Suspicious Minds (Fate #3) (21 page)

“It doesn’t say.” She turned to Liv, holding up the small card in
the air. “It just says ‘Thinking of you, darling. Always.’ But it’s not signed.”

The expression on Nathan’s face was instantly exactly how Lorenzo
suddenly felt. Annoyed as shit.

“You don’t have a boyfriend, do you, Em?” Nathan asked.

She shook her head, seemingly a little embarrassed at first. “
No!
”
Then she gave Nathan a sharp look. “And I’d admit it if I did. I am a senior
now, you know? Almost eighteen.”

“So who’s this from then?” Nathan asked, his tone a bit accusatory.

“I don’t know,” she said, sounding annoyed herself now as she
placed the card back on the bouquet. “We don’t even know for sure it’s for me.”

“Well, if it’s not from Lorenzo to Livi, who else would it be
for?”

Nathan asked the question as if no other possible explanation existed
for it, though Lorenzo could already think of two annoying possibilities. Sofie
started in on Nathan, comparing him to her brothers when she was Emi’s age.
Sarah and Valerie, Sal’s brother’s wives, joined in on the razzing as Lorenzo’s
eyes met Liv’s.

“They’re lilies,” he reiterated, staring at her. “
Darling
.”

Visibly, Liv picked up on what he might be implying, but she
shook her head.

“You and my brothers are the only ones who’ve ever given me any
flowers.” Glancing in the direction of the flowers for a moment, she turned
back to Lorenzo and added, “Since I’ve lived here anyway.”

“Looks like Emi has a secret admirer,” Rosie joined in on the
teasing. “And these look too expensive to be from a high-school boy.”

Sofie followed Rosie’s lead, seeing as how Nathan’s face only
contorted further with Rosie’s comment. “Nice,” Sofie said, winking at her own
husband across the room with a wicked grin. “I dated a college boy when I was
still in high school.”

“
What?
” Nathan said, setting his beer down on the table
and taking the card from the bouquet. “Are you sure that’s all it said?”

He opened it and read it as Rosie and Sofie laughed, watching him
inspect it with a frown. Then he studied the front door for a moment as if
there might be an answer there. Nathan did what Lorenzo had an urge to do and
examined the card even further as the girls continued giggling.

Since meeting her brothers, Lorenzo was beginning to feel more
comfortable with them. He might’ve joined in on ribbing Nate if he weren’t
feeling just as annoyed by the question of who’d sent those flowers himself.
Just as quickly as her brother had dismissed that the flowers were for Liv,
Lorenzo’s gut had dismissed that the
lilies
were meant for Emi.

The action between the Raiders and Cowboys suddenly had Romero on
his feet cheering and Nathan rushing to get a glimpse of what was going on.

“Yes!” Romero said, fist pumping as the Raiders scored.

“You don’t even like the Raiders,” Nathan protested with a frown.

“Yeah, but I don’t hate them as much as I do the suck-ass
Cowboys.”

“Hey,” AJ said, pointing at Romero from where he sat. “Those are
fighting words in this house.”

“Those are beat-your-ass words,” Nathan corrected AJ as Romero
laughed even louder, waving them both off.

