Page 5 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. Two
Oliver smiles. “Group dates are fun. So are one-on-one dates, but I think I’ll quite like having all four of us together.”
All four of us.The phrase has warmth cascading down my body from my head to my toes.
“Have you ever been to the museum?”
“Me? Nah. Rhett’s gone before, though.”
“I’ve never been either,” I say as Oliver starts applying makeup to my cheeks. “Ava went a couple months ago. She thinks I’ll like it.”
“Rhett thinks you will too. Was his idea.”
Oliver continues with the makeup, tilting my chin up with one hand and working with the other. He looks happy, a faint smile never fully leaving his face.
“You like doing this?”
Oliver nods. “I do, yeah. Because I love it and because it reminds me of happy memories.”
“Oh?”
“I loved playing dress up as a kid. Used to do it with my little sister all the time. Sometimes Sammy would join in too, but she was a little younger than Maria, so they didn’t have play dates together often. My mom has a whole scrapbook of the different looks we came up with. Maybe I’ll show you sometime.”
My stomach does a little backflip at the thought of meeting his family. Then it melts at the thought of young Oliver playing with his little sister. “I always wanted a sibling.”
“Mmm, you get a built-in sister by being with me, so I guess it’s a dream come true.” He winks, probably because he knowshe’sa dream come true all by himself. “Maria will love you.”
Hope flares in my chest, and I sit up straighter. “Really?”
“Oh, she already does. Ever since she saw us together at the ball, she’s been bugging me to let you guys meet. Maybe we’ll take you to our next Friday lunch.”
My shoulders sag. “Ah. I don’t think that’ll work, O. I have to go back to the coffee shop after this week. My boss is already annoyed enough.”
For a second, it looks like Oliver is about to protest. But then he sighs and shakes his head. “Then we’ll find another time for you and Maria to meet. As long as you’re ready, that is. If you want more time before meeting the family, that’s understandable.”
“I’d like to meet her. And your mom.”
He boops me on the nose with a brush. “Then we’ll make it happen, princess. Now close your eyes. It’s time for your eyeshadow.”
“What color are you using?”
“Same as your sweater. This stuff is super pigmented,” he says, swiping the brush over my eyelids. “I love it. Don’t use it a lot, though.”
“Why not?”
He laughs, a tired and almost bitter sound. “Work-life balance is almost nonexistent when you’re trying to avenge your little sister’s death. Most of the time, our jobs require blending in, staying in the background. Not exactly conducive to wearing colorful makeup.”
“I guess not.”
“But,” he says brightly, “it just makes it more fun when I get to. The red is my favorite.”
“That makes sense.”
“Does it now?”
I grin. Even with my eyes closed, I can imagine the smirk on Oliver’s face. “It’s your favorite color? Dark red?”
“Someone’s observant.” After a couple more strokes with the brush, he says, “You can open your eyes now.”
“So why forest green today?”
