Read Return to You for Free Online Page B

look?"
    "Just about."
    "Great." It probably didn't help that she
was in yesterday's clothes. Although, she took a shower at Eve's so
she didn't feel completely grungy.
    Eve leaned on the counter and peered closely
at her. "So, other than the hangover, how are you?"
    She decided to play dumb. "What do you
mean?"
    "I mean about everything that happened
yesterday."
    "I hadn't really thought about it." She'd
been too busy trying not to puke all over herself. Testing her
tension, she rotated her shoulders a few times. They felt
remarkably light. "Actually, I'm pretty good. Talking must've
helped."
    "Good."
    "I can ignore Parker."
    "Right."
    A deaf person would have heard the
skepticism in Eve's voice. "I can. Once they start filming, he'll
be too busy to plague me. Worse comes to worse, my room has a
lock."
    Eve shook her head. "So you're going to let
him make you a prisoner in your own home?"
    "You're right. I'll lock him in instead."
Olivia frowned. "I just wish I knew what he was after."
    "Maybe he had a change of heart and wants to
show you he loves you."
    The earnestness of Eve's eyes showed she
actually believed that. Of course, she didn't have as much
experience with Parker as Olivia had. "And the glass is half
full."
    Eve grinned. "Is that your plan for Michael
too?"
    "Michael's easier. He's not staying at
Gran's." She wrinkled her nose. "At least not that I know of.
There's no reason I have to run into him. Ever."
    Eve just stared at her.
    "What?"
    "Nothing."
    "Why don't I believe that?"
    Shrugging, Eve said a little too casually,
"Couldn't say really."
    Olivia was about to pry it out of Eve when
the front door opened and Rick strode in.
    "Ladies." He put an arm around Eve's
shoulders and kissed her cheek. He turned to Olivia and stopped
short. "You look terrible."
    "No wonder you don't have a
girlfriend. Don't you know that you don't ever tell a woman she looks
terrible?"
    "Even if it's true?"
    "Especially then."
    Rick cocked an eyebrow at Eve, who said,
"She had a rough night and an even rougher morning."
    "I see." He surveyed Olivia thoroughly, his
PI eyes probably taking in signs of strain she didn't know were
there. "Is this about that guy yesterday?"
    "No," she said firmly
    He looked at Eve again. Eve nodded.
    "I see. But something else
must have happened," he said. She wasn't that upset yesterday."
    "Her father came back too."
    "I see."
    Olivia wanted to growl. "Will you stop
saying that?"
    "Well, as fun as this has been, I've got to
get back to the cafe." Eve hugged Rick and gave Olivia a long look.
"Call me."
    "Thanks for the coffee. You saved my
life."
    "That's what friends are for." With a
parting smile, she left.
    Olivia turned to Rick with
an arched brow. "Don't you have someplace you have to be?"
    He grinned unrepentantly. "Not really."
    She would have rolled her eyes but that'd
hurt her head, so she grunted and concentrated on her latte. Maybe
if she ignored him long enough he'd leave.
    No such luck.
    "I didn't know you had a father," he said
casually.
    "Everyone has a father."
    "But not everyone studiously avoids talking
about him."
    She shrugged. "Maybe I have nothing to say
on the subject."
    "That'd be a first." Rick stroked his chin,
staring at her in careful consideration. "I'm going to end up
getting it out of you."
    "Can't we just drop this?" she asked
plaintively.
    "Okay," he agreed.
    She narrowed her eyes at him. That was too
easy.
    "Have dinner with me. I was going to suggest
tonight, but I think you need to go straight home after work and
get some rest. How about tomorrow?"
    "Are you thinking that plying me with food
will loosen me up enough to talk? Because it won't."
    The front door opened. A woman hesitated in
the doorway before coming in.
    Olivia put on a proprietor's smile. "Can I
help you with anything?"
    "No, I just wanted to look around." The
older blonde wore a fitted suit and had her hair in a tight twist.
She clutched a purse in one hand and a leather portfolio in the
other.
    The woman