Page 77 of Only You

Andrew braced himself. He had to be strong when all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms. “What you did was dangerous, Liv.”

Olivia threw herself into his arms. “Promise me you will never do anything like that again.” Andrew heard his own voice crack.

Olivia nodded frantically against his chest.

“I promise,” she said, holding him like she never wanted to let go. “I was so scared.”

Andrew’s eyes found Ana’s over his daughter’s shoulder. She left the room, her own emotions too close to the surface. Andrew held Olivia until her tears subsided.

Once he had removed Olivia’s tear tracks, he asked her what she wanted for breakfast. Olivia shrugged.

“How about some waffles?” Ana said, coming back into the room.

Andrew watched as she encouraged Olivia to help her. Seeing them together, Andrew realisedhewanted Ana for himself, not just Olivia. He just needed to convince her they would be perfect together.

After breakfast, Olivia went upstairs to play with her toys while they put the kitchen straight.

“I think it’s best I move downstairs into the annexe,” Ana stated suddenly.

Andrew’s hand stalled where he was wiping the table. “Why?”

“It’s ready, and it was always the plan.”

Ana refused to look at him.

“Ana, we need to talk.”

Ana shook her head. “This will give everyone the space they need.”

Andrew stepped up behind her, placing his hands on her arms. “Ana, Christmas night was...”

Ana stepped away from him, folding up the t-towel and returning it to the rack. “Wrong,” she said, finally looking at him. “I am here to look after Olivia, nothing more. Christmas night was a mistake. We are both mature adults. We can put it behind us.”

Andrew stopped and stared. Who was this woman in front of him? It was as if the relationship they had developed over the past couple of months had vanished. Had giving into his desires been a colossal mistake? Not to him, but he was thirty-six. A twenty-two-year-old may see things differently. Ana was a student, after all. He remembered how horny he was as a student. She had been looking after Olivia and not going out. Had he been someone to scratch an itch? His stomach repelled at the idea. He had felt their connection, he could have sworn she had too.

“It’s not ready,” Andrew said, trying to think of any excuse to keep her in the main house. This was not what he wanted, but he couldn’t force her to speak to him.

“I only need a bedroom. I can use the bathroom in the gym when you aren’t using it.” Andrew cursed under his breath. She appeared to have thought of everything. “While I’m looking after Olivia, I’ll be preparing her meals and will cook as I always have for everyone. I simply think it’s best if we put some space between us.”

Andrew ran a hand over his face. “Olivia will not like it,” Andrew said, wracking his brain why this was a bad idea. The last thing he wanted was Ana putting distance between them. Best for who?

“Olivia will adapt. I’ll only be sleeping a staircase away.” She looked at him then, “I need to do this, Andrew, please don’t fight me on it. I’ve decided.”

Andrew felt himself nod. “The new furniture is there. We can move your TV and set you up.”

“Thank you.”

“I need to go to the hospital this afternoon to check on my patient.” Andrew said, suddenly needing to get out of the house and clear his head.

“Are you happy if I take Olivia out to meet Eva this afternoon? I would like a chance to get to know my sister,” Ana asked.

“Fine,” Andrew replied.

It probably wasn’t the best idea. He wanted to control the narrative with Eva, but he’d opened the box, he could hardly close the lid now, he also could not think of a plausible excuse. His head was spinning. One thing he knew, Ana would protect her niece with the ferocity of a lioness.

Andrew got up and left. He needed time to think. Work out what had gone so terribly wrong. Why had Ana made such a dramatic U-turn? Did she regret sleeping with him? Had she decided he was too old for her, that she needed to be around people her own age, not stuck with some old man who already had a daughter and a screwed-up past? He couldn’t blame her. Seeing her friends on Boxing Day, they had obviously partied hard. She’d come home in different clothes, clearly hungover. Had she met someone else her own age? Had she decided she wanted to let her hair down more often now she had a life? Had her financial issues been the real reason she hadn’t been going out? She had money now. Andrew sighed and headed for his car. If putting some distance between them was what Ana needed, then he needed to accept her wishes. He would never impose himself on anyone. Doing what was best for Olivia was important. It wasn’t necessary for him to make Ana’s life so uncomfortable that she could no longer stay with them. He could suppress his longing and go back to what it was like before. He had to!

Chapter Fifty-one

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