Gift (Enchanted Ardor #2)

Chapter Seven

“My goodness, Olivia, what the heck were you thinking?” Olivia stared at her reflection in the steamy bathroom mirror. Her lips were still love-swollen and her body hummed from her magical night with Nick.

One night.

Maybe he wasn’t truly serious.

Maybe he wasn’t really the fabled St. Nick at all. He’d just said that to give her… something.

But what if it’s true?

He’d seemed so… solemn when she’d first bumped into him. Sensed the deep sadness.

Sensed the longevity, and the levity that it brought to someone that was long lived.

Olivia had seen it before, though she’d been resistant to it herself.

Because she staved it off with her constant busyness. Her missions and crusades to help others—to fill her time and give herself purpose.

Meaning.

Give herself a reason to be on the planet. To make the most of the gift she’d been given.

It wasn’t that she didn’t ever feel the weight of it.

And perhaps that was what fueled her determination.

She’d always had the choice. Even now.

Nick didn’t? Hadn’t he ever?

Surely he had.

What had he said?

‘Atonement’.

A choice born out of guilt.

Not a calling, as he’d said.

“It doesn’t matter.” She swiped at the fog on the mirror, brushing her wet hair.

There was a lot of work to do, especially now that she had to look for a new job.

Last night had been beautiful. Magical. Some one else’s world.

A fantasy.

Today, she was firmly back in the real world.

She moved into her bedroom, ignoring the party dress strewn across the bed, red shoes abandoned at the foot, her lacy bra and panties a bundled heap next to them.

Heat infused her face as memories of Nick surged back into her mind, hot and vivid.

Her fingertips drifted across her sensitive lips.

She shivered with the recollection of his touch, his lips on hers, the sensation of his large hands on her body. The heated look in his eyes as he carried her to the bed, then when he relieved her of those particular lacy bits.

The press and weight of his body.

The pleasure he’d brought her.

He’d gifted her with a night of lovemaking like she’d never experienced in her long life.

No lover had ever been so generous and attentive to the needs she didn’t know she had.

I guess I just always picked the wrong men…

One night.

Now a precious memory.

She drew a shaking breath, grasped the clothing and stuffed it all in the hamper. The shoes hit the back corner of her closet, evicting the incessant replays from her mind.

Now, Liv.

Today.

Focus on today, not a dream world.

Standing in the middle of her room, towel wrapped around her damp body, she searched for something to anchor herself.

Quinn’s white card gleamed from her dresser top.

Yes.

Employers to contact.

Work to do.

Rent and bills to pay.

A steady breath.

She pulled on her jeans and a knit shirt before going in search of a light lunch.

There was much work to do. There always was.

Nick surveyed his empty hotel room.

Before last night, it was just a room. Somewhere to sleep while not at home.

Now, its emptiness loomed. Mocked him for the decades—centuries—that he’d been alone. Since Hedi.

It wasn’t as though he hadn’t had time to grieve. He had.

But now, he was locked into what seemed to be an eternity of aloneness.

Removing his coat and boots, he set them aside along with thoughts of the past, memories so distant they deserved to be laid to rest.

Should be laid to rest.

Hedi would have wished it. Would have been pleased to see him find some joy in another after so long.

He stripped, laying his suit over the desk chair, shoes placed below it.

Lack of sleep dragged at him while his body still crackled with memories of Olivia.

Her bright blue eyes, the parting of her full lips in smile. Her gentle moans and sighs as he made love to her.

His body responded.

He cranked the shower lever to blast himself with cold water, hoping to cool the rush.

Her presence had made him feel more alive than he had in centuries. Not since his days rooted in humanity.

Though not nearly as old as he, she had some understanding of what it was like to be around longer than most.

How did she do it?

Keep that bright, hopeful quality that she glowed with?

Nick scrubbed his face under the cold water, seeking relief from the love buzz he couldn’t shake, while his heart weighed heavy with her words during their long ride back to the city.

‘You don’t believe in the work that you do?’

The sadness in Olivia’s voice and her eyes as she studied him.

Her need to believe.

The heart of a crusader.

Was that what drew him to her?

The need to make things right?

That light in her that fueled belief in doing what was right simply because it was important?

Maybe that’s what was wrong with Nick. It was a necessary job, but he’d never believed what he did was important. That it mattered.

Why should it?

Hedi would have called it ‘duty’.

It seemed so pointless to spend year after year carefully cultivating the groves for one brief period of pollination.

For centuries.

The world didn’t seem to be any better off than when he’d started.

I’ve failed.

I’ve been failing the world for centuries and just didn’t care enough to examine that.

Olivia’s voice full of conviction floated back to him.

‘…I would do it.’

Nick chuckled.

Now she was the kind of soul the council needed to push the changes they’d been striving for.

Real changes.

The kind of champion that could lead the world toward the bright side.

Unless the reality of the world eventually could weigh on her, as it had Nick.

Leaving her just as apathetic and weary.

No.

Not Liv.

She still burned bright, despite five centuries on this planet.

Ayo should have handed her the mantle, not me.

Timing?

Maybe he would have, had she been born under the right arc of stars.

Instead, he’d found me, covered in grime and heartache, and nearing my last breath…

Nick dried and dressed, pulling on jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt. He still had a bunch of hours to kill, and energy to spend before his time began to wane; he might as well explore the city.

He laced his boots and grabbed his leather jacket with the thermal liner. He didn’t mind the cold, but wasn’t impervious to it, and Ottawa in December was frigid. Exhilaratingly so.

