Systematic Seduction (13 page)

Chapter Eighteen

Blair
had no idea how long she and Oliver held each other in the doorway, but they
both jumped slightly when the buzzer on the wall next to her outside door
sounded. “Who could that be?” she asked, her heart pounding.

“Let’s
go and find out.”

He
turned to walk away, but she grabbed his arm, stopping him. “What if it’s Donny?”

Oliver
gave her a huge grin which confused her. “Ah, that’s one of the things I wanted
to talk to you about. He won’t be bothering you, love.”

“What—”

The
buzzer sounded again, cutting her off. They walked to the door, and she pushed
the intercom button on the wall. “Who is it?”

“Sheriff,
ma’am, for Blair Adams.”

She
sighed, glancing up at Oliver. “He filed suit, didn’t he?”

“This
morning.”

As
Blair pushed the button that would unlock the door downstairs, Oliver’s phone
rang. He answered it as she waited for the sheriff to come upstairs. The man
handed her the papers, said “You’ve been served” in a tone that implied he was
bored with life, then walked away.

She
shut the door as Oliver got off the phone. “That was my housekeeper. She
accepted my papers on my behalf just now.”

Blair
opened the complaint and began to read. “Oh, for the love of…”

“I
know. After you left the building, I called the paralegal who works for my
attorneys and she found the complaint online.”

“Oliver,
there is no such email. I never promised him shit.”

“I
never thought there was an email, and I know you didn’t promise him anything.
Don’t worry about this, all right? My attorneys will take care of it.”

Guilt
washed over her. “I’m sorry I did that. Leave the building, I mean.”

He
took the papers out of her hands and tossed them onto the floor, then pulled
her close again. “It’s over. We never have to discuss it again. I understand
why you did it, and I promise you that I will spend the rest of my life making
sure you know how special you are to me. Blair, what’s in the past can’t hurt
you. Not if you don’t let it.”

A
shadow crossed his eyes, sending a nasty shiver down her spine.

“I
would like you to move out of here. Come and live with me. I’d feel better
knowing you were safe.”

“Safe?
I’ve always been safe here. What else is going on that you haven’t told me?”

“Let’s
get you out of here first.”

“Tell
me now.” She didn’t like where this was going. He took a seat on the sofa, and
she sat next to him, waiting.

“Okay.
This isn’t going to be easy to hear. I also asked Penny to look into Donny’s
background. Based on what he said in the reception area, I assumed he was going
to or had already filed a suit, and I like to know who I’m dealing with when I
get sued.”

“Do
you get sued a lot?”

He
nodded. “Sweetheart, when you have a company as big and as well-known as mine,
it’s a given.” He opened his phone and scrolled, then handed it to Blair. “This
is what Penny found, and some of it goes back to before 2118.”

Blair
read convictions for far more crimes than Donny had told her about. When she
came to the arrest record, she nearly dropped the phone. “Holy shit. I never
knew this. Oliver, what if he had hurt me?”

He
took the phone, placed it on the coffee table, then pulled her into his arms.
“He did hurt you. Maybe not physically, but emotionally.”

“Why?”

“Why
what, love. Why did he hurt you emotionally?”

“No.”
How could she put this into words? “Why do I choose men like this?”

“I’m
not a psychologist, but I can think of one obvious reason, can’t you?”

“Yes.”

He
moved away and looked into her eyes. “I’m not like that, yet you chose me.”

“I
pushed you away for two years.”

“It
wasn’t the right time for you, but that’s over now. We’re together, and I’m not
letting you go. I will never hurt you.”

“I
know you won’t.” She glanced around. “When can I move out?”

He
laughed. “Now?”

“If
only I had a truck and a bunch of people to help.”

Oliver
picked up his phone. “We have that.”

****

It
was close to ten in the evening by the time everything that had been in Blair’s
apartment was now in storage, or had found a new home in Oliver’s apartment.
After the phone call Oliver made, Barclay and Rissa had shown up with four
friends and a vehicle large enough to hold furniture, though only a few pieces
at a time. Blair was actually surprised Oliver didn’t know someone who owned a
moving van and could drive it over at a moment’s notice.

She
had dropped off her keys at the management office, forwarded her mail online,
and after a cursory inspection by the property manager, who had been watching a
movie in nothing but his underwear when she knocked on his door, she had
foregone having her security deposit returned in lieu of being allowed out of
her lease early. She was free and clear.

