“NO! Honestly Rachel, I think you need to spend some much needed cuddle time with your husband. You are way too interested in what’s going on in my life.” She hears a loud creak and more muffled sounds followed by Scott’s voice.
“What the hell are you doing sitting in the closet?” The confusion in his voice is comical.
“Busted! Got to go.” The phone goes dead and Olivia spends the next few minutes smiling in amusement and extremely glad for the comic relief.
Chapter 9
Heading out onto the main road, Ethan gets McCabe on the phone. “I’m on my way. Meet me in the hotel bar and order me something to eat. I’m starving.”
A few minutes later, he rolls into the parking lot. The women stare as he makes his way through the lobby. His confident stride and broad shoulders are an aphrodisiac to those susceptible to the pheromones of such a stunningly handsome and masculine man. Ethan doesn’t notice, the only thing on his mind, other than Olivia James, is what John has ordered him for dinner.
The bar is dark and it takes him a moment to locate him at a small table in the back of the room with documents spread out on the table and a pen in hand. Ethan’s steak dinner arrives as he reaches the table. “Brilliant!” Putting the first forkful into his mouth, he nods his head in approval.
John stares at him with his mouth slightly open, wanting to ask for an explanation but not saying a word. Ethan looks up at him and scowls as he swallows. “What’s the matter with you?”
“Did Miss James do that to you?” He points at the swollen gash on his brow.
He shovels another forkful of steak into his mouth and chews, making John wait for an answer. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“What happened then?”
“I had a little mishap at soccer.” He continues to ravage his food like a hungry animal, keeping his head down to avoid the disapproving look of John McCabe.
John leans forward, resting his forearm on the table. “By mishap do you mean fight?”
Ethan shrugs. “It was just two guys working some stuff out on the pitch. Nothing serious.”
John bites his tongue, waits for the waitress to clear Ethan’s empty plate from the table, and then slides some papers in front of him. Taking the pen out of his hand, Ethan scribbles his signature on the dotted line and then hands everything back to John, establishing eye contact for the first time since he sat down. “Tomorrow I need you at the bar all day. There will be people coming by to give estimates on some renovations and a new sign.”
“Ok.”
“That reminds me.” Ethan pulls his phone out of his pocket and types Olivia a message.
From Ethan: Don’t forget that you promised you’d go with me to look at an apartment tomorrow. I will pick you up at 8
Sleep eludes Olivia most of the night. Confusion being the culprit of her restlessness. What exactly were all those memories she had of Ethan at the field? She’s fairly certain that some of them were things that happened when she was sick. Or maybe things she hallucinated during that time? With hallucinations like that who wouldn’t want to run a fever? Nevertheless, if they were hallucinations why does she have such vivid memories of how his skin felt under her touch? Why does she remember the warmth of being surrounded by his large masculine body?
It’s very unlikely that she conjured up those feelings out of the blue, right? If something happened between them, then why doesn’t she remember and why would he lie about it? He may be an arrogant ass with a childlike temper when he doesn’t get his way, but he doesn’t strike her as the kind of guy who would take advantage of a woman when she’s not in her right mind. Or is he?
What does she really know about him? She thought she knew Sam well. SAM. The name makes her feel nauseated. Is it possible that lying beneath all that sexy Irish charm there is a Sam lurking inside him too? She’s felt his dominance. Responded to his authority. Witnessed his temper. His dark, dangerous mood swings have set off warning bells and yet, there is some kind of inexplicable force that draws her to him, assuring her that he would never hurt her. He’s here to SAVE her and somehow she just knows it to be true. Confusing.
Rolling over, she tries to untangle the blanket and get comfortable. Her eyes feel heavy but her brain just won’t relax. Visions of the silver hair psychic begin to haunt her as she tries to force herself into sleep. Opening her eyes, she looks around the room, having the strangest feeling that she’s being watched. Her words roll around in her brain, making her feel unsettled. He’s looking for you. He will find you. Is he here now? Is that the eerie feeling she’s experiencing? Olivia gets out of bed and checks the windows and doors, making sure they’re locked up tight. Everything seems to be in order but on her way back to bed she decides to turn on several lights so the house is not in complete darkness. It’s silly, but it makes her feel better.
