Flash

about the Glow picnic? Because if it is, I promise you that it will be the best one yet. We're talking a live band, a new caterer, and fireworks."
    Rose stepped forward. "This is not about the picnic. We're here to ask you if the rumors are true."
    "Would those be the rumors concerning my secret dinosaur-cloning experiments or the ones regarding my decision to go into the astronaut training program?"
    Bolivar planted his hands on the desk. "This is not a joke, cuz. Todd says you and Jasper Sloan are going to announce your engagement at the Glow annual picnic. True or false?"
    "True."
    Zara gave a small shriek "Oh, my God, you're doing it for the sake of the family, aren't you? You're planning to sacrifice yourself to protect Glow. How incredibly noble of you, dear. I understand perfectly, of course. It's just the sort of thing Sybil would have done on
Crystal Cove
."
    Quincy stirred uneasily. He exchanged a glance with Percy and straightened his shoulders.
    "We're here to tell you that you don't have to do it, Olivia." He paused hopefully. "Unless you really want to, that is."
    Bolivar threw him a glare and then switched his attention back to Olivia. "What Quincy means is, we don't want you to do it for us. Isn't that right, everyone?"
    Percy cleared his throat and shuffled uncomfortably. "Yeah. Right. You don't have to marry the guy unless you want to."
    Quincy brightened. "Right. But, like, if you love Sloan, or think he's really good in bed or something, it's fine by us."
    "We wouldn't want to stand in the way of true love, of course," Zara said smoothly.
    "Yeah, right," Barry added on a rising note of optimism. "Nothing like true love."
    Bolivar quelled them all with another glowering look. "But we definitely do not want Olivia to marry Sloan for our sakes. Right, everyone?"
    "Uh-huh," Quincy muttered.
    "We don't want you to feel pressured," Bolivar elaborated firmly.
    "Yeah, sure." Percy grimaced. "Right. No pressure."
    Rose coughed slightly. "We certainly don't want you to endure another unhappy marriage. However, I would like to point out that there's something to be said for a relationship based on mutual interests, and there's nothing like sharing ownership of a large company such as Glow to provide a strong bond of mutual—"
    "You do seem rather attracted to him, dear." Zara beamed at her. "And if that's the case, of course, then you must follow your heart."
    "Thank you." Olivia gave everyone in the small group a benign smile. "I appreciate your concern for my happiness."
    "On the other hand," Percy said quickly, "a sense of family responsibility is a wonderful thing."
    "Sure is," Quincy added. "Uncle Rollie would have been real proud of you."
    Olivia smiled blandly. "I can't tell you what it means to me to have the full support of my family in this matter."
    "Hey, that's what family's for," Quincy assured her.
    Olivia got to her feet and narrowed her eyes. "Let's get something clear here. I am not going to marry Jasper Sloan for the sake of my beloved family. Nor am I marrying him because Uncle Rollie would have wanted me to do it. I am not marrying him to protect Glow, Inc."
    The crowd in front of the desk stared at her, fascinated.
    Rose blinked. "But you do intend to marry him?"
    "Yes, I do."
    Barry looked at her blankly. "How come?"
    "Good question." Jasper materialized in the doorway. He regarded Olivia across the heads of the gathered Chantrys. "Why are you going to marry him?"
    An acute silence fell. Like a small school of fish, the members of the Chantry delegation turned to stare at Jasper. Then, without a word, they all swiveled back to Olivia.
    She smiled at Jasper. "I'm going to marry him because I love him."
    The jaws of the various and assorted Chantrys standing in front of her dropped simultaneously as if on cue.
    Jasper ignored them. He did not take his gaze off Olivia. The unfathomable expression in his eyes vanished. A steady heat burned there.
    "Nice to hear that," he said. "Because I'm marrying you for a very similar reason. I love you."

33
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    "A bout time you got married again, Uncle Jasper." Paul glanced across the top of the crowd to where Olivia stood chatting with Andy Andrews. "I like her."
    "Glad to hear it." Jasper followed Paul's gaze. He felt a curious warmth infuse him. He was slowly growing accustomed to this sensation of happiness and satisfaction, he realized. He would never take it for granted, but he had reached the point where he could trust the feeling. With