Page 60 of See You Maybe
Olivia felt the first touch of uneasiness. “But you called me Petal just now.”
“Why do you keep calling me that?” Olivia asked, as Declan ran a fingertip from the swell of her breast to a peaked nipple and across her cleavage to give attention to the other breast.
“Call you what?” His eyes followed his finger’s movement as they lay on her hotel bed in Dublin.
“Petal.”
Declan lowered his head and sucked the tip into his mouth, before blowing cool air across it, making it instantly pucker.
“Because my fair-skinned friend…” He grinned at her before returning his attention to her body. “You are my perfect white rose.” His fingers traveled lower to circle her belly button. “And I knew this beautiful skin would be softer than a petal. I was right.”
He slid down her body, kissing his way past her stomach and over her hipbone, before dragging his nose up through her center, making her arch her back.
“A sweet.” His tongue licked over her, making Olivia cry out. “Delicious.” Another lick, firmer this time. “White rose.”
Declan sighed. “Olivia, you weren’t the first, and you weren’t the last. It’s just what I call women. That way, I don’t need to remember so many names.”
Olivia was suddenly very conscious of the fact that she was sitting in a hotel bed, wearing a T-shirt she had no memory of putting on, while Declan stood fully dressed, looking down at her as if she were a foolish child.
“Our brief encounter means nothing. It was a lifetime ago. Is it going to be a problem, Ms. Adler, or are you capable of being professional?”
Olivia swallowed hard, shoving the pain lancing through her into a box deep inside and locking it away. She had come too far and endured too much to let him ruin her career.
She brushed her hair back from her face and met his stare with one equally impersonal. “Not at all. Thank you for making sure I got back safely. This won’t happen again.”
Something flickered across his face but was gone before she could identify it.
“Good.”
Then the door shut, leaving her in semi-darkness. She flopped back against the pillows that still smelled like him, with an arm thrown across her eyes.
How is this my life?
A sudden need to use the bathroom had her up and moving. Olivia pushed the door open, reaching for the light switch, only to realize it was already on. After taking care of her bladder, she washed her hands, bracing for what she would see in the mirror. However, the smeared mascara and caked makeup she’d expected weren’t there. Her face was clean.
“What the hell?” Olivia leaned closer to the mirror to inspect her face, but her first glance had been correct. No makeup.
Her gaze fell to the trash can. She reached forward and picked up one of the still somewhat moist makeup-remover toilettes that almost half filled the bin. She looked from the paper-like product to her reflection, and then to the light on above her, realization dawning.
He took my makeup off and left the light on.
Even though it wasn’t full morning yet, Olivia didn’t bother trying to go back to sleep. After a quick online search, she booked a ticket and sent a text to Richard and Stuart, and a separate email to Chris, saying she wasn’t feeling well and would see them back in Atlanta. She tried not to worry too much about how badly she’d embarrassed herself in front of their potential buyer.
But what consumed her thoughts was Declan.
He was lying, and she couldn’t understand why.
Three hours later, when she was supposed to be meeting her co-workers for breakfast, her phone dinged with a text from Stuart.
Stuart: You’re going home?
Olivia: Yes, family emergency and not feeling great. See you Monday.
Following the flight attendant’s instructions, Olivia shut her phone off, leaned her head back against the seat, and pretended to sleep all the way back to Atlanta.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
New York—Present Day