The Millionaire's Forever (14 page)

“Damn serious.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Unbelievable. Jake was right. I can’t believe that I fell for the oldest trick in the book.”

“Wh-what?” Olivia pressed her hand to her chest. “What trick?”

“You even told me yourself that day after the shower that you’d gotten what you wanted. Of course you did.” His laughter was bitter. “Wow. Did you ever play your cards right.”

His words hammered at her and Olivia narrowed her eyes. “Are you suggesting that I deliberately got pregnant?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. You lied about being on the pill and you had sex with me knowing you weren’t protected. You planned the whole thing out before I ever came back to Texas to see you that first time.”

“Oh. I can’t believe I’ve been found out.” Olivia put the back of her hand to her forehead and heaved a dramatic sigh. “I knew that if I made up a boyfriend that there was a million to one chance that you would see the article. I planned for you to call a press conference. I sent telepathic vibes that led you to my shop where you demanded that I play the part of your girlfriend.” She lowered her hand to glare at him. “Then using my feminine wiles, I got you to insist we fly to Chicago to live together.”

A muscle worked in Mason’s jaw and he avoided her eyes. “I’m not father material.”

“No kidding. Based on your attitude right now, you’re not boyfriend material, either.”

“You got pregnant on purpose because you knew that any child of mine would be heir to millions. You and your father would be set for life with my money.”

Snapping her fingers, Olivia said. “I sure did. I worked you over so well. Got myself an expensive car that I don’t drive, business space I’m reluctant to use, and charge accounts I never charged a damn thing on. I am living in the lap of luxury. I even flew coach back and forth to Texas so I could have plenty of time to think up more ways to get my greedy little hands on the Parker fortune. In fact, my father, who can barely string together two words, explained how we could work you for every cent we could get.” She flipped her hair back.

“The pills, Olivia.”

“You want to…fine.” Olivia stormed out of the kitchen and went into the bedroom to retrieve her purse. Of course he’d think that way. She was a fool to dream he would believe anything good about her, ever come to love her. No doubt he lumped her in the same category as he did her father. His forever enemy.

Purse over her shoulder, pills in hand, Olivia marched back to Mason and smacked the container onto the counter. “You might want to call a plumber and have him take apart the pipes in the bathroom to see if you can find the ones you no doubt believe I only pretended to take but actually dropped down the drain.”

“Despite the fact that I do believe you got pregnant on purpose, I’ll set up an account for you and the baby. You don’t have the financial means to raise a child the way that I do.”

Olivia was nearly beside herself with anger. “Maybe I don’t have the same financial means, but at least I have a heart. And there’s no way in hell I would ever accept support from a man like you.”

“A man like me?”

“A man who has revenge running through his veins instead of blood. A man who counts his millions instead of his blessings. A man who’s so damned busy looking at the past, he missed his future—me and your child. You can go to hell.” Olivia spun on her heel and marched back to the bedroom. She wouldn’t stay here another minute. How dare he think she deliberately…
He
was the one who’d come at her all sexy and good-looking, saying that he could easily persuade her into his bed. And now she was the guilty party?

Dragging her suitcase from the closet, Olivia spotted the envelope with the paperwork for the land. Abandoning her packing quest momentarily, Olivia snatched the envelope and walked back into the kitchen.

“Here. Your life is complete. Everything you wanted is yours. Go. Destroy, and live happily ever after.”

“What’s this?” Mason’s gaze scanned the paperwork and then he looked at her. “You’re giving me the land?”

“That’s right. I planned all that out, too. I don’t know how I’m going to take advantage of you yet over giving you the land since I’m getting nothing in return, but give me time. I’m sure I’ll think of something.”

“Olivia.” He tossed the papers aside.

She raised a hand. “Don’t. Unless you’re going to tell me that you don’t really believe that I tricked you into having a child, there’s nothing more for us to discuss.”

His silence was all she needed to hear. With a jerky nod of her head, Olivia went to finish packing. So she’d fallen for him. So she’d started to spin fairy tales in her mind starring her and Mason. She would survive this broken heart. Rubbing a protective hand across her abdomen, Olivia said fiercely, “We’ll survive, baby. I promise you.”

Chapter Fourteen

Life was harder than he’d thought it would be without Olivia. But every time she crossed his mind, he pushed the images of her away. He had a promise to keep to Adam, and the day to keep it finally arrived. As he’d said he would, Mason had managed to get the building. Once the lease wasn’t renewed for the land, the building was useless to the state of Texas and he’d bought it.

