“An honorable quality.”
“How’s the book coming? Lyle seems sufficiently enthralled in your story.”
“He’d know better than me. I’m just talking about what happened.”
“Is it hard?” she asked. “Reliving it all?”
“I could tell you no, but I’d be lying.” He took a sip of really good coffee. He and Erica could never master the art at home. “I thought I was prepared to go through it again, tell it to Lyle like it was just something that happened, but your roommate is a good listener and he asks a lot of questions. Lyle leaves no stone unturned. Turns out, I’ve hidden some painful truths under quite a few stones.”
Olivia reached across the table and laid her hand over his. The gesture, so simple and honest, left him stunned. In all his experience with women, he’d never wanted or needed comfort. Perhaps her own vulnerability was weakened his resolve. He linked their fingers and held tight when she half-heartedly tried to pull away. “I’m sorry, Jack.”
“It’s my own doing. The book was my idea.”
“Can I ask you why?”
“Why I wanted my story told?” He took a deep breath and sat back, but didn’t let go of her hand. “Erica keeps asking me why, too. I think it’s because I’m finally at a place where I’ve accepted my condition. I resent it, I hate it, but I’ve accepted it. I’m visually impaired. Thank God there are resources and adaptive technology for people like me, or I wouldn’t ever have clawed my way out of the dark. I had perfect vision for thirty-two years and a life that many envied. That’s more than a lot of people get.”
“You still have a life that a lot of people envy.”
He liked her more and more with every second they spent together. He didn’t want to waste any more time feeling melancholy when she was around. “Are you one of them?”
She laughed, and the lilting melody of it made him smile. “Sure. You’re rich, incredibly good looking, and successful. You have your health, a sister who loves you, and many accomplishments in your young life. I’d also bet you’ve never been accused of sexual harassment.”
“Feeling sorry for yourself, Olivia?”
“Yes, but I’ll get over it. One of these days.”
“Speaking of days…How are you filling yours? Bad TV and copious amounts of alcohol?”
“All methods I’ve used in the past, but no. I’m working for my brother at the Tap. The extra money doesn’t hurt.”
“Can you pencil in some free time? Just like this highly recommended cinnamon bun, I’m going to need more than just a nibble. I’d like to expand this snack to a full meal.”
“You have no idea how tempting your offer is, Jack, but I’ve got to decline.”
“Is this about the whole ‘friends with benefits’ comment? Because my terms are pretty negotiable.”
She pulled her hand from his, and he let go. “I just can’t.”
“Olivia, I’ve never offered to negotiate terms with any woman.”
“I’m suitably impressed, but this is about doing the right thing for me. I’m not in any position to enter into a negotiation or anything else with you.”
“I’m going to do everything I can to change your mind,” he warned her.
“I’d be disappointed in you if you didn’t.”
Erica didn’t have to clear her throat for Jack to know she’d found him and was spitting mad at having had to search. Sitting with Olivia added fuel to her fire. “Thanks for telling me you’d left the store,” she said.
“You’re a big girl, Erica. I figured you could make a purchase without my help.”
“Did you figure I’d be worried when I couldn’t find you?”
“My fault,” Olivia said to Jack’s surprise and amazement. Not many people dared to stand up to Erica when she was in a mood. “I enticed him with coffee and pastries.” She picked up the paper menu and held it out for Erica. “I’ll treat you to whatever you want as an apology.”
Erica’s back went straight and she squeezed Jack’s shoulder. Hard. “No, thanks. Let’s go.”
Oh, yes, Jack thought. His instincts about Olivia would serve them both well. He stood. “Thank you for the treat,” he said to Olivia.
“You paid,” she reminded him.
“I meant your company.” He picked up her hand and kissed her knuckles. It didn’t hurt his ego when he felt her pulse trip beneath the delicate skin on her wrist. “Until next time.”
Chapter 23
Lyle couldn’t concentrate on his notes, so he went to the cabin and tried to figure out what was wrong with the wood burning stove. When all he ended up doing was getting dirty and frustrated, he went in search of his stepdad. Dodge could fix anything.
Dodge’s truck wasn’t at the main barn or the house, but Lyle stopped anyway in hopes that his mom wouldn’t mind him bumming a sandwich. He hadn’t eaten since the granola bar he’d wolfed down hours earlier and his hunger only added to the day’s frustration.
He found his mom where he thought he would: in her office at her computer. From behind, she looked like a teenager with her honey brown hair in a ponytail and the nervous bobbing of her jean clad leg. He tried to back away quietly so as not to disturb her.
“You don’t have to creep away, Lyle. I heard you come in.”
“Sorry. I thought I was being quiet.”
“You’re a man. I don’t think that’s actually possible.”
“Ha, ha. Where’s Dodge?”
“He’s not at the barn?”
“Nope.”
“He said something about running into Westmoreland for a part for his truck.”
“Oh.” He leaned against the door jam and looked around her office. She still kept the picture of him and Kevin on her desk. His dad had taken the picture over a decade ago on the banks of the frozen river the one time they’d come out to go skiing. Lyle always figured it was her way of remembering him and keeping his memory alive. “Whatcha working on?”
