Shivering slightly against the cool night air, Drake stood outside Riley’s bedroom door knocking gently.
“C’mon Matheson. I know you’re in there. Please let me in.”
He thought he heard muffled sobs coming from the other side of the door, but she didn’t answer him.
“Riley…” He pleaded, “Please. I’m not leaving until you talk to me.”
Silence
“Come on. It’ll be morning soon. I’m just in my underwear out here.” He rubbed his hands over his arms, trying to warm up. ”It’s really cold.”
Dead air
“If one of the maids finds me, she’ll be scarred for life.’
More silence
“Just think of the scandal it’ll cause. I can see the headlines now. “King’s best friend found half naked outside suitors bedroom door.”
Still nothing.
Sighing, Drake leaned his forehead and the palm of his hand against the door.
“Okay…have it your way. When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be right here, waiting…freezing my ass off…but don’t worry about me.”
Drake turned and slid down the door, bringing his knees up and resting his forearms on them. He leaned his head back, banging it against the door a couple times before dropping it onto his arms.
Fuck!
He’d been afraid something like this would happen. He and Liam had even talked about it. They both knew going into tonight that they needed to make it all about Riley, and not about them. It was imperative that she feel special, included… needed, if this arrangement was going to work.
And they couldn’t fucking do it.
With a frustrated groan, Drake scrubbed his face in his hands. He didn’t blame Riley for running out on them. Anyone in her place would’ve done the same damn thing!
He didn’t know low long he’d been sitting outside Rileys door. All the knew was that by the time he heard the deadbolt disengage, he was chilled to the bone and his left butt-cheek had gone completely numb.
He pushed himself hurriedly to his feet just in time to see the door open a crack as Riley peered out into the hallway.
When she saw him standing there, she sighed,
“You’re still here.” she said wearily, turning and leaving the door open.
He followed her inside, closing the door behind them.
She’d changed out of Liam’s shirt and was now dressed in a pair of leggings and an over-sized sweatshirt. Her hair was pulled into a loose ponytail and her face scrubbed clean of make-up. She looked so lost and miserable, huddled in the middle of her bed, with her knees pulled protectively to her chest.
“I’m so sorry.” Drake began, holding his hands out in supplication, “I don’t know what else to say. I’m just really, really sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for.” Riley replied, her eyes filling with tears, “I’m the one who should be sorry. I don’t know why I ever thought there was room for me in your relationship.”
“Because there is.” Drake insisted urgently, “You just have to give it a little more time. It’s a whole new dynamic and it’s going to take us all a little while to get used to it, that’s all.”
“Time isn’t going to change anything, and you know it!” She cried, her voice rising in pitch, “Liam will never love me the way he loves you.”
“You’re wrong.” The words left his mouth automatically, but even as they did, he could taste the lie on his tongue.
Riley gave a harsh laugh, “It’s okay Drake. We both know it’s true I thought I was okay with it, but after tonight…” She shook her head, “I just felt so…used.”
She stopped and pressed her hand over her mouth, unable to continue.
“Riley…” Drake reached for her but she moved out of his reach,
“How can I marry someone knowing that I’ll never come first to him?” She shook her head, “How can I marry someone who calls out your name when he’s making love to me?”
The tears started again and she didn’t bother trying to stop them this time. She buried her face in her hands and gave herself over to them.
Drake sat on the bed next to her and pulled her into a comforting embrace, cradling her head to his chest as she wept.
“Liam does love you.” He murmured into her hair, “I know he does.”
“Maybe.” All the anger drained from her body, leaving her feeling sad, just desperately sad.
“But he’ll always love you more.” She looked up at him, her beautiful blue eyes clouded with pain, “And you’ll always love him more.”
Drake tightened his arms around her, but didn’t try to deny it this time.
“I want more than that, Drake.” She continued, “I want to marry a man who loves me and puts me first. I want to be the most important person in his life. I deserve that.”
She looked up at him, her beautiful face, pale and tear-streaked, “It’s not selfish of me to want that, right?”
Drake tucked her head under his chin, stroking her hair gently
“No.” He whispered, “Of course it isn’t.”
