Page 92 of Conquering Oz

Oz was in the corner making a drink when the door behind her closed. He glanced over his shoulder and stilled.

“Surprise!” Elodie cheered, raising her arm which in turn shifted the balloons. “I know you don’t celebrate your birthday but I couldn’t resist.”

He placed his glass on the table and stalked toward her. When he was a few feet away she lifted the box higher with a bright, beaming smile. It only lasted a second.

Elodie wasn’t even sure where the pocketknife had come from, but he pulled it out as if he’d used it a hundred times. Before she could blink, he’d popped all six balloons. Her jaw dropped and she stared at the sad deflated latex dangling from the strings.

What the…

“I don’t like balloons.”

She jerked her gaze. “Obviously.”

What started out as a chuckle morphed into an uncontrollable laugh. Oz didn’t join in. He shook his head and hardened his stare. When she sobered, Elodie walked over to his desk, placing the cake and bag down. When she turned, Oz was standing directly in front of her.

Without warning, he hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest. His mouth came over hers, and she wrapped her arm around his shoulders. If this was the welcome she got after not seeing him for a few days, she might have to do it again. The thought was fleeting. She’d missed him too much.

His tongue slid over hers, deepening the kiss, sending heat straight to her core. His hand slid up her back, around her neck, and cupped her jaw, ending the kiss too soon. He broke away butkept her locked in his hold with his heavy breath fanning over her face.

“Happy birthday,” she whispered.

“I told you I don’t celebrate.” He growled.

Such a stubborn hardass.

“Fine, then I’ll eat all the cake myself.” She cocked her brow. “But you’re missing out because I went to the good bakery for you.”

His eyes softened and the corner of his mouth curled. He kissed her again and stepped back, making his way to the bar in the corner.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Yes, please.” Elodie walked to the seating area and sat. A minute later, Oz joined her on the couch and handed her a glass.

“How’s your day going?”

Oz rested his arm on the back of the sofa. “I want to hear about yours.”

She shrugged. “Uneventful. I opened, and then the inventory…”

“Not today.” He scanned her face. “The last few days.”

Shit!She would’ve been a fool to think he hadn’t suspected something was wrong. Up until two days ago, she’d spent every night of the last month with him except when he was out of town. With all that had happened, she wasn’t in a good place, mentally.

She stared down at her glass. “I just had some things going on.”

His hand slipped through her hair at the back of her neck. “Tell me.”

“It’s nothing really.” It was probably the biggest lie she’d ever told and retracted immediately. “It’s something.”

“What?”

Elodie sighed. “My past coming back to haunt me.”

“How so?’

She slowly glanced over at Oz. Sharing a secret she’d held onto for so long felt like a betrayal to her mother. She’d made a promise. Her mom had broken it by telling her uncle. A deathbed confession. It wasn’t the same for Elodie, yet she found herself wanting Oz to know. He’d have to know her past if she wanted him to be her future. Secrets carried a heavy burden, and Elodie needed to be rid of this one.

After talking with her uncle, a different picture emerged in her head. It was as if it was the wakeup call she needed to just let it go. It served her no good to hold onto it. The only person left hurting from it was her.

---