Climbing back into bed she turns the TV on and turns up the volume just enough to drown out all the little noises that houses make. Every little thud and creak will have her nerves raw by morning for sure. When she closes her eyes and finally starts to drift off to sleep, she thinks about the cabin. The small wooden shack in the middle of a heavily treed forest. The one she saw in her mind as Ethan walked towards her after being thrown out of the game.
Why is she thinking about this place? It’s not a place that she knows; in fact, she’s positive that she has never been there before. Why is it that, in her mind, she sees herself there with Ethan? The memory brought to her with amazing detail. Ethan moving to lie on top of her on a small single bed in a dark, cold room. A thin red blanket is tousled on the floor and the only source of light is the full moon through the window. He makes love to her gently, innocently, as if it was her first time. She can feel the intense emotion as if she’s right there in the moment, as if their souls are intertwined.
Her eyes open and she stares at the ceiling for a long while, still unsettled and more than a little restless. That’s it! Enough is enough! She’s going to ask Ethan to take care of her needs. After all, there is no denying, that he’s the one that makes her body burn with an insatiable desire whenever he’s near. She sits straight up, throws her legs over the side of the bed, and takes a deep breath. Not so fast girl! If he holds that much power over her, he could also steal her heart and smash it into a million pieces. If she’s completely honest with herself, that thought terrifies her more than his wicked temper. What’s the solution?
A few blocks away Ethan tosses and turns for hours before getting out of bed and pacing the floor, checking his phone constantly. He’s sent her at least a dozen text messages and called twice. Why isn’t she answering? He’s beyond feeling stressed. Looking at his watch, he considers getting in the car and driving over there. She was very upset about the fight and seemed extremely worried about his temper. Jesus! His fucking Irish temper has always been one of his demons. It’s the source of all his problems back home and now it’s going to screw up everything here as well. It has always been the one thing that he can’t seem to control. If he wants Olivia to be in his life then he’ll have to find a way to curb it. He’ll talk to John about it in the morning and figure it out.
After getting very little sleep Olivia is almost late for work and frantically searching through her purse for her phone. When she can’t find it, she hits the floor on her hands and knees, searching under the couch and the chairs. Thoroughly frustrated, she grabs her keys and heads for her car, accepting the fact that she will just have to survive the day without it. On the way through town she notices the Challenger parked outside the bar, an odd sight since Ethan and Scott are usually well on their way into the city by now. As she passes, it occurs to her that the last time she remembers using her phone was on the way to the coffee shop. Wondering if it fell out of her pocket in his car, she checks her watch and decides that she has time to stop. Screeching to a halt along the curb, she rushes to the front door and pushes it open in a hurried manner. “Hello?” She calls out.
Expecting to see Ethan emerge f
rom the back office, she’s startled when the door swings open and a tall handsome stranger with dark hair appears. “Hello, did we have an appointment this morning?”
Olivia’s face starts to flush. “No, I’m sorry to bother you.” Confusion is evident in her voice “I… I was looking for Ethan.”
“Ah. Let me guess… Olivia James?” Walking towards her with a confident swagger, his smile brighter than the afternoon sun.
Suddenly Olivia feels a little shy. “Yes.”
He extends his hand. “John McCabe. We spoke briefly last week.”
Olivia relaxes as she shakes his hand and takes in a deep appreciative breath of his cologne. She didn’t think it was possible for anyone to smell better than Ethan, but John McCabe is a very close second. “It’s nice to meet you. I hope you had a safe and ‘alpaca’ free flight.” She teases.