He held her, stroking her back gently until her tears finally stopped. He brought his hand to her face, gently wiping at the last of her tears with his thumb.
“You can have that Riley. You can have that with Liam.”
She started to shake her head, but Drake caught her chin between his fingers, stilling it.
“You can.” He insisted, “You’re good for Liam. You’re good for Cordonia. You’re the Queen this country needs. Don’t throw that all away because of this.”
“But I just told you…”
“Listen to what I’m telling you, Riley.” Drake said insistently, his eyes burning into hers, “This won’t be an issue ever again. I promise you that. You’ll marry Liam, and be the best Queen Cordonia has ever known. You’ll fill up the palace with little princes and princesses and you’ll be happier than you ever dreamed possible. If you give Liam the family he’s always wanted, you’ll become his entire world, and he’ll forget he ever knew me. I promise you that.”
“You can’t make that kind of promise.”
“Yes I can.” He reached out to tuck a piece hair behind her ear with a soft smile, “I’m going to take myself out of the equation.”
Riley stood quickly, shaking her head, “What does that mean, Drake? Take yourself out of the equation?”
“I’m going to leave.”
Riley’s eyes grew wide as she stared at him in disbelief. “No. Drake you can’t do that.”
“It’s okay.” He said, rubbing her arm soothingly, “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. But after tonight, it’s become painfully obvious I can’t stay.”
Riley shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks, “Drake, no…Please. This isn’t the answer.”
“I’ve made up my mind, Matheson. You and Liam need a fighting chance, and you won’t get that while I’m still here. I have to go.”
She threw her arms around Drake’s neck, hugging him tightly. “But I don’t want you to leave! I’ll miss you so much.”
Drake held her close, burying his face in her hair as she clung to him. “I know, me too.”
Finally he pulled away and kissed her gently on the forehead.
“You’re going to get your fairytale ending, Riley. You deserve nothing less.”
*****************************************************
King Liam’s office was a beehive of activity this morning. Bastien and Mara stood conversing quietly in the corner as they awaited their audience with the King. Liam’s personal secretary, Helene stood at his side with an armful of papers requiring his signature. She dropped the stack in front of him, tapping it impatiently with her pen to get his attention. But at this moment he was completely focused on Lord Heyward, who was spreading a set of detailed blueprints across his desk.
Drake stood quietly in the doorway waiting for his opportunity to have a word with Liam, but as more and more people entered and exited the room, he started to grow restless.
“Liam.” He said.
The King looked up briefly and noticed Drake standing across the room.
He nodded a greeting before returning his attention to Lord Heyward, tapping the plans in front of him with his pointer finger, “And what here?”
“A new retaining wall, your Majesty. It will stretch from here…” he placed his finger on the blueprint and dragged it across the page, “To here. Reinforced with steel rebar. It will hold for a thousand years, if not longer.”
Liam nodded his approval.
“Your Highness, please…” Helene said with a dramatic sigh, as she pushed the papers toward him, “ If you would just give me a moment of your undivided attention…”
“Liam.” Drake repeated, a little louder this time.
Liam met his eyes and frowned slightly. It was unlike Drake to disturb him when he was working.
Helene waved a contract in front of Liam’s face. With a frustrated sigh, he snatched it from her hand, scrawled his name across the bottom and handed it back to her.
He held up one finger in Drakes direction as Helene handed him another page.
“I’m leaving.”
“Oh?”
Without looking up, Liam signed his name and slid the paper across the table to Helene before reaching for the next, “Where are you going?”
“I don’t know.”
At that, Liam raised his head, his brow furrowed. “When will you be back?”
Drake squared his shoulders. “I won’t.”
Liam narrowed his eyes and the two engaged in a tense staring contest for several minutes until Lord Heyward’s voice shattered the silence.
“Your majesty, If you’ll just sign off on the orders. We need to submit the plan by…”
“Leave us.” Liam said tersely.
“But sir…”
“GET OUT.” He commanded, his eyes never leaving Drake. “ALL OF YOU.”
Helene sucked in her breath. She knew that tone and didn’t to be anywhere nearby when the King lost his temper. She gathered her papers and scurried quickly to the door.