The
friends had taken the truck and left, but Barclay and Rissa were still in
Oliver’s apartment. The four sat in the great room, each with a glass of wine.

“We
won’t be working tomorrow,” said Rissa, raising hers.

Barclay
clinked his glass against hers. “We can work from home.”

They
both laughed, and Blair gave Oliver a curious glance.

“Sorry,”
said Rissa. “It’s kind of an inside joke. When we first started looking for data
on Rob’s laptop, we worked from his apartment so much that we joked about
moving the entire operation into it.”

“I
think Blair and I will work from home tomorrow, too,” said Oliver, giving her a
wink. Heat rose to her face, and she took another sip of her wine.

“So,
is it official?” asked Barclay.

“Is
what official?” asked Oliver.

Barclay
gave him a droll look. “You two. What else?”

Oliver
gave her a tender look. “Gee, I sure hope so. I’ve never asked anyone to move
in here before.”

That
surprised her, but she said nothing. She didn’t yet know Barclay and Rissa very
well, and wasn’t sure what he’d told them about her background.

“We
should go out together,” said Rissa. “The four of us. You’re the only other
Weatherman who lives here, and I could use a female friend to gossip about the
bunch of you with.”

“I’d
love to,” said Oliver, glancing down at her. “Would you like to do that?”

“Yes.
That would be great.” She was touched that Rissa wanted to get to know her
better. She’d never been part of an elite group, and she’d never had close
female friends.

“If
Valerie has her way,” said Barclay, “we’ll all move to Central together, house
our companies in the same building, and live in apartments next to each other.”

“She
misses everyone,” said Rissa. “We all had so much fun at Liane’s and Emmett’s
wedding.”

“The
next one isn’t until December,” said Oliver, glancing toward her once more.
“Dominic and Angela are getting married then.”

“Did
you all space them out like that on purpose?” Blair knew that Ace and Harper had
been married last December.

“Yes,”
said Barclay. “We wanted to be sure all of us could attend each one.”

“At
this rate, we’ll be attending weddings for years,” said Rissa, holding up her
left hand. Blair couldn’t help but smile. Her engagement ring was stunning. And
huge.

Rissa
smiled up at Barclay with nothing short of adoration. “Eight of you married or
engaged, four to go.” She cut her gaze toward Blair’s bare hand. “Or, is it
soon to be nine?”

Barclay
gave her a cautionary look. “I think you’ve had enough wine.” He removed the
glass from her hand. “
And
I think we
should let these two get some rest.”

Rissa
surprised Blair by giving her a hug when she and Barclay left. “I hope we can
get to know each other better.”

“Thank
you. So do I.”

After
they were gone, Oliver apologized for Rissa’s question. “She’s very blunt.”

“I’m
not offended by what she asked. Are you?”

“Not
even close. We finally got around to saying ‘I love you’. Discussing marriage
is entirely different. I’m trying not to scare you off.”

She
stared at him for long moments, trying to organize her thoughts. The wine was
getting to her, but she didn’t want to let this wait or she’d chicken out and
never ask. “Is that what you want? I mean is that where you see us heading?
Toward marriage?”

“Of
course.”

He
hadn’t even hesitated.

“Blair,
I’ve never asked anyone to move in here. I’ve never told another woman I loved
her. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. You can ask any of the others.
They’ll tell you the same things.”

“I
don’t need to ask anyone. I believe you. I’m just overwhelmed.”

“In
a good way, right?”

“Yes.”

He
held her close and she closed her eyes, letting his words sink in. Even when Donny
had asked her to marry him, he hadn’t said such things. She could count the
number of times he’d told her he loved her on both hands, and each time it had
been because she hadn’t wanted to have sex for one reason or another.

By
that time, in her mind she had come to think of “real” love as a legitimate
reason for wanting sex, as opposed to having it forced on her. Oliver should
know that. It might help him to understand her reactions.

“Can
we talk about Donny again for a moment? And about my past?”

“We
can talk about anything you want to, sweetheart.”

She
settled back on the sofa next to him, but left the wine alone. She needed a
clear head for this. “The only man who told me he loved me before you said it
was Donny, and it was rare when he did. If I didn’t want to have sex for one
reason or another, he would tell me he loved me. I know it sounds clichéd, and
probably stupid on my part. By that time in my life, if a man said ‘I love
you’, I believed it meant the sex he wanted to have was true. It was pure. Not
simply his urges taking over to the point it was forced on me, or me giving in
so he’d stop pestering me about it.”

