by Chiah Wilder
Olivia took out her cell phone and debated whether to call her mother and tell her the good news, but changed her mind and slipped the phone back into her coat pocket. Her mother wouldn’t give a shit and that thought pained her. For a split second, Olivia wondered if she should call her dad, but that idea left her head as quickly as it had entered it. To say that she and her dad had a strained relationship was an understatement, but sometimes when she was really happy or even sad, she wished that they had a normal one. Hell … Olivia wished she had a normal relationship with either of her parents, but she didn’t, and had accepted that it would never happen. That’s just the way it had been ever since she was in junior high—the year her dad walked out on them for one of the club girls he’d screwed around with for better than a year. As long as she could remember, her father always had a woman on the side, and her mother had accepted it as long as he came home—and then one day he didn’t.
“Is there anything else we can help you with?” a cheerful woman in her early twenties asked from the doorway of the conference room.
Startled, Olivia turned around and the thoughts from her past scurried to the corners of her mind. “Uh … no. I was just looking at the beautiful view.” She shuffled toward the door.
“Take your time—I’m not rushing you.”
“No … it’s okay—I really do need to go.” Olivia smiled at the woman, then walked by and headed out of the office.
Frosty air whipped around her and she rushed over to her car. As she slid into the driver’s seat, the familiar tune on her cellphone filled the empty space, and she fished it out from her purse.
“Hello?” she said, switching on the ignition.
“So … is it a done deal?” Kennedy asked.
“Yes! I’m a homeowner now. Damn, that sounds scary as hell.” Olivia giggled.
“We have to celebrate. Let’s go to Star Bar—they’ve got the best martinis ever and a pretty decent happy hour.”
A grin spread over Olivia’s face. Kennedy was always looking for an excuse to drink, eat cheaply, and scope out guys. She was the one friend Olivia could count on to be available to party any day of the week. “Why the hell not? I’ll call Harper and Alice and see if they can join us. When do you want to meet up?”
“I’m still stuck at school, filling out paperwork. I hate it! I stupidly thought teaching was about teaching, but it’s really about all the damn reports and forms. I want to go home and change, so let’s meet up in about an hour and a half. Happy hour goes until six thirty.”
“Sounds good. Do you want me to pick you up?” Olivia exited the parking garage.
“Thanks, but no. Who knows? I may meet a guy I want to get to know.”
Olivia shook her head; Kennedy was always on the prowl for men. “Then I’ll meet you there. Later.” She tossed the phone on the passenger seat then cranked up the heat; she still wasn’t used to the cold after being a Southern California girl her whole life.
Sometimes Olivia worried about Kennedy because her friend seemed too trusting with men, believing anything they told her. Some of the guys she homed in on made Olivia a bit nervous and she’d tell Kennedy about her concerns, but even though her friend listened to her worries, Kennedy did what she wanted anyway. Despite the fact that Olivia was only one year older than the twenty-four-year-old teacher, she was way more seasoned and experienced than her friend, but she figured it was because of the way she’d grown up with the motorcycle club always looming in the background.
Looking in the rearview mirror, her heart sank when she saw Nathan’s patrol car pull in behind her. “When the hell is this jerk going to stop this?” she said out loud while braking for the red light. Refusing to look at him, she focused on the people crossing the street. A tooting horn next to her made her jump in the seat, and she quickly turned to look over at the car—it was Nathan. Groaning, she rolled down the window, determined to tell him off—once and for all.
“Hi, beautiful,” he said, leaning toward the passenger side.
“If you don’t stop following me, I’m going to call your supervisor. You need to move on, Nathan. Just leave me alone.”
His brown eyes narrowed and Olivia could see his body grow rigid. “Don’t flatter yourself—I’m not following you, I’m working.” He pointed his finger at her. “And don’t ever threaten me. People who do that live to regret it.”
