Read Online The New Year's Wish by Dani-Lyn Alexander - Free Book Online Page B

over the back of his neck. “Gracie . . .” How was he going to tell her Olivia was gone? Gracie had become so attached to her. “I don’t know. We’ll have to see.” Coward. His gaze roamed over the empty desk. Olivia had livened up the place over the past couple of months. He sighed. He could only avoid the truth for so long: he missed her.
    He approached the desk and studied the photo of the big black dog that she had left in her haste, along with all of her other personal belongings. He shouldn’t have been so hard on her. He couldn’t even put his finger on exactly why he was angry with her, but he was beginning to think it was more his hang-up than anything she’d done. Stephanie’s father had been a major problem between them, constantly interfering in their marriage. Anytime Garrett couldn’t give Stephanie something she wanted, she ran to Daddy. Of course, he never said no.
    Garrett started to rake his fingers back through his hair, caught himself, and stilled. The feel of Olivia’s gentle touch as she straightened his hair lingered. He could almost feel her delicate fingers feathering through his hair.
    â€œCan we?” Impatience filled Gracie’s tone.
    He looked away from the picture. She was practically vibrating with excitement.
    â€œI’m sorry, sugar. What did you say?”
    She rolled her eyes in exasperation, and he bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. “I said, can we go to Olivia’s and meet Barney?”
    â€œWe can’t just go barging into Olivia’s house uninvited, sugar.”
    She scowled. “Why not?”
    â€œWell . . . because it’s rude.”
    Her frown deepened. “Was it rude for Olivia to come to our house on Thanksgiving?”
    â€œThat was different.” He struggled to hold his patience in check, but he was losing the battle.
    â€œWhy was it different?” Her expression hardened, and he knew this was a fight she expected to win.
    He blew out a breath. “Look, Gracie. Olivia came to our house for a reason on Thanksgiving. It’s different. Now let it go.”
    Gracie’s pout tugged at him, and he turned away.
    Her small voice halted him in his tracks. “But she invited me to meet Barney, so we do have a reason.”
    Patience worn thin, he turned back to her. His gaze fell on the picture once again. Wait. “You know what? You’re right. We do have a reason. I just remembered I have to drop some stuff off for Olivia. Why don’t you run and get me some envelopes from Jill.”
    â€œSure, Dad.” She skipped from the room, her earlier sulkiness already forgotten in her newfound excitement. He grabbed a box of files from the corner, dumped the contents onto his desk, and placed the box on Olivia’s chair. With one quick glance toward the door to ensure Gracie was still chatting with Jill, he quickly filled the box with all of Olivia’s personal belongings. He pulled the chair out to open the drawer, and it caught on something. He leaned over to find the computer cord stuck beneath the leg.
    A memory surfaced. Olivia holding up her hand, the cord dangling, a blush coloring her cheeks. The same blush that had blossomed when he’d leaned toward her, intent on kissing her. He missed that blush. Actually, he missed everything about her: her ready smile, the sexy way she caught her lip between her teeth and peered at him from beneath her lashes, the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t looking. The thought he might never see her again twisted his gut.
    He owed her an apology, and he’d never be able to sleep if he didn’t offer one. Of course, he could simply call her. He pushed that thought aside, not even bothering to make an excuse for going to see her. If he was being honest with himself, he missed her.
    The realization that Olivia wasn’t like Stephanie had come slowly. Too slowly. He was so