* * *
The Recruiter followed the target to the café. He moved through the crowd toward a table behind her. As he passed, he jabbed his camera bag into her back.
“Sorry,” he muttered as she moved her chair to let him pass. As expected she paid little notice of him. He smirked. He loved having power over others, even if they had no idea what was happening to them.
He shifted his chair so the target’s back was to him. It was the perfect position to listen to her phone conversation without being noticed.
He pulled a notebook from his bag and took notes. To those around him he would look like any other businessman or student working on a project. People only saw what they wanted to see.
Today had been a huge success. Not only had he learned the target’s name, but he had a pretty good idea how he was going to catch his prey without any notice.
He prepared to leave when Greyson pulled out her wallet and tossed a couple of bills onto the table. As she stood she crashed into another woman passing by. He watched the exchange between the two women with amusement. He hadn’t considered that the woman might be gay, but that didn’t matter to him. He needed her to do a job—who she slept with didn’t matter. But the blonde she had ran into was a different story. She was perfect for his personal collection. His cock twitched as he studied her. Maybe he would get more out of this deal than a bonus.
It was time to regroup. He had enough information on the target that he could find her when he was ready. But the blonde was a mystery. If he was going to claim her, he at least needed to know her name. He would let the target go for today. He had new prey to stalk, and this time the prize would be all his.
He picked up his bag and followed the blonde through Market Square. She looked behind her more than once, and he wondered if she could feel his presence, somehow sense that she was being followed. The thought sent a thrill up his spine. He wanted her to feel him, anticipate him. It was a sign that they were meant to be together.
He followed her to the Museum of East Tennessee History, casually walking by as she pushed through the door. He was having fun. Things were working out better than he could have hoped. He circled back to the café to wait. She had made this too easy for him. He would have to think of a way to spice up the chase a little. He wanted to have a little fun before taking his prize. He laughed. She’d give him everything he needed and wouldn’t even know it. Greyson had turned out to be worth his trouble. She was going to give him a hefty paycheck and a toy to play with. This was his lucky day.
As expected Greyson was back at the café within the hour. He waited patiently for her to get her drink and sit down at a table before going into the café himself. He’d have to be more careful this time. He had two targets to keep up with and couldn’t afford any mistakes.
He managed a seat just inside the café, where an open window separated him from Greyson. It was the perfect spot to sit and listen to her conversation. He didn’t have to wait long before the blonde walked through the door.
He listened intently. The bits of information they shared would be the map that would lead to their capture. He smiled. This was going to be fun.
* * *
Olivia ran over the details of the interview in her mind. She couldn’t put her finger on any one point that had gone wrong, but she had a bad feeling about the outcome. Maybe she was just overreacting because she really needed the job. She had to practice some patience.
Her palms were sweating, and she was sure her heart had sunk into her stomach. She ran her hands down her sides to wipe away the perspiration. The cool silk brushed against her skin, reminding her of her morning encounter. She took a deep breath to calm the sudden racing of her heart. Her hands were sweating again, but this time it had nothing to do with the interview, and everything to do with the beautifully handsome woman responsible for the dress she was wearing.
She was suddenly more nervous about having a cup of coffee than she was about the interview. She looked at her watch. Had it really only been forty-five minutes? She frowned. I was so rude to her. What if she isn’t even there? She sighed. There was only one way to find out.
Olivia stopped at the curb, looking across the street at the café. As promised, the woman sat at a small table waiting for her. She had her head tilted upward to the sun, her eyes closed, soaking up the rays of sunshine. The light made her skin glow like warm caramel. Olivia licked her lips. She sure hoped this meeting went better than the last one.
Olivia got her coffee. She walked up to the table and gently cleared her throat. The woman looked up at her with eyes as blue as the sky. Olivia stopped breathing. Her focus locked on the azure pools gazing up at her.
The woman smiled. “Hi.”
“Hello again.” Olivia held out her hand. “I’m Olivia, Olivia Danner.”
The woman took her hand. “I’m Greyson Cooper.”
Olivia smiled. “Do you mind?” she asked, motioning to the empty chair.
Greyson stood and pulled out the chair for Olivia. “The dress looks amazing. Do you like it?”
Olivia smiled. “I do. Thank you. And thank you for waiting for me. I’m sorry I was so rude to you before. I just had a lot on my mind and I lost it a little.”
Greyson raised her eyebrows. “A little?”
Olivia wrinkled her nose. “Was I really that bad?”
Greyson laughed. “Not too bad. I’m here, aren’t I?”
Olivia nodded.
Greyson leaned forward, giving Olivia her full attention. “So, tell me about the interview. How did it go? Did you get the job?”
Olivia sighed. “I don’t know. They said they would make their decision in the next week. It seemed to go okay, but I have a bad feeling about it.”
“What’s the job for?” Greyson asked.
Olivia smiled. “I would be teaching science classes through some special learning courses at Ijams Nature Center this summer.”
“Wow, that sounds like fun.”