Before she could reply, Nathan rolled up the window and switched on his overhead lights then went through the light. Olivia watched the patrol car disappear into the distance and a cold shiver ran down her spine. Cursing herself for getting involved with the crazy cop, she turned at the next right and drove to her apartment with her eyes fixed on the rearview mirror.
* * *
SATURDAY MORNING HAD a nip in the air, but no snow, which Olivia was grateful for since it was moving day. She glanced around her room to make sure all of her things were packed. She shut the door and headed to her packed car. A wave of excitement flooded over her as she drove toward the storage unit to meet up with the movers.
“Is that it, miss?” one of the movers asked.
“Yeah,” she replied to the lean and wiry man.
“We’ll meet you at your new house.” He marked something off a piece of paper securely held in the clipboard in his hands, then closed the door to the storage unit.
My new house.
When Olivia turned into the cul-de-sac of her new neighborhood, she smiled as soon as she saw the yellow-painted cottage amid the larger homes. It seemed as though her house was one of the few remaining from when the neighborhood had first been developed in the mid-1950s, and she loved it.
Pulling into her driveway, she waved at the two moving men who smiled at her as they carried her newly purchased queen-sized mattress into the house. It felt good to finally have all of her things in one place after having them in storage for such a long time. The apartment she’d shared with Harper had been basically furnished and the few small pieces of furniture she’d purchased she had left behind. For the better part of an hour, the two men unpacked the truck while Olivia directed them where to put the pieces of furniture and numerous boxes she’d had in storage.
“We’re all done,” the wiry guy said as he handed the clipboard to Olivia. “Just sign here.” He wiped his hand on his jeans then pointed to the bottom of a form.
“You didn’t bring everything in,” she replied, perusing the document.
“The cabinet didn’t fit through the door,” he answered.
“What does that mean?” She walked outside and stared at the antique china cabinet on the sidewalk leading to her house.
“It won’t clear the doorway—it’s too tall.” The mover darted his eyes from Olivia to his cellphone then back to her. “We got another job to do, so just sign the form and we’ll be on our way.”
“What am I supposed to do? I can’t possibly carry that in by myself. You have to bring it inside.” Olivia hugged the clipboard to her chest.
“I just told you we can’t do that, lady. It won’t work and we don’t wanna be responsible if it breaks.” He sighed in apparent frustration.
“Can’t you take it apart? I think if you just unscrew the top half, that would work.” Olivia went over and examined the back of the piece. “I see some screws here.”
“We’re not allowed to take apart furniture—it’s not in the contract. Just sign here.” The worker stood next to her, his hand running over his shaved head.
“But—”
“No buts, lady. We just can’t do it. You’ll have to deal with it on your own.” He tapped his dirty finger on the piece of paper. “We did our job. You should’ve measured it before you bought it.”
“I thought a moving company would move my things, not leave them on the damn sidewalk.” She grabbed the pen out of his hand.
“We did our job. Dismantling furniture isn’t part of what we do.” He snatched the clipboard from her and looked at her expectantly.
“I’m not happy ab
out this,” she said, taking out two twenty-dollar bills and handing them to him.
The man’s lips turned down and he shook his head as he looked at the money in his hand. “Really, lady?”
“Considering you just left a major piece of furniture in the middle of the sidewalk, I’d say I’ve been more than generous with your tip.”
Narrowing his eyes, he stuffed the bills in his pants pocket and stalked away. The rumble of the engine irritated the hell out of her, and Olivia watched the truck ramble away as her mind tried to process what to do.
The antique-looking china cabinet had been an impulse buy that she was now starting to regret. Olivia had noticed it in the window of a small furniture store when she’d been at the mall a few weeks before, and it reminded her so much of her grandmother’s cabinet that she had to have it. The only happy and bright memories from her childhood had been the times she’d spent at her grandmother’s house. Then her mother had a falling out with Grandma Betty and forbade Olivia and her brother from ever talking or visiting their beloved grandmother.
“Whatcha doing?”
A voice behind her pulled Olivia back to the present, and she spun around and took in a young girl with two long braids peering at her.