Bastien cleared his throat. “Mara, Lord Heyward. If you would be so kind…”
He held the door open until they both passed through. Giving Liam a quick bow, he exited, closing the door behind him, leaving Liam and Drake alone.
“What do you mean you’re not coming back?” Liam’s tone was calm but Drake could see the anger boiling just under the surface.
Drake tilted his chin up, readying for battle. He’d made his decision. He wasn’t backing down.
“It’s time, Liam, we both know it. Don’t fight me on this.”
Liam stood slowly and walked to the front of his desk. He leaned back against it, his arms crossed over his chest as he scowled at Drake.
“Is this about the other night…with Riley?”
“She was devastated, Liam.
“Yes, I realize. And I’m sorry for it. It was a moment of weakness. It won’t happen again.”
“You’re right. It won’t. Because I won’t be there next time.”
“So you’re running away again, is that it?”
Drake sighed in agitation, “I’m not running away…”
“After promising me that you wouldn’t!” He pounded the desk with his fist, “You fucking promised me, Drake!”
“I’m not running!” Drake exploded, “I’m just… leaving.”
“You’re a coward! You’re a liar and a fucking coward!” Liam turned his back and ran his fingers roughly through his hair as he fought to control his rising panic.
“You know it’s for the best.” Drake said quietly,
Liam gave a harsh laugh. “Do I?”
“Yeah, Li…you do. Riley doesn’t want this, and who the hell can blame her? She shouldn’t have to share her husband.”
“We’re not wed yet.”
“But you will be.” Drake said sharply
Liam crossed his arms over his chest, glaring down at the floor in silence.
“You know you’re being unfair to her. She deserves the fairytale you promised her. She deserves a happy marriage to a man who adores her and puts her first always. A husband who loves and cherishes her above everything and everyone else. She’ll never have that if I stay.”
Finally Liam lifted his head, his eyes full of pain and uncertainty. “I don’t know if I can be that man.”
“You can.” Drake said firmly, “As long as I’ve known you, you’ve wanted nothing more than to get married and have children. It’s time.”
“But I…”
“Just stop, Liam!” Drake shouted, raking his fingers through his hair. “Fuck! You’re making this so goddamn hard.”
“Good. It should be fucking hard on you!”
Drake whirled on him, his eyes wild, “Do you really think this is easy for me? You think this is what I want?”
“If you don’t want to leave, then…don’t!” Liam shouted back at him.
They stood face to face, chests heaving as they glared at each other.
Finally Drake turned away with a growl of frustration. He stalked across the room to the window, staring out across the grounds of the only home he’d ever known.
Why couldn’t Liam see it was killing him to have to do this? Why did he have to be so fucking resistant?
“Please, Drake.” Liam whispered, his voice cracking with emotion, “Please don’t leave.”
“If I stay…” Drake turned from the window slowly, his eyes nearly black with emotion as they burned into Liam, “ You will lose Riley. Do you understand that?”
Liam hung his head
“Don’t lose Riley over this, Liam. She’s your future. She’s Cordonia’s future.”
Liam shook his head, refusing to meet Drake’s steely gaze. “I don’t want a future if you’re not in it.”
“Grow the fuck up, Liam!” Drake exploded, “I was never going to be your future and you know that as well as I do! We always knew there’d come a day when this had to end. We’re not kids anymore, Li. It’s time to stop pretending we can have it all. We can’t.”
“Why not?” Liam whispered.
“Because that’s not how life works.”
“So you want me to let you go… for Riley.”
“No.” Drake snapped, “I want you to let me go because you’re the fucking King of Cordonia and your duty is to your people first. You’ve been forgetting that for too long.”
Liam’s eyes narrowed his jaw tightened, as Drakes words hit a raw nerve. He knew very well what was expected of him. The day Leo abdicated, Liam’s path was etched in stone and there was no deviating from that path. He knew it, but he loathed being reminded of it.
Drake noticed the tension in Liam’s expression and softened his tone. “Your subjects need a King and a Queen, princes and princesses, a stable royal family to look to. Riley loves you and I know you care for her. Don’t be a fool, Liam. Marry her. Start a family with her. Be happy with her.”
“But I love you.”