Olivia nodded. “Yeah, it’s just the kind of thing that can really get young minds interested in science. And it would be so much more fun than working in a regular classroom. Although I’m looking for a more permanent teaching job too. I just thought this would be a great way to bridge the gap this summer.”
Olivia realized she’d been going on about herself since she sat down. To her credit, Greyson had been the perfect listener. “So tell me about you. What do you do?”
Greyson smiled. “I’m an environmental engineer. I work over there in the TVA building.” She pointed to a tall gray building at the end of Market Square.
Olivia was surprised. “Wow. That’s exciting. I thought you were going to say you were some kind of fitness coach or athlete or something.”
Greyson frowned. “Why?”
Olivia shrugged. “Well, earlier you said you were on the way to the gym and you are obviously in really good shape.” Olivia glanced at Greyson’s arms and quickly ran her eyes across Greyson’s body.
She felt heat gather in her cheeks when she met Greyson’s eyes again. Greyson smiled at her with a half grin, half smirk. She had obviously enjoyed watching Olivia check her out.
Olivia cleared her throat. “Well, you can see it was an easy mistake.”
Greyson reached across the table, placing her hand over Olivia’s. “No worries. I’m glad you noticed me. I was afraid our little run-in had tainted your impression of me.”
Olivia’s smile widened. “Well, the dress did have something to do with it. I decided I liked your taste. Everyone deserves a second chance.”
“I agree,” Greyson said, sitting back in her chair and looking around at the people around them.
“Do you have to get back to work?” Olivia asked, feeling that their time was almost up.
Greyson looked into her eyes, as if understanding her thoughts. “No. I’m officially on vacation. As a matter of fact, I leave tomorrow for a trip I’ve been planning all year.”
“Really? Where are you going?�
�� Olivia asked.
“I’m hiking the Appalachian Trail from Damascus, Virginia, to Springer Mountain in Georgia.” Greyson’s eyes lit up with excitement the moment she began describing her plans. “It is four hundred and sixty-three miles.”
Greyson’s enthusiasm was contagious and Olivia soon found herself lost in the idea of the adventure. “Wow, that’s a long way. How long will it take you to hike that far?”
Greyson smiled. “I’ve given myself sixty days to get it done. I think I can do it in less, but I wanted to give myself extra time in case something happens to slow me down.”
Olivia felt a bit of panic. “Like what?”
Greyson shrugged. “Anything really. A sprained ankle would add a couple of days’ rest, and weather could be a problem.”
“Oh,” Olivia said with some relief. “I guess I hadn’t thought of all that. How many people are going?”
Greyson shook her head. “It’s just me on this one. I want to test myself. See what I can really do when I put my mind to it. I want to get away from all the computers, cell phones, and on-demand living.”
“So you’re going to be gone for the next two months?”
Greyson nodded. “I know it seems like a long time, but I would do more if I could.”
“Wow.” She admired Greyson’s determination and her sense of adventure.
Greyson looked at her watch. “Maybe when I get back we could see each other again. I’d like to hear how things turn out with the job. I’d like to hear more about you.”
Olivia smiled. “I’d like that too.”
“So it’s okay if I call you?” Greyson asked.
Olivia nodded. She gave Greyson her number. “Are you sure you’ll remember to call? Two months is a long time.”
Greyson placed her hand over Olivia’s again. “I won’t forget. If I wasn’t leaving tomorrow, I wouldn’t let a day pass without calling you and asking you to dinner.”
Olivia’s heart skipped a beat. Greyson looked at her with such intensity that she swore she could feel a connection form between them. Maybe that was silly, but after a rotten day, it was nice to dream. “In that case, I’ll be waiting.”
Greyson checked her watch again. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. I have some things I have to do before I leave tomorrow.”
“Oh. Okay,” Olivia answered, trying to hide her disappointment.
Greyson gathered her things to go but hesitated before leaving. “I’m glad I bumped into you today. This feels—important. I wish I had more time.”
Olivia nodded. “I know what you mean.”
Greyson leaned down and kissed Olivia’s cheek. “Good luck with the job. I’m sure you’ll do great.”
Olivia smiled. “See you in two months, Greyson Cooper.”
Greyson smiled back. “See you.”
Chapter Two
Olivia jumped when her phone rang, and winced when she recognized her parents’ number on the screen.
“Hi, Mom.”
Olivia had been putting her parents off for days, not wanting to have to explain why she wanted to stay in the city instead of coming home. She had hoped to have a job by now so she would at least have a solid argument for staying after her temporary teaching position had ended.
“Hi, sweetie, you’re not driving, are you? You know I don’t want you talking on the phone when you’re driving.”
“No, Mom, I’m not driving.”
“Oh, good. I have your room ready for you this weekend. I know it’s a long drive, so you should get on the road early. Your father and I want to go to the auction on Saturday. Oh, and I ran into Larry Wallace the other day—he’s in town visiting too. Wouldn’t it be nice to catch up with him? You two haven’t seen each other in ages.”
Olivia rolled her eyes and sighed. “Mom, I don’t want to see Larry Wallace. There’s a reason we haven’t seen each other. Besides, I thought he got married.”
