8. Lucas #2
I watched Olivia do a subtle dance to avoid him. As soon as I realized he was making her as uncomfortable as he was pissing me off, I took a big step forward and wedged myself between them.
“Michael, we just need a quick look at the product and we’ll be out of your hair,” I offered as a way of buffering my physical action.
His eyes tracked to me. But rather than the concession I’d expected, I saw a gleam of challenge. He moved his gaze to Olivia before stating, “Of course. It’s just over here,” with a big smarmy grin.
In a minute, we were standing in front of a large supply of exterior stone options, including the one Helen had picked out.
“It’s gorgeous.” Olivia immediately swooned. The fact that this woman got starry eyed over stone made me chuckle. She looked up at me from where she was crouched in front of a pallet. “What?”
“Nothing. You’re just very excited about stone.”
“It’s amazing, isn’t it? It looks like it could have been pulled off a building just like your offices.”
It wasn’t the first time she’d referenced our offices in a positive light, but every time she did, I swelled a bit with pride.
We’d worked tirelessly to make the building special.
Having her notice gave me an extra sense of accomplishment I hadn’t experienced from someone outside of my immediate family.
I couldn’t help the smile that took over my face.
Olivia and I were smiling at each other, oblivious to anything outside of the moment, when Michael stepped in.
“I think it will work perfectly for your project, but you may want to have a conversation with our supply manager about quantities.” He looked at me.
“You’re the builder, correct? Howard is up front in the office.
You can review numbers with him to make sure our available supply will be able to meet your needs.
Olivia, I can show you some other options just in case. ”
It was true that I was the correct person to have that conversation with the supply manager, but I wasn’t crazy about leaving Olivia alone with this guy. He put off weird vibes. From the look on Olivia’s face, she could sense my hesitation. She straightened and placed her hand on my forearm.
Her touch was meant to soothe me. Instead, I felt the muscles in my arm tense and stretch, trying to get closer or further away. I wasn’t sure.
“Go. I’ll be fine and I can take a look at countertops for the planting room while I’m waiting.” She flashed me a reassuring smile and squeezed my arm.
I didn’t love it, but decided to let her call the shot here. She was a grown woman, after all.
“Fine. Call if you need me.” I made a point to look into her eyes for a moment before turning and walking toward the office we’d passed earlier while Olivia and Michael moved in the opposite direction.
Entering the office, I introduced myself and was quickly involved in a discussion about supply chains and delivery timelines.
Howard was explaining how difficult it had recently become to keep certain products in stock when I felt a buzz in my pocket. When I pulled out my phone and saw the message waiting for me, it felt like the floor had dropped out beneath me.
Olivia Dawson
“Help?”
My heart rate spiked. I left Howard in the middle of his explanation of foreign and domestic stone production and stormed across the warehouse. Sprinting through aisles of raw building materials, I listened for voices, for her voice.
When I found them, Michael had Olivia cornered between two pallets. His arms were up, hands gripped on the materials stacked at his side, blocking her exit. The bastard was advancing on her in the small space. My vision blurred to a crimson mask.
“What did you think of that last one? It’s more rare. Maybe we should keep looking for something with a more reliable supply? You’re going to have a lot of space to cover, no?”
As he spoke, he leaned deeper into the alcove he had Liv trapped in.
Her voice came out louder and more squeaky than normal, even though I could tell she was trying to keep it even.
“That would be great Michael, let’s do that.”
“There’s no rush Olivia. Howard is chatty. Your colleague will be tied up for a while.”
“All the same, I’d like to keep my time here productive. See as much as I can.” Olivia attempted to redirect him again .
“You can definitely see as much as you want.” Michael’s disgusting voice dripped with sexual innuendo.
Fuck. I was going to jail today. How unfortunate.
I’d had enough. I stalked toward him like a freight train on rails—quickly, with unrestrained power. It wasn’t until I was mere feet away that Olivia registered my presence.
The look on her face would be seared into my memory for the rest of my life. Blind fear with a hint of relief. The fear would have been enough on its own, but that bit of relief, brought on by my presence, sent me into a frenzy.
The second I reached him, I grabbed Michael’s shirt between his shoulder blades, whipping him around and throwing him against the pallet to our right. His back landed against the stone with a sickly thud.
“What the fuck are you doing, jackass?” My whole body was absolutely vibrating with rage.
Michael raised his hands in defense and explanation. “Whoa, easy! I wasn’t doing anything. Just chatting about the next product!”
My teeth ground together. “Yeah? That’s why you had her backed into a corner? You were just chatting?”
“Look, I figured that’s why you brought an assistant. Didn’t think you’d care.”
Somehow, this fucker had managed to make it worse.
“Listen asshole. First, she’s the goddamn designer, not an assistant. Second, her job title doesn’t have shit to do with whether you treat her with respect.”
I was getting in his face, forearm across his neck as I spoke. I felt a small, gentle hand on my back. Behind me, Olivia spoke softly, “Lucas, let’s just go.”
I wanted to tear this piece of shit to shreds, but the vulnerable need in her voice made me pause. She needed to get out of here. She needed to feel safe. Maybe even needed me.
That last thought made me drop my arm from Michael, leaving him gasping for air. I spun to her and, without thinking, scooped her up in my arms. I set out on a determined path back to my truck.
“Oh my god, Lucas. I can walk.”
I didn’t acknowledge her, just kept moving.
“Lucas!”
When I reached my pickup, I placed her in the passenger seat, facing out toward me. Searching her body for injuries, I landed on her wide, innocent eyes that currently contained equal parts irritation at being carried out of the building and residual fear.
Fuck.
Even with that expression, she was so unfairly beautiful.
Now that she was physically safe, my mind ratcheted the rage back up. That piece of shit had cornered her. Terrified her.
I cataloged the buzzing anger I felt at the idea that someone had hurt her. A man treating any woman that way would have pissed me off, but this was different. I wanted to see that fucker bleed.
My reaction was exactly what I’d been trying to avoid. What I knew she could elicit from the second I’d laid eyes on her .
I felt the defenses I’d been relying on to keep my distance from her melting under the fiery rage pulsing through my body.
I was torn between turning around to exact justice on that scumbag and staying right here, making sure she was okay. In the end, I couldn't leave her.
Not now, when she was upset and looking at me like I was the only one who could fix it.
I was terrified that I couldn’t seem to picture ever walking away from her. Even worse, I was finding myself increasingly concerned about her leaving me at the end of this build.