The subject of the flowers was dropped for the moment. Lorenzo
decided to let it go until they were alone later, but there was no way they
weren’t getting back to it. For a moment, he actually questioned if the way Liv
had been peering at on her phone or the reason why she walked out to make a
call had anything to do with the flowers. But he wouldn’t go there. It wasn’t
fair to her since, so far, she’d been upfront and honest about everything. If
she knew who the flowers were from, even as nervous as she’d appeared when
admitting to other things she thought might make Lorenzo angry, she’d tell him.
At least Lorenzo was sure as hell counting on it because the last thing his
suspicious ass needed was even the slightest reason to question her honesty.

~~~

Liv sat on his sofa, switching the channels on the
remote as Lorenzo returned from the bathroom. As much as he loved seeing how
comfortable she was now being at his place, he’d waited long enough. He hated
to ruin such a perfect day, but this was something they needed to discuss.

“So,” he said as he sat down next to her.

Liv regarded him after leaning her head against his shoulder and
smiled sweetly. “So what?”

“Any ideas who those flowers might’ve been from?”

Her smile waned a bit, but instead of appearing concerned about
his question, she shrugged. “I think we both have an idea who they might be
from
if,
in fact, they were meant for me.”

Lorenzo refrained from responding with sarcasm but didn’t even
try to hide the fact that he didn’t believe for a second those lilies were for
Emi.

“Does your ex know your middle name?” Liv nodded but didn’t say
anything. “Does Elton?”

“I never told him, but it’s on all the paperwork for my loan and
when I signed up for the training.” She took a deep breath then let it out,
touching his face gently. “Let’s just say for argument’s sake that they
were
from either of them. What does it matter? Guys could send gifts and flowers to
women they’re interested until they’re blue in the face. As long as the women aren’t
interested, they’re not going to get anywhere with them. And you already know
who the only guy I’m interested in is.”

“I just don’t want it to be the start of anything,” Lorenzo said,
trying not to sound as irritated as this whole thing made him.

Even if either of these assholes were technically disrespecting
him by sending his girl flowers with messages that were out of line, this wasn’t
her fault.

“It won’t be,” she said but clearly saw how unconvinced he was of
that. She gave him a hopeful smile then kissed him softly. “If I had to guess,
the flowers are from Jay. I don’t think Elton would do that. The guy is a
little creepy, but he’s always been very respectful, and he’s never said
anything to me like what was written on that card. That sounds more like Jay. I
cut him off completely, remember? It’s all he has left. But just like with
everything else about him, I’m not going to bother to acknowledge it in any
way.”

She moved over and climbed on his lap, straddling him, and ran
her fingers through his hair, kissing him a little deeper this time. Instantly
hard, Lorenzo brought his hands around her, squeezing her ass over her jeans. If
anything could mollify his possessive heart so quickly, it was this.

After a longer kiss than he expected, she pulled away and looked
him in the eyes. The arousal in her eyes was a living thing. It was enough to
make Lorenzo want to can the talk about the fucking flowers. He was already
having visuals of her beautiful naked ass up in the air. But she licked her
lips and addressed the issue again.

“Don’t get mad, but comparing you two is inevitable. Mostly
because I’m trying not to make the same mistakes I made with Jay. So far, you
two couldn’t be any more different. But from the beginning, one of the things I
was most impressed about you is what a
man
you are. I’ve always said
this about Jay and I used to think it was because I’ve known him from the time
we were kids. I’ve never seen him as a man even when he technically became one.
It’s also why it never felt like I was seeing someone so much older than I was.
I know a four-year age difference isn’t huge—”

“When you’re fifteen and he’s nineteen, it is,” Lorenzo said,
swallowing back the growing distaste for her ex.

“I know, baby,” she said, running her fingers through his hair
again. “But what I’m saying is Jay’s always been notoriously immature for his
age. Even with this whole Margie thing. He really should just man up. He’s
still trying to talk her into the abortion, and it’s sickening because he knows
damn well how emotionally fragile Margie is. This whole thing is already been
harrowing for her to deal with. Forcing her to do something she’s so against
could be devastating for her, and he knows it, yet he’s only thinking of
himself.”

This was news to Lorenzo. “Emotionally fragile?”

