Page 83 of Paper Horses

“Hey, Hudson,” Ben, the shop owner, said, giving us a wave. “And you must be Olivia.”

“Hi,” she said, waving back. This was one of the shops we hadn’t stopped in to help when we’d been in town last. Of course, that didn’t mean everyone in town hadn’t already heard about Olivia and me.

“Sorry to come in at closing, but we need to grab some supplies. We’ll be out of your hair quick so you can get home to the family.”

“No problem,” he said. “Take your time.”

I walked Olivia back to the corner where the art supplies were and took my phone out, sending a quick text to Sheila to see if she’d keep the store open a few extra minutes.

“What’s this?” Olivia asked.

“What does it look like?”

Her lips turned down, and she gave me one of those looks that had made me hot when we were at each other’s throats.

“They’re art supplies. Pick what you need, and we’ll head to Sheila’s.”

“I don’t need art supplies.”

“Yes, you do. You can’t keep drawing in that lined notebook with my number two pencil that’s five years old.”

“But it’s a waste of money.”

Brow cocked, I waited for more, but she didn’t give me anything.

“You’re a billionaire, and you’re worried about spending ten dollars on art supplies.”

She rolled her eyes and thinned her lips. “Art supplies cost more than that.”

“Just pick a pad and a set of pencils out, Olivia.”

The way her face dropped, the life draining from her body, had my heart palpitating. I knew exactly where her mind had gone again, just like earlier. Placing my hands on both sides of her face, I gazed into her eyes and said, “Stop. I told you we’d figure it out, and we’re not going to worry about it until we have to. Now get the damn supplies and get out of your head.”

“You don’t have to be such a dick about it,” she muttered, avoiding my eyes.

“Yes, I do.” I kissed her forehead and turned her body around to face the few art supplies Ben had in stock. His kids loved to draw, so he had more selection than most small stores would.

She reached out and picked a sketchbook and a metal container of pencils.

“I won’t use these at home,” she said so quietly that I almost missed it.

“Stop,” I told her again, brushing my mouth over her ear. “You’ll use these in our home.”

If it were possible for someone to melt, that’s what she did, her body going limp in my hands and falling against me. I almost thought she’d passed out until she peeked up at me. From under the brim of my baseball hat she still had on, I saw the misty sheen over her hazel eyes.

“You broke my eyes again,” she said with a sniffle.

Chuckling, I kissed the corner of her eye, poking myself with the edge of my hat in the process and shifting it from her head. She reached up and took it off, shaking out her auburn curls before she plopped it on my head.

“You look cuter in it,” she said, giving me a small smile. Good God, what this woman did to me when she was like this. Sweet and soft. It made me want to scoop her into my arms and hold her protectively to keep the world at bay so she could have a few minutes of peace and safety.

I took the things from her and paid for them, holding her hand as we left the store and bid Ben goodnight. As we walked to Sheila’s, Olivia rested her head on my arm.

“I love you, Hudson,” she said, and I stopped and turned to her. Bringing her into my arms, I kissed her, loving how she melted again, her body like putty in my hands.

“And I love you, Olivia. Always have. Always will.” And it was the truth because Olivia Icinda had stolen my heart the day I met her and never given it back. I had never taken it back because it belonged to her and no one else, no matter how I’d hated the pain she’d caused me.

I held her hand on the way to Sheila’s and watched as she bought every pair of cat and dog socks Sheila had in stock. She leaned on the counter as Sheila rang her up.