Page 24 of Finally Home

I attempt the clasp but keep missing it. I let out a groan of frustration.

“Here, let me help you,” Oliver chimes in, pushing off the doorframe and closing the distance between us.

He sweeps my hair to the side before holding his hand out for the necklace. I look down while he easily clasps it around my neck. Goose bumps line my arms as his fingers drag down that same path.

“You look absolutely stunning in this dress and will most definitely be the most beautiful woman in the room.” His breath fans my skin.

“Yeah, okay,” I say, slipping from his grasp and exiting the bathroom.

“What? You don’t believe me?” Oliver follows me, a furrowed brow marking his handsome face.

I laugh.Is he serious?I slip on my heels, already hating my shoe choice. But with this dress, I need them. The royal blue silk gown is floor-length, with a halter racerback strap. I saw the dress in a boutique back in Elmhurst, and the color immediately reminded me of Oliver’s eyes.

I attempt to brush past him again, but he grips my wrist and pulls me against him with a small gasp, leaving my lips.

“Look at me,” he says, but I can’t. I keep my gaze focused on a speck in the carpet. “Holland, I said look at me.” This time, his tone is commanding like a siren calling to me, so I can’t refuse. He didn’t call me Holls, or Hollie, or babe. He used my full name, so I know he means business.

Starting at my fingertips, his fingers dance up my arms. “You are the most beautiful woman I know. I have no idea what those assholes have ever said to you to make you not believe it, but trust me when I say those words.” As he speaks, his fingers continue to glide along my skin, over my collarbone, before gripping the back of my neck, slowly bringing our mouths closer. My heart hammers against my chest. “So, Hollie, when I tell you that you look stunning and that you will be the most beautiful woman in the room, you smile and say ‘thank you.’”

“Thank you,” I pant, seconds before his lips touch mine. At first, the kiss is slow, but then his mouth devours mine.My lips part without hesitation, allowing Oliver’s tongue to slip inside.

My phone vibrates on the nightstand, breaking us from our haze. And when I hesitantly break the kiss to walk over to see who is calling, we’re slammed back to reality like a freight train hitting us when I see my mother’s name calling.

“Yes, Mother,” I answer the call, unable to hide my disdain for her breaking up the moment between Oliver and me.

“Do not take that tone with me, Holland.”Did she really call me just to berate me?

Oliver steps up behind me and wraps his hands around my waist before placing teasing kisses along my exposed skin.

“Was there a reason you called?” I try to sweeten my tone to end the call sooner.

“I just wanted to make sure that you were going to be there on time.”

“Yes, of course.” A giggle slips from my lips as Oliver’s teeth graze my pulse point, and I squirm in his arms. “We were just walking out the door when you called.”

“Very well,” my mother responds before ending the call.Goodbye to you, too.

“We should get down there before she sends security up here.” I lean my head back against his shoulder, and I’m tempted to just say fuck the party and stay in instead.

“You’re right, we should.” Oliver clears his throat and steps away from me. I instantly miss the feel of his body pressing up against mine. “Just to be clear, I’m only saying that so I can make sure that we do, in fact, attend the party and not hole ourselves up in this room all night.”

Before I can respond, Oliver takes my hand in his and leads me out of the room.

I’m still buzzing from everything today that nothing seems to bother me. It’s as if all those kisses we shared coated my skin in an armor, where words only bounce off of me instead of sinking their claws into me, willing to drag me into a dark hole.

Since walking into the party, I’ve been able to ignore the eyes that are focused on us. Oliver has never left my side, nor has the smile left my face. Who would have thought that I wouldn’t have to fake a smile during this party? My cheeks hurt from all the smiling I’m doing.

“Nope, I definitely can’t understand why your mom could have possibly had an issue with Maverick’s new wife. I’m surethey’retotallyin love and will go the distance,” Ollie whispers in my ear as we walk away from my father’s associate and his new bride. I fought back yawns and struggled to stay engaged in conversation, but Oliver never wavered. It must be why he’s such a great bartender and can find engaging conversation with anyone.

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to go use the restroom.” Ollie presses a kiss to my temple before stepping away. My eyes drop to his ass—I’m only human, after all. And between all the touching and kissing, and him being the sweetest boyfriend ever, the lines are for sure blurring. Was there even a clear vision of lines since the moment we met?

It’s also the way he makes me laugh, sometimes without even trying, or the constant touching—even with no one watching us, like in our room or on our date earlier—that is also making a mess of my head.

All night, Oliver has watched me as if I were the only person in the room. Which I have to say is pretty impressive since there have to be at least two hundred people in attendance.

While I wait for Oliver to return, I decide to head over to the bar to refresh our drinks. On the way over, I spot the photographer standing there chatting. My hands bunch into fists, but I try not to give in to the frustration. You would think my family might want to include their daughter, who is a photographer. They could have even saved some money because I would have even done it for free.

While the photographer chats away with who the hell knows, she’s missing everything happening around her. I might not like my brother very much, but I see the potential in capturing the surrounding moments. On the dance floor, Brandon Sherman dances with his daughter as she stands on his toes. In the corner, my brother and his fraternity brothers are laughing at something, probably reliving their glory days. But the smileon my brother’s face is genuine, and someone should have definitely captured it for proof that he’s not a total jackass all the time.

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