Now that I finally had some clothes on, I found myself standing in the kitchen with a very curious Simone while we waited for Jamie to get dressed and rejoin us. Even though being walked in on was super awkward and inconvenient, I wouldn't have changed a single thing about how I spent the past few hours. 

Over the past year, I've imagined what it would be like to be with Jamie in an intimate way. I've dreamed about it, laid in bed for hours thinking about it, and even spent countless sessions daydreaming about it as I sat in front of my easel not painting. But none of those instances compared to the real thing. 

It was amazing. Honestly, the best sex I've ever had in my life. And Jamie...Shit, I was in deep trouble. If I thought I had feelings before, they were only going to get stronger the closer we got. And it wasn't even my own feelings that scared me. It was hers. Every fiber of my being told me that if Jamie started feeling something for me—I mean really feeling something for me—then she was going to run. That's who she was. When things got hard, the painstakingly beautiful Jamie Lovette ran away. 

"She is even prettier than in your sketches, non?" When I shot Simone a how-the-hell-do-you-know-that look, she explained in a soft voice, "You left your book open on the counter one day that I came by to drop off dinner for you. And before you ask, non, I didn't look through it. It was open to that page already. I knew instantly she was the girl who has been consuming your thoughts."

Consuming my thoughts was an understatement. "Yeah, she's beautiful," I replied with a smile. "I don't think she has any idea how beautiful she is." 

"How did she come to stay here with you?" 

Exhaling a deep sigh I said, "Completely by chance." 

Simone brushed her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "Don't hold back, Ollie. I know there's more to the story." 

Perhaps, but it wasn't a story available for everyone to read. For now, it was between Jamie and me. "Now's not the time, Sim. Can we deal with this awkward intrusion that happened today?" 

"Oui. The reason I came by unexpectedly was because—"

"Sorry," Jamie interrupted as she came down the stairs. She was dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank-top with her hair tied up in a messy bun. She looked awkwardly between Simone and myself. "And I'm sorry about the whole...ya know." 

Simone smiled at Jamie. "It's quite alright. I'm the one who should be apologizing. I'm so used to just coming by, I wasn't expecting to see anyone else here."

The moment Simone started talking, the smile on Jamie's face disappeared. Yeah, this is what I've been worried about since she and I got interrupted. Jamie recognized Simone's voice as the one on the other end of the phone line that day she called me from the States. The day I now know she was reaching out to me because her of what happened with her mom. 

Clearing my throat, I started to explain. "Jamie, this is my friend and the wife of my boss, Jean-Luc. Her name is Simone."

Understanding dawned on her face instantly and she looked back at Simone. "Wife," she repeated with an awkward laugh and extended her hand. "I'm Jamie Lovette." 

"The pleasure is mine," Simone replied before glancing over at me. "If you don't mind Ms. Lovette, there are a few work things I need to speak to Mr. Lake about." 

Jamie started backing out of the room and towards the kitchen. "Yeah, sure. I mean, it's—yeah. I'll just be over here." 

Once she was gone, I looked back at our intruder. "What's up, Sim? Is there something wrong with the show?" 

"Non, mon ami. Jean-Luc wanted me to come see how the progress was going." Lowering her voice she continued, "I know you've had some painter's block, Ollie. Should I be worried about Ms. Lovette being here? Is she a distraction?" 

As friendly as Simone was, she was a businesswoman at heart. I knew exactly what she was implying. If Jamie was a distraction, she needed to leave. I've never been that good at the whole lying thing, but even if Jamie was a distraction, I would do whatever I needed to keep her here. 

"She's not a distraction," I answered honestly. "Quite the opposite. She's my muse. She inspires me, Sim. I've already started another piece and have an idea for the one after." 

Simone placed her hand on my shoulder. "I'm glad to hear that. Well, I will leave you two be for the day. Next time I plan to come by I'll call first. Au revoir, Ollie." 

"Au revoir, Simone." 

Once she was gone, I immediately went to search for Jamie. Since she was headed towards the kitchen that's where I went first. Not here. Next was the loft. That was the only other place in here she could be. If she had walked back into my room, she would have passed right by me and Simone. 

