by Tonya Clark
Copyright
Silent Distraction is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
SILENT DISTRACTION: A NOVEL
Copyright © 2018 by Tonya Clark
All rights reserved.
Editing by KP Editing
Cover design by KP Designs
Published by Kingston Publishing Company
The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means—including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Table of Contents
Acknowledgement
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Acknowledgement
This book is dedicated to my Grandma Blanche, who may no longer be with us, but I know she is smiling down from above. I thank you for introducing me to my first romance novel, even though she had no idea she did at the time. If you wouldn’t have left that book in my room when you came to visit, I may never have found a love for reading.
Chapter 1
Cameron
“Steve, just order what needs to be replaced in the morning. This damn deadline can’t be pushed back. This is why I hate track homes. I’ll call my dad in the morning and let him know what’s going on.”
I had told my dad I didn’t want to take on this project and these last few months reminded me of why. This is the third time we have had these ‘pain in my ass’ teenagers come through and break out the windows of the houses. I’m starting to think we need to order more security at night. It would be cheaper to do that, than to have to keep replacing all the windows.
“Cam, we need to do something about these…”
My phone beeps through with another call, cutting off what Steve is saying. The number isn’t anyone I recognize. If it is too important, they will leave a message.
Bringing the phone back up to my ear, Steve is still talking. “What are we going to do about these little shits?”
Steve is my right-hand man down here in Texas. He is amazing at his job, but the man is going to give himself a heart attack one of these days.
My dad hired him when I told him I wanted to move down here to Texas and expand Tovaren Construction, our family business. Steve and I handle Texas and my dad runs things up there in Washington. It was great for the business, we have been pretty busy north and south.
“I’m going to call the security company tomorrow morning and hire another officer for at night. Maybe we will have a better chance of catching them.”
Once again, my phone beeps with another incoming call. Same number, but they didn’t leave a message last time. I am exhausted tonight and don’t really want to deal with business right now. They will just have to get the hint and leave a message.
Steve’s voice brings me back to our conversation. “I’ve thought about staying out there myself to catch the little shits.”
I laugh, I can see Steve, the ‘good ol’ country boy’ that he is, sitting out there in his truck, his shotgun in his lap. “Steve, you would have way too much fun scaring the crap out of those kids.”
“Yes, I would get a little pleasure out of it, but I could guarantee they wouldn’t do it again.”
“I would love to see it myself, but let’s try the extra security first. If that doesn’t work, I’ll let you lose on them.”
Opening my fridge, I find that I’m ordering pizza for dinner tonight. Tomorrow I think I may need to go shopping. Grabbing one of the last two beers I have, I go and drop down onto the couch.
“Hey, Steve, I’ll see you in the morning. I need to order a pizza and then I’m going to bed, I’m exhausted.”
“You need a woman. One that knows how to cook. You eat out way too much.”
“I don’t need a woman who can cook, I can cook for myself. I’m actually a pretty damn good cook, I just need to go shopping for food. We have been so busy lately with finishing this project that I haven’t made it to the store.”
“Are you still seeing that redhead?”
“Candice? Yeah, off and on, it’s nothing serious.”
For the third time, my phone beeps through with another call. Same number. Whoever this is isn’t giving up. “Hey, someone is trying to get a hold of me, they have called three times now. I should probably see what they want. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“All right, and just as a reminder, my offer stands to stay on the property one of these nights.”
“I’ll remember, and I’ll keep you posted on what I find out about the extra security. See ya.” Hanging up, I find the number and call it back.
It rings a couple times and right when I think it will go to voicemail, a man’s voice answers. “Hello.”
“Hello. Someone from this number has called me a couple times tonight.” That was a lot nicer than I want to be.
“Cameron, is this you?”
“Yes, who is this?”
“I’m glad we finally reached you. Your brother said he texted you but you haven’t answered. I’m David Colter. Your brother, Jacob, and my son, Tyler, are good friends.”
Pulling my phone away, I find three messages from Jacob that I haven’t read. I remember seeing the first one a little earlier, but I figured I’d text him back later. Now I have Tyler’s dad calling me. Maybe I shouldn’t have ignored them.
“Mr. Colter, I believe we have met before. Is everything all right?”
Something isn’t settling right. If something is wrong with Jacob, why aren’t my parents calling me?
Silence stretches on the other end of the line. “Mr. Colter, are you still there? Is Jacob all right?”
I hear David clear his throat. “Yes, Jacob is fine. I’m, um…”
I’m starting to get impatient. All my nerves are on alert. Something is wrong, and if it’s not Jacob, then there are only my parents.
