Page 44 of Forbidden Hearts
I push past her, needing not to see her lips, her eyes, or her perfect body. There is no way to unsee, untaste, or unfeel her skin and mouth.
She is every goddamn fantasy I ever wanted.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I put Phoebe and what just happened behind me. I walk into Liv’s room and find her sitting up in bed with tears streaming down her face. Her bedside light is dimly lit, and I reset the alarm button.
“What’s wrong?”I ask, sitting on her bed.
“Bad dream,”she signs before launching herself at me. I hold her, feeling the tremors run through her body.
Slowly, her breathing calms down, and my rioting emotions do as well. She sniffs a few more times and then pulls back.
I brush her hair off her cheek.“What was the dream?”
She looks away and then back to me.“I was alone and running. I couldn’t see anything, but I knew I was scared. Someone was after me, and I couldn’t get help.”
My heart breaks at the haunted look in her eyes.“You’re not alone.”
“I know.”
“I’m always here.”
She nods.“It was a dream.”
Yes, but sometimes dreams feel so real that, when you wake, you aren’t sure if it really happened. I kiss her forehead and tap her nose.“I love you, and nothing is chasing you. You did the right thing calling for me.”
Her eyes go to the door, and I half expect to see Phoebe there, but she’s not.
Olivia turns to me, and I wonder if she wanted her and is wondering why she didn’t come. I turn her face to me.“I told Phoebe I would come and she should stay.”
Liv gives me a sad smile.“I wanted you, anyway.”
I grin.“I’m glad.”She hugs me again, and I squeeze her tightly before pulling back.“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”She yawns.“Thank you.”
I wink.“Anything for you.”
Once she’s all tucked in, I head to her doorway. She rolls over, back to me, and I stand here watching. In Olivia’s life, she’s dealt with a lot of shit. Doctors, exams, nonstop running around, and then being tossed back and forth between my and Sara’s places. Losing her long-time nanny wasn’t easy either. Yet, she’s proved her resilience time and time again.
I don’t know how many times a kid can feel this kind of struggle and come out on top.
I close her door and head down the stairs, tensing as I near my hallway. Like a coward, I peek toward Phoebe’s door before walking into the hall, making sure it’s closed, and for both our sakes, I hope she locked it.
As soon as I reach my door, hers opens. “Asher?”
My head thuds against the heavy oak as her voice washes over me. “I told you to lock the door.”
“And I did. However, you didn’t say for how long.”
I swear to Christ. “Until we both aren’t idiots, that’s for how long.”
“Well, then it seems we’re never leaving our rooms, are we?”
I turn to look at her, keeping my back against the door. “What happened . . . it was wrong.”
“It wasn’t wrong, but it shouldn’t have happened.”
“You’re damn right it shouldn’t have. Your father is my boss, and you’re Olivia’s nanny, for fuck’s sake!”
