(See the first chapter for disclaimer, notes, spoilers, etc.)

Chapter 10: "Tremors"

"File the depositions. Now!" I growl as I walk in the front door. My secretary is on the other end of the line, in near hysterics, as she stutters a reply. But, I can't hear her. Standing in my path is the mutt that What's-Her-Name left behind and Olivia took a shine to. He's standing at attention, his little body shaking with each bark, a high-pitched yelp that would wake the dead. I hold the phone against my chest and turn to the stairs. "Sean!" I bellow. "Get this damn dog out of here!"

I look back at the phone and see that my secretary has already hung up. Convenient. I snap the phone shut and shove it in my pocket, walking through the foyer to the living room. To my eternal irritation, the dog follows me, still barking. I drop my briefcase onto the coffee table and turn to the bar, the setting sun catching on the crystal decanter of scotch.

It's been a week for the record books. And now this.

I fling the ice into the glass and watch the liquor bubble in after it. The liquor is rich down my throat and warms my chest, just as the mongrel's barking reaches a fevered pitch. "Goddamn it," I mumble, spinning around. "Sean!"

A moment later, my son turns the corner, smoothing out the cuffs of his suit coat. "Why didn't you just let Spike out?" he asks, opening one of the French doors that leads to the patio. With a final bark in my direction, the dog trots out, leaving the living room shrouded in silence. My son shakes his head and turns to the mirror over the fireplace, straightening the knot of his tie.

"Well, well," I say, the ice clinking against the glass. "It's nice to see that you finally dressed for dinner." He glances over his shoulder, his eyebrow raised as I continue, "I have to admit the suit is more than even I expected, though anything is better than your usual attire."

He smirks and shakes his head before he turns back to the mirror. The silence stretches between us and I figure he's going to give me the silent treatment. His mother never had the willpower for it. Olivia would scream and wail until she made herself hoarse. I turn to leave, not willing to give him the satisfaction when he says, "I'm going out."

"Oh?"

Sean turns slowly, an amused expression dancing across his face. "Didn't Cait tell you?"

I frown. I've been in court all day and wasn't able to get my messages out of my secretary. But, clearly my son knows something I don't. "Tell me what?"

A grin unfolds on his lips as he says slowly, savoring every word, "Cait, Cole, and I are having dinner with Mom tonight at Grenadine's."

Of course they were. Only Olivia could talk Sean into a suit. I raise the glass to my lips, chuckling. "Will His Lordship be joining you?"

He squares his shoulders, typically defiant. "Probably."

Colin Sutherland. The Right Honorable Baron Lavenham. How quickly he's ingratiating himself into my family's life. After our brief encounter at the church, Caitlin and Sean made sure that Olivia and I were seated at opposite ends of the table during the christening luncheon. Naturally, Colin was seated to her left and Bette on her right. My fingers tighten around the glass, remembering the way he so easily made conversation with Sean, who was seated across from him. What the hell do they even have to talk about? And, how Olivia just reveled in their newfound friendship. It was impossible to not see the way she kept glancing over at Colin and Sean, a pleased smile dancing on her lips. Or, the way Bette watched all three of them like a hawk before she seemingly nodded her approval.

"But, it's not like you care or anything, right?" he asks and I look over. My son is watching me closely, the unspoken dare lingering in the air like burned toast.

"Is there something you want to say to me, Sean?" I ask, sucking down a mouthful of scotch. I take a step closer, our eyes meeting. The tension crackles between us, silence licking in the thick air like flames.

"No." He pauses for a long moment before he asks quietly, "Is there something you want to say to me, Dad?"

I can't help it. I smirk, the ice clinking against the inside of my glass. "Is there something you'd like me to say?"

His expression turns, his eyes hardening as he looks back at me. "I'm fine with silence. After all, Mom always said it was golden."

"That was probably at the breakfast table when she was hungover," I snap, reaching for the heavy decanter of scotch. From behind me, I hear Sean sigh heavily and I set the glass down hard. "What?" I ask, glaring down at the alcohol.

