Livvie woke up to the sound of a key jiggling in her door. She threw the blanket off and jumped out of bed. Luckily, she was somewhat decent. After her call with Veronica, she’d gotten out of bed and had thrown on her matching white silk tank top and shorts. Her mom had gotten Livvie the pajama set last year for Christmas. It wasn’t the sexiest nightwear she owned, but it was still sexy. It hadn’t surprised her to receive such a gift from her mom. She really wanted Livvie to find love.

Whoever was at her door was having a hard time getting the key to work, which gave her enough time to run to the bathroom, brush her teeth, and smooth her hands through her hair. Veronica must be having a hard time opening her door. Who else would it be? The only other person who would come in here without knocking would be Drake. She hoped it wasn’t him. She wasn’t ready to see him yet.

When the jangling of the key continued, Livvie reached her limit. She ran downstairs and opened the door at the same time as the person finally got the door open. She collided with him. Drake Morganthal. If he hadn’t caught her, she would have fallen forward on her face. Classy, really classy. Although she loved the feeling of being held by him again, it was wrong. But instead of releasing him like she should, she grabbed onto the back of his neck and squeezed him even harder, not caring that she could barely breathe. She hadn’t been breathing for the last six weeks. Why start now? They had been the longest six weeks of her entire life. Sure, she had gotten a lot of writing done, and she did fun activities to make herself happy, but she missed him. He wasn’t hugging her back, though. Feeling silly, she slowly stepped out of his embrace.

The look in his eye confirmed that she’d done the right thing. Just three weeks ago, she had seen him on some magazine cover with a beautiful woman, but Veronica swore he wasn’t with anyone. At least the woman hadn’t been Kayla Brenson.

Drake stood there smirking. She needed to say something. Anything.

“Hi, Drake.”

“Hello, Olivia.” He was still smirking and obviously not making this easy for her.

“I’m sorry. I was napping, and then all of a sudden, I heard someone trying to open my door, and it freaked me out.”

“I understand, especially after what Zach pulled.”

“Yes.” She nodded.

“How have you been?” Drake grabbed on to the doorknob behind him, but he didn’t close the door.

“I’m good. Would you like to come in?”

“No.”

Butterflies were going wild in her stomach. She hadn’t seen him in so long. All she wanted to do was run back into his arms and hold him forever. He looked beautiful in his faded jeans and white polo shirt. He had been working…creating the wines he loved. But she didn’t tell him all that because she couldn’t read the look in his eyes. He didn’t seem to hate her, but he didn’t seem happy to see her, either. He seemed indifferent, which was worse than anything.

So she asked, “How have you been?”

Drake was staring at her intensely. Too intensely. “I’ve been great. Thank you.”

Livvie’s heart clenched. “I’m glad to hear it.” She wasn’t.

“Congratulations on getting a writing job.”

Livvie inhaled. He was angry. If only he’d just yell and get it over with. Anything but acting cold and distant.

“Thank you.” She tried to smile, but she couldn’t.

“And free room and board was included, I see.”

Livvie looked down at her bare feet. She wished she had thrown on a robe or something.

“Do you want me to leave?”

Drake chuckled, and it wasn’t a pleasant sound. “Why would I want you to leave? You struck a lucrative deal with my mother. I think it’s great.”

He was lying. She could see him clenching his jaw.

“Look, I’m sorry. As you already know, her house is being renovated. So since she’s staying here…” Livvie cut herself off. What else could she say? After all, she was lying, too.

“Since she’s staying here, she thought it’d be a perfect time to write her memoirs. So she contacted you, the only talented writer she knows in the entire world, to write her book. Does that sound right?”

Livvie swallowed. “If you don’t want me on your property, just tell me. I can wait until she’s back in her house.”

“No. You can’t. Because the scheme my mother and you came up with was to stay at my house.”

“But I’m staying in your guesthouse.”

Drake clapped his hands once, causing her to jump. “Right, I’m sorry. I meant my property.”

Livvie sighed. “If you don’t want me here, then say it.” She was already mentally repacking her bags.

Drake slammed the door closed, forcing Livvie to take a step back. She’d been a lot happier when it was open. Before, there’d been the illusion of an escape. Now she felt trapped with a very angry man.

“How dare you come here after our expiration date,” Drake said through grinded teeth.

“I thought you said we were friends.”

Steam was practically coming out of his ears. “Friends, as in call a few times a year. Not friends that manipulate my mother into figuring out a way to stay on my property.”

Livvie stood up straighter. Without him realizing it, he had given her the answer she needed. All she had left was her pride. “I didn’t manipulate your mother at all, Drake. You’re wrong.” And that was the truth.

“Then why are you here, Olivia? Please, enlighten me.”

Livvie exhaled. She had nothing to lose. “I wanted to see you. I needed to see you.”