“Rewrites. If only I could get it right the first time.” She whipped the reading glasses from her face and tossed them on her desk. “Hungry?”
“Aren’t I always?”
They walked arm in arm to the kitchen. He sat down at the bar as she pulled bread, sandwich meat, and condiments from the refrigerator. It didn’t matter how old he was, his mother always insisted she make his sandwiches.
“So what’s on your mind?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Stuff.”
“Want to talk about it?”
Wasn’t that the real reason he’d sought her out? He could have made his own sandwich back at the apartment or stopped and gotten something when his stomach started to growl. “It’s Jill.”
“Jill? Is she okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, she’s not hurt or anything. It’s just…”
“Something with her boyfriend?”
“Fiancé, mom. They’re engaged. His name’s Tyler.”
“Spit it out, Lyle, before you’re talking with food in your mouth. You know that gets on my nerves.”
“Olivia thinks Jill’s having second thoughts about getting married.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. She said something about Jill not caring about some of the wedding details. It sounds like fuzzy logic to me, but now she’s got me worried. Even Jill said Olivia’s got some sick sense about people.”
“She gets that from her mom. I swear that woman knew Dodge had proposed before I told her.”
“What if Jill is having second thoughts? Would she go ahead and marry the guy just to save face?”
“Jill is pretty stubborn, but I don’t think she’d go that far. Do you?”
“I don’t know. Damn it, Olivia’s planted this seed, and I can’t get it out of my head. I feel like I need to do something.”
Sarah slid a loaded sandwich in front of Lyle and leaned against the counter. “Why don’t you just ask her before getting yourself all worked up?”
“Just call her up and ask if she’s changed her
mind about marrying Ty? I can’t do that.”
“Why not? She’s won’t be mad at you for asking a simple question. If she is having doubts, I think she’d be relieved you asked and she can talk to you.”
Lyle took a bite and washed it down with water. “I guess.”
“Honey, does this have more to do with you than with Jill?”
Lyle almost choked. “What do you mean?”
“Are you still holding out hope that Jill will come back so you two can…”
“Mom, no. Jeez. This has nothing to do with me.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m one hundred percent positive.” An image of Erica popped into his head, aggravating him more. He pushed it from his mind. “I’m not in love with Jill. I’m just worried about her.”
“Okay, then ask her. What have you got to lose?”
What did he have to lose? he wondered on the drive back to Lower Fork. He risked irritating his friend, but his mom was right. She’d understand, and if she were having second thoughts, he’d help her sort them out. Wasn’t that what friends were for?
Lyle grinned when he spotted Olivia’s car in the apartment complex’s parking lot. Good. She’d started this. It was only right that she help finish it.
“Pick up the phone,” he ordered when he spotted Olivia folding clothes in the den.
“Excuse me?”
“Pick up the phone and call Jill. We’re going to ask her if she’s having second thoughts about marrying Ty so I can stop worrying about her. Ever since you said that, I’ve been distracted and upset.”
“So you call her,” Olivia said.
“No. Call her and put it on speaker. I mean it, Olivia,” he said when she just stood there with her mouth open, holding a skimpy pair of panties.
“You’re so bossy.” She tossed the underwear in her laundry basket and put her hands on her hips. “I’ll call her, but first you have to admit you have a thing for Erica.”
“What? No deal. Make the call.”
“Fine, I can keep on wondering.” She folded a towel.
“Damn it, Olivia. This is important.” He rubbed his head where a headache was forming just over his left brow. “Quit messing around and just do it.”
“Admit you like her and I will.”
If Lyle could have tackled her like he used to his brother, she’d be on her ass before she even knew what hit her. “Fine. I like her, okay? Happy now?”
“I knew it!” She tossed the towel in the basket. “Would you go ahead and make your move with her because she really needs to lighten up.”
“Make. The. Call,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Okay, okay.” Olivia dialed Jill’s number and they both listened as it rang once, then twice. Jill answered in the middle of the third ring.
“Hey,” Jill said, sounding happy to hear from Olivia. “What’s up?”
“Not much. Lyle and I were just wondering if you had a minute to talk.”
“You and Lyle? Together?”
“Hey, Jill,” Lyle said, feeling like a teenager on a three-way call.
“This is weird,” Jill said. “Is something wrong?”
“You tell us,” Olivia said. “Don’t be mad at me, but I get the feeling you’re having doubts about marrying Ty.”
During the pause, Lyle’s heart fell to his stomach. Damn. Olivia was right.
“No,” Jill finally choked out. “Why in the world would you say that?”
Olivia sat on the couch. “Come on, Jill. You’ve given more thought about what to wear to a track meet than you have your own wedding. It’s like you don’t even care. You’re letting your mom do whatever she wants when I know it’s the exact opposite of what you like.”
“In what way?” Jill asked.
“The cake, for instance. You totally caved when your mom balked at you wanting spice.”
“So what? It’s just cake. I probably won’t even get to eat more than a bite.”
“Just a cake? Are you kidding me? What about the photographer? You said you liked the one from Springs, but you let your mom talk you into using her friend’s daughter.”
“Weddings are expensive, Olivia, and my parents aren’t exactly loaded. If she wants to cut corners with the photographer, who am I to argue?”
