For now I’ll simply enjoy her company.
“So how’s the suspension?” he asked after they snagged a booth by the window. “Any progress?”
He wanted to snatch back his question when her body tensed and her easy mood disappeared. “They’ve appointed an investigator from Pueblo. Now I wait.”
“Will you be interviewed?”
“Yes. Next week.”
“Are you nervous?”
She shrugged and drummed her fingers on the table. “I could tell you no, but I’d be lying. I try not to lie.”
“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