Finding Faith (Return 0f The Dragons Book 1)

by Grace Brennan

  Although he’d have to figure out how to do that without coming off as a creep.

  “I’ll be in touch with the estimates soon.” Wanting to stay, but knowing he couldn’t push his luck, he held his hand out. Not because he had to—but because he wanted to see if that electricity had been a fluke. “It was nice seeing you again, Olivia.”

  Her green gaze darted to his hand, and she looked at it for a second before meeting his eyes. Giving him a small smile, she gently grasped his hand. The moment her soft skin touched his rougher, calloused hand, that same buzz he felt the day before raced over his skin.

  Definitely not a fluke, then. He’d known it wasn’t, but the confirmation settled something deep inside him.

  And judging by the gasp she stifled, she’d felt it too. Again.

  Her throat moved as she swallowed, and she gently withdrew her hand. “It was nice to see you again, too. Thanks for coming out here, and on such short notice.”

  “Of course. I’ll be in touch soon.”

  She nodded, and he forced himself to get into his truck before the temptation to stay overcame his resolve to leave.

  Time. She needed time.

  To get to know him, to come around to his presence in her life. And hopefully, for more than just the renovation.

  Quickly turning his truck around in the driveway, he drove slowly toward the road, glancing often in the review mirror. Olivia was standing on the porch, her arms wrapped around herself. Everything about her posture screamed that she was conflicted, and it didn’t surprise him a bit.

  Reluctantly turning his eyes from her to the asphalt road, he pulled out and settled in for the drive home. Leaning back, he draped one hand over the steering wheel and rubbed his stubble with the other, pulling out all the things he’d learned about her since meeting her.

  She was beautiful, no doubt, but at the moment, he barely spared it a thought. He was more interested in learning who she was on the inside, what shaped her into the woman she was now.

  What her story was.

  She was a little bit odd and quirky at times, but he found it pretty endearing. And even if he didn’t, he had no room to talk. He was odder than most—including Olivia. And he was pretty sure it wasn’t charming on him like it was on her.

  And then there were the other things. He didn’t think she meant to show it so obviously, and maybe others didn’t see it or weren’t looking as closely as he was, but sometimes she wore suspicion like a second skin.

  Not always. There’d been a few times during their two meetings when she relaxed and let the real Olivia shine. But then something would spook her, and the wariness, unease, and suspicion would come back.

  A few times, it was because he’d asked what he thought was an innocent question. But to her, they must seem like something different, because each time, they sparked that reaction in her.

  Brow furrowed thoughtfully, he considered the questions that provoked that response. One time had been when he asked her if the old farmhouse on Route 9 was her home. Another had been when he wondered if she was already taken, and tried to get info on what she’d meant when she said we. Then, when he said he knew the previous owner, and she said she thought he was out of state.

  And the last time was when he commented on the five bedrooms being used.

  All were red flags to a woman—a stranger knowing where she lived, and asking how many people lived with her—if that woman was on the run or hiding from someone. Especially when he thought about how the five women had moved in six months ago, yet he’d only heard of two new women actually going into town; and only then, only to visit the grocery store.

  His gut said he was on the right track with that, but he instinctively knew there was more to it.

  Because if Olivia was the one on the run, wouldn’t she be the one hiding out at the house? And yet, based on the descriptions he’d heard of the two women who’d come to town, one sounded a lot like Olivia.

  On the other hand, there was her friends telling her not to let her fear rule her life—which pointed right back at her being the one hiding.

  But from what? And were all of them hiding? It was the only thing that made sense right now.

  It was a puzzle, and he’d need a lot more information to solve it. But he would. And once he did, once Olivia opened up and let him in a little, he’d set his mind to easing her fears.

  She had no reason to be afraid of him. Hell, based on the way he already felt about her, the way he was so drawn to her and already so protective of her, he already knew if she’d just let him in, he’d give her the world.

  Maybe it was too soon to feel so strongly about her, but he didn’t care. The fact was, he did, and he wasn’t going to run from it.

  And she and her friends couldn’t have picked a better place to live if they were running from someone. He’d protect her—he’d protect all of them—and no one could get past him.

  The beast inside of him would make sure of that.

  Chapter 6

  Olivia

  Olivia shivered as she quickly toweled off and dressed. The lake adjacent to the house was beautiful, but it wasn’t an ideal spot to bathe. With the water off though, they didn’t have any other options.

  It was at least starting to warm up with summer on the horizon, but the lake was still damned cold.

  Wrapping her hair in a towel, she shoved her feet in her flip flops, grabbed the bag with her toiletries and dirty clothes, and sprinted back to the house. The air felt warm, but she was still cold, especially with her wet hair.

  Reaching the house, she ran up the stairs, dumped her bag in her room, and immediately went to the bathroom and reached for the hairdryer.

  A few minutes later, her long blonde hair was mostly dry, and the hot air from the hairdryer had warmed her up some. Thank God. They desperately needed the house renovated so they could turn the water back on.

  Thoughts of the renovation immediately led her thoughts to Cody, and she shivered again—but it wasn’t from the cold this time. It was because she immediately conjured up a mental image of him, his huge body towering over her as he smiled down at her with that half smile and twinkling dark brown eyes.

