Between Desire and Denial (The Hardy Billionaire Brothers, #4)

by Shain Rose

“I’m always going to be here in some way, Olive. And don’t you know? Bees are strong, baby.” She reached out and touched the little plumeria I always wore in my hair. “They go back to the flowers they know, and they find their way. You’re stronger than you think. You’ll see.”

“A man that’s supposed to love you made you cry. That alone gives you enough reason to walk away from him.

Maybe I should have been excited to go home, but home was supposed to be a place you felt comfortable, where you belonged, where you had memories that you cherished.

I’d really believed that people who wore their hearts on their sleeves never appealed to me. I prided myself on avoiding them actually. I thought it was best to spend less time on relationships and more time on business. Yet, with Olive, I studied every emotion on her face. They were like fireflies that I wanted to lock in a mason jar and watch light up the night.

“Why wouldn’t I look at you closely without your makeup on? It’s when I get to see the real you, without hiding a single thing. I want to see the perfection you hide from everyone.”

“I pivoted a lot in life for people I cared about, probably too much. We strive to make our families and friends and partners happy even when we should be focusing on making ourselves happy first.”

“Anyway, my past doesn’t really matter.” “It does,” I corrected her. “It makes you who you are.

Olive had the ability to break my heart and destroy me now. It would be her choice in the end even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to let her choose.

She needed to understand that I would either catch her or we’d fall all the way through together, but I’d be there to save her nonetheless. More than anyone else had.

“I think I like conquering fears with you, Dimitri.” I hummed. “Be prepared to conquer all of them with me,”

Maybe we should have talked it through more right then, but we weren’t immune to the pull we had on one another. We deserved that moment, and we took it.

“Sure as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. She’s mine, and I’m never leaving her.” “What if she leaves you?” I smirked. “Then I’ll follow her through whatever heaven and hell she dreams up for me on my damn knees, pleading with her until she takes me back.”

She sighed. “I hated the memories here but loved them all the same. The pain in this place was rooted in my love for it too. I think a hometown always has all that, no?”

And I’ll be lucky to live my life in any way I want, whether it’s doing research or doing hair or taking care of my kids. You know why? Because it’s my life to live. Not yours. I’m not seeking your approval anymore. If you’re looking to give it to someone, you should look elsewhere.”