"Man," he sighs, "no one ever gets a break with you, do they?"

I turn around, my chest tight. "Sean, I gave up trying to understand you a long time ago. What are you talking about?"

He flinches, but otherwise doesn't move. "You give up on everyone, don't you?" I look up slowly, a dull hum reverberating in my ears. "The moment someone disappoints you- no, shows even one human flaw, you turn your back on them!"

"Are we talking about you, or your mother?" I plow on, ignoring the way his eyebrows bend in a glare. "Because if we're talking about her, she exhibited more than just one flaw!"

"Can you blame her?" he shouts back, a vein pulsing in his forehead. He steps closer, his chest heaving and his eyes blazing. "Living with you isn't easy, you know!"

"What's going on?"

I hear Annie's voice beyond me, but Sean and I don't break our glare. "Well, your mother certainly remedied that, didn't she?"

"Leaving you was the smartest thing Mom ever did! You were killing her!"

I feel my wife's hands on my arm, trying to pull me back as I inhale sharply. Grunting, I rip myself out of her grasp and lunge for my son, grabbing the lapels of his suit. Sean's hazel eyes spin through a myriad of emotions: surprise, anger, resignation, and, ultimately, fear. As he struggles to break away from my grip, his hands clawing at my fists, the sickening feeling of deja vu breaks through of blinding rage and forces itself to the surface. Thirty years ago, it was my father's snarling face mere inches from my own when I stood in Sean's shoes. Then, Bruce's eyes were wild, his hot breath and burning with the stench of cheap liquor.

"Gregory, no! Stop!" Annie's shriek cut through the tense silence as she tugs on my arm. With a final shove, Sean pushes me away and backs away quickly, breathing heavily. Annie's hands press into my chest as she forcibly pushes me back, increasing the distance between my son and I. Sean's face is pale and his hands tremble as he smooths his lapels. I push my wife away and turn for the bar, reaching for my scotch. It burns down my throat as my heart thunders in my chest. The sudden silence reminds me of Naples, of the hours spent waiting for Olivia to wake up in the hospital. The muscles in my chest tighten, clamping like a vise and it's suddenly hard to breathe.

"She knew that you blamed her. Everyone knew," Sean murmurs.

My eyes narrow, remembering the way Olivia's eyes fluttered open and looked up vacantly from the hospital bed. The way she sobbed when she realized she was alive. The way her hoarse voice and dry, cracked lips came together to cry out that I blamed her and that I wanted her to pay. "A life for a life," I sigh, barely a whisper in the quiet living room. She knew that I blamed her because it was true. I told her as much the night before she left. The way I gripped her arms, resisting the urge to shake the truth from her, the truth she claimed not to remember.

"You blamed her for everything," my son continues, his voice a hollow monotone. "You blamed her for the miscarriage all those years ago." I stiffen, my grip tightening around the crystal tumbler. "You blamed her for the baby. You even told her it would be her fault if I died in surgery and all because she signed the consent form."

"Look, that's enough, Sean!"

"Stay out of this, Annie!" he retorts. I hear his footsteps behind me, his stilted breathing as he stands mere inches from me. I don't need to turn around to see the anger in his expression. It crackles between us, assaulting me with its strength. "Mom tried to kill herself twice and it's because of you, Dad. You're to blame."

The air rushes out of my body quicker and more efficiently than if I had been struck dead on the spot. But, I am, aren't I? Dead. I've been dying for months and perhaps now I've finally taken my last breath. Sean's declaration swirls in the air around us, hanging heavily like the fog. He's dared to speak aloud a truth I've only allowed myself to ponder in the dark night, sitting lost amongst the shadows of the past. My blame. Olivia's blame. We're all to blame.

"Get out, Sean!" Annie shrieks.

"With pleasure." His footsteps fade away and a moment later, the front door slams shut.