“Where did you come from?” Olivia asked.
The girl pointed at a two-story brick house next door. The house had a big oak tree in the front yard and a picket fence surrounding the whole property.
“You must be the new neighbor.” The girl blew a large bubble with her gum. Olivia cringed when it popped, but the child just giggled and chewed away.
Olivia smiled and relaxed a bit. “I’m Olivia. What’s your name?”
“Lucy. So why’s your furniture on the sidewalk?”
“Good question.” Anger resurfaced but she pushed it down and focused back on the cabinet. “The movers said it’s too big to bring inside, so I have to take some of it apart to move it in.”
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
“Yes,” she said weakly. Lucy’s eyes widened and Olivia cleared her throat. “I mean, I know in theory, but I’m not too sure how I’m going to do it, especially since the screwdriver is packed away in one of the boxes.”
“You can’t leave it out here,” Lucy said.
Olivia gave her a sideways glance. “I know that. I’ll figure it out.”
“I’ll be back—my dad can help.” Lucy skipped away toward the brick house.
Olivia went inside and her heart sank as she looked at the multitude of boxes stacked everywhere. “I have no idea which box the screwdriver is in. It’d probably be faster if I just went to the hardware store and bought one,” she mused aloud.
Deciding to do just that, she grabbed her purse and keys and headed out the door. As she took a final look at the type of screws on the back of the cabinet, she heard footsteps. Peering around the piece, she saw Lucy with a tall man beside her.
“You need some help?”
The coarse timbre of his voice rooted Olivia to the spot and she stood fixed and speechless. Her eyes raked over him, drinking in his wavy espresso-brown hair and black eyes framed by dark, thick lashes. He wore a long-sleeved T-shirt that molded over his chiseled muscles, and jeans that rode dangerously low on his narrow hips. Damn.
The late afternoon carried his scent toward her—fresh like leather and sandalwood and the great outdoors. It made her think about long motorcycles rides, moonlit swims, and making love in front of a roaring fire. Get a fucking grip! This is your neighbor—Lucy’s dad—who’s come over to help. Don’t get all mushy and shit. Anyway, you’ve sworn off men.
The scrape of boots across the pavement drew her gaze back to his face. Dark eyes bored into hers and she blushed. Then a smirk dimpled those stubbled cheeks. Anger pricked her face, but Olivia refused to turn away. Instead, she gazed right into the man’s amused orbs and lifted her chin.
“I can manage on my own, but thanks,” she said.
A low chuckle rumbled from deep in his chest as he walked over to the china cabinet, taking out a screwdriver from the back pocket of his jeans.
“I doubt that.” He walked around and Olivia stepped away as he surveyed the piece of furniture. “The movers shoulda brought this in.”
“No kidding,” she mumbled.
He gave her a sidelong glance then started turning the screws. Olivia watched him as he quickly dismantled the top of the cabinet then lowered it to the ground.
“Thank you for bringing your dad over to help,” she said to Lucy, trying to concentrate on something other than the neighbor’s flexing biceps and firm ass.
“You’re welcome.” Lucy stood back and watched her dad, and Olivia sensed a distance between her and her father.
“Here you go,” he said as he dropped the screws into the palm of her hand.
Olivia looked at them, then her eyes traveled up to his face. His gaze locked with hers and it was a few brief seconds before either of them blinked. Looking away, he took out a pair of gloves from his pocket and slipped them on.
“Do you need the thing now?” Lucy asked.
“Yeah, but I’ll get it. I don’t want you hurting yourself,” he answered.
“I can do it,” Lucy snapped.
“I’m sure you can, but I don’t wanna have to pick you up from the sidewalk when the dolly runs over you.”
He strode over to a furniture dolly and rolled it over.
“Then lemme help put it on,” the girl said.
“Okay.” The gruff man gestured Lucy to come closer, and the young girl rushed over. Her small hands gripped the top side of the cabinet.