Standing with Jake and Cole beside him under a sky threatening to unleash a storm, they watched as the wrecking crew rolled into place. They’d planned to burn the building, but the weather conditions made a fire too risky so they’d gone with their second option.

Finally, he’d be able to close this chapter in his life. The restless nights would end. The gnawing emptiness would be filled and he’d be complete.

When the crew foreman glanced at him, Mason nodded and the destruction of the building began. The three men stood at the edge of the lot watching throughout the day until the final brick fell and only a pile of rubble remained. Mason stood at the site long after his friends left to return to their lives, waiting for a sense of satisfaction to flood him. It didn’t happen. The gnawing emptiness in him wasn’t satisfied.

And he knew why. Olivia. She was in the center of his heart. Probably had been since high school, only he hadn’t recognized it for what it was, hadn’t wanted to give in to it.

He was in love with Olivia.

The realization drove him to his knees. What had he done?

He’d taken and he’d destroyed. He’d won his revenge and yet, he’d lost. He didn’t want to face the thought that it might be possible that he’d driven her away for good. That she didn’t—and couldn’t—love him in return.

How could he have been so blinded by revenge that he hadn’t seen the beauty of Olivia?

Rising to his feet, he climbed back into the rental car and drove to the same hotel he’d stayed at when he’d first shown up at Olivia’s shop months ago.

Mason paced the hotel room. The space was as cold and empty as his home since Olivia left. How could he fix what he’d done? Was it too late?

Mason cursed so loudly his dog raised her head and shot him a quizzical look. Two weeks had crawled by since Olivia had walked out of his life. Yesterday, he’d received a check in the mail from her reimbursing him for what he’d paid for her father’s care. She didn’t want a dime of his money. She was intelligent. Beautiful. Kind. Honest. He’d seen example after example of her strength of character during their time together. There was no way she could have known the truth about that night. His disbelief about the baby wasn’t about her at all. It was rooted in his own flaws. He had to make it right, had to win her back. He couldn’t imagine life without her.

Maybe it wasn’t too late to make things right with her. He loved her, and he needed her in his life. If she refused him, he’d do everything in his power to make sure she never wanted for anything.

“Come on, girl,” he ordered Red and the two headed for the car. He’d talk to Olivia face-to-face. She might not forgive him so easily, but maybe his apology would be a start.

The distance to her shop only took a few minutes. When Beth saw him and Red outside the door, she waved them both in.

“Well, if it isn’t the boyfriend of the year.”

Mason winced. “I deserve that.”

“You deserve a lot more than that.” Beth glared at him.

“I’m here to apologize to Olivia.”

“Oh? You’ve got that much time?”

Mason ignored the snide remark. “Is she here?”

“No. She’s in New York.”

Mason frowned at that. “What’s she doing in New York?”

“She’s scheduled to appear on
Good Morning America
tomorrow.”

“Something to do with her designs?”

Beth hesitated for a minute, obviously reluctant to tell him anything, then nodded.

“I love her, Beth. All I want is a chance to tell her that.”

Perking up, Beth smiled. “Oh. In that case, let me bring you up to speed on what’s gone on in Olivia’s life. Over the last few weeks, it really hit the fan here. Olivia told her father she’s pregnant and that it was your child. Needless to say, he didn’t roll out a welcome mat at the news. She told him he owed you an apology and that he should tell the world what he’d done to you to clear your name here. Again, no welcome mat at that. She fought for you.”

Mason held up a hand to cut off the flow of words. “And I’m here to fight for her.”

“Then go get her!” Beth came around the counter and hugged him. “Good luck.”

…

Olivia’s stomach protested. She leaned her head back against the bathroom wall and scrunched her knees up. “I don’t blame you, baby. I’m not much of a morning person myself. I mean I am, but not before-the-sun-comes-up early.” She yawned and eased up slowly, waiting to see if the nausea had passed. Not completely, but she’d survive. Who knew being pregnant could be so draining?

She winced as she went over the vile word her father had said when she’d told him she was pregnant with Mason’s child. How could he have done what he did to Mason and still refuse to own it? Then to turn around and act so hateful about her baby? She’d be damned if she’d let her son or daughter around that unless he cleaned up his act. His refusal to face what he’d done to Mason and his friends was something Olivia couldn’t sweep under the rug.

Still moving carefully, she pulled a comfortable pair of black slacks from her suitcase with a black silk shirt with tiny white flowers. Once the car arrived to take her to the studio, she’d have her makeup and hair done there, so she could skip that part of getting ready.

