Page 1 of Reckless Intentions
Chapter One
It was almost as if the three wise monkeys had joined Olivia Cole for dessert.
She glanced around the table at the faces of her three best friends: Caro Flynn, Poppy McKenna and Eva Darcey.
Caro’s fingers covered her mouth, Poppy’s hands cupped her chin, her digits reaching up to shroud her ears, and Eva’s palms concealed her eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
“How did that happen? Or rather, not happen?”
“What are you going to do?”
Olivia, over a mouthful of chocolate torte, had just dropped the bombshell that she and boyfriend, Nic Santino, hadn’t had sex in over three months.
The questions they fired at her, were the same ones Olivia had been asking herself for the past four weeks, if not longer. Initially, she’d been a little reluctant to share her issues. However, wine had loosened her tongue and hearing the others talk about how good their relationships were made her blurt it out.
Caro waved at the waiter. “We’re going to need more wine.” She leaned forward, her brows knotted together. “Haven’t you been living together for all that time?”
Olivia nodded. “Yes, exactly. The first night we moved in, we did it. Then nothing since. Not even a quick fumble before work.”
Workmayhave been one of the reasons for the lack of any action. Olivia’s workload was ridiculous since she’d started her own PR consultancy, and Nic’s involvement in The Indigo Lounge, the bar he and Caro owned together, meant they kept almost opposite hours. Moving in together was meant to have solved that, but it seemed that it had caused more of an issue.
Take that evening, for instance. Nic had been at home, while Olivia got ready. She’d dressed in a skirt, about six inches shorter than she would usually wear, and which skimmed mid-thigh, then she’d paired it with a high-neck jumper and knee-length boots. It was the sort of outfit she would have worn in the early days of their relationship. She had hoped Nic might raise some sort of objection to her going out dressed like that without him. Apparently, it barely rated on the bothersome scale as he continued to massacre people in the desert as he played his video game.
“Living together seems to have had a completely different effect on Richey and me,” said Eva. “It’s like we can’t get enough of each other.”
Poppy giggled. “That was never an issue for you two though, was it?” Her cheeks reddened as she went on to admit that it was the same for her and Parker.
“I’m happy for both of you. It’s not like you don’t deserve it.” Eva’s admission brought a smile to Olivia’s face, despite the massive stab of jealousy that punched her in the gut. Lately it seemed she’d become an expert at hiding how she really felt about things.
“You’re still going to come to our housewarming tomorrow, aren’t you?” Eva reached out and put her hand on Olivia’s forearm. “Working with you is one of the reasons we’ve been able to rent this apartment.”
Olivia covered Eva’s hand with her own and plastered on an expression she hoped radiated happiness. “Of course, we wouldn’t miss it.”
“I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make it.” Caro wrinkled her nose and sighed. “I might have to go out to Mallorca again. The architect I hired to refurbish The Roca Bar is an arrogant pig and his building team are way behind schedule.”
“If you need someone to go out there and keep an eye on things, I can make myself available,” volunteered Poppy. “Anything to get me away from Nate and that girl.”
While the conversation moved away from Olivia’s lack of sex life and onto Poppy’s ex and his new girlfriend, Olivia picked up on the issues with Caro’s overseas bar instead. Her company, The OC Consultancy, was responsible for the marketing and PR of the revamp. Hearing the timing might have slipped brought bubbles of panic. She kept the business on a tight rein: planning was everything to her, and seeing things slip brought her out in hives. Eva was trying to help with her control freak tendencies by doing more off her own back, so Olivia was learning, albeit slowly, to let go.
As she listened to the others chatting, her mind wandered back to her predicament with Nic. They’d been together for such a long time and she didn’t quite know how she felt about everything. There was a part of her that felt she ought to fight for it more, but she couldn’t put the doubts out of her mind. It had been such a long time since they’d even discussed the future, marriage, kids and everything that came with it, she couldn’t even remember what they both wanted any more.
Simply telling her friends about the issues made it even more real, and now it was out there, something had to happen.
“What do you know about Blood Stone Riot playing The Roca Bar on reopening night?” Caro asked, bringing Olivia back to the present.
“Probably about as much as you do. I was going to pump Poppy for information. She is the one sleeping with their manager after all.”
Blood Stone Riot were one of Olivia’s most lucrative clients, but most of the work went through the record company. Olivia had established a good relationship with the PR woman there, although information was not always easy to come by. Luckily, her network of girlfriends could usually fill in the gaps. Caro and Alik, the lead singer, had been together for ages, and Eva just moved in with Richey, the band’s bassist.
“Not sure I can be of much help. Parker’s been working with a few new bands recently.” Poppy shrugged. “But I’m looking forward to a break in Mallorca, whenever that is.”
“Ugh, if the building crew don’t get their arses in gear – it could be never I know they won’t be over here to start on The Indigo Lounge. I’ve got a tighter window on that refurb.” Caro drained her glass. “Right, who wants another one?”
Poppy shook her head. “Sorry, can’t. I promised Parker I’d be home by ten.” She glanced at her watch. “And I’m already late.”
“I’m going to head off too,” added Eva. “I need to tidy up the flat before tomorrow’s party. Richey’s waiting for me.” She smiled, and Olivia felt that envious feeling return.