“Yes, thank you.” John smiles, revealing the small wrinkles around his bright blue eyes; evidence of his age and the years of long, tireless hours of service. There is a subtle appearance of grey mingling throughout the short, black, silky strands of hair, that he’s obviously taken time to style. He’s much more distinguished than she expected for a personal assistant, and every bit as handsome and charming as Ethan. Just older.
“I’m sorry to bother you. Is Ethan here?”
“You’re no bother at all. And you’re much prettier than the big hairy contractor that was here at 7am. I’m afraid Ethan isn’t here.”
“Oh. His car is out front.” She feels disappointment wash over her.
John quickly offers an explanation. “Yes, he had a business lunch today with some important clients and we thought it a better idea that we switch vehicles instead of him trying to cram them into his car.” He takes on a look of amusement. “Which, by the way, I understand was your doing.”
She grins. “Yes, I guess it was.“ Olivia likes the idea of having John to herself for a few minutes and despite knowing that she’s going to be late for work, she decides that she’ll try to take advantage of it. “Have you known Ethan long?”
John raises an eyebrow, apprehensive about what he suspects is coming. “Yes, I’ve known him for several years.”
She hesitates. “Can I ask you a few things about him?”
He knew it. Crossing his arms, he leans back against one of the booths. “Well I’m not entirely sure that would be appropriate. If there’s something you need to know you should ask Ethan. You’ll find he’s very forthcoming with the truth.” He watches her noticeable discomfort as she persists.
“Please, I just need to know about his temper and his tendency to get into fights.” Feeling a little embarrassed for putting him on the spot during their first meeting, she reaches out and touches his arm as if they’re old friends.
John stares at her for a long while before he answers, the despair on her face and his earlier conversation with Ethan, convincing him that he should. “Ethan used to have a tendency to get into fights, when he was younger. He’s a very passionate man, as I’m sure you’ve already discovered, but he has come a long way in learning to control his temper.”
“Not far enough unfortunately.” She frowns.
He nods his head in acknowledgement. “You’re talking about the fight at the game last night?”
“Yes. He hit one of my friends.” She notices that his accent is distinctly different from Ethan’s and curiosity hijacks her thoughts for a moment. “Why does your accent sound different from his?”
John laughs. “We’re from different regions of Ireland.” They are interrupted by the loud exchange of foul language between a couple of workers who are busy in the back of the bar. John looks agitated. “Excuse me a minute.”
When he disappears around the back, Olivia takes a minute to admire the transformation taking place in her favorite place. For the most part, everything is the same, but partitions are being installed between booths. The stained glass panels proudly highlight Celtic symbols in a rich frosted glass, providing its occupants some privacy but allowing a gentle light to shine through. She thinks Ethan’s choice is very elegant.
John reappears, and Olivia notices for the first time his incredible body. Tall and beefy, his chest and biceps bulging with muscular definition. “Please accept my apologies. Some men have no class at all. Where were we?”
“We were talking about Ethan’s temper.” She pulls her eyes away from his chest hoping he hasn’t noticed her staring.
“Right.” John rubs his hand on his chin while he thinks about his words. “My employer would be furious if he knew I talked to you about this, but I can tell you’re concerned. Ethan is not perfect.” He holds his hand up to halt her interruption, while a wry smile forms on his lips. “I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s true.” He chuckles. “He loses his temper often without warning and sometimes reacts without thinking about the consequences. Sometimes… he’s downright bossy and rude.”
Olivia nods in agreement. “You obviously know your boss very well.”
“Yes, but here is the key to handling him. Don’t let him intimidate you.”
She squints her eyes, trying to focus on what John is trying to say. Everything Ethan does intimidates her. How could she possibly avoid that?
He notices her distressed look. “Olivia, he’s a brilliant man, but he’s still JUST A MAN. One who doesn’t respond to subtle cues and hints. He only understands open and honest communication. You’ll have to tell him clearly what your needs are.”
Olivia thinks for a moment about her needs and she sighs heavily. “That’s easier said than done.”