“Cameron, there isn’t an easy way to tell you this. This evening there was an explosion at one of our restaurants and your parents were there during that time.”
“Explosion?! What kind of explosion? Are they all right?”
Again, silence. I want to reach through the phone and shake the man.
“Cameron, details haven’t really been released yet. Search crews are still looking for survivors, but it’s not looking very good.”
What does he mean, not looking good for survivors?
“How do you know they were there?”
“Jacob came over tonight to hang out with Tyler. He told us your parents had decided to go out for dinner and asked if he co
uld eat with us tonight. I was watching the television when the news broadcast came over the show I was watching. I asked Jacob which restaurant your parents had gone to and he confirmed the same one.”
“Are you sure? Has anyone tried calling them?”
“Yes, Jacob and I have tried a number of times. Neither of them are answering.”
Something is wrong then. My dad always answers his phone. He always says, “A missed call is a possible missed customer.”
My entire body feels like someone injected ice-cold water into my veins.
“How long ago did all this happen? How many times have you tried to call them? Maybe something just happened to their phones.”
“Cameron, we have been trying since we heard. It happened around five tonight. Every time we call, both phones go straight to voicemail and none of your brother’s messages have been answered back.”
Five?! My parents wouldn’t go this long without contacting someone after something like this happening.
“I’ll be on the first flight I can get. Are you good with Jacob staying there until I can get there?” I feel numb. It all feels like a dream; my parents can’t be dead.
“Of course! Call me with your flight information and I’ll come pick you up. If we hear anything before then I’ll let you know. We left our information with the police when we called earlier.”
“Thank you.” I hit end without waiting for David to say anything else. I can’t move, all I can do is stare down at my phone. This can’t be happening. Who the hell blows up a restaurant?
Chapter 2
Jayden
“All right, guys, time is up for today. If you are still needing help, I’ll have another after school session on Wednesday,” I sign to the five students who have attended tutoring today.
I watch as they all clean up and start to leave. They each sign thank you as they walk past my desk.
Emily is the last to leave. She waits for everyone to exit and then walks up to my desk. “Ms. Edwards, I want to thank you for all the after-school help. I have never been good at or liked math. You have changed that. I just wanted to say thank you,” she signs.
My heart melts a little. This is why I decided to become a teacher. I had also struggled in math. All it took was one special teacher, Mrs. Morris, my sophomore year math teacher. Because of her, I decided to teach and chose math as well.
“Anytime, Emily! I’m happy it’s helping. Your grades are definitely improving. You have a good evening. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”
Smiling, she nods and leaves the classroom. Never would I have guessed I would be teaching at a deaf school. I met my best friend, Charliee, who is deaf, my junior year of college. She was in one of my classes with an interpreter. I was extremely fascinated and couldn’t stop watching them when they would sign back and forth. It was beautiful to watch.
I have never been shy, and one day after class I ran up to her and introduced myself. After probably a dozen questions, that I shot off so fast I believe the interpreter had a hard time keeping up, we became best friends. Learning sign language seemed to come pretty natural to me. After graduation, we were both offered jobs here at the deaf school. Charliee teaches English and I was offered Math, both of us at the high school level.
Glancing up at the clock, I realize if I don’t get moving, I am going to be late for the meeting. Quickly grabbing my purse and bag, I head for the office, locking my classroom door before speed walking to the meeting I was asked to sit in on about Jacob Tovaren.
Jacob is a great kid. Popular, great student academically. He is athletic and loved by all the girls. Tragedy struck his family a couple weeks ago when a popular Italian restaurant was blown up, killing eighteen people. Among those eighteen were both of Jacob’s parents.
Charliee was there that night as well. The call I received from her parents that night will forever be burned into my memory. I had just gotten out of the shower and was sitting down to enjoy a little television while grading some papers. I was flipping through the channels, not wanting to watch the news, which seemed to be on every channel. I hate watching the news, it’s too depressing.
I had just realized what they were reporting about when my phone rang. It was Charliee’s mom, all frantic, asking me if I had seen the news. Charliee had stopped by the restaurant to grab dinner before heading home. She was seen leaving the place when the bomb went off. They found her under the fallen building and had just rushed her to the hospital.
Her back was badly burned, she had stitches across one of her shoulders and a broken arm, but she was alive. However, she was still in the hospital recovering from her burns.
Hurrying into the front office, I quickly wave at Cindy sitting at the front desk and rush into the principal’s office.
“Sorry I’m late. My tutoring class ran a little over today,” I speak and sign as I enter.