She
studied his face, trying to gauge his reaction. “Am I making sense?”

“Yes.
Yes, you are. What else could you have concluded, after all? Going through what
you had experienced.”

She
nodded. “That’s what the shrinks said, too.”

“Blair,
it breaks my heart to know you eventually drew those conclusions about love and
sex.”

“I
don’t feel that way with you. You taught me not to.”

He
caressed her shoulder, sending shivers down Blair’s spine. “Thank you for
telling me. I’d do anything to help you. But, I can probably guess how you feel
about marriage. You’re not a fan of it.”

She
sighed. “You would think that, but it’s not true. At least, not with you it
isn’t. My only concern is that I don’t want to make your life miserable.”

“How
could you do that? To me, you’re perfect.”

“You’re
perfect to me, too. Is it crazy to think I don’t deserve to be this happy?”

He
smiled. “If you’re crazy to think that, then so am I. Promise me you’ll give us
getting married some serious thought.”

“Are
you asking me to marry you, Oliver?”

He
winked. “Not tonight.”

She
was sure her heart would burst from joy. “Oh, I see. It’s going to be a sneak
attack.”

His
expression turned serious. “It’s going to be when I’m convinced you believe
you’re worthy of a love that lasts a lifetime, and that doesn’t include you
being abused by the man who promised to love, cherish, and protect you.”

Blair
let out a shaky breath then stood. Every shitty thing that had happened today
faded into the distance. There was only Oliver, this apartment that was now her
home, too, and the words he’d said to her tonight.

He
loved her. He wanted to marry her. She
was
worthy of the kind of love and the kind of life she’d always dreamed of having.
He knew every crappy thing about her and
still
he wanted her, and only her. There was no place else Blair wanted to be.

“Make
love to me, Oliver. Make love to me until neither of us can breathe.”

He
stood and picked her up, cradling her against his body. “Your wish is my
command, dear lady.”

Chapter
Nineteen

One
week after Blair and Oliver were served suit papers, the suit was dismissed.
Blair was amazed his attorneys had been able to do that so quickly, but Oliver
wasn’t. He paid them well because they were that good.

Penny
had also dug up a few more facts on Donny, including the fact that he was in
over his head on old debts, and had changed his Internet phone number several
times in the past couple of months. Oliver showed the information to Blair one
morning as they ate breakfast.

“I’m
convinced he changed the number this frequently in an attempt to evade calls
from creditors.”

She
shook her head. “No wonder he came looking for money.”

“He
won’t bother with us again. He won’t get past security here, and never again at
the office.”

“Speaking
of security, do you still have bodyguards tailing me?”

“Yes,
and that won’t stop. It’s non-negotiable. I want you safe.”

She
grinned. “Do all of you have guards assigned to your girlfriends?”

“Yes.”
Her expression grew serious, so he put down his toast and took her hands.
“Blair, this isn’t a joke. We’re wealthy men. We’re powerful and connected, and
that makes us easy targets. That means we have to protect not only ourselves,
but the people we love.”

“Okay.
It’s cool. I kind of like it, too. No one will ever try to mess with me.”

“No,
they won’t. Never.”

****

Later
that same week, Oliver left the office mid-morning with the excuse he had a
meeting with a business associate across town. What he really did was take
Barclay with him to search for the perfect engagement ring for Blair.

“None
of my business,” said Barclay, “but are you certain she’s ready to accept?”

“I
won’t know until I ask her.”

Barclay
gave him a look of incredulity. “You’re willing to risk her saying ‘no’?”

“Weren’t
you willing to risk it with Rissa?”

He
chuckled. “Yeah. I was. We all were. Okay. Let’s find the perfect ring. What
does she like? What are her interests?”

“Plays,
flowers, and cheeseburgers that rip a hole in your gut.”

Barclay
laughed. “Okay. Well then, what kind of jewelry have you bought her that she
loved?”

Oliver
snapped his fingers. “The necklace. I found a necklace downtown at one of the
craft booths made with real rubies and topaz. She wears it all the time when we
go out.”

“Let’s
start with the booth where you bought it. After we find the ring, we’ll talk
about how and where you’re going to propose to her.”

