Chapter Four
Oliver
O liver let out a groan after completing his final round of dumbbell curls. He laid down the weights, straightened up and wiped sweat from his brow. Hard workouts were great and the buzz of adrenaline was pushing him to do more, but he knew not to push it too far. Not when he had work the next day. He’d converted half his garage into a home gym, not a workshop, which was what his dad would have used the extra space for. Just another reason for him to be disappointed in his son. After growing up on the family farm, Oliver had no desire to take it on or do anything remotely connected to agriculture. He’d chosen a different career and lifestyle. One his dad sure as hell didn’t get.
Not that it mattered. Oliver rarely saw him these days. But a twinge of guilt always accompanied thoughts of his dad, a niggling sense that he’d forgotten to do something, or hadn’t done enough of something.
He tossed his towel into the washing machine and headed for the shower. Finlay was always badgering him to join the gym so they could work out together, but Oliver much preferred the peace of his own home. He didn’t want to socialise while he exercised, see other people, or have them see him.
After showering, he got dressed and checked his phone. More messages from Hayley. No matter what he did, there was no shaking her. If he ignored her, she messaged nonstop. If he engaged with her chat, she messaged nonstop. He could turn off the phone or ignore it, but knowing the messages were there set him on edge, like he had a very irritating nymph sitting on his shoulder, twisting his ear and prodding him continually. And the fact that nymph looked like Hayley in his mind’s eye didn’t help matters. Things had been so much easier when he didn’t have to see her. When she’d just been there in the background, he could pretend she didn’t exist. Kind of. This ‘working together’ situation was causing too many ructions in the neatly ordered caverns of his mind.
The quickest way to reply to all Hayley’s messages at once would be to call her. Then he could answer all her questions, give his opinion on her suggestions and tell her not to bother him for the rest of the evening… Make that week.
His instinct battled over what would be worse, talking to her or not talking to her, and while he half hoped she wouldn’t pick up, he also craved to hear her voice.
‘Hello,’ she said, putting on a posh accent. Just that one word sent a fizz of electricity through his veins. ‘And to what do I owe this honour? I mean, it must be something rather large and important for you to call little old me.’
He chewed his tongue, waiting for her to finish. ‘I’m replying to your messages in the quickest way I can think of. And once I’ve replied, please stop sending them to me.’
‘Can’t make any promises, but let’s hear your replies.’
How did her voice have the power to soothe him, madden him, cheer him up and turn him on all at once?
‘So…’ He cleared his throat. ‘These potential sten venues all look… fine.’
‘Ooh, that’s very good progress. I likey.’
‘So, you go right ahead and book whatever you want.’
‘Oh, Oliver! You ruined it. Don’t you want to go and see any of them? It wouldn’t take long. Just a couple of hours and we could nip around them and see what we think.’
‘No can do, sorry. Not in the next couple of weeks anyway. I’ve got lots of demanding cases at work, plus prepping for…’ He stopped. Maybe telling her he had an interview coming up in London wasn’t smart. She’d tell Finlay, and Oliver didn’t want anyone knowing just yet. In case nothing came of it. No need to bother anyone else on his behalf. ‘A legal conference in London.’ That part was true, no need for embellishment.
‘And will that take all weekend?’
‘A lot of it. Don’t you work weekends anyway?’
‘Only Saturday. I’m free on Sunday.’
‘I’m not. Finlay and I are cycling in the Glenbriar Spin-Off.’
‘Hmm. I forgot about that. Oh well, never mind.’ She let out a sigh. ‘I’ll see if Genevieve wants to go while Finlay’s cycling.’
‘Sounds like a better idea.’ Though a sharp little niggle stabbed him in the chest at the disappointment in her voice.
Oliver slugged back some water, then attached the bottle to his bike. Close by in the forestry car park among the cyclists taking part in the Glenbriar Spin-Off, Finlay was chatting to his cousin Aidan. Nice to see them talking again after they’d had a fall out earlier in the year. All caused by love. What else? They both thought they were in love with the same woman, only neither had been. They’d moved on and found other partners, and now they were both engaged. How quickly things changed. Hopefully it would work out for them both, but Oliver had serious doubts. Not that he was about to voice them. Thoughts like that were safer kept locked inside.
