Chapter 63

Amy leaned against the headboard in Olivia's bedroom at the main house and stretched her legs out in front of her. "So, how many hot men in kilts did you see? Be honest."

Laughing, Olivia folded a shirt from the laundry basket. "A few guys, but none you'd want to test the theory of whether they go commando under the kilt, if you know what I mean." She put the shirt away in the dresser and grabbed another. "Scotland was amazing, though. Nate looked up a few of my ancestors and we found this old cemetery where some were buried. I've always wanted to go, but I'm glad I waited to see it first with him."

Considering Amy had never been outside of Wyoming, she'd be happy going anywhere. "At least you did some tourist things. Being your honeymoon and all. What a wasted trip that would've been only seeing the inside of a hotel room."

"Ha. We saw plenty of that, too." Olivia winked, a flush in her pale cheeks. She brushed a strand of auburn hair from her face and set the empty basket aside. "We were only gone ten days. I don't know how we amassed so much laundry." She sat at the foot of the bed. "There was one disappointment. I didn't get a Nessie sighting."

Amy rolled her eyes. "The nerve of mythical creatures. So inconsiderate." Her BFF's obsession with the Loch Ness Monster was adorable. And weird.

"Right? I did bring you back a present, however." Olivia rose and dragged her suitcase out of the closet. "There was this shop we visited and the stuff in there was incredible. The couple who owns the place makes trinkets out of things others throw away." She set three picture frames on the bedtwo eight-by-tens and an eleven-by-seven. "I thought you could put your photos in them."

"Wow. How cool." The larger frame was made up of various scraps of denim, some ripped and faded, others newer and dark navy. The two smaller frames were wood. The first looked like driftwood and had broken glass embossed on it. The second was rough planks with rusted nails. "I love them. Thank you." She placed them up against the nightstand next to her so she could take them back to the cabin later.

Olivia plopped on the bed and crossed her legs, her knees bumping Amy's. "Anything good happen while I was gone?"

"It rained." She shrugged. "Otherwise it was same old, same old." Except, that wasn't true, but she debated how much to spill. She wasn't sure what Nakos would think of Olivia knowing what had happened. "I applied for a LLC license this week."

"What for?"

"I started my own photography company. Sort of."

"No. Really?" Olivia grabbed her shoulders. "That's fabulous, and about time. Grats!"

"Thanks. I did the license to protect me from being personally liable for the company's debts. Just in case." After what had happened with her ex, Amy wasn't taking chances. She told Olivia about the stock photo sites. "I played with a website, too. Thinking I might not put all the pictures on the accounts. Maybe reserve some to sell exclusively on my own at a higher price."

"Look at you, an honest to God artist. You're acting like it's no big deal." Olivia slapped her arm. "I'm so proud of you."

Happiness bubbled in Amy's chest. "Thank you. I probably won't make much from it, but it'll bring me a little closer to paying off debts."

"You're going to be uber successful. I know it. You're too talented to fail." Olivia sighed. "I leave for a few days and everything is different when I get back. You moved in with Nakos."

Yeah, about that...

Olivia wrapped her arms around Amy and flopped sideways on the mattress. They lay facing each other like they used to as little girls, noses nearly touching. There was something intimately reassuring in the position, that a few precious things hadn't changed over time or been warped by reality's cruel light of day. Though completely non-sexual in nature, Amy cherished the closeness. How she'd wished, feverishly as a child, to have Olivia as her true sister.

"How are you doing? You know, since Chris went to jail and everything. We never talked about it much. I worry about you." Olivia took Amy's hands in hers and squeezed. "Never mind the beating, but he said some really awful things to you."

Olivia hadn't heard the half of it. And never would, if Amy had any say.

"I'm fine." She smiled to soften the lie and reassure her friend. One day, she would be okay. She'd been waiting for that someday all her life. Yet to give up hope it would ever come would mean quitting altogether. "You know me. I'm a boomerang. I always come right back."

A low chuckle, and Olivia sighed. "Yes, you do. I wish I had half your strength."

Amy wasn't strong. She was just that good at faking it. "That's what you've got Nate for. The guy bench-presses cars before breakfast." At Olivia's grin, Amy pushed the slight twinge of jealousy into a hidey hole. "He adores you so darn much. I'm happy for you."

"I never knew love could be like this." Her glassy blue gaze drifted away. "I can't breathe without him. All I can think about is making sure he knows that he's my world, assuring him I'll always be here. Lord, the things he's been through. And even after getting past all the ugly, he's still so...gentle."