Drake sighed heavily, trying to ease the tightness in his chest. “And I love you. You know I do. But it’s not enough anymore.”
“I don’t want you to leave.” Liam said quietly, unable to meet Drakes gaze for fear that he’d completely lose control of his emotions.
Finally he swallowed down the lump in his throat and turned his sorrow-filled eyes to Drake.
“I’m begging you” he whispered, “Don’t leave.”
Drake closed his eyes and fought against a wave of pain so strong it threatened to break his resolve completely.
He forced himself to picture Rileys tear-stained face and drew strength from it.
“I have to.”
Liam tilted his head upwards, staring unseeingly at the ceiling for several long minutes. Finally, he looked back at Drake, his expression impassive.
He straightened his posture, drew his shoulders back and clasped his hands behind his back as his kingly veneer dropped firmly into place
“When will you take your leave?” He asked formally.
Drakes brow furrowed at Liam’s sudden change of demeanor.
“Tomorrow.”
Liam nodded and returned to his desk. He sat and turned his attention back to the papers on his desk.
“Very well then.”
“Liam…”
“You know your way out.” Liam snapped dismissively, as he went back to studying the blueprints in front of him.
Drake let out a harsh laugh. “It’s gonna be like that, huh?”
Liam didn’t respond.
“Is this really how you want to leave things?”
“I’m not leaving things at all.” Liam snapped, glaring up at him for just a second before turning back to his work, “You are.”
Frustrated, hurt and pissed as hell, Drake strode across the room and yanked the door open forcefully.
“Drake?”
Liam’s voice stopped him. Drake turned slowly to face his best friend, the love of his life…
“Yes?”
“Send Helene and Lord Heyward back in, would you?”
Drake heart dropped as his anger surged. With a clenched jaw, he gave a brief nod and walked out.
As soon as he heard the door close, Liam’s shoulders slumped forward and he buried his face in his hands.
********************
Drake snapped his suitcase shut and nodded to Bastien. “That’s the last of it.”
Bastien motioned to one of the guards who grabbed the bag and disappeared into the hallway.
Drake stood awkwardly in front of Bastien, staring at the floor for a moment before raising his eyes.
“This is harder than I thought it was going to be.” Drake said with a wry smile, “I kinda feel like I’m saying goodbye to my Dad all over again.”
Bastien shook his head, as he reached out to grasp Drakes arms firmly. “No. I’m still here. If you ever need anything…anything at all…I’m just a phone call away, alright?”
“Thanks, Bas. That means a lot.”
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” Bastien paused, giving Drake a wry smile, “I’m not very good with emotional stuff, so bear with me, okay?”
Drake nodded and steeled himself. He wasn’t great with emotional stuff either and lately there’d been way too much of it for his tastes. Still, Bastien had been a surrogate father to him, so if he had something he wanted to say, Drake owed him the chance to get it off his chest.
Bastien reached out to place his hand on Drake’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “It’s been my honor to look out for you these past years. To watch you grow from an angry little boy with a chip on his shoulder the size of the Aegean Sea, into the man you are today has been the greatest honor of my life. I couldn’t be more proud of you.” He cleared his throat and nodded his head, “I just wanted you to know that.”
Drake reached out to pull Bastien into a tight hug
“I love you too.”
Bastien nodded again and gave him a solid thump on the back before releasing him. “I’ll miss you, son.”
Drake grinned back at him. “I’ll miss you too, Dad.”
Bastien gave him a final pat on the arm before motioning to the door, “I believe there are a few more people downstairs waiting to bid you farewell.”
Drake stopped dead in his tracks and let out aloud groan
He’d really been hoping to slip out quietly without any fuss. He’d thought…hoped that given Liam’s reaction yesterday that he’d be allowed to do just that.
But it had been wishful thinking.
FUCK!
Drake took a deep breath before stoically marching down the hallway and descending the main staircase into the Grand Hall where much to his dismay, he found half of the Kingdom lined up to see him off.
“Drake!” A sobbing Maxwell threw his arms around Drake’s waist, holding tightly.
With a long suffering sigh, Drake gave his back a quick pat.
