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

much to the pathway that had led them here. It was simply that all the good things that had come her way, that she’d worked at and been brave enough to pursue, centered around this woman in her arms.

Jenny kissed Olivia, intending it to be a simple affirmation of the love she had for her, but her body had other ideas. As soon as Olivia’s tongue stroked her own, Jenny’s clit leaped to attention, and everything in her body, heart, and soul cried out to be lost once more in the love Olivia gave her.

They undressed slowly, taking their time to explore the skin revealed with the removal of each item of clothing.

Olivia caressed and licked and kissed Jenny’s body so sweetly, so tenderly, she could feel tears building. And when Olivia shimmied down the couch and delicately kissed the inside of her thighs, Jenny knew she was only moments away from losing herself in the most fundamental and best of ways. Olivia’s tongue lapped at her center, and Jenny’s entire being sang with joy.

She clutched at Olivia’s hand where it rested on her belly and let the emotions sweep her away. “I love you,” she whispered, rolling her hips as Olivia’s tongue dove deeper.

Olivia lifted her head. “God, I love you too.”

Then Olivia dipped her head once more, and Jenny’s world became nothing but all-encompassing sensation, sweeping her up and enveloping her in a space filled only with Olivia and the love they’d found.

Chapter 36

Four months later

 

“Ta-da!” Olivia threw an envelope onto the table with a flourish and grinned.

“What’s this?” Jenny picked up the envelope and turned it around in her hands.

Olivia bounced on her toes like an excited child. “Open it!”

Jenny laughed and did as she was told. She pulled out a single sheet of paper, read only the first two or three lines printed on it, then dropped the letter as if it were on fire. “For real?”

“Yes!”

The next thing Jenny knew, Olivia pulled her out of her chair and wrapped her in her arms.

“Oh wow, that’s amazing.” Jenny squeezed her tight. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you.” Olivia kissed her chin, then stepped back. “And I bought a little something to celebrate. I know you’re not much into champagne, but I thought we could make an exception this one time.” She leaned down to the bag she’d abandoned when she first arrived at the apartment and pulled out a bottle. She held it up and wiggled it from side to side.

“I’m sure I can handle it. Just this once.” Jenny grinned.

She looked down again at the letter, and her heart soared.

Olivia was now officially divorced. They didn’t have to tiptoe around the city anymore wondering if being seen together would jeopardize the pretend marriage and Broderick’s position with his family or sponsors. It had been a long and hard four months, but every day had been absolutely worth it as far as Jenny was concerned.

Of course, there was a sadness behind it all that would take some time for Olivia to push past—Katherine was livid and entirely blamed Olivia for the divorce, despite how much Broderick tried to defend her.

Jenny knew it pained Olivia to lose the relationship she’d had with Katherine, and she only hoped Broderick was correct in thinking his mom would come around eventually.

Olivia skipped off to the kitchen and returned with two wine glasses, champagne flutes not being something Jenny and Carl had ever possessed. She popped the cork and laughed as some of the fizzy wine spilled over the top of the bottle onto her fingers. As she enthusiastically licked it off, Jenny’s mind went to an entirely different place, and she admonished herself. Later.

After Olivia had poured, they toasted her newly divorced status and drank. Then they kissed and drank more before returning to the kissing.

“So, are you still on for moving out in two weeks?” Jenny asked when they eventually came up for air.

Olivia’s eyes went a little wild. “Sort of.” She exhaled loudly. “I’m still waiting to hear on that apartment, but I have a bad feeling about it. Don’t ask me why. Intuition or something, I suppose?” She looked up at a nodding Jenny who knew exactly what she meant. “And I know I can obviously stay with Broderick as long as I need to, but it makes no sense to overstay. I do need to get out. That two-week deadline was slightly arbitrary, but somehow, having a date hanging over my head can only be a good thing. Otherwise, I’ll still be there this time next year.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Jenny sighed. “Well, all we can hope is that this other apartment works out.”

The place Olivia had found wasn’t ideal, not by a long shot. But it was within her budget, in a not-too-scary part of the city, and it was a relatively easy commute to the C&V office. No one could ask for more, not in New York.

“Do you know what else I realized today?” Olivia placed her glass on the coffee table.

“What?”

“That next week marks exactly a year since we met.”

Jenny snorted. “And that was such a great first meeting.”

Olivia frowned. “Was it that bad?”

“Don’t you remember? Chrissy introduced herself as ‘Christine, but you can call me Chrissy’. And then you, all British and snooty, told us your name.”

Jenny waited to see if Olivia’s mind offered up the memory. It took a moment, then the blush appeared.

“Oh God, I almost bit your head off, didn’t I?” Olivia hung her head in her hands. “In my defense,” she said, her voice muffled through her fingers, “that was a very stressful time for me.”

Jenny laughed. “Holy crap, you were so cold that day! And for a lot of the days after.” She pulled Olivia’s hands away from her face. “Come on, it’s fine. Look where we are now. We both have brilliant new jobs and we’re together.” She tugged Olivia into her arms and held her close, breathing in her perfume, the