“So you’re not having second thoughts?” Lyle asked.
“No,” she said without hesitation.
“Are you sure?” Olivia asked.
“Yes, of course I’m sure. I love Ty. I want to spend the rest of my life with him.”
“But…” Lyle prodded. Something about her voice didn’t sound right.
“But nothing. I can’t believe you two are ganging up on me.”
“We care about you, Jill. If you’re not sure you want to go through with this, you have to tell someone. Tell us,” Olivia begged. “We love you and we’ll understand and we’ll help you get out of this the best way we know how.”
During Jill’s pause, Lyle and Olivia exchanged a long, ominous glance. Lyle sat on the couch next to Olivia and they both stared at the phone.
“I’m not supposed to…I can’t…oh, this is getting ridiculous. You can’t tell anyone if I tell you.”
“Tell us what?” Olivia demanded.
“I don’t really care about the wedding details, but not because I don’t want to marry Ty.” Lyle and Olivia exchanged another glance. “He’s going to kill me when he finds out I told you, but…”
“But what?” Lyle and Olivia said together.
“We’re already married.”
Chapter 24
Olivia felt the back of her neck prickle during her afternoon shift at the Tap. When she glanced over her shoulder, she saw Jack leaning his elbow on the hostess stand while Lyle spoke into his cell phone just outside the door. Of course. He wouldn’t make it easy for her to avoid him. She walked over and couldn’t help but smile at the cocky grin on his face. Damn her body for reacting so viscerally.
“Olivia. What a nice surprise,” he said.
“You don’t do anything on a whim. Did Lyle tell you I was working today?”
“He may have mentioned it.” As if to taunt her, he stood up to his full height of just over six feet. The way he looked her up and down made her wish she’d done more with her hair other than throw it in a ponytail. She wasn’t sure how much he could see, but he sure knew how to make a woman squirm. He looked gorgeous, as usual, in his perfect fitting jeans and black fleece jacket. His day-old stubble only made him more attractive. “You’re looking lovely today. Is there a table free in your section?”
She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She’d never been nervous around a man before and she hated feeling this way. “The whole restaurant is my section. We’re not exactly swamped.”
“Lucky us.”
Lyle brought in a cool blast of air when he opened the door. “Hey. Someone had a craving for bar grub.”
“So I see,” Olivia said. “Right this way.”
She grabbed two menus and then worried, as she walked them to a table, if handing him a menu when she knew he couldn’t read was rude. Everything about Jack Forrester made her nervous.
She placed the menus on the tabletop and took their drink order. Jack put his hand on her arm before she could walk away. “Join us?”
“I’m the lone waitress.”
“When you get a chance to take a break. You’re not exactly swamped,” he mimicked her earlier comment.
“If I get a chance.”
She delivered their drinks, took their order, and stayed as far away from their table as possible. Jack didn’t seem to notice or care. He spoke at length while Lyle took quick notes and recorded the conversation on the hand held device he placed next to Jack’s bowl. When she went to clear their dishes, Lyle had disappeared.
“Did you scare away your biographer?” she asked.
“His recorder died. He ran home to grab another. I told him you’d keep me company.”
“I thought I e
xplained to you I’m working.”
“You did. And I explained to you I have some vision. I’m legally blind, not totally blind.” He glanced around the room. “You may have one customer over by the window, although that may be a large potted plant. Otherwise, I’m it. I think you can take a break.”
“Does anyone ever say no to you?”
“Not often, and I can tell by the exasperated tone of your voice that you don’t want to say no. Why are you denying us both the pleasure of each other’s company? I promise not to kiss you again, unless you want me to.”
Olivia sighed and lowered into Lyle’s abandoned seat. Eddie may as well have been a potted plant where he dozed with his head against the window. “Okay, I’m sitting. Now what?”
“I have a business proposition for you.”
“A business proposition? I’ve never heard it called that before.” A flame of fury rose up her spine and set her face on fire. “Wait just a minute. If you think for one second that you can buy yourself into—”
Jack poked the flame by laughing. “Olivia, please. I’ve never had to buy a woman. Period. And for you to think I’d stoop that low is insulting. I want to spend time with you and I’m willing to do any number of things to make that happen, but I’d never insult you by offering to pay.”
The flame lit her face. “Sorry. I’m a little sensitive right now.”
“Why is that?”
“I’m on suspension for…you know what. I can’t afford to be seen with you or any other man around town.”
“Are all the teachers around here monks?”
“During an active investigation they are. Or I am, at least.”
He patted her leg and the flame abruptly changed directions. She needed to get away from him and fast. When she attempted to stand, he tightened his grip.
“I don’t know what your specialty was in terms of teaching, but I assume you could teach someone to read?”
“Yeah. Who?” Warning sirens went off in her head. “Do you have a child?”
“Not that I know of. I’m kidding,” he said when she sat silently. “This person is an adult.”
“I’ve never taught an adult before. I suppose I could give it a try. Is English their second language?” she asked, thinking of the area’s high immigrant population. Perhaps Jack had hired someone to work on his property who couldn’t read English.
Guiding the Fall Page 11
