A Heart to Trust, A.L. Brooks [speed reading book TXT] 📗

so hard. I loved what I was working on, but all I wanted to do was share it with you.”

“Me too.” Jenny pulled back a little and looked into Olivia’s eyes, the hazel of them glowing in the low winter sun. “So, how was your journey out to the wilds of Brooklyn?”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “I have been to Brooklyn many times, you know.”

“You have?”

“Yes! There’s some amazing theater here. I also interviewed for a couple of jobs here last year.” She frowned. “As you can tell, I didn’t get anywhere.”

“Then they’re idiots for not taking you on.”

“You’re sweet.” Olivia’s frown dissipated. “Besides, I have enough to worry about today without thinking about jobs.”

“Relax, they’re gonna love you!” God, I hope I’m right.

They walked to Tamara and Roz’s apartment hand-in-hand, deciding the risk of anyone seeing them this deep in Brooklyn was too small to be concerned about. And Olivia needed the comfort and that was all Jenny cared about.

Roz opened the door and greeted them both warmly. “It’s so great to finally meet you,” she said to Olivia. “We’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Likewise,” Olivia said as she handed Roz her coat and scarf. “Thanks for inviting me today.”

“Well, if you’re going to be with this one, you have to get used to the Sunday lunch tradition.” Roz gestured over her shoulder. “Carl and Solomon are in the living room. Want to join them and I’ll get you a drink?”

“Thanks.” Jenny squeezed Roz’s arm in a silent gesture of gratitude for the lovely welcome. “I’ll take a light beer, please.”

Olivia held up her shopping bag. “I brought some red wine with me, and there’s some of what I hear is Tamara’s favorite beer in there too.”

Roz’s eyes widened. “Nice move!” She took the bag. “What would you like to drink?”

“Do you have any white wine?”

“Sure do. Please, go sit and I’ll be right out.”

Jenny led Olivia into the living room, wondering why Tamara was slack in coming to greet them and hoping it was simply a kitchen emergency. She introduced Olivia to Carl and Solomon, who were both as nice as pie to her. They were just about to sit when Tamara poked her head out of the kitchen doorway.

“Hey!” She had a large wooden spoon in one hand. “Sorry, I’ll be there in a sec. Basting waits for no man. Or woman.”

Olivia chuckled, and Tamara smiled.

Okay, so far so good.

Tamara was key, Jenny realized. Her guardian angel, or Mother Hen, or whatever you wanted to call Tamara—her opinion mattered the most in this. Jenny realized her stomach had tightened with nerves and willed herself to relax.

Roz appeared with their drinks, then sat alongside Olivia on the couch. “So, you’re dating our baby girl.”

“Roz!” Jenny’s face heated. “Seriously?”

Olivia laughed and placed a hand on Jenny’s knee. “Did you think they’d do anything else?”

“I suppose not.” Jenny’s voice was a mumble directed at her chest.

Roz guffawed. “Oh, come on. You know I’m only teasing.”

“Already?” Tamara appeared from the kitchen. She walked straight over to Olivia and held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Tamara. It’s nice to meet you.”

Olivia stood to shake her hand. “It’s lovely to meet you. Thank you for inviting me.”

“Our pleasure. We needed to meet the woman who’s well on her way to stealing this one’s heart.” Tamara thumbed in Jenny’s direction and grinned.

“You too?” Jenny glared at her. “What is this, National Embarrass Jenny Quinn Day?”

Olivia turned to look at her. Her expression made it very clear she was happy, not alarmed, at Tamara’s implication. She sat and took Jenny’s hand.

“And hey, thanks so much for the beer,” Tamara said. “That definitely earns you plus points.” She winked.

Olivia nodded. “Good. Whatever it takes.”

“Hey, I’m no pushover.” Tamara leaned into one hip, the gesture kind of intimidating. “So, you’re married, right?”

Jenny tensed. There was an edge to Tamara’s tone she didn’t like. “Hey.”

Tamara turned to her. “What?” She opened her arms wide. “I think I have a right to ask important questions of the person who’s suddenly gone from treating you not very nicely to wanting to date you.”

“I’m not sure you need to be that blunt about it, babe.” Roz frowned at her partner.

“Why not? It’s the elephant in the room, so let’s just get it out there.”

“It’s okay.” Olivia pulled away from Jenny and stood once more. The look she gave Tamara was open and friendly, but having known her for a few months now, Jenny noted the tension in her shoulders said she wasn’t as relaxed as she made out to be. “Ask away. You do have a right to know. Although Jenny knows it all already, and if she’s okay with it, that should be enough. Or are you saying you don’t trust your best friend’s judgment?”

Carl whistled; Jenny thought her heart might stop.

Tamara barked out a laugh that made everyone jump, and the tension broke. “Oh yeah, I like this one.” She gave Jenny an enigmatic look, then turned back to Olivia. “I’m doing a roast chicken, is that okay with you? Jenny said you didn’t have any allergies or dislikes.”

“Roast chicken sounds wonderful.”

Olivia and Tamara locked gazes for a moment.

Tamara nodded. “Good.” She headed back toward the kitchen. “Dinner in about twenty, people!” she called over her shoulder.

Olivia sat back next to Jenny and grabbed her hand, the only sign squaring up to Tamara had affected her.

Jenny blew her a kiss.

Olivia let go of Jenny’s hand and picked up her glass of wine. She took a long drink and Jenny smirked at the sight.

Roz turned to Solomon to ask about his week, and Olivia squeezed Jenny’s thigh.

She looked up to find Olivia’s warm gaze on her.

“Is it true?” Olivia asked.

“What?” Jenny kept her voice low.

Olivia blushed a little. It was adorable how often that happened, and with her pale skin, she couldn’t hide it. “That I’m on my way to stealing your heart?”

Jenny took her hand. Her heart thumped hard, and she flushed hot and cold all over. “Yeah. You are.”