I look up, my hands trembling as I exhale sharply. In an instant, Annie is next to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Forget him," she murmurs, resting her head against my shoulder. "You know he's always taken Olivia's side." Her hands are warm as she pushes the coat of my suit aside, her fingers dancing against the starched material of my shirt. "Let's go out to dinner. Don't let him ruin our evening."

Yet, ruins are all I see when I look around me. Since Olivia's grand return to Sunset Beach, my world has crumbled, the walls tumbling down. The tension simmering between all of us has reached full boil and is spilling over. It's a threatening tidal wave and we're all caught up in it. Eventually, we will drown. "Take yourself out to dinner," I snap, pushing her away. "I have work to do."

"The barony was created in 1665 for my great-grandfather's great-grandfather's great-grandfather, James Erskine Sutherland. He was committed to restoring the monarchy and spent time in Spain, gathering support for the cause. King Charles II was naturally appreciative and-"

My eyes turn up, watching Caitlin and Sean over the rim of my water glass. They're gazing at Colin with rapt attention, listening to the fantastical tale of the Sutherland family lineage. For as far as they are concerned, he is something of a fairy tale come to life. After all, it isn't every day that one meets a peer with such a robust history. Especially not one who is so down to Earth. But, their awestruck questions don't disguise their true intentions. In the politest and most enthusiastic of ways, my children are cross-examining Colin. Only their father could admire their technique, for in the span of an hour, they've already learned Colin has been a widower for over a decade, the names of his three children, where he lives in London, and how successful his practice is. Or isn't. I couldn't tell if Caitlin was impressed or appalled by a brief mention of Colin's celebrity clients. Now, they've turned to the subject of his esteemed pedigree.

To my left, Cole clears his throat and leans forward, gently swirling his wine. Our eyes meet for the briefest of moments and a half-smile comes to his lips. Caitlin and Sean are engrossed in Colin's story about the 5th Baron Lavenham and none of them notice Cole lean over towards me. "I tried to tell Caitlin not to be so aggressive with her questions," he whispers.

"Oh?"

He nods, swallowing his wine. "She's been insanely curious about Colin," he confides. "Sean too, I imagine."

"I don't know why," I muse quietly, tracing the rim of my glass.

Cole chuckles beneath his breath and our eyes meet. His brown eyes sparkle and he grins, teasing me. "Oh, come on, Olivia. Sure you do."

My heart skips a beat and I tilt my head, allowing a moment of silence to pass before I respond, "Do I?"

He leans in closer, his face mere inches away from my own. "They want to make sure he's worthy of you," he explains. He chuckles again as I find myself shaking my head. "And, with Gregory as their only point of reference, can you blame them?"

"There's no need for anything at all like that," I insist. I wince, hearing how defensive I sound. "Colin and I are merely friends. Nothing more."

He shrugs, though his eyes still dance teasingly. "For now," he finally says and I glare at him. "A woman like you doesn't stay alone for long." I flinch as memories of a grotto, diamonds, and bottles of champagne come back to me. My blood runs cold and I look down abruptly, gazing quietly at my barely touched second course. "I didn't mean that," he explains quietly, his voice tight. He knows where my mind has wandered to. I refuse to meet his gaze and my hands tremble against the flatware, trying not to recall the way his lips felt on my skin. "Olivia?" he asks quietly, pleading.

Poor Cole doesn't understand that he's a gateway, a trap door to the memories of everything that's happened over the last year. Those memories are not something I can deal with tonight. No, I want one night of normalcy, one night to just sit back and look at my children as the warmth of their conversation surrounds me. "I'm sorry," I hear him murmur and I turn back to him, forcing a smile to my face. "I know you are," I say quietly, his frown bridging the space between us.

"I only meant," he says quietly, speaking with deliberate carefulness, "that Gregory's an- well, there's no reason for you to be alone for the rest of your life. You'll find someone new and move on."

