Chasing Olivia (Trace + Olivia #2) (40 page)

“Are you sure?” She questioned, eyeing me. “If you don’t like it, say so. You’re not hurting my feelings.”

“Honestly,” I smiled widely, “it’s exactly what I would have wanted him to have.”

“Good, I’m glad,” she clapped her hands together. “Now,” she leaned a hip against her desk, “what do you expect me to wear to this last minute wedding?”

I frowned, feeling bad that everything had to be so rushed. “I don’t care,” I said in all sincerity. “Wear that if you want,” I pointed to her rainbow colored hippie skirt and white top.

“I’m just messing with you,” she squeezed my arm. “I have a dress somewhere that will be suitable, and I’ll drag Alba with me kicking and screaming if I have to.”

“You won’t have to drag me,” Alba spoke up from behind me.

“Good, then maybe you’ll see their wedding and decide it’s time for you to have one of your own,” Marcy eyed her daughter.

“Mom,” Alba groaned, “I’m not even dating anyone.”

“My point exactly. You’re not getting any younger and neither are your ovaries.”

“Mom!” Alba exclaimed, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. “My love life is none of your business.”

“Well,” Marcy put her hands on her hips, “I wouldn’t have to fret over it so much if you had one. Then I’d leave you alone.”

“Oh, please,” Alba rolled her eyes, “I doubt that.”

“Get a man, then we’ll see who’s right,” Marcy smiled triumphantly when Alba rolled her eyes and left the room. “So, Trace’s grandpa isn’t going to make it?” She turned back to me with sadness in her eyes.

“No,” my lower lip trembled as I fought tears.

“Aw, sweetie, I’m so sorry,” Marcy hugged me. “Y’all will get through this just fine. I know it.”

“I know we will.”

But how long would it be before we were okay again?

I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening at the hospital with Gramps, Trent, and Trace. The doctor didn’t want to let Gramps leave tomorrow, but he was adamant.

“I’m going home, walking this beauty down the aisle, eating cake, and then getting in
my
bed to die. Don’t mess with my plan,” he warned the doctor with a steely gaze in his eyes.

“Mr. Wentworth, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. You need—”

“You have no right to tell me what I need. I’m dying and I refuse to do that in this bed that sounds like it’s breathing. Forget tomorrow, I want out tonight,” he started trying to pull the IVs from his arm.

“Gramps,” Trent tried to restrain him. “You can’t do that.”

“I can do whatever the hell I want and I want out of here,” Gramps demanded. “I don’t want to be in this place a second longer. We all know I’m dying, so why must I be stuck here. I’m going home, and going to bed.”

The doctor pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“And while you’re at it, can you get someone to take this needle out of my arm?”

The doctor shook his head and left the room. I was sure they’d never had a patient quite like Warren.

“Gramps, stop that,” Trent pried one of Gramps’ arms away from the other. “You can’t do that.”

“I want this out and I want to go home,” he tried to push himself into a sitting position.

The door opened to the room, yet again, but instead of the doctor, it was Ellie. I knew from Trace that she’d been here this afternoon. I kept missing her when she was here and I wondered how she was holding up. The look on her face told me she wasn’t taking this well. She looked like she’d aged ten years in a matter of days.

She strode over to her husband and kissed him, despite the audience.

“How are you feeling?” She asked, looking him over.

“Like I want to go home,” he coughed. “And I really want this stupid thing out of my arm,” he tugged on the IV wire.

“I’ll get you out of here,” she smiled at her husband, her eyes roaming over every feature like she was trying to memorize him.

An hour later, all the paperwork had been signed and we wheeled Gramps out of the hospital.

Trent said goodbye and headed over to his own car.

Trace and I helped Ellie get Gramps into the car and then watched them drive away.

Trace draped an arm over my shoulder and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Let’s go home and get Ace, then stay the night at the mansion.”

I nodded. “Sounds like a good idea to me.”

Once we were home, we showered and packed a change of clothes. Ace watched us curiously as Trace gathered up his food bowl and toys. “We’re going on a short trip,” Trace explained to the dog, and I watched him while trying to hide my laugh. “What?” He asked, when he noticed me snickering by the door.

“Nothing…I just think it’s cute when you talk to the dog like that,” I shrugged.

He shook his head, fighting a smile. “The dog deserves to know what’s happening.”

Ace looked between the two of us, tilting his head, like he knew exactly what we were saying.

“You got everything you need?” Trace asked, carrying his bag over to the door, along with the stuff for Ace.

“Yeah, that’s why I’m standing by the door ready to go.”

“Oooh, someone’s being sassy, maybe I should spank you for that,” he curled his body around mine, grabbing my butt.

“Down boy,” I pushed a hand against his chest.

“Aw, you ruin all my fun,” he nuzzled my neck

“Just trying to keep my virtue intact until tomorrow night,” I joked, wrapping my arms around his neck.

He chuckled, nibbling on my chin. “Baby, I’m pretty sure I ruined you a long time ago.”

“It was worth it,” I whispered, my eyes falling closed as he pressed his lips lightly against mine. “Everything with you has been worth it.”

“Everything?” His lips skimmed down my neck and his stubble scratched my skin.

I nodded.

