Chapter 1: Olivia and Nathan's Secret Meeting

The cozy café at the foot of Maple Street was a relief for anybody who tried to stay low. Outside, they still used the brickwork, and the windows were milky and frosted, promising discretion. Olivia pushed open the big wooden door; a delicate tinkle announced her entrance. Her emerald eyes danced over the dark interior, searching for recognition. Not finding any, a small sigh of relief went on its way out of her. She took the very back corner booth with her back to the wall, the entrance to the club clearly in view. Olivia's left hand played a nervous tune with a simple silver ring on her left hand as she sank into the worn leather. For a moment, a pang of guilt shot through her, but then, as easily, the thought was dispelled. She was here now, and there was no going back. A middle-aged waitress with kind eyes approached. "What can I get you, hon?" 'Olivia had started. She hadn't looked at the menu, then. "Oh, um. Just a latte, please. Thanks." As the waitress retreated, Olivia checked her watch. 3:58 PM. He would show up any minute now. Her heart raced, and the veins were flooded with anxiety and anticipation. The bell chimed, and Olivia's breath caught. There he was. Nathan Carter stood in the doorway, his long silhouette against the afternoon sun. With his warm chocolate eyes, he raked in everything at the café before his gaze settled on Olivia. The world seemed to dissolve around them in that instant. He walked over to her booth with steady steps. Olivia could feel the slight tremble in his hands, his breathing increasing. He felt it too—this invisible magnetic pull toward her. "Hello," Nathan said softly as he slid into the seat across from her. "Hey," Olivia whispered back. They simply stood there and stared at each other. Nathan's black locks were a little mussed, a nervous habit Olivia found sweet. Sleepless shadows under his eyes mirrored the dark circles under her own. "I wasn't sure you'd come," Nathan finally said, breaking the silence. Olivia's lips tugged upwards into a rueful smile. "I didn't know either. But I. I had to see you." Nathan's hand crept across the dimly lit table, grazing her fingers. Olivia jerked away from his touch and quickly scanned the room nervously. "Sorry," Nathan mumbled, a slight hurt in his eyes gleaming. "I forgot where we were for a moment." "No, I'm sorry. We just... have to watch out," Olivia's heart clenched. The waitress came back and brought Olivia the latte. Nathan ordered black coffee; his voice was unwavering. Back at the car, when they were finally alone, Nathan leaned forward, his voice low and urgent. "Liv, I can't stop thinking about you. About us. What are we doing?" Olivia closed her eyes, for his words were a weight on her. What were they doing? Stealing moments within the secret corners of the city; telling lies to everyone around them. "I don't know, Nate," she whispered into his eyes. "When I'm with you, everything feels right. But it's wrong." Nathan extended his hand again, and this time Olivia did not pull away. The hand that closed over hers this time was warm and firm. "It just doesn't feel wrong for me—loving you could not be wrong." Olivia's heart soared, even as guilt harbored within her. "We're just hurting people, Nate. People who trust us." "And us?" Nathan argued, his thumb tracing circles on her palm. "Don't we deserve happiness too?" Olivia was rendered speechless and lifted their joined hands to place a gentle kiss on his knuckles. Nathan drew in a sharp breath, and his eyes simmered with shadows of emotion. "We have to go," Olivia said reluctantly, checking her watch. They'd stayed too long. Nathan nodded, then seemed to draw up short. "When can I see you again?" Olivia wet her lip. "I have that charity event on Friday." "I will," he promised, and then whispered, hesitatingly, "I wish things were different—that we could have met in another life, where loving you wouldn't hurt anyone." Tears pricked the corners of Olivia's eyes. "Me too," she whispered. Just standing there, yearning for each other. The urge to fall into his arms was overwhelming, but they couldn't—not here, not now. "You go first," Nathan said, his voice thick. "I'll wait a few minutes." Olivia nodded and picked up her purse, then turned to him for one last moment before leaving. "I love you," she breathed. She could see in Nathan's smile how he had heard her. "I love you too, Liv. Always." With a herculean effort, Olivia turned and paced towards getting away. Each step that came her way seemed dense with a booby trap; every feeling in the fiber of her being screamed for her to turn back. Yet she powered forward outside into the warm afternoon sun. Her heart had been racing, and her mind was in turmoil as she walked down the street. Their lives were balanced on a knife's edge. Something had to give. When it did, she feared the fallout might destroy everything. Yet Olivia could not regret a single moment with Nathan. Whatever lay in store, whatever the price, she knew one thing beyond doubt: loving Nathan Carter was worth it all.