Move on. It's two little words that sound distasteful, like chewing on a coin. But, that's exactly what I'm doing. What I've already done. I ended my marriage and moved back to London. I won't admit to Cole that it's sometimes too easy to picture myself being alone for the rest of my life, wandering the Dorchester like a ghost. It's too easy to think it's what I deserve for killing my child. "Yes," I say vaguely, not wanting to have this conversation with him. "Yes, of course." He opens his mouth, preparing to continue beating this topic to death when I clear my throat. "Cole, have you thought about work?"

The question throws him and I resist the urge to smirk as he closes him mouth. He sits quietly for several seconds before he asks, "Work?"

"Yes. A profession. Have you thought about how you will support my daughter and grandson?" His face turns and he clenches his jaw, grimacing. I can only imagine how Gregory must still be harassing him, especially since they are now living with him. I almost glad I missed that argument. "I can't imagine that Gregory is insisting you pay rent, but-"

"No, he didn't, but I insisted." His face darkens, storm clouds on the horizon, as he continues, "Gregory's charity isn't free and I'd prefer to control its cost."

"No, it isn't. It's never free," I say vaguely and he looks up, an odd expression on his face. "Given your...well, let's say limited job experience, what kind of career do you hope to make for yourself?"

"I've been looking into construction work," he says quietly, his lips set in a grim line. "It's hard work, but it pays well."

"Yes, but only until the economy sinks and your employer files for bankruptcy. Then where will you be?"

"It's 1998, Olivia. Clinton has this country running on an economic surplus."

Now, I can't help but smirk as I reach for my water glass. "Believe it or not, we do get reports on America's current events in London."

"What I can't believe is that you're still questioning my ability to take care of my wife and child," he hisses, glaring. I glance quietly to Colin and my children, but the three of them are so caught up in each other, Cole and I may not even exist. Slowly, I return my glass to the table as he spits out, "That's the kind of thing I expect from Gregory, but not-"

"Not from me?" I ask and I face him. "I don't know why. You're a parent now, Cole. Do you think the day will come when you will stop worrying about Trey?" He is silent for a long moment before he slowly shakes his head. "Despite my...absence...these last several months, I am very concerned about the life my daughter and grandson will have. That's why-"

"They have a fine life and I will be able to-"

"-I'd like to offer you a job at WHOC."

His face falls, stunned with surprise as he falls silent. "Wait, what?" he asks quizzically.

"A job, Cole. As you said, it's hard work and it pays well, but I think you'll agree with me that a desk job is far safer than anything you could do working on a construction crew."

"What kind of job?" he asks and I smile on the inside, telling from his tone that he's interested.

"I'm sure Caitlin's told you that as part of the divorce settlement, I retained control of WHOC. As it turns out, it's hard to be the CEO of a multi-million dollar business when you live several thousand miles away in another country." He nods and I sigh, shrugging my shoulders slightly. "So, I need someone I trust to help me oversee the day-to-day business. It's more than the station manager can handle. What I need is a Vice President of Operations."

"Me? You trust me to do that?" he asks quietly, watching me carefully. I nod and he immediately retorts, "I've got no experience. At all."

A sad smile comes to my face as I softly point out, "Neither did I when Gregory bought the radio station and put me in charge. But you'll learn, as I did."

He shakes his head, seemingly running through all the reasons why he is the wrong choice. "You just said the radio station is worth millions of dollars. There's no way you trust me that much."

"I trust you with my daughter and she is priceless."

"Olivia-"

"Cole, please just think it over. I don't expect your answer tonight." He frowns and leans back in his chair, exhaling deeply. "I met with the station's General Counsel and the Chief Financial Officer this morning. We can offer you a very generous salary, company car, benefits. Everything you could imagine and more." I let that sink in for several moments before I play my final hand. "Additionally," I say casually, picking up my fork to push around the salad on my plate, "I think you'll find it will be fairly easy for you to be able to afford your own home in just a few short months."

He smirks and looks over. "Is that the real reason you're offering me this job? To one-up Gregory and get us out of his house?"