  But entwined with all that were racing thoughts and confusion. Had she smelled a hint of fur on him or not? Could he possibly be a shifter, too?

  She didn’t know. Every shifter she’d come ever come across had a scent she could smell the moment she was close enough. She’d been close to Cody multiple times, especially the day before when he toured the house.

  And not once had she smelled it. Not until she was brushing right next to him, so close they were nearly touching, and that was when she caught a hint—and even then, it was so faint and smelled so different than anything she’d come across, that she couldn’t place it.

  Or even decide if it meant anything at all. Maybe she was imagining it.

  You weren’t, her dragon said quietly. I smelled it, too. But I still haven’t figured out what it is.

  And that was even more concerning. If her dragon, who could sense and smell other shifters better than she could, couldn’t figure it out…

  Swallowing her unease, she set the hairdryer down and pulled her brush through her hair. She and the other women had decided they weren’t hiding from anyone anymore, other shifters included.

  So she kept trying to tell herself that even if he was a shifter, it changed nothing. He still gave off no bad vibes. Her instincts still said he was a good guy.

  But that fear she hated so badly to feel was still creeping into her soul when she considered that he could be like her.

  You’re right. If he is a shifter, that doesn’t change anything. He’s still the same man he was before you scented him. And I know, deep down, you feel like you can trust him. I think you can, too. Her dragon hesitated, and Olivia could feel her trying to make up her mind about something. If I’m being honest, I sense something in him. Something powerful, heavy, and just a little bit dark. But I’ve also seen the wa
y he looks at you, even if you don’t see it yourself. I’ve faintly felt his emotions. He would never hurt you. I’d stake my life on that.

  Stunned, she went still as she stared at herself in the mirror. Whatever she’d thought her dragon was debating on telling her, it hadn’t been that.

  Swallowing hard, she watched as her moss green eyes swirled with iridescent silvery blue and her pupils elongated briefly, showing that her dragon was near the surface.

  Something powerful, heavy, and dark? And you just now thought to tell me?

  Of course that’s the part you’d focus on first, her dragon sighed. Which is exactly why I hesitated to tell you. I also said he’d never hurt you, and you can trust him. We all have a little bit of heaviness and darkness inside us, Olivia. You know that better than most. I lived it with you. I felt your pain. I felt your thirst for vengeance on Fernandez. You wanted to kill him. The only thing stopping you when we watched the Enforcers fight was that you didn’t want to leave Fiona.

  Her animal was one hundred percent right, as per usual. She had wanted to kill him. She’d wanted to do more than just kill him, if she were being completely honest. She’d wanted to make him suffer first—as he’d made countless female dragons suffer over the years.

  My anger and darkness were justified, she replied firmly.

  They absolutely were. I’m not denying that. But maybe his darkness is justified, too. And I sensed no anger in him, human. You have no reason to fear him. I stand by that, and I will continue to tell you that until you finally believe. You. Can. Trust. Him.

  Olivia didn’t respond, slowly pulling her brush through her hair. She honestly wasn’t sure how she felt about any of that. Darkness, trust, power, heaviness… all wrapped in with her animal wanting her to accept the rough parts of him, because he wouldn’t hurt her.

  She trusted her dragon, she did. Her animal would never lead her astray, and she’d definitely never put her in danger.

  But she still couldn’t wrap her mind around it. Maybe it was that she trusted her dragon, but she didn’t trust that Cody wasn’t somehow able to manipulate people—and even intelligent shifter animals, some of whom could sense practically everything—into thinking he was something he wasn’t.

  You just need time, and then you’ll sense what I do, her dragon said quietly. That’s all I’m asking from you. Give him a chance to prove everything I said to you. Give him time.

  Why are you pushing this so hard? You’re usually in my head with the sarcastic, ludicrous thoughts, trying to cheer me up, make me laugh, or just to annoy me, she replied, wryly stressing the word annoy. Why are you so focused and serious about whatever this is with Cody?

  Because seeing you in pain, feeling your fear, your distrust in everyone—well, it hurts me, too. And not just because I feel everything you feel. But because you’re the other half of me and I care about you. I hate seeing you struggle like this. You’re trying so hard to heal and move on. Cody is the perfect opportunity to begin doing those things, and I don’t want you to miss that chance. You can do this, Olivia. I believe in you.

  A rush of emotion washed over her, but she fought it back, knowing if she didn’t, she’d be crying in no time. Everything her dragon said was hitting home, but it was that last bit that nearly did her in.

  You can do this, Olivia. I believe in you.

  She hadn’t known just how much she needed to hear those words.

  “If you keep that up, you’re gonna brush yourself bald.”

  Olivia jumped at the words, her brush falling from her hands and landing on the sink with a clatter. Pressing a hand to her heart, she turned to see Fiona leaning against the doorway, like she’d been watching her for a while.

  “You scared the crap out of me!” she accused, trying to slow her racing heart.

  Fiona shrugged. “Didn’t mean to. I’ve been here for a while. Thought you’d notice me, but you didn’t.”

  “Yeah, sorry. Just lost in thought.”