“Ok Beaumont.” Drake grasped him firmly by the shoulders and pushed him away, “Dial back the waterworks, would you?”
“I just can’t believe you’re leaving us! If I had more notice, I could’ve thrown you a going away party that would’ve made every Beaumont Bash in pale in comparison!”
“Which is precisely why I didn’t do that.” Drake said dryly, “This…” he indicated the crowd of people in the Grand Hall, “Is exactly what I was trying to avoid.”
“But everyone’s going to miss you! You wouldn’t begrudge us the chance to see you off by skulking out in the middle of the night, would you?”
“Damn. You’re right…that’s exactly what I should’ve done.”
“I’m gonna miss you like crazy, buddy!
Drake rolled his eyes as Maxwell gave him another bone crushing hug.
He was surprisingly strong for a skinny little dude.
Finally Maxwell released him and Drake turned to scan the crowd, looking for one person in particular. When he didn’t see her signature flaming hair, he frowned.
Big surprise. She couldn’t even be bothered to show up to say goodbye.
For the next twenty minutes Drake slowly, painfully made his way through the throng of well-wishers, receiving kisses from the ladies and handshakes and pats on the back from the men.
Finally, he found himself standing in front of Liam and Riley.
Liam stood ramrod straight, with his hands clasped tightly behind his back, looking every inch the stoic King of Cordonia.
But Drake knew better.
He could see the dark circles under his eyes, the way his mouth twitched at the corner, just a little bit as he held himself in check. Drake was sure Liam was grateful today for the years of countenance training his parents had forced upon him.
Beside him stood Riley, her eyes red rimmed, biting her bottom lip to stop it from quivering. Drake felt something inside of him crack and closed his eyes for just a moment.
He refused to shed a single fucking tear today. Wasn’t happening.
“Riley.” He said roughly.
Throwing decorum to the wind, Riley launched herself at him and he caught her in a tight embrace, burying his face in her hair and inhaling her scent for what he knew was the last time.
“Be happy, okay?”
Riley nodded her head against his neck.
“Take care of him for me.” He whispered.
Riley’s arms tightened around him and she sobbed into his chest until he gave her a gentle shake, a reminder of who and where she was. She took a deep shuddering breath and pulled herself together.
“Ok,” She whispered, “I’m ok.”
Drake released her and she took a step back with a small embarrassed laugh. “I’m going to miss you so much.” She said with a bright smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Good luck, Drake. Please come back and visit us soon.”
She felt she had to say the words, even though she knew in her heart once he left, she’d never see him again.
Drake gave her a nod and a warm smile before steeling himself to face Liam.
Liam held out his hand stiffly.
Drake took a deep breath and grasped it.
“You will be sorely missed.” Liam said, his voice carefully controlled. “Cordonia won’t be the same without you.”
“I think Cordonia will survive.” Drake said dryly as he pulled his hand from Liam’s.
“Thanks for everything, Your Majesty. It’s been an honor and a privilege.”
He turned abruptly and started for the door, when he felt Liam’s hand on his shoulder.
“Let me walk you out.”
“You don’t need to do that.” Drake said icily
“Yes, Drake…I do.”
They walked side by side to the large double doors. Two pages opened the doors and they walked outside.
Liam turned to the members of the court and the Kingsguard who’d followed them.
“That will be all.” He said firmly, “You’re dismissed.
Everyone quickly filed back inside except for Riley, who remained standing by the door as Liam and Drake walked slowly down the stone steps toward the circular driveway.
Drake groaned when he saw the car his suitcases were being loaded into.
“A fucking Limo?”
Liam smiled, “And a Royal motorcade.”
“This is…” Drake rubbed his hand over his face as he looked at the black cars with t Cordonian flags flying in the breeze, “Excessive and …ridiculous.”
“I couldn’t let you leave without rolling out the red carpet.” Liam’s reached out to put his hand on Drake’s shoulder, “It’s the very least I could do.”
Drake squinted up into the sun before finally looking at Liam.
“None of this is necessary. You didn’t need to come out here. You said everything you needed to say yesterday.”