"No," I admit and he seems pleased with the answer. "But, you have to admit, it's an interesting perk." He chuckles quietly to himself and looks quietly at my daughter for a long moment. Ultimately, I know he'll accept. There's no way he can pass this offer up. It's everything he's wanted for Caitlin and it's everything I want her to have. "So, think it over and discuss it with Caity."

"She doesn't know about this already?" I shake my head and he looks away, but not before I see the pleased grin on his lips. Former jewel thief or not, he wants what every husband wants: to be the one to break this good news to his wife. He sighs and looks back up, his face blank. "I'll let you know when we get back from our cruise," he promises.

I nod, remembering that Cole, Caitlin, and Sean were leaving tomorrow for a weekend cruise. "If you accept," I point out, "we'll have a lot of work to do to finalize everything before I leave next weekend."

"I thought Caitlin was trying to convince you to stay past the 25th."

"She is," I reply softly. "But, I think two weeks is long enough for this first visit."

He nods and leans closer again. Beneath me, I feel the trap door sliding open as he begins, "I know it's been hard on you. Being back after everything. Seeing Trey."

With a trembling hand, I reach for my water and hope he doesn't notice the way it quivers in the glass. "Yes." I feel his hesitation just as clearly as if he reached out and steadied my hand. Slowly, I look over as he asks in a hushed whisper, "Before you left, you were trying to...have you remembered anything else about the day you gave birth?"

I fall through the trap door, my stomach churning and flipping. Cole came to see me the day I came home from the hospital without my baby. He crept into my bedroom, watching as I sobbed beneath the comforter. He held me as I cried, grieving with me for the child that might have been his. How different his reaction to the tragedy was from Gregory's. But, then again, wasn't that always the attraction to Cole? He was the polar opposite of my husband in every way. Ex-husband, I remind myself. "No," I whisper as I shake my head, turning my full eyes up to him. Months of pensive thinking and praying for a breakthrough have led nowhere. The day my baby died was a black hole, the memories silent and forgotten. "Perhaps I never will," I suggest, sipping my water. The ice water shocks me and I flinch as he continues to watch me quietly. "After everything that's happened, it may be for the best."

"Maybe," he says softly. I can tell from his tone he doesn't agree with me, but he doesn't push the issue. Instead, he sighs, his words barely rising beyond his breath to say, "I never thought you did anything to hurt the baby." The glass hits the surface of the table hard as I lower it. Slowly, I look up at him, tears blurring my vision. I blink quickly, the tears clinging to my eyelashes as I carefully watch him. "I knew how much you loved him. You wouldn't have started drinking again. You wouldn't have done anything to hurt him."

My stomach clenches as I sit there stupidly, unable to move. All I can think of is the way his words echo in my mind, words I had longed to hear for months. But, I wanted to hear them from Gregory. As comforting as it is to finally hear them, they don't balm my soul the way they would if they came from Gregory's lips. But, if his actions at Trey's baptism suggest anything, it's that he will never speak those words.

"Eventually, David will inherit the barony and then his daughter after."

"How old is your granddaughter?"

"Helena just turned one."

"Did you hear that, Cole? Cole?"

The conversation between my children and Colin reaches Cole and I. He looks up and away from me, nodding eagerly as he jumps back into their discussion. "What were you two whispering about?" I hear Caitlin ask as I use the corner of the napkin to dry my eyes. To my right, Colin looks over, concerned, as I hear Cole promise to explain later. "Is everything alright?" he asks, his voice low.

"No, thank you," I say quickly, forcing a smile to my face as I push my plate gently away. "I think I accidentally ate a peperoncini." I cup my water glass in both hands and take a deep gulp, even as Colin watches me suspiciously. Mercifully, the waiter appears and begins directing the busboys to clear the table before the third course is brought out. "I never liked them," I explain as the plate is removed.

