Chapter 16
Olivia
I awoke the next morning with a smile on my face and a sleeping man by my side. When I rolled over to face Brad, I smiled at how peaceful he looked. He was sleeping soundly, and for the first time since we met, I didn’t see a single worry line on his face. He looked years younger while he slept as if all his trials and tribulations magically disappeared while he was dreaming. I liked seeing him this way. Peaceful. Happy. Content.
My smile widened as I sunk into my pillow, my eyes never leaving Brad’s face. It wasn’t like me to watch someone sleep, but I couldn’t help myself. I brushed his sandy blond hair off his forehead and gently stroked his naked shoulder. I slid my hand down his arm, lingering over his tattoo. Without a shirt on, I could see the entire piece of art. It was a hawk, circling above the sun. The tattoo wasn’t one I’d ever seen before, and I loved to admire it. Whenever we spent the night together, I found myself staring in awe at the talent that went into creating this tattoo.
At my touch, Brad began to stir. He shifted slightly, breathing in a deep breath and blinking his eyes open. He smiled when he saw me staring at him. I grinned back and waited until he sat up to press a kiss to his lips. He kissed me back, long and slow. When we pulled apart, he was still smiling. The sight was enough to keep my own smile firmly in place. I grinned as he pushed himself to kiss me good morning. After everything happened the night before, I didn’t expect to end up here.
Rex shook me to my core with his warnings. I ran out of the bar ready to never see Brad again and yet, here I was, curled up beside him in bed.
“I’m sorry about what Rex said last night,” Brad said as if he could read my mind.
“Don’t be,” I said, shaking my head and sitting up slightly. “He wasn’t exactly wrong. It’s not fair of me to spend this much time with you when I don’t know how long I’ll be in Santa Fe.”
“That’s for me to decide though, isn’t it?” Brad asked, smiling slyly.
“I guess,” I sighed. “He was just worried about you.”
“What did he say?” Brad asked, frowning slightly.
“Just that you never act this way with women,” I said, shrugging. “He said it was obvious you have real feelings for me.”
Brad sighed and ran his hands over his face. He sat up and shook his hair out of his eyes. When he looked at me, his expression was open, his eyes deep with meaning.
“He’s not wrong,” Brad said. “My life hasn’t been the easiest.”
“Tell me about it,” I said softly.
Brad nodded and continued. “My mom left when I was young. She just couldn’t deal with my father’s temper.”
“Was he…” I began, trailing off uncertainly.
“Violent?” Brad asked. “No, just verbally abusive. He was a mean son of a bitch, but he was my dad. For as long as I can remember, he was my only family. I did whatever he wanted, including participating in the family business.”
“The family business?” I asked.
“Theft,” he said without emotion. “Stolen cars. We stole them, fixed them up, and sold them. That’s how I learned everything I know about cars.”
“Wow,” I said, raising my eyebrows. “That’s…”
“Crazy?” Brad asked. “Insane? I know, but I didn’t have much choice. My dad did it, so I did it. Until I got caught.”
Brad sighed deeply and looked down at his arms. For the first time, I noticed faint scars spread out over his skin. They were so light that they were barely visible, but when I looked closer, I saw the same scars scattered over his chest.
“I was arrested when I was still a kid,” he said. “I thought my dad would bail me out or at least try to get me a lawyer. He didn’t.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“He said he couldn’t put himself at risk,” Brad said. “That, if he got involved, the police would find something to implicate him for. He didn’t want to take that chance, so he left me in juvie. When I turned eighteen, I moved to a higher security prison. I stayed there for a few years, then got out.”
“Wow,” I said. “I never would have guessed that.”
Brad laughed. “Most people don’t,” he said. “It’s not exactly something I advertise.”
I nodded and took his hand, stroking my thumb along his palm. It was shocking to me that this man, this gorgeous and intelligent man, had spent time in prison. Still, it didn’t change how I felt about him. If anything, I felt closer to him now.
“I guess we share the whole ‘shitty parents’ thing,” Brad said with a soft laugh.
“Well, mine never left me in prison,” I said.
“No,” Brad said, laughing again. “But you never told me what happened to them. Why did you leave New York?”
I sighed. “I went to NYU for liberal arts, which they didn’t agree with,” I said. “Even after graduation they kept pushing me toward a more practical degree, something I could make a living with. No matter how many times I insisted that art was my passion, they wouldn’t hear it. Eventually I decided to give their offer a chance. I thought if I took this road trip I would be ready to buckle down and do something practical. They didn’t agree with this little adventure, so they cut me off. Now I don’t really know where we stand.”
“That’s crazy,” Brad said. “If art is what you love, then that’s what you should do. Everyone else be damned.”
“I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately,” I said softly. “Being here, working for Carla, spending time with you… I just feel like I’m in the right place, you know? The idea of leaving right not just doesn’t feel right.”
“What are you saying?” Brad asked, hope blooming in his eyes.
“I’m saying that I want to stay,” I said with a smile. “I want to stay here and work for Carla. I’m learning so much from her. I’m going to look for a cheap apartment, so I can move out of this hotel and then after my Jeep is fixed, I guess we’ll see what happens.”
Brad grinned and kissed me long and deep. His smile never faded from his lips during the kiss. When we pulled apart, there was hunger in his eyes that I’d grown to recognize. Pulling myself out of bed, I held out my hand to him. He took it and let me lead him to the bathroom.
The shower was scalding hot as it fell over our bodies, fueling our desire. Brad’s lips were on mine in an instant, tasting me and leaving me breathless. By the time we pulled apart, his cock was hard against my leg, and my pussy was dripping with need.
He growled and spun me around, pushing me forward against the shower wall. I supported myself against the tile while he gripped my hips, wasting no time at all. He took me hard and fast, slamming himself against me and rocking my entire body with pleasure.
Like every time before, Brad left me trembling and satiated. My body was more relaxed than it had been in years. After the orgasm washed through us both, we held on to each other and kissed gently until the shower ran cold.
When we climbed out, Brad had to get to the shop, and I planned to spend the day painting. We kissed goodbye, lingering longer than we should have.
“Okay,” Brad said after about twenty minutes. “I really have to go now. I’ll see you later?”
“Yes,” I said with a nod. “You can help me find an apartment.”
“Deal.” He grinned and turned to leave.
My smile never faded as I gathered my art supplies and headed out for the day. There were a few scenes nearby that I’d planned to paint and today seemed like the perfect chance. I settled myself down on a bench, facing out over a barren stretch of land. The only thing on the land was a single cactus plant. I loved its solitude, so I spent the day painting it slowly, making sure to get every detail just right.
Not two minutes after I finished, my phone rang loudly in my bag. Frowning, I pulled it out to see my father’s face dancing across the screen. A heavy weight dropped into my stomach. I knew I couldn’t avoid him, so I took a deep breath and answered.
“Hi, Dad,” I said, keeping my voice light.
“Olivia, I’m in Santa Fe. Where the hell is your car?” he said.