"I'm pretty sure that's the way it should be." Not that Amy had any clue what she was talking about. Love, in any form, had never knocked on her door. "You're the perfect person for him. The one to tame the beast and show him he's worth loving. Thing is, Liv, you needed him right back."

She scrunched her nose at Amy's nickname. Olivia wasn't fond of it, but too bad. "Very true." Olivia let out a quiet breath. "I'm sad you're not staying here anymore. Remember when we were kids? We said we'd live together forever and do anything we wanted, whenever we wanted."

Amy laughed. "Three months was a good run. Besides, you're married and living your ever-after." One of them should, at least. She would've sworn fairy tales didn't exist if the proof weren't right in front of her. "I expect nieces and nephews soon. Note the plural there."

"I have no problem with that." Olivia propped her head in her hand, wide grin slipping. "I'm glad you're staying with Nakos. I worry about him, too. He's reclusive, never goes out anymore. It'll be good for him to have you around."

"Well, he likes his solitude." Amy mimicked Olivia's pose. "I'm not so sure me being there is a good thing, though."

"Why?"

Where to start? "He's tense. We drive up here to the main house together every morning and back in the evening, pass each other in the cabin, eat beside one another, but we don't say anything. Like ghosts occupying the same space." It had been that way for a week, ever since she'd put a stop to the romantic complication they were about to weave. She'd been right to do it, knew it was necessary to save their relationship, but it had the opposite effect. The friendship was decaying before her eyes.

Slowly, Olivia sat up. "That's not like you guys at all. He's much more open with you than he ever was with me. We're close, sure, but you two click without effort." She ran a trembling hand over her forehead. "You don't think...it's about the wedding, do you? He seemed okay with Nate and I, stood up as"

"It's not you, Liv." She clasped Olivia's hand and let go to sit up, as well. "He's happy for you."

"Then what's going on? It's not like him to behave that way."

Amy closed her lids a beat and pressed her finger to the throbbing between her eyes. "Nakos kissed me."

"He did what?" Olivia reared.

"Yeah, a week ago. The day after the wedding. Take your surprise, multiply it by infinity, and you'll have my response."

"Like, as in, kissed you, kissed you, or a quick peck? Mouth? Cheek?"

"Mouth, tongue, tonsils." Full body press. She sighed fondly, remembering. "I could barely stand afterward."

"Jeez. So it was good?"

Amy's laugh was so dry she was stunned sand granules didn't spit from her mouth. "Let's put it this way. Our pensive, broody guy pal has got an animal under all that stoicism."

A nod, and Olivia's grin morphed from shock to interest. "Well, then." She tilted her head. "I guess I can see that. He is quite observant, can be commanding when he wants to be, and has the patience of a saint. Those traits would make for a great kisser."

"Don't forget thorough." Or the hot as sin body.

"Wait." Olivia waved her hand. "What brought this on? You two never hooked up before."

"Duh. He was into you."

Olivia's gaze traveled away, mouth twisted in thought. "I don't think he was, to be honest. I know everyone thinks so, and maybe there was attraction on his end, but I..." She blew out a breath. "This will sound stupid, but I think I was a safe bet."

"You're right." Amy narrowed her eyes. "That does sound stupid."

"Hear me out." Olivia leaned back on her hands. "When we met, I was different than what he was used to encountering, right? My hair, my skin...not like his heritage. He took that first initial pang of wonder and built upon it. Add in the friendship, and feelings got muddled."

Amy thought that over, picked the reasoning apart. There was merit to the theory, but a guy didn't spend half his life pining if something beyond affection wasn't hovering under the surface.

"You know him as well as I do." Olivia brushed a strand of hair from her face. "He typically goes after what he wants. He might take his sweet ass time, think it to death, lurk on the fringes to calculate odds, but he doesn't sit idle." She eased forward, forearms resting on her thighs. "Not once did he ever make a move. A few times, he told me he wasn't the right man for me. He had plenty of opportunities before Nate came into the picture to act on his feelings. Deep down, he knows it wasn't real. The kicker? He didn't fight Nate for me. In fact, he pushed us together. If he was truly in love with me, really wanted me, you know he wouldn't have stood for that."

Okay, her friend had a point. And Amy couldn't argue the logic. Still, Nakos believed, regardless of why, that he loved Olivia and had for years.