Oliver
grinned. “Oh, I have that part all figured out.”

Barclay
raised his brows. “Really? Tell me.”

“I
suppose I should since I want you and Rissa there.”

“
What
?”

Oliver
clapped his friend on the back. “Come on. I’ll tell you the plan as we walk
downtown.”

****

The
day after Oliver found the perfect ring, he received a call from Penny during
breakfast in his apartment with Blair.

“Donny
Gallagher is dead.”

“Excuse
me?” Oliver gave Blair a quick glance, but she was absorbed in a book she was
reading on her tablet. Oliver took the phone into another room. Blair would
assume it was a work-related call.

“He
was found dead early this morning. Single gunshot to the head.”

“Shit.
You think it was related to the money he owed?”

“The
cops are working that angle.”

“Thanks
for letting me know. I wouldn’t want Blair to see this first online.”

“That’s
why I called.”

Oliver
returned to the kitchen and watched Blair for a few seconds from the doorway. She
was eating scrambled eggs with one hand, not even looking at her fork, while
she read at the same time. She finally looked up, frowning. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m
sorry to tell you this.” He crossed the room and sat next to her. She put down
her fork, and he took her hands. “Donny was found dead early this morning. The
police believe it was related to the money he owed.”

She
blanched. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. I mean, I don’t wish that on anyone.”

“I
know, sweetheart.” He pulled her into his arms and held her until she stopped
shaking. Neither of them stated the obvious. Donny would never bother them
again.

“Should
we have given him some money?” Her voice was small and tinged with guilt.

“No.
He would have ended up in the same place eventually. You know that.”

It
took a few seconds for her to answer. “Yes. You’re right. He never would have
changed.”

He
pulled away so he could look into her eyes. “You didn’t do this to him. He did
it to himself.”

“I
know. Honestly. I’ll be all right. It’s just such a waste.”

“I
agree with you, love. A horrible waste.”

****

Friday
afternoon, Blair walked around the ridiculously large closet Oliver had given
her to use, trying to decide what to wear. All he’d told her was that they were
going to Dirty Harry’s, but with friends, and it was a special occasion. It
wasn’t her birthday, it wasn’t his birthday, and she had no clue what other
special occasion he’d choose to mark with friends, but she was happy they were
going out with others.

She
was happy to be going out with him, period. The past two weeks had been even
better than before. She’d even had the chance to spend some time with Rissa. Two
days after she’d moved out of her old apartment, Rissa had called and asked if
she could have a long lunch one day that week. All Blair had to do was ask
Oliver, and he told her to take the entire afternoon off if she wanted.

She
and Rissa had gone to a place across town that was practically empty, and
talked for three hours about Blair’s past, and about what it was like to be
engaged to one of the Weathermen. Rissa had grown close to Nadine Jarvis, who
was engaged to Addison Carlyle, and to Valerie since Liane’s wedding.

“They’ll
drive you crazy,” she had said. “They’re all so protective, but that’s because
they value what they have, including people.”

“I
don’t mind the bodyguards. I don’t even mind him being possessive because he’s
not a jerk about it. I was afraid something else from my past will surface and
he’ll change his mind.”

“And
do you still feel that way?”

“No.
I really don’t. The fear is gone, and that’s due to him making me feel so
cherished.”

“I’m
glad to hear it. He’s not going to change his mind about you, Blair. I saw that
look in his eyes. Trust me on this one. He’s totally smitten with you. He’s
marked you as his, and resistance on your part is futile.”

Blair
had laughed. “You make it sound like I don’t have a choice.”

“You
don’t.”

“Well
good, because I only want Oliver. No one else.”

Rissa’s
expression had grown serious. “I was engaged to a guy I’d known all my life
before I moved underground. He died in a storm on the surface. I rarely dated
after that. I didn’t have sex for seven years. Seven years, for God’s sake. All
that changed when I got together with Barclay.”

“I’m
so sorry about your fiancé.”

“Thank
you. Barclay … he changed everything for me. I didn’t think it was possible,
but I was wrong. I fell under his spell, and without my knowing it at first, he
fell under mine. Once those guys decide they’ve found the right woman, it’s a
done deal. You’re powerless in their presence. And nothing changes their mind.
Nothing.”

Blair
had laughed again, but she’d also agreed that at the heart of Rissa’s words was
the truth. She’d seen the same intensity in Oliver, and she’d heard the
conviction in his words.