“Open and honest.” He assures her. “I know that can be a difficult thing to do sometimes but trust me, if he likes you as much as I think he does, he won’t disappoint you.”
She does find some comfort in his advice, noting there does seem to be some truth to it. Yesterday Ethan seemed oblivious to how his behavior made her feel until she blurted it out blatantly later in the evening. “Thank you, John.” She manages a warm smile. “I can see why Ethan considers you a friend.”
John lets out a half chuckle as he moves to the door, holding it open as one of the contractors tries to maneuver in supplies.
“You’re very welcome. But if anyone asks… this conversation never happened.” He waits for her to nod her acknowledgement and then looks at his watch. “Why were looking for him this morning?”
Olivia had almost forgotten. “OH! My phone! I can’t find my phone and I thought maybe it fell out of my pocket in his car.”
“Ah, well that I can help you with.” He pulls the key fob out of his pocket and holds it in the air. She grins and follows him outside. The door unlocks as they approach and John swings open the passenger door and searches the floor. When he stands, he has it in his hand and holds it up for her to see, his eye brows raise straight up as he looks at the display. “15 missed messages since last night… and all from Ethan.” He announces. “Well Miss James, seems like you have quite a hold on my friend.” He passes it to her but when she tries to take it from him, he holds it firmly, forcing her to look up at him. “Be patient with him, Olivia. He’s going to make mistakes. Probably a lot of them.” With that, he releases her phone to her.
She thinks about John’s advice all the way to work. Should she tell Ethan what her needs are? She is so deeply into her thoughts that she doesn’t even notice Rachel as she walks past her office. Sitting at her desk she absentmindedly starts up her computer and looks up to see Rachel standing at her door, looking at her watch. “Awesome! The afternoon shift is here.” She says in a sarcastic tone.
It takes Olivia a minute to snap out of her fog. “I’m sorry.” She lies. “I had car trouble.”
Rachel notices her friend distress. “Is everything ok?”
Olivia tries to snap herself out of it. “Yes. Yes, everything is ok. Sorry I’m just a little distracted this morning.”
Rachel stands stern with her arms crossed in front of her. “Olivia, are you sure Ethan didn’t do
anything stupid last night?”
Olivia is shocked. “NO! Everything is fine. We’re going to be fine.”
“WE? As in, YOU and ETHAN? Together?”
Olivia gets flustered. Did she just admit, out loud, that she’s considering having sex with him? “Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.” She puts her hands over her face. “God! He gets me so worked up, I can’t think straight.”
Rachel’s expression softens and she tries to hide a smile. “Well, well… It looks like someone has a crush on our sexy little Irish boy.” She teases.
Olivia closes her eyes tight and groans. “Really? What is this? High school? Go away!”
Rachel laughs. “Ok, I’ll leave you alone to get your work done and figure out what you’re going to wear tonight. I hear you’re going to look at apartments together.” Snickering, she takes a step back and reaches for the door handle.
Olivia’s eyes shoot wide open and she grabs her phone and scrolls through his messages. “Oh my God! I forgot!”
Rachel closes the door on her way out. “Have fun!” She stops and sticks her head back in. “And I want all the details.” As the door closes with a snap, the phone rings. Olivia jumps and reaches for it, noticing the display reads Aurora Tech. A young man’s voice greets her. “Good morning, Miss James. Please hold a moment for Mr. O’Connell.” Before she can say anything, he’s gone and there is a brief moment of music while she’s on hold.
When Ethan picks up the line there is concern in his voice and it makes her heart start to flutter. “Olivia, is everything alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. I…”
He interrupts in a curt tone. “You haven’t answered my messages.”
“I’m sorry, I…”
Impatiently, he cuts her off again. “I’ve been worried sick.”
“I couldn’t call because…”
“Why didn’t you return my calls I didn’t sleep at all last night.” Catching the tone in his own voice, he leans back in his chair and tries to get control of his anxiety.
Intractable Souls : Book 1 of the Bound for Ireland Series Page 19