He grabbed my legs and forced them around his waist. “I really wish you were wearing a skirt right now, so I could take you against this door.”

I shivered at his words, instantly turned on. “When has that ever stopped you?”

“Good point,” he claimed my mouth with his.

It really hadn’t been that long since he’d held me and kissed me like this, but it felt like forever. My body craved his like flowers needed the sun to survive.

We were both frantic, clawing at each other’s clothes like wild animals. We’d
never
been like this before…I kind of liked it.

We were so desperate that most of our clothes stayed on. He yanked my shorts and panties roughly out of the way and before I could get my bearings he was thrusting inside of me.

“Oh fuck,” he groaned against my neck, steadying his hold on me so that we didn’t go tumbling to the floor. “You feel so good.” He kissed me and whispered against the skin of my neck, “I’ve missed you so much.”

“Why?” My breath came out raggedly. “I’ve been right here.”

“I know…but with…everything…going on…”

“I understand,” I interrupted, wishing he’d shut up.

He seemed to get the message.

Minutes later, or maybe it was hours, we found ourselves slumped on the floor, exhausted. I was cradled on his chest, with my head tucked beneath his chin. I was so tired that I didn’t plan on moving until I absolutely had to.

“That was…” He started.

“Amazing,” I finished.

He chuckled. “I was going to say ‘different’ but that works too.”

He brushed his fingers through my hair and my eyes closed sleepily.

“We should probably go,” he announced.

“I’m not moving,” I locked my arms around his neck. “You can’t make me.”

“Oh, I can,” his fingers inched under my shirt and he began to tickle me.

“Trace! Stop!” I giggled, squirming and falling off of him.

“Get your pants on, we have to go,” he chuckled, standing and pulling his pants up with him and fastening the belt.

“I did have my pants on…until you took them off,” I pouted, still on the floor.

He grabbed my shorts and panties from where they’d been tossed and dropped them on top of me.

“Thanks, you’re so nice,” I said sarcastically as I put my clothes back on.

He smiled boyishly and held out a hand to haul me up. “I am nice. I counted three orgasms.”

“What does that have to do with you being nice?” I raised a brow, prying myself from his arms before we got carried away again.

“You know,” he leaned against the wall, “it proves that I’m a very generous lover.”

“God,” I rolled my eyes, “you are so full of yourself.”

“That’s what you like to tell me,” he opened the door and picked up our bags.

“Does your mom know we’re coming?” I asked.

“No,” he shrugged, stopping outside the door to look at me. “But it’s technically my house, so it’s not like I need to call and ask for permission. I’ll text her if it makes you feel better.”

“It would,” I nodded. “I don’t want them to think someone is breaking into the house, and we didn’t mention to your grandparents that we were coming so it’s not like they told her.”

“Take a breath,” he chuckled. “I’ll let her know. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Sorry,” I forced a laugh. “I’m being silly, aren’t I?”

“Kind of,” he started down the steps. “Get Ace and meet me at the car.”

I turned to find Ace watching me with curious eyes. The poor dog had watched everything that had went down between Trace and me minutes before.

“Sorry, bud,” I shrugged, “but he’s hot and I can’t seem to help myself around him.” I squatted down and scratched behind his ears. “Let’s go.”

I cracked my eyes open, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. We’d stayed at the mansion a few times in Trace’s childhood room, but it still seemed strange to be here, surrounded by high school memorabilia and trinkets of his past.

I sat up, shoving the sheets off of me, and drawing my knees up to my chest.

I was getting married today.

Okay, that wasn’t right. We were already married, but I had no idea what the proper term for this would be.

But I was giddy, knowing that this time our families would be present. I really hoped Gramps would be okay to walk me down the aisle. I hated to think that he might be pushing himself. I knew he was stubborn though, and nothing, not even his cancer, would stop him from walking me down that aisle.

“What are you doing up?” Trace asked groggily, lying on his stomach.

“I’m excited,” I shrugged.

He cracked a smile and eased his eyes open. “It would probably be a bad sign if you weren’t.”

“Yeah,” I laughed, “especially since I already married you,” I trailed a finger down his bare back and he shivered.

“Good point,” he rolled over onto his back, staring at the ceiling with a serious look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Nothing,” he shook his head. But then explained, “I was thinking about how…before I met you, I never thought about getting married or anything like that. But once I met you,” he rolled to his side and pulled me down beside him, “all of that changed.”

“Why do you think that is?” I asked, staring at his chest so I could avoid his intense gaze.

“Maybe,” he rolled on top of me, staring down at me as I squirmed beneath him, “there are certain people that are meant to be together. If that exists, I know we are,” he cupped my cheek. “We were waiting for each other.”

“Like…soul mates?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know…that sounds a bit too far-fetched, but…maybe.”

“I believe we were meant to be, too,” I told him. “And I’m happy that we didn’t rush into a relationship. We got to know each other as friends first, and that’s made us a stronger couple. Don’t tell Avery,” I grinned, “but you’re my best friend. I know I can tell you anything and you won’t judge me. You’ll listen to what I have to say and give me your honest opinion. A lot of couples don’t have that, but we do. We’re lucky, Trace.”

“I know,” he kissed me, “believe me, I know.”