Chapter Twelve
Olivia
I ’ve read the same paragraph six times before he finally arrives.
He orders his coffee, or piss water, as he calls it.
His usual spot is open, and I stare at it while he undoes his jacket in the wingback chair opposite mine by the window.
My expectations were off; I wasn’t sure if he would acknowledge me or give me space.
But sitting right at my table uninvited, like this is no big deal, is not what I expected.
I hear mutters around from other regulars, and Jenny is bug-eyed at the counter, practically clawing at Anthony to look over at our table. I give her a wide-eyed, confused shrug and turn to Austin.
He picks up his coffee mug and pulls out one of my paperbacks that I’ve given him down in the basement.
The Howl of Desire is the title, and the front cover models a six-packed man with furry claws and wolf ears.
It isn’t my favorite novel, yet the shifter element has turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable.
Austin takes a sip of his coffee and proudly flips a page.
Jenny brings over my juice with raised eyebrows. She’s uncharacteristically quiet, but her face speaks volumes.
“Good morning, Jenny. How are you?” Austin perks up, grinning.
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him talk to her before. Usually, his stony silence vibrates from ten feet away.
“Oh, yes, um . . . good, very good. You . . . wanted a new seat, I see?” she stammers out.
I blush furiously and pretend to start reading again.
“Yes, Olivia finally made a move. She practically dragged me into her car the other day,” he teases, although Jenny doesn’t realize quite how accurate that statement is.
“I was just telling her to ask you out the other day. Did you get the coffee?”
“I did! I didn’t realize you’d given her a nudge. We’ll have to mention her in the wedding speech, won’t we, Killer?”
“Killer!” she squeals, turning to Anthony on the register. “They even have pet names for each other.”
The. Entire. café. Is. Watching.
Despite how uninterested Anthony is, heads turn, old ladies mutter, and I even get a wink from one gentleman in the corner. Lord, help me.
“I don’t have a pet name yet, but I’m sure she’ll come up with something soon, won’t you, Olivia?”
“I can think of a few names right now,” I say through clenched teeth.
“It’s still new.” He winks, turning back to Jenny, while crossing his leg over his thigh. The perfect image of a man relaxed and in control. I want to strangle him.
I can’t believe I wanted this oaf to kiss me last night.
And despite the annoyingly rapid rate he’s taken over my life, I feel a sense of relief that he sits with me today.
He could have sat in his usual spot, watching from afar as I scowled.
We could have continued the same old game, but this means something.
Even if he didn’t kiss me last night.
Why didn’t he kiss me last night?
Jenny talks to Austin for a few more minutes before Anthony calls her over to help a customer.
Once the usual hum of the café has resumed, he leans forward, downs the remainder of his coffee, and stands, buttoning up his suit. I stand too...I’m not sure why, but it makes him smile.
“Plans for the weekend?” he asks .
“I’m having an Ideas Afternoon on Saturday. And I have to film a few videos. Other than that, no plans.”
He nods and runs his palm over his scruff. I can practically feel the roughness. Just the sheer sound of it sends heat south of my navel.
“I’ll be back tonight, and I’ll help. With the videos,” he clarifies. “And you can tell me all about what an Ideas Afternoon entails.”
“You’ll help?”
“Sure. Sounds fun. Then we’ll go out.” He doesn’t ask. He’s not giving me any options, I suppose.
“Okay.”
“Good.” He cradles the back of my head and kisses my hair. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He waves goodbye to Jenny and Anthony and sweeps out the door. The only proof he’s been here is his empty mug and the ring of the bell as the door jumps back into place.
I slump back into my armchair, more confused than ever.
◆◆◆
The wind whips my hair into a frenzy, and the crunch of gravel beneath my shoes accompanies my pug-like breathing.
Despite the incline, I feel like I’m practically bounding along the trail.
The dark greens, browns, and grays of the mountains blur past me as I push my legs harder, feeling like my thighs could start smoking at any point.
Deep breaths accompany mine as we laboriously climb the hill. As we reach the precipice and the trail flattens, I feel my breaths sounding less winded.
“You’re fucking fast, Olivia. I could barely keep up.” Austin huffs as he bends, resting his hands on his thighs.
“I’ve gotten quicker lately. I’ve been doing a series of marathon training videos to help keep me motivated.”
He hums and stares out at the view. Parts of Obstruction Point can look quite barren; the earth looks scorched in places with pockets of trees littered around.