But she wasn't in the loft either. Thank God her stuff was still here, otherwise I would have thought she bolted again. Standing in the middle of her bedroom I tried to think of where she could have gone. 

Then it hit me. 

I hurried down the stairs and through the kitchen to the back door of the warehouse. It led to a park that was only a few minutes walk away. I showed it to Jamie the day after she moved in. She went on and on about how much she loved going to parks with her mom when she was a kid. Then it was like she realized what she was saying and quickly changed the subject. 

That's where she had to be. I was nearly there when I spotted her by her fiery red hair. Her back was to me and she was sitting on one of the swings. Considering it was night time and the park was closed, there wasn't anyone else here. Just the two of us. 

Jamie sighed just as I approached her, not turning to look at me. "I told you talking about my mom was off limits." 

I sat on the swing next to her. "I know."

"That subject is still off limits," she said softly. "But there's something we need to talk about." 

It didn't take a genius to know she what she was talking about. But I remained silent; patiently waiting for her to speak when she was ready. The last thing I was going to do was rush her. 

Several moments passed before she cleared her throat. "First I want to apologize." 

Okay, that took me by surprise. "Apologize? For what?" 

"That night I called you from the hospital. I assumed you were with a girl...you know, for sex. Even if you were, it wasn't any of my business. Honestly, it still isn't." 

Reaching out, I grabbed both sides of her swing and turned her around so she as facing me. "Listen to me, Jamie. We may not be a couple, especially then, but..." I exhaled a deep breath before admitting, "It made me sick when I heard the hurt in your voice that day. I knew what you were thinking, and I wanted to make sure you knew that the voice you heard was one of my bosses. Not some girl I was fucking. So, it was—and is—your business."

Her eyes never left mine as she digested what I said. I was careful with my words because if I accidentally showed too much of my emotions, I might never see her again. 

"I'm also so mad at myself now," she finally stated. "That night...I needed you. So, I reached out to you. Now that I know it was your boss, I can't help but think how different some parts of that night may have gone if I never hung up on you and blocked you." 

I understood completely. If we had talked that night, she would have told me about her mom, and I would have helped her through it. Hell, I may have even gotten on a plane and flown there just to be able to give her whatever she needed while helping her through the funeral. 

That whole experience would have been different. 

"Try not to think about what could have been different," I said to her gently. "We can't go back and we can't change it. Whatever happened, happened." Reaching out I cupped her cheek with my hand and gave her a small smile. "Besides, you're here now. With me. That's all that really matters."

She smiled even though her eyes were full of unshed tears. "You always know the right thing to say to calm me down. How do you do that?" 

That made me laugh. "I have no idea. I guess you just bring it out of me, Lovette." 

Knowing her thoughts were going to keep spiraling, I got up from my swing and walked behind her. 

"Uh, what are you doing?" 

Grabbing the chains on either side of her, I pulled the swing back until her back was flush against the front of my body. Then I dropped my mouth to her ear and said, "Swings aren't for late night talks, Lovette. They're for fun. And that's exactly what I'm going to give you. Some fun."

It took a few times before I heard the first laugh come out of Jamie. Then I pushed her higher and she laughed some more. Each time I heard it the tightness in my chest got tighter. This was the kind of thing I wanted to do to help her. I wanted to make her laugh. Basically, I wanted to do anything that would keep her from crying. 

Her tears were the one thing that would ruin me. besides never seeing her again.

This time when Jamie came back towards me on the swing, I caught her around the waist, stopping her. 

"Why did you do that?" She asked with a giant smile. "I was having fun." 

I didn't answer her. Instead, my eyes held those strong ocean blue eyes. As if sensing my next action, her smile vanished and her gaze dropped to my lips briefly before meeting my own again. 

"Ollie," she breathed before leaning into me. 

Without hesitating, I pressed my lips against hers. I kissed her slowly, unable to stop myself from putting every emotion I felt for her into it. That was also the moment something big happened. Thankfully, she was so lost to the sensations of my kiss that she didn't realize it for herself. 

I was head-over-heels in love with Jamie Lovette. 

***

Hey everyone! I'm back 🖤 Thank you again for all your support and patience.