The New Year's Wish by Dani-Lyn Alexander Page A

it you’re coming back, and I was hoping we could forget the past and be friends.”
    Olivia’s smile was genuine this time. “Sure, Jill. I’d like that.”
    â€œThere you are, honey.” A tall man Olivia didn’t know put his arm around Jill’s shoulders. Jill blushed. “Max, this is Olivia. Olivia, Max.”
    â€œNice to meet you, Olivia.” Max lifted her hand to his lips before turning back to Jill. “Do you want to dance, babe?”
    Jill started to walk away, arm-in-arm with Max, but turned back for just a second to wink at Olivia.
    Olivia laughed out loud. Ah well, I guess our friendly competition is over. She glanced at her watch. Whoa. Only fifteen minutes till midnight.
    Olivia looked around the room. It seemed as if everyone had worked their way up to the top level by now. She imagined the thrill that would rocket through the room as the clock struck twelve. The band would play. The crowd would count down amid cheers and whoops. As they rang in the New Year, a blizzard of confetti would rain down from the nets hanging in the ceiling.
    Too bad she was going to miss it.

TWELVE

    G ARRETT LOOKED AT THE clock and excused himself from his conversation with Charlotte. He had to find Gracie and Olivia. He pushed through the crowd in search of them. He spotted Olivia by the exit. Her eyes met his. She caught her lip between her teeth and peered suggestively from beneath her lashes. Then she crooked a finger for him to follow her and disappeared through the doorway with a deliberate sway of her hips. Garrett followed.
    When he walked through the doorway into the corridor, Olivia was crouched in front of Gracie, and they were both giggling wildly. A burst of love shot straight through his heart.
    â€œCome on, Daddy. Livvie’s got a surprise for us.”
    â€œOh, she does, does she?” He looked at Olivia, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “It’s almost midnight. You’re going to miss the countdown.”
    â€œNo, I’m not.” She grinned. “Come here.”
    He approached her cautiously, unsure what to expect.
    â€œSquat down.”
    He lifted an eyebrow, and she smiled sweetly. She helped Gracie climb onto his shoulders.
    She looked at her watch. “Come on. We have to hurry.” She grabbed Garrett’s hand and pulled him toward the stairway. He followed her down while Gracie bounced up and down, her excitement growing more and more with each step.
    â€œWhere’s the surprise, Livvie?”
    â€œIt’s right here.” She shoved the door open and held it for Garrett to duck through. They moved out into the bedlam that was Times Square. Olivia had to raise her voice to be heard over the anticipation buzzing through the crowd. “It’s not the same unless you see it from here.”
    A police officer gestured to her and she headed down the sidewalk toward him. He led them into a roped-off area.
    â€œThanks, Tom. Happy New Year.”
    â€œYou, too, Olivia.” He moved away into the crowd.
    Garrett guided Olivia in front of him and pulled her back against his chest. The wind tugged at her hair, but the chill didn’t reach him in the crowd. Olivia reached up to hold Gracie’s hand. “Ready, Gracie?” She had to yell to be heard by now.
    A low rumble surged through the crowd. Amid the noise, the lights, and the music, a lively hum radiated from the crowd of onlookers eagerly awaiting the new year. Olivia was right. There really was nothing like this. The undercurrent of expectation rippled through everyone, increasing as midnight neared.
    Olivia squeezed his arm as all eyes turned skyward to the sparkling crystal ball. Ten . . . The ball started to descend. Nine . . . eight . . . Gracie screamed the numbers. Seven . . . six . . . Garrett sucked in a breath. Five . . . four . . . three . . . He didn’t dare blink.