Colin opens his mouth to reply when the table begins to shake. The remaining plates clatter against the wine glasses, the silver vibrating across the surface. I'm about to ask who is kicking the table when I realize the chair I'm sitting in is shaking too. My heart leaps into my throat as Sean jumps to his feet, his eyes wide as he looks around. A quiet roar surrounds us, resonating in my chest as I gasp. I feel Colin's hand on my shoulder and I see Cole reach for Caitlin when all of a sudden, everything stops. It's like a blanket of silence is dropped over the restaurant and the only thing I can hear for several seconds is the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. "Is everyone ok?" the waiter asks urgently, glancing around.

I'm nodding as Colin stands, his hand still warm against my shoulder. "Be careful," he says. "My wine glass fell and broke." Glass pops and crunches beneath his feet as I hear Sean ask, "What do you think? A four?"

"Definitely not The Big One," Caitlin responds and I can hear the tension in her voice. A moment later, my suspicion is confirmed when she begins rummaging through her purse. "I need to check on Trey and- damn, no service!" She glares down at her cell phone before she turns to Cole. "I'm going outside to see if there's reception."

"Please, be careful!" I call out. Cole turns back to me and nods briefly before he follows my daughter out of the restaurant. I grimace and pinch the bridge of my head. "That was awful."

"Instant headache, Mom?" Sean asks and I nod. Colin squeezes my shoulder gently and I look up, returning his small smile. "So, Colin, I guess now might be the time to officially welcome you to California," my son says.

As they chuckle, I sit quietly. My heart is still thundering in my chest and my skin crawls as I watch the still rippling water in the glass before me. That's the thing about an earthquake. You don't know it's coming until the floor is ripped out from beneath you. Then, all you can do is gaze around at the chaos and ask yourself "What next?".

With a gentle whoosh, the elevator doors shut and seal us in. I turn to Colin, touching his arm. "You know, this really isn't necessary."

He smiles and glances at me quickly. "Please allow me to be the British gentleman Nanny raised me to be and escort you to your hotel room."

I watch him, stunned, for several seconds before I realize he isn't quite joking. I start to chuckle and, a moment later, he joins in, our laughter bouncing off the elevator walls. Our dinner ended quickly after what the restaurant's maitre d' called a "minor earthquake". Caitlin wasn't reassured after speaking with the new housekeeper, Lourdes, so she and Cole quickly departed for home to check on Trey. Sean stayed for a bit, but it was clear that he was worried about someone. A special someone, judging from the urgency with which he left.

"What are you thinking about?"

I look over to Colin, sighing happily. "Sean. I think there's a girl he likes." Blushing, I glance down at my feet, my heart full of hope for him.

"He's a wonderful young man. Both of your children are brilliant."

I beam with pride and take a step closer to him. "Thank you. It's how I sometimes still think of them: as the small children they used to be. Then, when I realize it, I'm shocked they're the ages they are."

He nods and turns to me, leaning against the wall. "And, then one day, you've turned around and your eldest child is a parent." I nod in agreement, just as a loud groan fills the silence and the elevator lurches violently. In an instant, Colin's arms are extended, catching me as I stumble. His arms tighten around me as I grip his shoulders, watching him closely. "Are you alright?" he asks, concerned.

I nod, a shiver racing up my spine. "Y-yes," I stutter, glancing around. The floor number above the doors is still increasing and I feel the elevator still moving, though slower than before. "What do you think that was? Another earthquake?"

"I'm not sure," he muses as we straighten up. "We don't seem to have had a power loss." His gaze sharpens and he focuses on my face as I realize I'm still in his arms. "What's that from?"

"What's what from?"

Slowly, his hand comes up and his index finger gently touches my chin. "This," he whispers, our eyes meeting. "Right here."

My jawbone tingles from where his fingertip rests. Our chests are pressed together and I'm near enough to Colin to smell a lingering whisper of his cologne. My head is heavy, dark thoughts swirling in the silence as I blink. Vaguely, I realize what he's talking about and I murmur, "Oh. That." His gaze deepens and I realize this is the first time I've been close enough to him in order for him to notice the faint scar on my chin. "Caity and I were in a car accident several months ago."