After the appearance was done on the show, she’d fly back to Texas. Her to-do list since learning about the baby kept on growing. Though the baby’s arrival was still months away, Olivia wanted to go ahead and get a crib and have a nursery set up.

She thought of Mason and her heart ached. Too bad he wouldn’t be a part of the preparation. He wouldn’t even know what he’d missed out on. Maybe someday he’d learn to trust enough to know that she’d never trick him. She hoped for his sake and for their child’s sake he learned to let go of his deep mistrust of everyone, but she didn’t blame him for the way he felt. He’d had years stolen from him. Since arriving back in Texas, she’d started visiting the cemetery and leaving flowers by Adam’s headstone. It made her sad to think of the life cut so short, and it grieved her that Mason carried that heartache.

…

Mason felt as jittery as if he’d grabbed a live wire. He’d arrived at the
Good Morning America
studio before Olivia’s appearance and waited for her to get finished with hair and makeup.

When he saw her, everything in his life snapped into focus. She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside, and if she’d give him a chance, he’d give her a beautiful life or die trying. “Olivia.”

Her smile faded when she recognized him, and her expression became guarded. “Mason, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to tell you how a man can turn into an animal.”

“What?” She shook her head and looked perplexed.

“I’ve been a jackass.”

She crossed her arms. “I agree, you have. I understand now what the past cost you. I know that you were only trying to protect me and in return, you were wronged.” Her gaze was soft. “You played the part of a hero that night and saved me, and I do thank you for that. But the drive for revenge has colored your perception of people. You thought the worst of me and you hurt me.”

With so much at stake, the pressure inside his chest was more intense than the time he’d closed the biggest business deal he’d ever made. “I would lay the world at your feet if I thought that would matter to you.”

“It doesn’t.”

“I know. Look.” He pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket. “This is a rough draft, but this is the land that the facility was on. I know that you didn’t understand why I needed to destroy the building, but I had to. I couldn’t let Adam down. I thought that everything would be better once the building was gone. That the hole inside me would close up.” He blinked. “But it didn’t.” When she didn’t say anything, he kept talking. “I made a phone call to get everything started. We can build something…a center in your mother’s name for at-risk teenagers. It’ll be something good out of something bad.”

“That’s a nice gesture, Mason, but I told you. I don’t want anything from you.”

“You don’t want anything?” He lost his grip on the paper and it fluttered to the floor. “All that I have to offer you then is my heart.”

Her mouth gaped and she stared at him.

“It’s funny. Or sad. Hell, I don’t know. I can walk out this door and buy any damned thing I want, but I find that I don’t want anything money can buy. All I want is the woman standing in front of me. And if you give me a chance, you could learn to love me. I swear to you that I’ll be worthy of you.”

When she didn’t say anything, Mason had to battle the fear that because of his foolishness, he was too late. “I’m asking…no”—he dropped to one knee—“begging you to forgive me. I know you didn’t try to trick me with the baby. The announcement threw me for a loop and the jackass in me kicked in. I love you, Olivia. Please say something before I have a damn heart attack.”

She laughed and then she cried, sobbing as tears streaked down her face. “Oh, Mason. How could you not know that I love you, too?”

His upside-down world turned right side up and flooded with hope. Mason stood and gathered her in his arms, crushing his lips down onto hers, kissing her with all the loneliness he’d experienced since she left. When he lifted his head, he used his thumbs to wipe away her tears. “I was hoping you cared even a tiny bit. This is more than I’d dared hope for.” Thrusting his hand into his pocket, he pulled out a jeweler’s box. He opened it and held it out to her. “I picked this up hoping I’d get the chance to give it to you. Marry me, sweet Olivia.”

“Like my heart has any choice.” Olivia admired the ring as he slipped it onto her finger. She flung her arms around him and kissed him. “Of course I’ll marry you. I can’t wait to get back to Chicago to bake more cookies.”

He laughed at that and then sobered. “I know that you confronted your father and that you told him he needed to publicly apologize. But I want you to let that go. I don’t need his apology.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Why not?”

“Because I’d rather we focus on us and”—he put his hand on her abdomen—“our family. Our future.”

“Our future. I like the sound of that.”

“So do I. You do the show and I’ll be waiting for you right here.” He traced the side of her face. “I think I’ve always been waiting for you and just didn’t know it.”

She kissed him. “I’ll be back.”