He explored the Rideau Centre, walked along the freezing canal, admired Chateau Laurier and toured the Parliament buildings.

It was dark by the time he wandered back along the Sparks Street Promenade, where a quaint tea shop caught his attention.

Through the glass window, he saw a blond woman organizing tea tins along the back wall.

Quinn O’Clery?

Curious, he mounted the steps and pushed the door open.

She glanced up as winter air blustered inside along with him.

She smiled. “Hello, Nick. Tea?”

He nodded. “May as well.” He stomped the snow from his boots on the mat before striding deeper into the shop, as his gaze swept the interior. He smiled at the framed sign for readings. “You going to read me too?”

Quinn’s gaze flicked to the sign, her lips stretched with a grin. “Of course.”

“Liv thinks your reading is off the mark. That you’re new at this.”

Quinn lifted a blond brow as she prepared Nick’s tea. “I’m never off the mark.”

“As one of the Fates, I should think not.” He picked up various items off the counter, inspecting them as she worked. “Though vague. ‘Love and a warning’?”

“Vague? Seems specific to me.”

“Well I’m not interested in her love life. But I am concerned about this warning.”

Quinn’s other brow rose as a smile tugged at her lips. “You’re not, huh?”

“Is she in danger? Or just a matter of bad luck in business kind of warning?”

“Both.”

Nick’s heart thumped. “Well that kind of message needs some specifics, don’t you think?”

“I can’t interfere.”

“The hell you can’t. If you can give warnings, you can be more specific.”

Quinn shook her head. “I can’t influence the circumstances.”

“You invited her to your party for a reason.” Nick’s gaze shot to Quinn’s face, eyes narrowing on her delicate features. “So that we could meet? Why?”

She shrugged a slim shoulder.

“Isn’t that meddling?”

“There are rules, Nick. You have rules. I have rules too.” She poured hot water into the cup and slid the saucer toward him. “Besides, your invitation was by request. If you’re looking for meddlers, turn your attention to your buddies back home.”

“Your appearance at our council meeting defies that statement.”

“That was a message from my sister. A favor to her. Not my lane.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Drink up, I’m closing soon.”

Nick lifted a brow. “Got more important things to do?”

“No, but you do.”

Nick grunted and sipped the hot, aromatic brew. “Not bad.”

Quinn’s lips quirked as she stowed the tins she’d used to make his tea.

When he finished, he slid the cup and saucer across the counter.

She picked it up with perfectly manicured fingers, turning the delicate porcelain cup between them.

She frowned.

“What is it?” Nick leaned over the counter to peer into his cup. It just looked like a mess of tea dregs.

“Looks like a blizzard in there. Change. You’re in for a lot of change and you have some big decisions to make.”

“Change? Nothing ever changes. And what do you mean by ‘big decisions’?”

Quinn shrugged. “Closing time. You have to go.” She glanced at the clock again. “Now.”

Nick blinked, taken aback. “Thanks for the tea.” He pulled out his wallet.

Quinn waved his money away. “On the house. Take care and remember to stay the course, Nick. It’s important.” She came around the counter, ushering him toward the door. “I suggest going left.”

Nick was barely down the steps when she threw the lock and killed the lights. He stared at her through the window.

She tilted her head to her left and waved.

Adjusting his jacket, Nick nodded and strode in the suggested direction, trying to make sense of the encounter, muttering. “Strange woman.”

The promenade was blocked with construction barriers, so he turned again, lost in thought.

What did any of it mean?

Quinn is a Fate, it has to mean something. But what?

Liv’s warning returned to his mind. Danger.

Did she know that? She hadn’t seemed to take it seriously, but he doubted she knew Quinn was a Fate and that her messages had weight.

She needs to know.

Nick glanced up at the surrounding office buildings, set on finding his way back to her condo.

Snowbanks piled up on sidewalks made them impassable, and diverting his attempts to head in the right direction. Instead, he found himself on a darkened stretch near an old church.

Several rough sleepers headed up the front steps, engaged in their conversation, ignoring Nick as he bypassed them.

“I wonder what the soup is tonight.”

“Who cares? It’s always good when Miss Olivia hands it to you.”

“True. Hey, do you think she’s one of us?”

“Who knows? She does seem to understand us better than anyone else ever has and..”

Pausing, Nick’s attention followed them as they disappeared into the church.

Were they talking about his Olivia?

Certainly sounded like it.

A woman’s voice echoed up from the alley just beyond the edge of the building. “I already told you I can’t help you, Mr. Anderson. Now please go home, it’s cold out and there are many folks inside that need their hot meal.”

Nick edged closer, peering around the corner. Olivia stood in the alley without her jacket, trash bag in hand.

The temperature had dropped considerably and quickly became bitter.

“You said your company was going to hire me and I told you how important this is to me. I have to support my kid.”

“I said I was hoping that they would seriously consider you. And as I’ve already explained, I have no control over who they take on. I thought they hired you already.”

“And I told you I needs this.” Anderson snarled as he pushed Olivia up against the wall.

The trash bag hit the ground as she cried out with his arm pressed across her throat.

Nick tensed, stepping into the alley.

She shoved him away. “I can’t change anything. Go home.”

“Bitch! I won’t let you patronize me like that!” Anderson’s left fist swung out. Light glinted off metal as his right hand arced down toward Olivia. “She said you were scamming everyone, laughing at us while living it up. I saw you—all fancy and—she said you were playing around with us. That you don’t care about—,”

Liv’s hands came up to block the coming blow.

“No!” Nick’s hand shot out, freezing both of them.