He wheeled his bike towards them, but before he was too close, he noticed they weren’t alone. Three women were behind them, talking and laughing. One woman was a striking redhead he recognised as Aidan’s fiancée. The one beside her was Genevieve, running her fingers through her sleek caramel coloured hair as the wind tried its best to ruffle it. And the third… Oliver half-closed his eyes before he started walking again. Hayley. Why was she here? As if in answer to his question, she looked over. She tossed her head to the side and her dark hair coiled over her shoulder in perfect barrel curls. Oliver gripped his handlebars like his life depended on it. That hair. How he loved that gorgeous glossy hair. He wanted to stroke it, knit his fingers into it… Oh fuck, stop. Her eyes travelled down him in a very definite once over. Normally, he didn’t care about wearing his cycling clothes, especially at a bike event. Christ, it would look more stupid to be wearing something else, but under Hayley’s scrutiny an uncomfortable heat in his gut developed. Need to duck out. This was like being found naked in public.
‘Hi.’ She waved with an overbright smile and everyone turned to look at him. His stomach did a backflip.
‘There you are,’ Finlay said. ‘What kept you?’
‘Nothing. I’m not late.’
‘True, but you’re later than us and that’s not normal.’
‘I… Um… Got held up.’ He couldn’t look at Hayley, but his skin prickled and the hairs at the back of his neck rose. Why did he get the sensation she was watching him?
‘Shall we head to the starting point?’ Aidan said.
‘Think so.’ Oliver forced his eyes anywhere but on Hayley. But they were fighting him, desperate to settle on her. Her face was magnetic, picture perfect, shining, and happy. She had the ability to draw attention to herself even when she wasn’t talking or doing anything.
‘Well, we’re off to do some investigating,’ Hayley said. ‘Sten venues. While you boys razz around on your bikes.’
‘That’s your job, mate.’ Finlay slapped Oliver on the upper arm. ‘Why are you not doing the investigating?’
‘Not my thing.’ Though the pang of guilt struck again. Was he letting people down? Investigating venues and that kind of thing wasn’t for him… but was he just being selfish and thoughtless?
‘Never mind,’ Hayley said. ‘We’ll have a lot more fun without you. All girls together.’ She put her arms around the shoulders of the other two women.
‘It definitely sounds like fun to me,’ Aidan’s girlfriend said.
‘It will be.’ Hayley beamed at her, then threw Oliver a see-what-you’re-missing smile.
It hit its mark and, for a second, he desired nothing but to throw away his cycle helmet, drop his bike and go with her.
Finlay gave him a funny little look before kissing Genevieve goodbye. Aidan did the same with his fiancée. Oliver clung to the handlebars, trying not to notice the lovey-dovey scene unfolding before him. Needing to do something, he lifted the helmet he’d looped onto the bars and pulled it on. Without really meaning to, he caught Hayley’s eyes as he hooked up his chin strap. She gave him a little wink and a cheeky wave. An unspoken thread lingered between the two of them. It strummed with pressure and a desire to join in with the fond farewells. To touch her lips with his, pull her close and embrace her would satisfy a deep ache inside him, but it was way too dangerous.
That road led to trouble at best and pain at worst.
‘See you.’ He pushed his bike towards the starting point.
Put distance between self and Hayley now! How the hell could he keep away from her with the wedding looming and her insistence on including him in everything? Eyes on the London job. If he got that, he would be hundreds of miles away from the peril and too far to be pushed into wedding planning. And that was good. Yes. He’d outgrown Glenbriar and was ready to spread his wings.
Why then did his soul ache rather than rejoice at the idea? No time to ponder that now. In fact, a gruelling cycle run was exactly what he needed to chase these irritating feelings away. If only it was a permanent fix.