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The cold infinite October sky held an unobstructed view of a full harvestPulling in a deep breath, E across the backdrop of towering buildings She longed for this season The air, although crisp,her of Colorado

Home

If there was ever a tiht now

"We look a a taxi over "My mother always says the best money spent islike this"

Before Eree, a sleek black limousine pulled up in front of them The chauffeur stepped out, and Emily recalled that he’d driven them out to Gavin’s ho, Miss Martin," the gray-haired pluiveThe city has quite a few blocks closed down for repairs that I was unaware of"

"Hey, Marcus," Olivia replied with a s over to him "Did that sneaky bastard send you?"

"Yes, Miss Martin Mr Blake told me to arrive at six o’clock sharp for you and Miss Cooper Again, I apologize for being late"

"Hell, I love surprises I figured ere hailing a taxi over to the party," Olivia laughed and then turned to Es he desperately wants in only the bestbecause he’s never sent one before"

Emily shook her head and slipped into the li themselves cone, pouring theain today?"

"Dinkerbell?"

"Yeah, like Tinkerbell Did he call you again?"

"That’s a new one," Eured he otten the point already since you haven’t taken his calls," she shrugged "And no flowers caiven up"

Eive up that easily "Right, maybe not to the apartment, but he sent the"

"Shut up," Olivia let out, her eyes wide "How many this tilass "Let’s just say there was enough for Antonio to decorate each table and the entire bar area, and he had an extra dozen leftover to bring ho the last of her drink, Olivia leaned back in her seat, her expression soft "Well, I’ in to hiuns when he finally gets back from Florida When I spoke to Trevor earlier, he said all the idiot’s been talking about while they’ve been down there is how he’s deteret you back"

E lights of the city As she watched theht about how much she felt like a victih she had no broken bones and no pierced skin, her heart bled internally from the wounds inflicted by Dillon The words he said to her kept running through her head, stinging just as much nohen he first had said theuilty for causing the whole situation She also knew that she could’ve prevented what’d happened Regardless, she wouldn’t cave to him She couldn’t She ht to voice the elees as well However, her biggest surprise hen his mother showed up at her apartment unexpected, unannounced, and quite pissed E the door in her face upon her arrival

"It’s apparent I have to speak with hihed "I can’t just end it with him without closure"

"Why not? He doesn’t deserve any kind of closure fro about his closure, Olivia I need closure of ne and prolass "No matter how you slice and dice it, he did a lot forfor what he did, but he was drunk, and that’s so I need to take into consideration"

Olivia glared at her froht back into his trap again"

"How a into his trap, Olivia? He’s not even here"

She started tapping her teht, he’s in that brain of yours like a little fungus My brother gets hammered and doesn’t freak out on Fallon" Olivia leaned over and poured herself a second glass of chaot smashed, and they didn’t pull the shit that he pulled with you I’m sure you’ve had ex-boyfriends that didn’t do that either"

"I didn’t really date thatto compare it to"

Olivia’s face creased with confusion "Why would you need so story - drunk or sober, low or high, uy’s not supposed to place a hand on a wone, E, Emily You may think that what your father did to your mom is the nor hard at the est you rid yourself of needing closure from that asshole because he’s just like your dad Box up the shit he has at our apartet your stuff froown, she added, "Thank God you hadn’t signed a lease on that apartment you two found"

"I don’t want to talk about this any between frustration and pleading "I want to enjoy one evening without thinking about this whole mess with Dillon Please, Olivia?"

"Okay, but I’m back on your ass coh and nodded "That’s fine"

Five is hotel Marcus opened the door for the wo hi her shawl over her shoulders, Emily locked arms with Olivia, and they made their way into the lobby

After Olivia checked her coat, they floated into the expansive ballroo Music froloved waiters traveled the roone and caviar The whi gilt chandeliers Soft, pale pink lights, honoring the color of breast cancer awareness,the tables look like cascading waterfalls Beautiful pink roses and carnations sprayed up froeas in the center of each table

The second Emily made her way into the ballroom, her eyes found Gavin’s She also found she had to remind herself how to breathe A smile broke out across his face as she watched hi with Not only did Emily focus on him as he strolled across the space, but she noticed that the eyes of every other wo, old, tall, short, black, or white - wo an Ar his hand through his hair, he crossed the roo

Olivia leaned in to hug hi the li a hed "Well, not for us, but either way, it was a nice gesture"

Shaking her head, E a blush creep across her face

"Of course I sent it for you both," he laughed "I just never thought to send one before"

"Sure, whatever you say, Blake," Olivia replied, her voice holding playful skepticisain He knew she was onto him "Where are your parents? I wanna say hello to theesturing to a table in the center of the room

"Cool, I’ll catch up with you two in a bit" And, with that, Olivia skirted her way through the party in the direction of Chad and Lillian

Turning to face Euished over every inch of her body God, she looked exquisite in every way possible - a princess a peasants in the room It was all he could do to catch a decent breath A black, strapless velvet gown, accentuating her cleavage, flowed to the ground, hugging her subtle curves like a fitted glove His gaze swept past a dia its sparkle, and fixated instead on the startling fullness of her lips that glistened ruby red Tiny dia her heart-shaped face Sray shimmered over her eyelids as her beautiful e to coally lifted it to his lips, placing a soft kiss on it "Words fail to describe the way you look this evening"

Erasping onto her clutch "You look great, too"

"Why, thank you" He smiled "Shall we?"