"Nothing too serious, I hope?" he asks genuinely and my stomach turns, remembering the way Gregory's eyes brimmed with pain when he told me our daughter was dead. I flinch and look down, slowly shaking my head. A moment later, I feel his finger gently raising my face. His eyes are so different than Gregory's, lighter and with flecks of hazel dancing in the irises. He watches me quietly before he asks, "Olivia?"

My husband convinced me to fake a pregnancy so we could kidnap our daughter's child, only he didn't know I was really pregnant. I didn't tell him because I didn't know if he was the father of my child. Then, our lies and manipulations caught up to us. Our daughter learned of our attempts to break up her relationship with her boyfriend and she drove her car into a guardrail. For two horrific months, we thought she was dead. But, no, it wasn't too serious. My head spins with the explanation I can't give Colin and my knees weaken as I moan softly. The truth really is stranger than fiction, I realize as his arms tighten around me, holding me up. I look back up at Colin as I lightly grip the lapels of his suit, steadying myself. "We're fine now," I finally murmur. A half-truth is all I can muster.

"I'm glad," he replies softly, his eyes still moving over my face. He clears his throat and says slowly in a whisper, "I know you said the other day it was too soon, but would you think me bold if I asked to kiss you?"

My heart thunders in my chest and I wonder for a brief moment if he can hear it. I feel my head shaking and a moment later, Colin leans in slowly. Tentatively, his lips touch my own and I inhale, tasting his wine on them. His fingers graze my face to cup my cheeks, holding me close as the kiss stretches between us. A moment later, I realize my body has taken over, leaving my muddled brain behind, as it responds. I press closer to him, my palms flat against his chest as he slowly breaks away, sighing my name. Hot blood courses through my veins, my inflamed heart announcing its resurrection as I lean in, my mouth strong against his. It takes him by surprise, but a second later, he embraces it and crushes me to him. Together, we stumble against the wall of the elevator, drawn to one and other. His fingers burn though the thin silk of my cocktail dress as the line between our bodies blurs.

"Um...'scuse me?"

He spins away from me as I look over his shoulder. A young man is standing in the open entrance to the elevator, clutching a brimming bucket of ice. He can't be more than Sean's age and his face is flushed a deep shade of crimson. "Going up?" he croaks and Colin clears his throat, nodding as he wipes my lipstick from his mouth. The mortified teenager steps into the elevator, standing as far away from us as the small space allows.

Colin's amused eyes meet mine and I can't help the giggle that bubbles out of my throat. Gently, he puts his arm around my shoulders, holding me against him. His chest is warm and I surrender to it, leaning into his embrace. Mercifully, my floor is the next one and we quickly leave the elevator, Colin softly chuckling as he asks, "Do you think we've traumatized that poor boy?"

His arm stays around me as we walk down the hallway, warming my bare arms. "Perhaps," I finally sigh, looking up at him. His eyes are bright and I realize I somehow managed to loosen his tie in the elevator. I bite the corner of my lip as we approach my suite, suddenly nervous. We stop in front of the door and I turn to him, gently slipping out of his embrace. "Thank you for being the British gentleman your nanny raised you to be." He nods his head deferentially, but I see the light slowly fade from his eyes. Slowly, I reach out and wipe away a smudge of lipstick from the corner of his mouth that he missed. "You're such a good man, Colin. You've been a wonderful friend to me and you put up with my children's interrogation at dinner." He smiles sadly, resigned, as I softly continue, "What happened in the elevator was...well, I felt alive. For the first time in a long time." I see the question dancing in his eyes and I continue without thinking, "I don't know how long it will take, but, one day, it won't still be too soon."

He nods and reaches for my hand, slowly bringing it to his lips. His eyes turn up to mine, his lips dancing against my fingers. "Good night, Olivia," he murmurs against my knuckles.

I smile and take my hand back, reaching into my purse for the key card to the room. "Good night, Colin." I step into the quiet suite and slowly close the door, leaning against it. Several moments later, I hear his feet in the hall, slowly walking away. That's when I press my palms to my flaming cheeks and realize I'm still smiling.