That is until you reach the dense forest, then the trees cover the floor in darkness.
Roots and moss take over every surface available, even the trees.
“You’re doing a marathon?”
“That’s the plan. I want to hit every fitness milestone at least once in my life,” I say just before I take off running again.
“Already, woman?” I hear Austin behind me.
“I bet I can beat you down to the lake!” I call out over my shoulder.
It’s only a few more miles until we reach the freezing body of water, so I pick up the pace.
It’s mostly downhill now, so I know I can push myself.
The ominous sound of Austin’s footsteps behind me, building speed, gaining on me, has the hairs on my neck standing to attention.
Given the kind of man I know he is, at least the kind of man I thought he was, being chased is somewhat thrilling.
Who am I kidding? I’ve never felt so much adrenaline coursing through my body.
My legs threaten to turn to noodles at the thought of him catching me, as if they want me to be caught.
I was sure he would have made a move to be more physical the last few days. Our date had gone so well on Thursday, but we’d stayed in and watched movies last night, and then today, we both worked before heading out for this run. He stayed down in the basement both nights— unchained, of course .
Once he left Squeeze the Day yesterday, Jenny had rushed over wide-eyed ready for me to fill her in.
But really, what could I say? I definitely couldn’t tell her the whole truth, so I just said what I could: we went on a date, nothing had happened, and I was waiting to see what would transpire next. Frustrating, but accurate.
Despite the inner turmoil regarding Austin that is quickly taking over my life, I’ve received more comments on my videos about possible copyright issues.
I’ve lost around 2,000 subscribers since Millie’s last video blasting me personally, which hasn’t put a huge dent in my numbers, but it’s still a devastating blow.
Although Millie seems to be keeping her word and not posting videos directly, there are way more trolls than usual, and I can’t help but be suspicious that she’s behind it.
I sent an email to a lawyer this morning asking for advice before doing some bookkeeping and general admin for the business.
It was rather dull and not what I wanted to focus on, but keeping on top of it kept my anxiety away.
Processing my thoughts, I feel Austin closing the gap between us. We’re close to the lake now.
“I’m coming for you, Olivia. You can’t outrun me.”
What a delicious threat.
I laugh. “Sure, old man.”
“Oof, you wound me. I’m not old.”
“You’re a lot older than I am.”
“Not. Old,” he huffs out.
Before I can reach the edge of the lake, I hear a loud growl, and his forearm snakes around my stomach. He tackles me into the long grass, breaking my fall by rolling me on top of his chest. I laugh into the crook of his neck and try to wriggle free, but he cages me in.
“Cheater!”
“I never said I followed the rules, Killer.”
I roll my eyes at his use of my nickname. “Hmm, that doesn’t surprise me much.”
“No?”
“I think you’re used to just taking what you want.”
“Is that what you did?” Goosebumps spread across my skin, chasing the path his fingertips made.
“What I did?”
“Yeah...” His eyes sparkle. “When you took me?”
I laugh, slapping my hand against his chest. “That was cheesy, even for you.”
He grins, a dimple appearing on his cheek .
“What can I say? I like to throw you off, be a mess of contradictions.”
And that really is a perfect way to describe him.
He’s chaotic but meticulous, funny but authoritative, frightening but comforting.
I’m exhausted by my attraction to him. He draws me in, and I wonder if I’ll ever truly see all of him.
I don’t think I can fully relax until I know what I’m up against.
Avoiding his penetrating eyes, I rest my head on his chest and bask in the warm sun.
“I have an idea for your Ideas Afternoon ,” he finally says.
“Oh yeah?” I mumble, feeling myself dozing off to the rhythm of his chest contracting and expanding with each breath.
“You could do a self-defense series.”
“Self-defense? That’s...interesting. How would it work, though? I’d have to do it with someone.”
“Would you?”
“Well...yeah. I couldn’t defend against myself,” I say, propping myself up on my elbow and tapping a finger against my lips. “I could hire someone. Some big beefcake to make it look legit.”
“Umm, no. That won’t work,” he says all too quickly.
“Why not? It was your idea.” I laugh.
“Well, they’d have their hands on you, and I’d have to cut them off if they did that,” he says softly, brushing hair out of my face.
He speaks so softly, in fact, that my breathing hitches and my lungs twinge.
He doesn’t often remind me of who he is; he doesn’t need to, I suppose.
But I have no doubt he’s deadly serious.