Drake’s eyes widened, and the coldness was replaced by panic. “Why? Did Zach try to harm you again?”

“No,” she whispered.

Drake’s shoulders fell, and he sighed with relief. “I didn’t think so. I paid someone to watch your house at night.”

Livvie rolled her eyes, but inside, a sliver of hope ignited. If he had paid someone to watch her house, then he had to still feel something.

He began pacing back and forth in the living room. He stopped a foot away from her. “Olivia?” He grabbed her shoulders.

“Yes?”

“Did you run out of money? Was coming here your last resort?”

“No,” she said, feeling more confused than ever.

Drake released her, stepped away, and stared at her for a few minutes before the anger returned to his eyes.

“Then my first instinct was right. You schemed and manipulated my mother into helping you come here and got her to pay you for it at the same time.”

“I didn’t,” she said defensively.

Drake stepped toward her again. “Why, Olivia?” He took another step. “Why?”

He was inches away from her face, and she couldn’t take it anymore. “Because I missed you. Because the last six weeks have been hard.” Livvie paused and took a deep breath. “And you obviously didn’t miss me, so I’ll go.” She sniffled back tears. “I swear I’ll go.”

Drake grabbed her shoulders again and squeezed them hard. He looked her up and down, and then his eyes became even darker. His teeth clenched, and he seemed to be contemplating something. Livvie was afraid to find out what it was. And then he told her.

“Prove to me that you deserve to stay here.”

For a second, Livvie was confused, and then she understood. If she decided to do what he wanted, a little piece of her soul that had healed since he left her house would die. In the last six weeks, she wrote, slept, ate healthy again, went to yoga, and meditated daily. She worked on herself, and she didn’t want to throw all that away. Not that there was anything wrong with giving a blowjob. She liked giving them. It was the way Drake was treating her that felt wrong.

But at the same time, she had come here to fight for the two of them. And he wanted her to prove how hard she would fight.

“I’m not giving you a blowjob like this,” she said. Her tone was quiet but deadly serious. “I love submitting to you, but not when you’re being mean. Maybe I shouldn’t have come here, but I don’t deserve this. I deserve better.”

If sparks could fly out of Drake’s eyes, they would. “I’m fucking angry, Olivia. I feel manipulated and blindsided,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a long six-weeks for me either. Fuck. I’ve thought about you every damn day.” He stepped even closer to her, grabbed the back of her head, and smashed his lips against hers.

He was being rough because of his anger, but she didn’t mind. If anything, it brought out the passion she had stuffed down all these weeks without him.

He moved his lips aggressively. She couldn’t tell who was hungrier—him or her. All she knew was how badly she wanted him. And now that he was finally touching her, she craved him more. As she kissed him back, she ran her hands through his hair, pulling it hard.

He pulled her silk pajama tank top up, forcing her to stop pulling his hair and to lift her arms above her head. They stopped kissing long enough for the tank top to fall onto the floor. Then he took both her breasts in his hands and pinched her nipples hard.

“Is this what you missed?” he asked.

“Yes,” she whispered.

As he continued pinching her nipples, he looked at her breasts.

“God, I’ve missed these,” he said softly, almost to himself, but Livvie heard. He kneeled down, so his mouth was eye level with her chest, and he sucked her nipple hard, exactly how she liked it.

She kneeled down with him and put her arms around his neck. Unsure of how he’d respond, she gently kissed him. In response, he bit her bottom lip and then slipped his tongue inside until their tongues were once again dancing.

While continuing to kiss her, he moved her silk pajama shorts aside and touched her inner folds.

“You’re still so fucking wet for me,” he said, breaking the kiss.

Livvie moaned as he circled her clit, but not in a way that would make her come. Then he pulled away and stood. She stood with him.

He pulled down her shorts then stepped back and got a good look at her fully naked while he was still dressed.

“Drake,” she whispered, as he stared at every inch of her body.

“You may stay in my cottage,” he said, his eyes cold and detached again. Then he turned around, walked out, and slammed the door behind him.

Livvie pulled up her pajama shorts and crossed her arms over her breasts. What just happened? One minute she refused to give him a blowjob, and in the next moment they were making out. And then he just left. A tear had slid down Livvie’s cheek, and she brushed it away. She’d willingly come here, knowing he could hurt her. She had to stop getting upset over his actions.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on her door again.

This time, Livvie yelled, “Coming.” And then she ran upstairs, threw on a pair of jeans and a navy-blue, V-neck t-shirt. She was feeling so vulnerable on the inside, so on the outside she needed to be fully clothed.

When she opened the door, she sighed with relief. Veronica and Mr. Birkshire had arrived with a huge tray of food.

“Hey, Veronica. Hi, Mr. Birkshire.” She smiled as he stepped inside.