  “I saw that,” her sister replied, arching an eyebrow. “I bet I know what you were thinking about.”

  Rolling her eyes at Fiona’s taunting, knowing tone, her lips tugged up in a smile. “Oh? And what’s that?”

  “The super hot construction guy who was here yesterday.”

  Eyes widening, she watched as Fiona wiggled her eyebrows. She hadn’t known she knew about him. After he left, no one said a word about him, other than to assure Fi and Sierra that there wasn’t anything threatening about him.

  Ha. If only they knew…

  Carlie’s knowing eyes had followed her around a few times through the course of the day, and every time she met them, she saw encouragement in her brown depths. As far as she knew, though, no one spoke of him again, and she’d been relieved.

  Joke was on her, she guessed.

  “I didn’t realize you guys talked about him yesterday.”

  Fi waved her hand. “Just a little girl talk. Paisley wouldn’t say much, but Carlie filled us in on the details. What I want to know is why you never thought to mention he was that hot.”

  “You don’t know whether he’s hot or not. You didn’t actually see him, remember?”

  “She told us exactly what he looks like. Plus, this is Carlie. She’s hard to impress. If he made that much of an impact on her, I believe her when she says he’s sexy.”

  A little flare of jealousy sparked to life in her chest, but she quickly put it out. She had no reason, or right, to be jealous. The others had eyes. They could clearly see what she’d seen.

  Most importantly, she had no claim on him. Hell, she didn’t even know if she was willing to spend more time with him, other than to talk about the renovation.

  And despite what the others—and her dragon—said, she had no reason to believe he looked at her that way.

  “I guess I just didn’t think it was worth mentioning,” she replied.

  Her sister barked out a disbelieving laugh. “Sure. Incredibly hot guy is hardcore checking you out, and you didn’t think it was worth mentioning.”

  Olivia’s eyebrows shot up. “She told you that, too?”

  “Yep. And that she encouraged you not to keep him at arm’s length, or let your fear take over.”

  “Never took Carlie for an over sharer,” she muttered.

  Fiona’s eyes turned contemplative, with a hint of apprehension and sadness flashing briefly through them. “Is it because of what happened that got us kidnapped? Is that why you didn’t tell me?”

  “What?” she asked, whipping her head toward her sister. “No! It has nothing to do with that. I didn’t tell you because I don’t even know if there is anything to tell.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  Looking earnestly into her sister’s eyes, so like her own, she nodded. “Yes. I… I don’t know what to think of him or how I feel. Or if I even feel anything. I haven’t talked about it to anyone, because I don’t know what to say. Carlie doesn’t even really know how I feel. She’s basing everything on supposedly catching him checking me out—which I’m still not convinced he did—and my reaction to her telling me that. If I was going to talk to anyone about it, it would be you.”

  “I wish I believed that. I’m not even sure you do,” Fiona replied softly. Before she could protest, she changed the subject. “So, you’re going into town and getting some more jugs of water?”

  Hesitating, she searched her sister’s eyes, wondering if she should push the subject. But in the end, she decided it was safest at the moment to let it go. “Yeah. We’re going to run out of water to cook and wash our hands with soon if no one does.”

  “Do you need company?”

  The question was asked bravely, but she could see the fear in Fiona’s eyes and the way she kind of crumpled into herself as she waited for the answer. Olivia would love to have her company, but she knew she wasn’t quite ready yet.

  Hell, she herself was barely ready, but she made herself do it. She hated letting fear rule her life. But she also knew, as mu
ch as her experience at Fernandez’s hands had scarred her, for her sister, it had been much worse.

  “Nah, it’s just a quick trip, and one I’ve done dozens of times by myself. I’ll be fine.”

  Relief washed over her face and she nodded, her shoulders straightening back up. “Okay. Be careful.” Rapping her knuckles on the door frame, she turned to go. Pausing, she glanced back at Olivia. “It’s okay to let yourself like him, you know. What I mean is… well, don’t let me be another obstacle holding you back. I can handle it.”

  Before she could reply, her sister walked quickly away. But it didn’t stop her from whispering But can you? in her mind.

  Guilt slithered in her belly at the unvoiced question, but she couldn’t take the thought back. It was a legitimate concern. But with it came the realization that her sister was right to wonder whether she’d be the first to know if Olivia really did like him.

  Was Fiona really another obstacle holding her back? Another reason she couldn’t decide how she felt about Cody?

  She hadn’t even realized it until Fiona pointed it out, but now she saw how much truth was in that.

  The chips were quickly stacking up against Cody, and disappointment joined the remaining guilt. Because at this rate, if he was interested in her, she wasn’t sure she could ever open up and let him in.

  Even if her dragon was right and he was a good man who’d never hurt her, she couldn’t go there with him if doing that meant hurting her sister.

  Heart heavy, she left the bathroom and grabbed her purse from her room. After asking if there was anything the others needed, she slipped outside and quickly walked to her truck.

  Her mind was spinning with so many contradicting thoughts that she was nearly dizzy with them. As she reached town limits, she frowned as the truck went from running smoothly to running rough. Frowning, her eyes flicked down to the gauges, unease deepening when she saw the check engine light on.