Liv, nodded, her playfully aroused expression flattened. “I won’t
get too into it because it’s too personal and she asked me not to ever share it
with anyone. I didn’t know it until we were in high school, but Margie has
always suffered from depression. It’s why she’s so introverted and shy. It’s
also why I’m sure she fell for Jay, but the worst thing is I told him about
her. He knew what he was doing when he decided to toy with her feelings. Margie
had asked me not to say anything to anyone when she confessed her deepest
secret, and at first I didn’t, but one time when he made a comment to me about
Margie being an oddball, I felt compelled to explain to him why she’s the way
she is. He promised not to say anything, and as far as I knew he never had, but
she texted me today saying she was really depressed, so I called her, and she
was a mess.”

For the first time ever, Lorenzo saw the complete disgust Liv
felt for Jay now. While it was a bit of a relief to see it, Lorenzo himself
didn’t think he could like the guy any less than he already did before she told
him all this. The need to get this guy completely out of her life grew more
alarming the more Lorenzo found out about him.

“He’s insisting she have the abortion. And now he’s using her
depression against her. I guess she opened up about it to him, and he’s trying
to scare her, saying that because of her mental state and his family’s
background the baby would likely be taken away anyway. I guess his brother is
into some major illegal stuff now, and it’s well documented that Jay’s parents
and the house he still lives in is not fit for raising children. I managed to
convince her today that it’s bullshit. No one is gonna take her baby away just
because she’s on anti-depressants. But she still sounded so sad. I hate that
she’s so alone because she still won’t tell anyone about it and I’m so far I
can’t be there for her.”

“But you can be via the phone and the Internet.” This time it was
Lorenzo who ran his hand through Liv’s hair to try and assuage the obvious
guilt she was feeling. “I’m sure she knows you
want
to be there for her.
You’re a good friend, sweetheart. Most girls wouldn’t have forgiven their best
friends like you did for getting involved with an old flame of theirs.”

Liv leaned in and kissed him sweetly in apparent appreciation for
his calming words. He kissed her back a little deeper so ready to put this
subject aside and move onto other things.

Old flame. It was as significant as Lorenzo would let Jay be in
Liv’s life. She’d said it herself, and no matter what the idiot was up to with
those flowers, long-time friend or not, he was nothing more than a mistake in
Liv’s past. He had as much right to be part of her life still as Linda had to
be a part of Lorenzo’s.

As if he hadn’t been rock hard from the moment Liv had straddled
him, kissing her now was making him nuts. He slipped his hands inside the back
of her jeans and moaned against her mouth at the touch of her glorious ass. She
squirmed as their kissing got more intense, and he spread her ass cheeks,
already thinking about how far they’d get tonight.

“Fuck me,” she whispered against his lips before diving back in
and sucking his tongue wildly.

Yep. Any talk of Jay was over. Lorenzo scooted to the edge of the
sofa as he continued to consume every inch of her mouth eagerly then stood up
with her in his arms. She wrapped her legs around him as he rushed off with her
toward his bedroom.

Without a doubt, this was the best way to deal with the tension
of his newfound suspicions. Dealing with this immature idiot by simply ignoring
him wasn’t going to be as easy as Liv seemed to think it was. Lorenzo would put
that thought aside for now. Tonight he’d talk her into spending the night, and
he’d have his way with her in every position he could think of. Explore every single
part of her body. Even the most sacred. All night.

Fourteen

Olivia

“You are so handsome!” Olivia gushed as she finished
brushing Jaxson’s fur.

Jaxson was by far one of her most high-maintenance clients: a full
breed Giant Schnauzer and former show dog in all his glory. While he was now
retired from traveling and doing shows, his owner, who still bred and traveled
doing dog shows all over the country and the world, liked keeping Jaxson as spiffy-looking
as ever.

A knock sounded on the door of her van, and she knew it had to be
Jaxson’s momma, Ms. Helen.

“C’mon on in,” she said as she pulled the brush through Jaxson’s
shiny fur effortlessly. “We’re almost done in here.”

The door opened slowly, and Olivia smiled at sweet handsome Jaxson,
patting his head before turning to Ms. Helen. Only to her surprise it wasn’t
Ms. Helen. An apprehensive-looking Elton stood at the foot of the door, half
his body inside and the other half outside as if he were waiting for her to