“Slow down, Ms. Edwards, and have a seat. We were just about to get started.” Mr. Lennerd, the principle, pointed to an empty chair.
Turning around to take my seat, I stumble. There standing against the back wall, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes looking me up and down, is a man I’ve never seen before. His eyes are almost as dark as his hair. His skin tanned as though he spends a lot of time outside. Even though he is leaning against the wall I can tell he would tower over me when standing at his full height. His chest, good heavens, his shirt is stretched tight across it outlining the defining muscles, I want to walk over to him and wrap myself against him.
His mouth slants up at one corner as I quickly regain my balance and take my seat.
“Ms. Edwards, are you alright?” Mr. Lennerd asks, bringing my attention back to him.
“Yes, thank you. I’m fine. Foot just got tangled up.” I look over my shoulder, that cocky smile is still there, his eyes are still on me.
“Ms. Edwards, I’d like you to meet Mr. Tovaren,” Mr. Lennerd makes the introduction.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Tovaren.”
He nods but doesn’t move from his spot against the wall. “Call me Cameron. Mr. Tovaren was my father.”
My heart skips a little. I’m just not sure if it’s from the sound of his smooth voice or the mention of his father.
“I’m sorry for your loss. I met your parents a number of times, they were a very nice couple.”
His smile drops, as do his eyes for a moment. I have to fight the urge to go to him and wrap my arms around him. When he looks back up at me, the small smile has returned. It’s all for show. I can tell by the sadness in his eyes.
Our eyes stay locked. Nothing is being said, but I feel a pull to this man. It’s strange, I have never had this kind of feeling over a guy.
The clearing of a throat pulls me out of my trance and my attention away from the dark-haired god leaning against the wall.
“Sorry, Mr. Lennerd, what were you saying?” I look down at my folder in my lap as I speak, hoping to hide my red cheeks.
What is wrong with me? I don’t blush. Guys don’t make me react like a high school girl. Embarrassment is a new feeling for me and I’m not liking it at all.
When I glance up at Mr. Lennerd, my cheeks burn a little more. He is giving me a knowing look. To top everything off, I can feel Cameron’s eyes on my back. I have to fight the urge to glance back over my shoulder again.
“I was saying that Mr. Tovaren…”
“Cameron,” the voice from behind me interrupts Mr. Lennerd.
“I apologize. Cameron has asked for this meeting because Jacob is having some problems with math while he has been out. We had decided, as you know, to put Jacob on home studies for a month while they deal with the family tragedy. Mr. -- I mean Cameron, called me yesterday saying Jacob is struggling with math and doesn’t want to have him fall too far behind. I figured you being his teacher, and I know you hold study groups for your students pretty frequently, that maybe we can work something out to help him out.”
“
Ms. Edwards…” The silky voice pours over me as he says my name. What is wrong with me? Damn, I need to pull myself together.
I turn in my chair, facing Cameron again, he hasn’t moved a muscle. “Please, call me Jayden. Ms. Edwards is for the children.”
His eyes narrow. Yes, Mr. Tovaren, you may have knocked me senseless for a moment, but I bounce back quickly. I speak to him with my eyes. I know he understands by those lips curving just a little more, and his eyes accept the challenge.
He may have knocked me off balance for a moment, but I don’t stay off kilter for long.
“Jayden…” he continues.
It’s a good thing I am sitting because hearing my name with that voice would have had me down on my knees.
“I don’t think my brother is ready to be back at school, even if it’s after school hours.”
“Actually, we were wondering if you could go to the house and tutor him there. That is if you have time,” Mr. Lennerd comes into the conversation.
Looking between the two men in the room, I think about it for a moment. It would probably be hard for Jacob to be around all the kids and their questions. They wouldn’t mean any harm, but they would smother him with it all, and it would definitely be overwhelming for him. I was emotional answering all of their questions about Charliee when it all first happened.
“You are right, coming here would be difficult I’m sure. I have no problem tutoring him at home.”
Pulling a business card out of my bag, I grab a pen off the desk and write down my cell phone number. “Here is my cell number, give me a call and we can set up a schedule.”
When I turn to hand it to Cameron, he is standing right next to me and my hand smacks into his very hard stomach. “I’m sorry.”
His stomach muscles flex under my touch, but when I look up, he looks cool and collected. Very good, Mr. Tovaren, you played it off well. Your face may show no effect from my touch, but your body speaks loud and clear. He is just as affected by me as I am him.
Cameron takes the card from my hand, flipping it over to where I wrote my number. “Thank you. I’ll be calling you soon. I don’t want Jacob to fall too far behind.”