“Welcome back,” Mr. Birkshire said. “Here’s your favorite. Lobster tails and mashed potatoes. I’ll leave a tray for you every morning and every evening.”

“Thank you so much.”

His kindness touched her so deeply; she feared she might start balling. Mr. Birkshire didn’t seem to notice. He continued to walk into her kitchen.

“Enough talk of food.” Veronica stepped into the house next and raised her chin. “My son made you cry.”

Livvie cleared her throat. “No, I made myself cry. Please, Veronica, come in.”

Livvie moved away from the door, and Veronica walked right past her and sat down on the couch. Livvie was glad to see her but wasn’t in the mood for another interrogation.

“If you want to get out of writing my book, I understand, but if not, I brought additions to the contract you already signed. Drake hasn’t seen this one. I decided to give you not only a large advance but royalties once the book sells.”

Livvie closed the door, but her hand remained on the doorknob. “Veronica, you don’t have to do this. No matter what happens with Drake, I promised you I’d write your book, and I will.”

“So now you’re looking at this like a charity case?”

She’s good, thought Livvie. Just like her son. “No, that’s not it at all. I do want to write it. In fact, I’m looking forward to writing it, but we decided on an amount already. You don’t have to pay me royalties.”

Veronica smiled warmly in the same way as Drake used to. “Good. I’m glad you’re still writing it. I wouldn’t want my son or any man to stop you from doing what you’re meant to do in life.”

Livvie smiled back and sat down in the chair across from her. “I realized that,” she whispered. “I have to admit it took me a moment, but I did realize.”

“Good. We women have to stay strong.” Veronica paused. “But if it makes you feel any better, my son is miserable. After he saw the contract, he shouted orders at Mr. Birkshire and stormed into his vineyard like he always does when he needs to hide.”

Livvie crossed her legs and sat farther back in the chair. And then he came here, she thought. “Why does he need to hide? He didn’t do anything wrong. He just doesn’t want to be in a committed relationship. That’s not against the law.”

Veronica smiled, but her eyes looked tired. “My son always hid from the world when life became too emotional for him, when he was forced to feel. He’s brilliant at business, and as a child he was brilliant at school, but when one of his friends said something to hurt him or a high school girlfriend crushed his heart, he would hide in his room and shut off from the rest of the world. Especially when he saw how sad I was,” she added.

“Why?” Livvie asked softly.

“I think it’s my fault. I used to see him withdraw when I was down, but I was too depressed to do anything about it.” Veronica’s eyes glazed over and filled with regret. “Oh, well, I can’t change what happened then, but I can help him be with the woman he loves now.”

Livvie almost laughed. “I don’t think he loves me.” Although she hoped it was true.

“He does,” Veronica said.

Another thought occurred to Livvie. “Is that why you want me to write your story? You think it’ll help him to heal?”

Veronica smiled. “That’s exactly why, and I’ve wanted to write it for a long time. I’ve watched my son get close to women and then pull away when there’s a chance of happiness.”

Hearing that he could have been happy with other women hurt Livvie’s heart. She hated being jealous, but she couldn’t help it. Veronica grabbed Livvie’s hand and squeezed.

“I’ve never seen my son as happy as he was around you. And I don’t want him to lose you, but he will if he doesn’t give you what you need.”

“How do you know?”

Veronica smiled again. “Because you’re a strong woman who has been hurt by men before. If Drake continues to hurt you and doesn’t fulfill your needs, you won’t put up with his crap. You’ve learned your lessons, my dear, and you’ve turned a corner.”

Livvie swallowed hard. Veronica was right. She was through putting up with crap. “Thank you for recognizing that, Veronica.”

Veronica squeezed her hand once more and then stood. “Sign the contract, my dear, and when you’re done, drop it off at the castle.”

Livvie panicked. “How can I go up there? Drake hasn’t invited me. He will flip.”

Veronica put her hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow, reminding Livvie so much of Drake.

“So he’ll flip. It won’t kill him.”

Livvie didn’t respond. It may not kill Drake, but it may kill her. As Veronica turned to leave she stopped and turned toward Livvie.

“Don’t worry so much. I have a good feeling about this.” Veronica winked.

Livvie smiled. “Thank you, Veronica.” She ran up to her and gave her a huge hug.

Veronica hugged her back, but it felt more like a pat on the back. Intimacy issues, thought Livvie.

“Mr. Birkshire, I’m leaving,” Veronica shouted.

Livvie had forgotten he was still in her house.

“I’m coming.” He walked into the living room, nodded at Livvie, and then resumed walking out the door.

Veronica rolled her eyes and then followed him. Once they had both gone, Livvie closed the door, leaned against it, and burst out laughing. What a couple of characters. But she loved them both and truly hoped that if she lost Drake, she wouldn’t lose them, also. Carly had once told her to never get too attached to the family of the man she was dating. She was not dating Drake, but Carly had never been so right.