throw him out.

“Please don’t be upset,” he said quickly. “I wanted to respect
your wishes and not call or come by to socialize, but I got a call the other day
and I couldn’t put this off any longer.

Olivia peered at him curiously. Her heart was already beating a
bit faster, knowing she’d have to have yet another tense conversation with
Lorenzo, as if dealing with Jay’s immature crap wasn’t bad enough. Before she
could give another thought to the fact that Elton had ignored her request for
him to stay away, he pulled the other half of his body into the van and stepped
all the way in. He’d kept his other arm behind his body, and once in, he
brought it around so she could see the adorable white little furry puppy he
held.

“Ever since you told me about how your ultimate dream dog to own
was a Komondor, I remembered an old breeder friend of my mom.”

He smiled nervously as he petted the pup. Olivia brought her hand
to her mouth, unable to believe he’d gotten her one.

“She breeds Spanish Water dogs, but I figured she might know of
someone who breeds Komondors. She did and she put in my order for the pick of
the next litter months ago,” he continued. “She was concerned that whoever I
was getting this little guy for knew what she was doing because she says these
dogs are a huge responsibility, but I remembered you saying that was part of
the intrigue, the challenge to keep up with such a majestic dog. And since”—he
looked around her van—“you come fully prepared to and I have no doubt with your
talent you’d be able to deal with his heavy coat once it grows in, I did assure
her you’d be more than able to handle him.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered, her hand still over her mouth. “I can’t
accept this, Elton. I’ve researched these dogs. I know how much they cost and—”

“No, no,” he said quickly before she could even begin to reject
such an extravagant gift. “This woman has been telling me for years she’s
forever indebted to my mother and if  I
ever
needed anything not to
hesitate to ask. Until now I’d never asked her for a thing, so she was able to
get me him at a huge discount. Practically free.” He smiled, petting the little
guy’s head as the pup whined a bit.

Olivia held her hands out, and Elton handed her the pup as he
continued to tell her about how his mother helped Mrs. Rubidoux enormously when
she first started breeding dogs and getting into the show dog business. “In the
beginning, my mom would sponsor many of her out-of-state trips. Now she’s a
highly successful multi-award winner and renowned trainer and breeder.”

While Olivia tried to listen to everything Elton was saying, the
puppy had her undivided attention. He was beautiful. Olivia argued with her
inner voice, the one that told her she couldn’t accept him. She shouldn’t.
Lorenzo would surely object, and this would leave her feeling indebted and
possibly obligated to be nice and accepting should Elton ever drop by again.
Then he said the magic words.

“No strings attached, Olivia,” he said solemnly. “If you could
text me a photo of him once his dreads are all grown out, that’d be cool. I’m
curious to see how he turns out. Seeing the parents when I picked him up was
the only time I’ve seen one of these full grown in person. That coat is no
joke. But even a picture once a year or whatever is not necessary if you’d
rather not. I just figured I’d already reserved him months ago, and, of course,
I’d get the call that he’s ready to go a week after I agreed to no more
inspections. But I promise there’s no other motive for this. This really was
something I planned a while back.”

It’d only been a few minutes that she’d held and cuddled the
puppy, and she was already in love. She even had a name for him already, one
she’d always said she’d name her Komondor puppy if she ever got one—King. Elton
brought in the small crate he’d bought the dog, and she thanked him profusely
as every moment she held the puppy in her arms she knew it’d be that much more
impossible not to take him and run.

As promised, Elton left once she had everything she needed for King.
Ms. Helen was at the door almost as soon as Elton left. Unlike most people who wouldn’t
know what a Komondor dog looked like full grown just by examining a puppy, Ms.
Helen, being in the dog show business herself, knew exactly what Olivia was in
for. She warned she’d had her hands full, but Olivia welcomed the challenge.
She had no doubt she’d have the best-looking Komondor around with the best
dreads ever.

Olivia had one more stop to make before heading home and having
that somewhat dreaded talk about her new puppy with Lorenzo. But the excitement
of the brand new unexpected addition to the family outweighed the dread. This had
been her dream dog to own for as long as she could remember. From every article
she’d read on the breed, she knew they were massively protective of their