No.” Liam’s vehement reply startled Drake and he looked up to see that Liam’s composure had snapped. There were tears glistening in his eyes as he spoke. “Yesterday I was angry. I was hurt and… blinded by pride. Your King dismissed you last night…” Liam paused as he felt his emotions threaten to overwhelm him.
He took a deep breath to compose himself.
“Today I stand here as your best friend…the man who loves you…who will always love you. The man who is going to miss you every single minute that you’re gone.”
“Fuck Liam.” Drake said, shaking his head, “Don’t. Please just don’t fucking do this right now.”
Liam’s fingers tightened on Drake’s arm “I’m going to ask you…no, beg you…one more time, Drake. Please don’t leave.. Please.”
“I have to. It’s the only way. You know it’s true. ” Drake’s eyes bore into his, “You know it.”
Liam looked up to the sky, his eyes clouded with sorrow as he raked his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry, Drake. For everything. I’m sorry it has to be like this.”
Liam reached out to place his hand on the back of Drake’s neck, pulling him close until their foreheads were pressed together as they mourned a life they would never have together.
Riley watched them from the palace doors, tears streaming down her face.
“I love you.” Liam whispered, pressing his cheek against Drakes, savoring the feeling of his stubble scraping against his skin. “Forever.”
“I love you, Li.” Drake repeated, “Forever.”
Liam ruffled Drake’s hair affectionately and released him, taking a step backward.
“Safe Travels, my friend.”
Drake gave him a crooked grin before climbing into the waiting limo.
Once inside, Drake reached out and raised the dark privacy glass that separated him from his driver. With a deep sigh he leaned his head back against the cool leather seat, closed his eyes and finally allowed the tears to come.
Liam stood in the driveway and watched until the Limo was out of sight. He sensed Riley beside him, but said nothing.
She reached out to place her hand on his arm.
“Liam, are you okay?” She asked gently.
He turned his head and looked down at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he jerked his arm from her touch and turned, striding purposefully back into the palace.
****************************
Drake stood at the ticket counter of the Cordonian Airport, hands jammed into the front pockets of his jeans as he contemplated the flight board in front of him.
“You weren’t really planning on leaving without saying goodbye, were you?”
A small smile curved Drake’s lips, but he didn’t turn around. “I should’ve known I couldn’t escape from you that easily.”
He looked down to find a set of blood red, manicured nails on his arm.
“What are you doing here, Liv?” He asked dryly, “I hope you’re not going to try and talk me out of leaving.”
“God, no. Why in the world would I do that?” She replied.
Drake turned his head to stare into her emerald eyes.”Really?”
“This is long overdue.” She said matter-of-factly, “I’ll never understand why you stayed as long as you did.”
Without answering, Drake turned back to the flight board. Olivia stood quietly next to him as she perused it as well
“So where are we going?”
Drake cocked an eyebrow at her, “We?”
Olivia gave him a slow smile. “You didn’t think I’d let you run away all by yourself, did you?”
Drake raised his brows. “Why in the world would you want to go anywhere with me. In case you’ve forgotten, you hate me.”
Olivia gave him a slow, sexy smirk. “You have your talents.”
Drake laughed at that.
“I’ve never hated you.”
“You just hated my common blood.”
“Maybe in the beginning. But I got over that once I saw your cock.”
He turned to her again, a slight smirk curling at the corner of his mouth. “And you give really good head for a nobel.”
“See?” She said with a laugh as she leaned her head on his shoulder, “Common ground.”
“I guess.” He turned to brush his lips across the top of her head
“We actually have quite a lot in common, you know.”
“C’mon, Livvie,” he said, bumping her with his shoulder, “You and I couldn’t be more different, and you know it.”
She shrugged her dainty shoulders. “I used to believe that. But now I see that we’re not so different at all.”
“Yeah…okay.”
“We’re both outcasts.”
Drake gave a slight incline of his head
“We’re both in love with the same man, and neither of us can have him.”
Drake turned to look at her, noting the sadness in her eyes.
“Yeah,” He said softly, “We do have that in common.”
“And…we’re both incredibly attractive, a little unpredictable and we both drink entirely too much.” She winked at him to ease the heaviness that settled around them.
Drake grinned. “You’re right. I was wrong. We’re practically the same person.”
