A Beautiful Mess by T. K. Leigh Read Free Book Online Page A

haven’t been answering your phone all day long! I’ve been worried sick!” she chastised her friend.
    “Kiera, I’m sorry. I didn’t get to bed until after four in the morning last night. I’m exhausted.”
    “Oh, yeah? Did you break down and invite Simon over for one last fling?”
    “God, no!” she shouted into the phone. “But something happened last night that did involve Simon,” Olivia said gravely.
    “What happened, Libs? I know he was drunk when he left the bar last night, but he left at like ten. I saw him get into a cab.”
    “Well, apparently he circled the fucking block because when I went to get into my office building after I left the bar, he was waiting by the night entrance.” Olivia thought about why he would leave the bar just to come back. Something didn’t add up.
    “Oh my God! What happened? Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine, Kiera. Just a little shaken up and minus a pair of my favorite underwear. He attacked me. It was so weird. I’m such an idiot.” Olivia proceeded to tell her what happened the previous night. “I’m just lucky I got away and that a guy who works in my building saw me being chased and caught him.”
    “So he kicked Simon’s ass for you?”
    Olivia laughed, thankful her friend had lightened the mood a little. “He definitely did. I didn’t get too close of a look at Simon, but he was unconscious, so…”
    “Who was this mystery man?” Kiera interrupted.
    “Just someone who works in my building,” she said quickly, not wanting to get into any details about the gorgeous man she met the previous evening, excitement coursing through her veins just thinking about him. “Listen, I’m starving. Want to come over for a girls night? I’ll order some Chinese. We’ll pig out.”
    “Fine, but I swear to God, if you order anything with tofu, I’m no longer your friend.”
    Olivia laughed at her friend’s response. Kiera despised tofu. Olivia loved it.  
    “Okay. Grab some wine on your way over, please. I think I’m out. Give me about half an hour to take a bath.” She hung up and walked downstairs into the kitchen, grabbing her binder full of various take-out menus and finding their favorite Chinese Bistro. Thankfully they delivered.
    Twenty minutes later, after a nice relaxing bath, Olivia was lounging on her couch on the first floor of her house, dressed in a pair of black yoga pants and a green tank top, when her doorbell rang. It couldn’t have been Kiera. She didn’t knock or ring the doorbell. She had a key to Olivia’s place and usually just let herself in. And take-out wouldn’t be arriving for another half an hour or so.
    Olivia got off the couch, walking across the large, airy living room and into the hallway toward the front door. She looked out the peephole, a confused look on her face when she saw a man holding a bouquet of flowers. She opened the door and thanked the man, searching for a clue as to who they could be from. No one had ever sent her flowers before. There had to be a card somewhere.
    “Who sent you flowers, girly?” she heard Kiera shout from down the street as Olivia turned to head back inside.
    “I don’t know,” she replied, walking through her front door. She placed the vase on the kitchen island and found the card that was with the beautiful floral arrangement of calla lilies and yellow tulips. She opened the envelope and pulled out the card.

    Just wanted to send you something to  
    brighten your day and help you forget
    about last night.
    -Yours,
    A. T. B.

    A smile crept across Olivia’s face as she read the card.
    “Who is A. T. B.?” Kiera asked, peering over Olivia’s shoulder at the card.
    “He’s the guy who kicked Simon’s ass last night,” she replied dismissively, grabbing the Willamette Valley pinot noir Kiera clutched in her hand.
    “Okay. I can tell there’s more to this story than what you’ve been telling me. I mean, look at the type of flowers he sent you!” she said, toying with the