owners and their territory. According to all the articles, she knew she needed
to train him well and early on or he would want to run the show. That’s where
the name King had come from. While she planned on training him as well as she
could, the name fit him perfectly, especially since she knew he was going to be
huge. Given that Elton said he was the pick of the litter, he’d likely be as
big as Komondor’s get. Just from his oversized paws she could already see Ms.
Helen wasn’t kidding. She
was
going to have her hands full if she didn’t
set him straight early on.

Twenty minutes into her next stop King was sound asleep, and Olivia
had been lost in thoughts of Margie. She hadn’t heard from her in over a week.
The last few times they’d spoken Margie seemed a bit out of it. She was still
debating whether or not to have the baby. Jay was continuing to use the passive-aggressive
approach he was so good at to try and convince Margie not to have it. The last
time she’d heard anything from Margie was an odd text that she now suspected
her friend may have sent by accident because it didn’t make sense, and when
Olivia had responded to it, she never texted back. Nor did she answer any of
the times Olivia had tried calling her since. It worried Olivia because she
could tell Margie was trying to tone down just how much this whole thing was
messing with her head.

Another knock sounded on her door. Mr. and Mrs. Upton were never
the kind of owners to interrupt during her grooming. Their poodle, Sasha, was
one of her other high-maintenance girls, and so the Uptons usually gave Olivia all
the time and space she needed to deal with her. Not only that but Sasha had uncharacteristically
growled and even barked.

Olivia glanced back at King, whose little head had popped up in
his crate and was stirring now from hearing the knock at the door and then
Sasha’s growling. Would she seriously regret having accepted King from Elton
this fast?

Instead of saying “come in” as she had the first time, she called
out for whoever it was to give her a second then rinsed her hands. If it was
Elton again, she wouldn’t let him in this time. Even if it meant having to give
King right back, she was setting him straight this time.

With a mixture of annoyance and concern that Elton might be
turning into a creeper, she walked to the door and unlatched the lock. The
moment she opened the door and saw the notorious smirk, she froze.

“Well, well,” Jay said with a wicked smile. “Looks like you didn’t
fall off the face of the earth like your phone and lack of online presence
would suggest.”

Feeling the air completely sucked out of her, Olivia refused to
let on what just seeing him—hearing his
man
voice—did to her. Seeing him
after all this time brought back all the memories—memories she felt as if she
were drowning in now. Memories he had no right to just show up and thrust back her
into her life.

The change in his appearance was also a huge blow. He’d let his
hair grow out since she last seen him, and he wore it in a slick ponytail. His
facial hair was also grown out. He had a full mustache, and his goatee was just
long enough to give him that disheveled yet sexy bad-boy look, reminding her
instantly of his older brother. His tatted-up brother rode a motorcycle and was
rumored to be part of a notorious underground bike club that dealt with things
far worse than drug trafficking and petty theft like the kind Jay had been in
trouble for more than once in the past.

He even wore a black leather vest over a sweatshirt and dingy
jeans with biker boots. And while the majority of his upper arm was covered by
the sweatshirt sleeves he pulled up to just above his forearm, she could still
see both his arms had full-sleeve tattoos. Jay had been a tattoo artist for
years but had always said he wouldn’t do what his brother did and go overboard
on the tats. He was now tatted clear down to his wrists on both arms. Jay had
officially turned into his loser older brother, something he’d sworn for years
he’d never do.

Olivia let out a slow breath, trying to gather her wits. As
unexpected and troubling as this was, she felt strangely relieved. She’d often
wondered what it’d be like to see him again—be this close to him again. Would
he still possess that power he had over her for so long? So far the relief came
from the fact that she’d managed to distance herself from this man, but she was
struggling to put together a single coherent string of words now.

Clearing her throat, she finally spoke. “What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you.” The smirk flattened a little as he
slipped both hands into his jean pockets and stared her down. “You can block me
from calling or even contacting you online, Ollie, but you can’t block me from
your life. You should know better than that, baby.”