“Oh, that’s such an unfortunate story, poor boy. I’m sure he could use a friend right now. He was sweet enough to agree to have dinner with us Saturday night. Isn’t that nice?”
“Mom, please do not set me up with Larry Wallace. Don’t set me up with anyone. I don’t want to meet a boy and settle down in the middle of nowhere. That’s not my life. I have other dreams.”
“We’re having dinner Saturday night,” Olivia’s mother continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “and I expect you to be there. When you meet the right boy, you’ll see.”
“I’m never going to meet the right boy, Mom. I know you don’t like it, but I’m gay, and nothing can change that.”
“Olivia June, that’s enough. I won’t hear any more of this. We will see you Saturday.”
Olivia stared at her phone in disbelief. Her mother had hung up on her. Olivia wanted to scream. What would it take to get through to her mother that she was a lesbian? It had been the same thing for years. Her mother just couldn’t let it go. She had been trying to fix Olivia up with every single man her age ever since she came out to the family.
She took a deep breath. She would get to her parents on Friday, spend the day Saturday, and make some excuse to leave early Sunday morning. They might make her sit through dinner with Larry Wallace, but there was no way she was going to church with them. They could pray all they wanted, but she was having none of it.
She missed the days when she was close with her family. When they laughed and enjoyed spending time together. Everything had been forced between them since she had quit her job and moved to the city. Her mother seemed obsessed with the thought that she was living a life of sin.
She sighed and started the computer. She really needed a job. It was the only way she could get her mother off her back. Today, if there were no teaching leads, she would have to look at daycare centers, the Boys & Girls Club—maybe the YMCA would have something. She had to start thinking outside the box. Something would come up sooner or later. She had to believe that.
“Come on, give me something,” she muttered.
Her mood brightened when she saw an email regarding her online résumé. Maybe this would be the break she needed.
She read carefully. This wasn’t the position she had expected or hoped for. It was a private individual needing someone to homeschool a child in their home three days a week through the summer, with the potential for a full-time position during the school year.
Olivia sighed. This wasn’t what she was looking for at all, but she didn’t have any other options at the moment. But this job would have to be a last resort. She didn’t like the idea of going into someone’s home alone. That was never a good idea, but desperate times called for desperate measures. She would have to figure something out.
Olivia rubbed her temples. The last thing she wanted was to go back to her hometown with her tail between her legs. She had to make this work. She had some savings to get her over the rough spots if she had to, but it wouldn’t last long without a steady income.
“Two steps forward, three steps back.”
Frustrated, she turned off the computer. Why was this so hard?
Her phone rang again, making her jump. She stared at it as if it could bite her. She did not want to talk to her mother again. She picked up the phone, checking the screen this time. Greyson. “Hello,” Olivia said into the phone, not wanting to get her hopes up.
“Hi,” Greyson said, her voice raspy and deep. Chills skimmed across Olivia’s skin at the sound of Greyson’s voice. “I know I’m a little early, but I couldn’t wait two months to see you again. I have a little time this evening and was wondering if you’d have dinner with me.”
Olivia bit her lip, not wanting to sound too excited. “Sure. Dinner sounds good. What do you have in mind?”
“I could meet you in the square. How does Craft and Barrel sound? This will be my last chance to have a good burger for a while.”
“Okay. That’s just around the corner from me. What time?”
There was a pause on the line. Olivia imagined Greyson checking
her watch.
“How does seven o’clock sound? It will take me a little more than half an hour to get there.”
“Perfect,” Olivia replied. “I’ll see you in about an hour.”
“Great. See you there.”
Olivia smiled as she hung up the phone. Greyson was turning out to be the perfect distraction to her otherwise stressed-out life.
* * *
As Olivia expected the restaurant was busy, but she’d arrived early to make sure they could get a table. She was excited to see Greyson again.
“Hi,” a raspy voice said close behind Olivia.
Olivia turned to see Greyson smiling down at her. She wore an aqua-blue shirt that matched her eyes perfectly in the evening light. Her tailored black slacks hugged her slender hips, hinting at the curve of her muscled frame. Olivia didn’t even try to hide her perusal of Greyson’s physique. “I swear if Superman had a sister, she’d look just like you.”
Greyson laughed. “Well, thank you. But most women usually like me for my mind.”
Olivia laughed. “That too.”
Greyson leaned down and kissed Olivia’s cheek. “Thank you for seeing me. You look beautiful.”
The pager in Olivia’s hand began to vibrate, signaling their table was ready. A young woman led them to the back of the room. The restaurant was small and there wasn’t a lot of space. Most of the tables were for couples and there was a small bar in the middle. Their table allowed them to be out of the busy traffic and allowed them a little more intimacy.
Greyson pulled out a chair for Olivia, then sighed as she took her own seat.
“So, what changed your mind?” Olivia asked.
“What do you mean?”
Olivia shrugged. “Earlier you made it sound like you were all out of time. I really didn’t expect to hear from you.”
Greyson grinned. “To be honest, I’m not sure. I just knew I had to see you again, and I didn’t want to have to wait two months.”
Captive Page 2
