You Looked Down on Me Once, Now You Look Up. novel Chapter 569

“Feeling better?” Oliver stood behind Patricia on the upstairs balcony, wrapping his arms around her waist.

His voice was low and gentle, drifting into her ear with the breeze.

Patricia tipped her head back to look at the sky and gave a soft nod.

“If you like it, I’ll set off fireworks for you every night.”

“I don’t need the whole world watching. Didn’t you always tell Sara and the others to keep a low profile?”

“That’s for them—not for you.”

“My wife deserves to be in the spotlight.”

“Double standards,” Patricia teased under her breath.

Oliver just laughed, warm and easy. He gave her waist a gentle squeeze and turned her slightly. As the fireworks burst in the sky, he caught her lips in a deep kiss.

Patricia kissed him back, her eyes drifting to the colorful bursts reflected in the window.

She barely got to enjoy the show before Oliver nipped at her lip, pulling back with a playful warning. “Pay attention to me.”

There’s always someone or something worth holding on to in this life.

At eleven o’clock, the clouds split apart, letting a crescent moon peek through.

The mountain breeze stirred the branches, leaves brushing together with a quiet rustle. Shadows danced across the ground.

Patricia felt like a fish yanked from the water, gasping as Oliver pulled her from the bed.

Warm water flowed over her back, washing away the last traces of sweat.

She was exhausted. “What time is it?”

“Eleven fifty-seven,” Oliver said, precise as always. Whenever she asked, he never rounded or guessed—just the exact minute, every time. That was just like him. He did everything with that same careful attention.

“Did the chief come back?”

“He’s already at the station.”

“I want to go to the study.”

Oliver paused, towel in hand. “You should get some sleep.”

“I can’t. My mind won’t shut off.”

She was waiting for Emerson to get caught. Waiting for Tina’s web to finally break.

Everything was going down tonight. There was no way she could sleep now.

She’d waited so long for this. How could she possibly rest?

In the bedroom, Patricia leaned against the headboard with her eyes closed, trying to find a little calm. Oliver stood nearby, watching her.

He wanted to say something, but stopped himself. He knew how much tonight meant to her.

“I’ll go crash in the guest room?”

“Stay here. Even a quick nap will help. When the call comes, you’ll be ready.”

“I’ll wake you up.”

“I won’t sleep if you’re gone. I’ll just worry.”

...

“My back’s killing me.”

A patrol car rolled into the driveway. The officer behind the wheel groaned as he climbed out, rubbing his sore back.

Brandon walked over, steadying him. “Try to get some rest when you can.”

“Brandon, the chief’s back. He wants to see you both. Move it.”

“Hey, man—at least give me a heads-up before you let go. You trying to orphan me?”

But Brandon was too focused on the case. As soon as he heard the chief was back, he hurried off to the office.

He barely had the door open before the chief handed him a stack of signed documents. “No time to waste.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Get it done tonight.”

Brandon grabbed a colleague at the door, half dragging him into the office.

“Give me a minute to breathe, will you?”

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