Chapter 33
Olivia
Iopen my laptop and immediately spot another email from Glen Woods. Seriously? This guy doesn’t give up.
I already sent him the invoice like Kade asked me to. He then asked for a list of our suppliers, followed by the company’s history. Now he wants Kade’s direct contact information because he’d “prefer to communicate with him personally.”
I lean back in my chair, blowing out a breath, and take a long sip of coffee before typing a polite but firm reply:
From: Jenkins Construction LTD
To: Glen Woods
Dear Mr Woods,
Unfortunately, I’m not able to provide Mr. Jenkins’ personal contact details. The number below remains the standard line of communication. However, I’ll be sure to pass on your message and ask him to reach out via email.
Kind Regards,
Liv
I hit send, maybe a little harder than necessary, and take another sip, the bitterness of the coffee matching my mood.
Just as I set my mug down, the phone rings.
“Jenkins Construction, Liv speaking. How can I help?”
There’s a crackling noise on the other end—followed by nothing but heavy breathing.
My brow pulls together. “Hello? You’re through to Liv, how can I help?”
The breathing continues, slow and deliberate, before the line abruptly cuts off.
Weird.
I replaced the phone on the receiver, only for it to ring again almost immediately. My fingers hesitate before I pick it up.
“Jenkins Construction, Liv speaking.”
Silence stretches for a few seconds. Then the breathing starts again
“Is anyone there?” I ask, though I already know the answer.
The line goes dead once more. I lower the receiver slowly, something uneasy stirring in my chest. Without thinking, I unplug the phone, then plug it back in, trying to shake off the nerves creeping under my skin.
An hour later and after four more of those creepy, silent calls, I’m about ready to throw the damn phone straight through the window.
With both Kade and Brandon out of the office, it’s just me holding down the fort, and honestly? I could do without the extra weirdness today.
As if on cue, the phone rings again. I snatch it up, my voice sharp without meaning to be.
“Hello!”
A familiar chuckle filters through the line. “Wow. Do you always answer the phone like that?”
I exhale, the tension slipping from my shoulders as soon as I hear Kade’s voice.
“No,” I huff. “Usually I’m super peppy, but I’ve had six calls this morning where no one speaks, they just breathe into the phone, and I’m kind of losing the will to live.”
“Maybe they’ve just got really shitty signal,” Kade says, amusement in his voice. “Happens sometimes.”
“There’s nothing worse than feeling like an idiot, continually repeating, ‘Hello? Can you hear me?’” I grumble, leaning back in my chair. “Maybe if they have terrible signal, they should try again when it’s better.”
He laughs quietly. “Someone needs another coffee this morning.”
Despite myself, I smile. “I’m just irritable. I’m here alone with no one to talk to except the weird breathing person, and to top it off, Mr. Woods has emailed again.”
Kade groans. “What’s he after now?”
“Your personal number,” I say. “So, I told him you were free anytime.”
“Liv…” His voice drops with playful warning.
I grin. “Relax. I told him I couldn’t give out your number, but I’d pass along the message, and you’d email.”
“Good,” Kade says, voice softening. “I’ll shoot him a message later. But hey, if those calls keep happening, let me know, alright?”
I trace my finger along the rim of my coffee cup. “They’re probably nothing. Just some idiot messing around or bad reception like you said.”
“Still,” he says, more serious now. “Call me if it happens again. Even if you think it’s stupid.”
The warmth in his voice loosens something tight in my chest. “Okay,” I agree, soft and sincere. “I will.”
“Good girl.” His words land low and teasing, the grin in his voice unmistakable. Heat rushes to my cheeks at the praise, a helpless smile tugging at my lips.
“Now finish your coffee,” he says, his voice dipping just enough to stir something low in my chest. “I’ll pick you up at five, okay?”
“Sounds perfect,” I reply, a smile tugging at my lips as I hang up.
The office slips back into its usual quiet, the only sound the soft, steady hum of the old ceiling fan.
I shake off the flutter of nerves still buzzing in me and bury myself in work—sorting invoices, answering emails, anything to keep my thoughts in line.
For the rest of the day, the phone stays blessedly silent.
By the time five o’clock rolls around, I’m just switching off the office lights when the familiar rumble of Kade’s truck drifts in from outside.
Excitement bubbles in my stomach as I gather my things and head for the stairs, taking them two at a time. By the time I push open the office door, he’s there, leaning casually against the driver’s side of his truck, waiting for me.
The smile he gives me sends heat crawling up my neck, but I force myself to turn back to the door, locking it and giving the handle a firm tug before I let myself look at him again.
As I walk toward him, I can’t hold back my excitement and launch myself into his arms. He catches me easily, pulling me tight against his chest, one arm firm around my waist while the other gently brushes a stray strand of hair from my face.
I look up at him, a genuine smile breaking free before I can stop it.
“There’s that smile I’ve been waiting for all day,” he grins, his eyes lingering on me like he’s trying to memorize every detail.
Heat blooms in my cheeks under his gaze, and for a moment, I forget to breathe. His thumb lingers at my temple, tracing a slow, absentminded path before he finally lets his hand fall back to my waist.
“Ready to go?” he asks, voice low, like we’re sharing some secret.
I nod, still smiling. “More than ready.”
He grins, setting me back on my feet but keeping one hand on the small of my back as he guides me toward the truck. The gesture is easy, natural, but it sends a rush of warmth through me all the same.
When he opens the passenger door, he leans in just a little, close enough that I catch the clean scent of soap and something undeniably him. His eyes flick to mine, a teasing spark there.
“Seatbelt, or I might have to hold on to you the whole drive,” he says, and I can’t help but laugh as I climb in.
He shuts the door, rounding the truck to climb in beside me. The engine rumbles to life, and as we pull away from the office, I find myself watching the way the last of the sunlight spills over the horizon, painting everything gold.
For the first time all day, the knot of tension in my chest eases.