Olivia stood next to her. “Let me help you with that.”
Lucy shook her head and before she could protest, the man said, “We’ve got it. Stand back.”
Once again, anger flared inside her, and Olivia curled her fingers into a fist. “It’s my cabinet, you know.”
He stopped, then his eyes sliced to hers. “Do you want the fuckin’ thing in your house or out on the damn sidewalk?” Olivia pursed her lips, her gaze latched on to his. His words hung in the air between them for a long pause and then he turned away. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
He spread his arms and grabbed either side of the top piece and picked it up. Lucy still clung to the sides and walked with her dad over to the dolly.
Olivia fumed as she watched him maneuver the cart with ease. He’s so damn bossy.
“Why don’t you go on inside and show me where you want this.”
The deep voice startled Olivia and she sprinted from her spot and ambled into the house. “The living room, in the corner,” she said pointing to the back wall.
Without a word, the neighbor put down the first half of the cabinet, then walked out and quickly brought in the second half. When he stacked the two pieces, Lucy skipped over to Olivia.
“The screws, please,” she said.
Olivia dropped them into the girl’s cupped hands and watched as father and daughter quietly worked on reassembling the cabinet.
Every movement, every flex of his arms stretched the material of her neighbor’s tight T-shirt across his back, outlining hard, magnificent muscles. When he raised his arms higher, swirls of ink peeked out from the cuffs of the shirt’s sleeves, and she wondered what delightful images adorned those powerful arms. Feeling her pulse speed up, Olivia tore her eyes away and shuffled to the kitchen in search of two glasses.
“We’re all done,” Lucy said a few minutes later.
Olivia whirled around and saw the cute dark-haired girl standing in the doorway. “You did a great job helping your dad,” she said, turning back to a box on the counter. “Would you like some water?”
“Okay.” Lucy stepped into the kitchen. “Your kitchen’s smaller than ours.”
Olivia took out two tall plastic glasses. “I’m sure it is. Your house is a lot bigger than mine. How long have you lived in the neighborhood?” she asked while filling one of the tall tumblers with water from the faucet.
<
br /> “Not that long.” Lucy leaned against the refrigerator.
“We gotta go, kiddo,” a deep voice said from behind Olivia.
“Lemme finish my water,” Lucy replied.
Olivia turned around and held out her hand to Lucy’s father. “Thanks so much for helping me. I never introduced myself—I’m Olivia.”
The man glanced at her hand, then at his daughter, then back at Olivia. “No problem.”
Olivia dropped her hand. “Would you like some water? I’m afraid that’s all I have to offer at the moment.” Olivia’s laugh came out too shrill, and she wanted to slap herself silly for being so damn nervous around a man she didn’t even know.
“I’m good, but thanks.” He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “Ready?” he asked his daughter.
The girl bobbed her head and handed the half full glass to Olivia. “Bye.” She scurried out of the kitchen and her father turned to follow her.
“Wait,” Olivia said. He paused and looked over his shoulder at her. All of a sudden she felt like a damn fool.
“Yeah?”
“Uh … I just wanted to say thanks again.”
“Sure.” He headed toward the front door.
When he walked out, Olivia stood in the doorjamb and watched him swagger across the grass to the house next door. The cold, crisp air blew through her, rustling her hair and numbing her cheeks, yet she stayed rooted to the spot, staring at the door Lucy’s father had just shut. All of a sudden a group of children shattered the quiet as they ran and whooped in the frigid air, their red, yellow, and bright blue jackets garish against the gray winter afternoon.
Olivia stepped back and closed the door slowly, her gaze still glued on the house next door. “He’s probably married,” she said under her breath even though she hadn’t seen a wedding band on his finger. Her dad had never worn one, but then he was a skirt-chasing bastard. Aren’t most men? Kory’s face floated in front of her mind. “Ugh!” she breathed out. The last thing Olivia wanted to do was think about that loser, or any of the other losers who had littered her past.