With mild trepidation, she nodded, as he tucked her hand in the crook of his ar briefly to engage in conversations with so the way, he introduced Emily to a few of the families that his mother’s foundation had helped over the years Their sratitude in every way possible A breast cancer researchers, organizations, and a few politicians whose families had been affected by the disease With the subject hitting so close to hoenerosity Gavin and his family extended to those in need

"Emily, you remember my brother, Colton, and his wife, Melanie," Gavin said, pulling out a chair for her

Nodding, Emily reached across the table and shook their hands "I do It’s nice seeing you both again"

"You, too," Melanie replied "My children have actually asked for you quite a few times"

E his arm over the back of Melanie’s chair, Colton answered, "They sure have They said you’re the best soccer player in the world"

"That’s too funny," Ehed "Well, tell theame with them"

Gavin smirked and took a seat next to Emily "Don’t let her fool you If I recall, I’ at her, he shot her a wink

Emily smiled and shook her head

"Ah, yes, brother-in-law, take all the credit" Melanie laughed, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder "Emily, be forewarned that all thethey can" Ehed "But, for right now, this Blake wo her husband how to dance" Melanie rose from her seat and reached for Colton’s hand "Aren’t I right, sweetie?"

Standing up, Colton curled his arm around her waist and planted a kiss on her head "I have two left feet, so yes, I’ll give you credit for trying to teach me how to dance"

"Don’t fall flat on your ass, brother," Gavin yelled out as the couple moved to the dance floor

Colton turned around, effectively flipping the bird in Gavin’s direction

"H rivalry?" E rivalry," he answered, et to make him look like a clown"

"You’re too hed

Gavin smiled mischievously "I know, but he deserves it"

The waiter approached the table with a bottle of expensive bubbly in tow and a towel draped over one arm

"What would you like to drink?" Gavin asked

Knowing she and Gavin didn’t ht "Actually, I’ll just take an ice water"

He creased his brows "Are you sure?"

With an answering s himself bourbon on the rocks, Gavin leaned back in his chair and looked at her "I’er sick"

"Thank you That was a rough few days"

"I’h for her without adding illness to it "I stopped by the restaurant to check in on you, and Fallon said you’d already left"

"I know I meant to call you, but it completely slipped my mind I’ize I just wanted to ht"

"Well, thank you for checking on me," she smiled and placed a napkin over her lap "I truly appreciate it But I’m okay, honestly"

She may have smiled, but Gavin couldn’t see a trace of happiness in her eyes Throughout the evening, he kept the conversation with her on lighter topics, staying as far away fro that had to do with Dillon Gavin learned that, although her teaching position was supposed to be full ti part time as a substitute for now Either way, she see his Yankeesher that by the end of her lifetied to differ, but nonetheless, it h, and that’s all that mattered to him

After everyone enjoyed dinner, Gavin’s parents approached the table The stately couple’s ar and chane

"Olivia," Chad said with a siven me permission to dance with you"

She cocked an incredulous brow "Oh, has she?"

"Indeed, she has," he laughed, reaching for her hand

"Are you sure, Lillian?" Olivia smirked and stood up "I just may steal him from you"

"He’s a very debonair ht "He just ht sweep you off your feet, kiddo, so I’d be careful"

"Can’t say I’d disagree with you on that," Olivia laughed and strolled over to his do it"

Chuckling, Chad placed a kiss upon his wife’s cheek and led Olivia out onto the dance floor

"You look beautiful this evening, E a seat next to her "I hope you’re enjoying yourself"

"Thank you, Mrs Blake, so do you And I a’s spectacular"

"Tsk-tsk," she laughed, patting Emily’s hand "Remember, Mrs Blake ood time"

Emily smiled "Thank you, Lillian"

"You do look beautiful tonight, Mom" Gavin rose from his seat and placed his hand on her shoulder "I may have to keep an eye on you to make sure no otherup to him, she cupped her hand over his "You’ve always beensmile "But, really, sweetheart, after thirty-five years ofanywhere It’s pretty safe to say your father doesn’t have to worry about that"

"Doesn’t have to worry about what?" Colton asked, approaching the table with a drink in hand