Olivia leaned against him and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they both stared up at the flights leaving Cordonia .
“So where do a couple of fucked up cast-offs like us go to start over?”
“I don’t know.” Olivia said, looking at him out of the corner of her eye, a saucy smirk on her pouty red lips, “What are you qualified to do when your only job description for the last seven years has been Royal Boy Toy?”
Drake let out a loud bark of laughter. Only Olivia could get away with saying something like that to him.
“Hmmmm.” Drake studied the outgoing flights listed on the flight board in front of them.
His eyes lit up mischievously and he pointed. “Right there. 11:45 flight to Amsterdam. Maybe I can sell my body in the red light district.”
Olivia made a show of looking him up and down, noting how his tight white T-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders and the way his jeans rode low on his hips.
She remembered vividly what his body looked like under those clothes.
“You could do well for yourself there, I think.” She agreed with a smirk, “But I think you can do better.”
She looked up at the flight board. “1:15 flight to Barcelona.”
She turned to Drake, “You’d look quite dashing in a matador’s traje de luces.”
Drake smirked. “You just want to see me gored, don’t you? Spain is one of the most beautiful and romantic countries in the world, and you went straight for carnage.”
“It’s in my DNA, darling.” She winked at him.
“Ok, if romance is what you’re after…” Olivia scanned the flight board once again. “Paris, France…10:35 flight.”
She turned back to him and smiled, “The City of Lights?”
Drake shrugged. “My French is pretty rusty.”
“How’s your German? Munich at 12:05?”
“My German is even worse than my French.”
Olivia placed her hand on his arm and gazed up at him, her eyes filled with tenderness, “Drake, look at me.”
He turned and gazed down into her beautiful, concerned eyes and gave her a sad smile.
“What kind of life do you want to find for yourself out there?”
Drake shrugged. “Something simple. Quiet. Peaceful. I just want to go someplace and be happy, Liv. But I don’t know if that place exists for me.”
Olivia, reached out to stroke his hair back from his eyes. “Trust me?” She asked softly
Drake nodded.
Olivia pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Go to the lounge and get us some drinks. Leave this to me.”
Drake smiled and hoisted his leather carry on strap over his shoulder. “I can’t wait.”
Drake settled himself into a plush leather chair in the VIP lounge and ordered a round of drinks. He was sipping his whiskey when Olivia appeared and sat across from him, slapping two tickets on the table in front of them.
She brought her glass of red wine to her lips with a satisfied smirk.
Drake looked down, then up at her, his brow furrowed. “Really?”
Olivia nodded. “I think it’s time you went home.”
His face broke into a slow smile. “You’re going to come to Texas with me?”
He laughed, his eyes shining with amusement, “Sorry. I just can’t picture you on the back of a horse, out in the sun all day, or… Jesus, mucking out stalls.”
He started laughing again.
“Oh, Good lord, no!” Olivia wrinkled her nose in distaste as she took another sip of wine.
She pushed the second ticket toward him. “I’m going to Paris.”
He looked up at her in surprise. Her tone was light, but her eyes told him a very different story.
“I think it’s about time we each wrote our own happy ending, don’t you?”
Drake nodded slowly, “Yeah…I guess it is.”
Just then they heard a garbled voice over the intercom
Olivia turned to Drake with a sad smile. “My flight is boarding.”
Drake stood and pulled her into his arms. They held each other tightly for a minute until Olivia pulled away, wiping at a tear with a small laugh.
“Ugh. Look what you’ve made me do. If my mascara runs, I’ll murder you with my bare hands.”
Drake smiled. “You look perfect Livvy, just like always.”
“Will you come visit me?” She asked suddenly, her eyes shining with unshed tears, “We can stroll along the Seine, sip coffee in one of those quaint little outdoor cafes, make love all day and all night and just forget about the world for a while…”
“Just try and keep me away.”
She bit her bottom lip and nodded
“Until then.” She placed her hand on his cheek, smiling tenderly. “You take care of yourself, Drake Walker. Despite all instincts to the contrary…I adore you.”
Drake turned his face into her hand and pressed his lips against her palm before pulling away.
“Love you too, Livvie. Au revoir, mon ami.”