“So,”
Rissa had asked, “when he asks you to marry him, are you going to say ‘yes’?
Because he will ask. Trust me on this one. And I know you’re crazy about him.
It’s written all over your face, in your voice, and in your body language.”

There
was no denying that, but Blair had already known it before she’d had lunch with
Rissa. “I love him so much. Of course I will say ‘yes’.”

And
now, she had to find something to wear tonight. Not
too
dressy, but she wanted to look really nice. Nicer than jeans
and a sweater. She finally chose a skirt and top that she’d worn before and
Oliver had liked. She paired it with dressy sandals, and she wore the necklace
he’d bought for her. When he came home from work, she was waiting.

He
whistled, smiling broadly. “You look too good to take out. I’ve changed my
mind. Let’s stay here.”

She
laughed. “Oh, no you don’t. You can’t tease me like that and then say ‘Sorry,
I’ve changed my mind!’”

He
pulled her into a tight embrace. “You’re right. I can’t. I’m really looking
forward to this evening. Give me five minutes and I’ll be ready to go.”

There
weren’t nearly as many cars in the parking lot next to Dirty Harry’s as there
usually were, and she wondered why the place was so quiet on a Friday night.
Before they went inside, Oliver cupped her face. She swore his hands trembled
slightly.

“Whatever
happens in there, I need you to know one thing.”

What
was going on? Was there more bad news he hadn’t told her about? “Okay.”

“I
love you, Blair. With my entire heart and soul I love you, and I always will.”

“Oliver,
I love you, too. So much. But you’re kind of scaring me.”

“I
don’t mean to.”

“Why
is it so quiet here tonight?”

“I
rented it.”

“Excuse
me?” Only he would do something like this and get away with it. “Why?”

He
kissed her deeply, and then just as abruptly he released her mouth and took her
hand. “Come on. You’ll see why in a second.”

When
they walked inside, the first people she saw were Rissa and Barclay, smiling
like they knew a fabulous secret they couldn’t wait to reveal. But then she
glanced around and realized she knew almost everyone in the place.

All
the project leaders were there, her entire team was present, and others from
work she or Barclay interacted with on a daily basis were also inside. The only
people she didn’t know were the workers. They stood behind the counter,
smiling.

She
turned to face him. “What is this?”

“Back
here. Come on.” He led her to the booth they’d sat in both times they’d eaten
here previously. Everyone crowded near, and Blair didn’t understand why he
asked her to sit on the table, but she did.

He
knelt on the bench seat against the wall. “I hope you don’t mind me kneeling
here instead of the floor.”

Several
people laughed softly, but her focus was on Oliver. He pulled a small velvet
box from his jeans pocket, and she gasped. Tears welled up in her eyes as
understanding finally dawned on her.

“I
thought this was the most appropriate place to ask you,” he said, his voice
soft and tender. “I hope you don’t mind that I wanted others to celebrate this
evening with us.”

“It
won’t be a celebration unless she says ‘yes,’” said Barclay softly, but he was
close enough that Blair heard him. Rissa smacked his arm and gave him a look
filled with horror.

Oliver
didn’t even glance at him. He held Blair’s gaze, his eyes filled with love.
“We’ll all likely have heartburn tomorrow, but I don’t care. Blair, I love you
so much. I know this is a huge step for you, but I promise I will help you heal
from your past for the rest of your life, if that’s how long it takes. I will
love you, and cherish you, and protect you until the day I die. Will you do me
the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife?”

Blair
didn’t bother wiping the tears off her face. She could hardly breathe, let
alone move. “Yes, Yes, I will marry you. Oh my God, of course I will. I love
you so much.”

The
stones in the ring matched the necklace, and it was no surprise at all that it
fit perfectly. He stood before her, beaming, and she swore his eyes were wet as
well. Then he kissed her, tongue and all, and Blair barely heard the catcalls and
whistles around them.

The
pain and fear melted away until there was only Oliver, his incredible mouth,
and the love that filled her body, heart, and soul. Everyone took their seats
and the place erupted in conversation, but Blair only had ears and eyes for the
man sitting across from her. He knew every horrible thing about her, and still
he wanted her. He wanted her to be his wife.

Her
dreams really had come true. And now she would spend every moment of her life
making sure Oliver knew how very, very much she loved him.

The
End