Return to You

for her. Damn
Michael.
    Why hadn't he said anything to her? It wasn't like
he hadn't had a chance. Their intimacy seemed cheapened or fake in
light of this information.
    She felt a hand on her arm. She raised her eyes to
find Lainie's face, lined with concern, peering at her. "You didn't
know?"
    It took conscious effort to smooth out her
expression. This was Lainie's night. She'd deal with Michael later.
"It's fine. Let's get started. We don't have long to get you ready.
You said your reservation was for seven o'clock?"
    "Yes."
    Olivia felt a stab of envy at the way Lainie shined.
The older woman was at the beginning of her romance.
    She shook her head to clear her thoughts. "Eve,
where's the dress?"
    "I hung it in the first dressing room."
    Lainie frowned. "Dress?"
    Eve smiled. "You didn't expect fairy godmother
Olivia to let you go off on this date without the proper attire,
did you?"
    "But—"
    "No buts." Olivia pointed to the dressing area. "Go
change."
    Lainie tipped up her chin. "I expect to pay you back
for the dress."
    Olivia rolled her eyes. At least she didn't have to
worry about Lainie not being stubborn enough to stand up to Parker.
"Of course. We aren't running a charity, after all."
    A grin spread across Lainie's face and she hurried
like a child running to open Christmas presents. Several minutes
later there was a squawk.
    "You okay in there?" Olivia called back. This was
the part where Lainie declared she couldn't wear the dress and they
had to convince her she looked marvelous in it.
    Lainie came out of the double doors with a slightly
shocked look on her face. She stopped in front of a mirror and
stared wide-eyed at herself.
    The dress could almost be called modest. It wasn't
tight, it had long sleeves, and the hem hit only a couple inches
above Lainie's knees.
    But the plunging neckline and slit on the side that
revealed to her hip made the dress sassy, as did the crimson color.
It was a dress to seduce.
    Lainie turned around, her gray eyes sparkling. "I
love it!"
    Olivia blinked. "You do?"
    "It's perfect. I can't thank you two enough for
finding it for me." She smoothed the silk on her hips.
    Olivia stared at her critically. Hair was good,
lipstick needed touch up. "You are wearing some of your new
underwear, right?"
    Lainie gave her a suffering look. "Yes."
    "Freshen your lipstick and let's get you home."
    "I'm meeting Everett at the restaurant," she said as
she rifled in her purse.
    "He's not picking you up?" Olivia asked
indignantly.
    Lainie shook her head. "I thought it'd be easier to
meet him there." She pulled out her lipstick and went to a mirror
to put it on.
    "Next time, make him pick you up."
    "Yes, ma'am." Lainie grinned at her from in the
mirror. "Wish me luck."
    "You don't need it," Eve assured her. "He's going to
drop to your feet."
    "You two are the best." Lainie gave them brief,
enthusiastic hugs and strode to the door, which opened right before
she reached it.
    Michael held out his arms to keep Lainie from
running into him. "Whoa. Elaine. You look stunning."
    She blushed and smiled at him. "Thank you."
    "You're going to break hearts tonight." He kissed
her on the cheek and held the door open for her.
    For a moment, Olivia warmed at the way he put Lainie
at ease. Then she remembered the bastard didn't tell her he was
almost done with the movie. Her jaw tightened until she thought the
muscles would snap.
    "Well, I've got to get home." Eve stood up. "Give me
a call tomorrow, Olivia."
    "Sure thing."
    "Bye, Michael." Olivia could see a hint of pity in
the smile Eve gave him.
    Michael nodded but his eyes never left her face. She
could feel his confusion. The door clicked shut before Michael
said, "What's wrong?"
    She didn't beat around the brush. "When were you
going to tell me you're almost done shooting the movie?"
    He grimaced and ran a hand through his hair. "We
still have a bit left to do. We haven't shot the opening scenes,
and then the promotional shoot—"
    He stopped abruptly. Probably
because of the look on her face that said like I give a fuck.
    He heaved a sigh. "Olivia, you knew this wasn't
going to last."
    "That's not the issue. I just thought I'd hear it
from you rather than everyone else."
    "Olivia." He reached for her and she reluctantly let
him pull her into his arms. He ran a hand over her hair, down to
the nape of her neck, which he rubbed soothingly. "I'm sorry I
didn't tell you. I should have, but it just seemed like if I
didn't—"
    Her forehead felt drawn tight.