

Then my sister jumps up. "Livvy, you look beautiful," she bursts out.

"And you look angelic." I move around, and taking my sister by her shoulders, kiss her on both cheeks.

"This must be your sister," Declan says from behind me.

I take a step back, and still holding my sister's hand, turn to him. "This is my sister Solene. Solene, this is Declan, my?—"

"You're Declan Beauchamp, the movie star. Livvy, why didn't you tell me your fiancé was someone famous?" She tugs her hand from mine, and holds it out in his direction.

He takes her hand in his, his gaze riveted by her features.

Solene's features flush. She swallows and stares at him like she can't believe he's really standing in front of her.

Declan chuckles, then kisses her fingers. "At your service."

Solene blushes. Declan's gaze intensifies.

I clear my throat and she blinks. Declan releases her hand with reluctance, then turns to Massimo.

"You must be the lucky man."

Massimo ignores his proffered hand. "I still don't see a ring." He directs the comment to me.

I nudge Declan, who tears his gaze off of Solene with great reluctance. "Uh, yeah, we don't believe in a ring to be engaged, do we now, darling?" he murmurs.

Massimo's gaze narrows. "I thought you said your ring was being resized?"

"Eh?" Declan blinks rapidly.

I nudge him with my elbow and he coughs. "That's what I meant. The ring is being resized. But whether she's wearing a ring or not is not the point. We don't need it to proclaim the veracity of our love, do we now, darlin'?"

"Exactly what I meant, darling." I wrap my hand around Declan's bicep, then meet Massimo's gaze.

Massimo glances down at where I clutch at Declan. His jaw hardens. He looks up at me and his blue-gray eyes darken until they resemble black holes of anger. Meanwhile, my sister hasn't taken her gaze off Declan, who, by the way, is sneaking a sideways glance at her, as well. Oh shoot, this wasn't a good idea, was it?

I gesture toward the chairs. "Let's all sit down, shall we?"

**

Twenty minutes later, I know for a fact this was a bad idea. Since we arrived, Massimo hasn't spoken a word, except to glower in my direction. Solene hasn't stopped staring and Declan, who seems to have forgotten all about me, is focused on Solene. He's topped up her wine, ordered her food, and snarled at a waiter who came too close to her while setting down her plate.

As for me, I gave up trying to hold a one-sided conversion with the rest of them and have my attention focused on the food, which might be delicious, but I wouldn't know because I haven't tasted a morsel. I've managed to swallow a few mouthfuls. I reach for the wine and drain it. A waiter appears next to my elbow to refill it. Massimo glares at him. He pales, places the bottle on the table, and backs away. Massimo grabs the bottle and fills my glass. I pick it up and drain half the contents. The liquor hits my stomach and sends a warm buzz pulsing through my veins.

"You need to slow down," he says through gritted teeth.

I glance at him, then raise the glass in his direction. "You need to remove the stick up your ass."

His jaw hardens. A vein pulses at his temple.

"If you grit your teeth any harder, you might crack your molars," I whisper.

"Do you care?" he shoots back.

I glance down at my drink then back up at him. "And if I say I do?"

"I won't believe you."

I raise my shoulder. "I know this entire situation is tricky?—"

"Tricky?" He grips his tumbler so hard, the skin across his knuckles stretches with it. "Negotiating a contract is tricky. Evading your enemy in a car chase is tricky. This—" He leans forward in his seat. "Is a goddamn catastrophe."

His voice cuts through the noise, and both Solene and Declan fall silent.

Declan glances between us. He seems to finally remember me, the traitor, and places his arm around my shoulder. "Everything okay?"

Massimo glares at him like he's going to leap across the table any moment, grab his tie, and yank him across to his side. Or worse. The tendons of his throat flex like he wants to say something but is holding back. His shoulders swell. He must grip his glass even tighter because it splinters. The smell of alcohol laces the air. Blood drips from a cut in his palm and stains the white cloth on the table.

He shoves his chair back and springs up. "Excuse me." He pivots and walks off in the direction of what I assume is the restroom.

I jump up, as well. "I… Just need to make sure he's okay." Without glancing at the two of them at the table, I take off after him. I reach the corridor and spot him entering the men's room. I walk toward it and enter, to find he's alone. I shut the door behind me and lock it, then lean against it.

He holds his hand under the tap for a few seconds before straightening and grabbing a fresh towel from the holder and wrapping it around his palm. He glances at my reflection in the mirror. Anger radiates off of him. His eyes flash as he meets my gaze.

"Massimo, I'm?—"

"Get out of here. If you don't, I won't be responsible for what happens next."

I rub my sweaty palms on the fabric covering my thighs. "I'm sorry. So sorry."

"For lying to me? For trying to pass off someone with whom you don't have a shred of chemistry with as your fiancé?"

I hunch my shoulders. "Is it that obvious?"

He glowers at me in the mirror. "Get out of here, Olivia. Else, I swear, I'll say or do something that both of us will regret for a long time."

The air in the space grows thick with unspoken words. He continues to hold my gaze, and my insides turn to smoke. Every pore in my body seems to pop. An electric current seems to stretch from him to me and I can't stop myself from taking a step forward, then another. He stalks me with a brooding look as I draw level with him. I can't break the connection between our gazes. Can't stop myself from reaching out and placing my palm at the small of his back.

He squeezes his eyes shut. A shudder runs up his spine. He brings his unhurt hand down to the edge of the counter and squeezes it. "Fuck. F-u-c-k, Via, don't do this."

I slide my arms about his waist and flatten my cheek against his broad back. The muscles jump under his skin. The wings of his back pull back toward each other. Nervous tension thrums from him. That dark, testosterone-filled scent of his teases my senses. My nipples tighten, and my core clenches. I'm going to hell for this. I shouldn't be doing this, but he feels so damn good.

"Step away, Olivia, please." His voice is tortured. "I won't be able to contain myself any longer."

I swallow. I should say something. Ask him to not react. Ask him to stay where he is. Ask him to turn me around, bend me over the counter and fuck me. And then what? How will I face my sister again? She may be attracted to another man, based on her reaction to Declan. It doesn't change the fact that she's engaged to my— To Massimo.

I lower my arms to my sides and spin around to take a step away, when he grabs my wrist, turns me around and pushes me up against the counter. "The hell you playing at? Have you any idea how much you've complicated all of our lives?" He glares at me, and I can't stop the shivers that ladder up my back. Little zings of fire spark off from where he's touching me.

I open my mouth to speak, but no words emerge. I want to say I am sorry, but that doesn't seem enough. I peer into his face, and we stand there breathing each other's air, not touching, except for where he's gripped my wrist. My chest rises and falls. My breathing grows shallow. The scent of him bats against my senses, pulling at me. Tugging on me. Moisture laces my core, and I sway closer to him. I fix my gaze on his lips. I'm going to kiss him now. That's it, damn everything that happened. Fuck the engagement to my sister. I want him. I need him. I ? —

He releases me and steps back so quickly that I stumble. He doesn't right me, though, and I miss him already.

"You made your point. You're engaged and so am I." He takes another step back. "It's best we keep our distance from now on."

Someone jiggles the handle, then bangs on the door. "Olivia, are you in there?" Declan calls out. I sink back against the counter as Massimo heads to the door and flings it open.

"See her home safely. If something happens to her, I'll shoot you in the face."

He brushes past Declan and leaves.