Olivia’s gaze snagged on the silhouette of a man standing outside her living room window. She sucked in a sharp breath and let out a scream loud enough to resurrect the dead.
Chapter Twelve
“Olivia!” Erik yelled, pounding on her door.
Terror spread through Olivia. Another scream escaped. Her wild eyes darted back and forth between the window and the door. The person who’d been standing at her window had vanished. She leapt up from the couch and darted toward the door. Certain her heart would come out of her chest at any moment, she turned the lock and swung it open. Olivia thrust herself into Erik’s chest, nearly sending both of them backward. Audra’s carry-on bag flew out of his hand and across the floor. His arms immediately wrapped around her, holding her tight, and she clung to him for dear life.
Within seconds, Audra was at her side. “What’s the matter? What’s going on?”
Not really wanting to, Olivia loosened her hold on Erik, but fear compelled her to not let go of him completely. She needed the security his strong arms provided. Removing one arm from around his waist, she pointed toward the living room window. “I,” she swallowed down the clump of fright sticking in her throat. “I saw a man standing out there.”
Erik gently removed her arm from around him, then sprinted toward the window. He looked both ways before returning to where Olivia stood glued to the spot. “Stay here. I’ll be back. I’m going to check outside.”
“No!” Olivia yanked on his arm.
Erik looked down at her. Prying her fingers off is arm, his face hardened with concern. “It’ll be okay. I’ll be careful.” With that he stepped outside the opened door and into the darkness.
Olivia looped elbows with Audra. What she really wanted to do was run after Erik, but fear firmly cemented her in place. What if something happened to Erik too? Would she lose yet another loved one?
Loved one?
The realization that she loved him slammed into her like a fist to the gut. “No,” she whimpered. “No.”
“What’s wrong?” Alarm rang through Audra’s voice.
“I can’t. I just can’t.”
“You can’t what?” Audra tugged on Olivia’s chin until her eyes met hers. “Liv, what are you talking about?”
Tears pooled in her eyes. “I—I love Erik.”
♥♥♥♥
When Erik arrived at the front door of Olivia’s cottage, he couldn’t believe his ears. Olivia loved him? That revelation revved up his heart several rpms.
“I can’t love him, Audie. I just can’t.”
Those same raised rpms seized like a frozen engine block. Why? he wanted to ask, but if she knew he was listening, she’d probably freak.
“Everyone I’ve ever loved, died.”
“Oh, thanks. So you’re saying you don’t love me?” Audra asked, clearly trying to lighten the moment.
“You know what I mean.” Frustration pushed through her voice.
“No, I don’t. You keep saying that, but I’m still here. And I’ve been here for over twenty years. Livvy, you’ve got to let go of the past. You have to take a chance. Erik seems like a wonderful guy. Don’t throw a chance at real love away.”
Yeah. Listen to the woman, Olivia. He heard a weird sort of nervous chuckle.
“Well, I guess I don’t really have to worry about that. He sees me as just a friend. At first, that’s all I wanted. But, now. I’m not so sure. Oh, Audie. All of this is so confusing. How can a person fall in love with someone in just three weeks? Especially someone like me who’s sworn never to love anyone again.” Olivia blew out a puffy breath while shaking her head furiously. “Besides Erik is my boss. And I refuse to jeopardize what I have here for something that makes absolutely no sense. Loving Erik is simply out of the question. That’s all there is too it.”
Erik decided that was his cue to enter. Only he needed to give them advanced notice of his arrival so as not to frighten them further. “Olivia.” He stepped into the house. She whirled, and all color fled from her face. As hard as it was not to react to what she’d said, he didn’t want to embarrass her. “I searched the grounds and didn’t see anyone.” Not wanting to scare her further, he deliberately left out his findings.
She rubbed her eyes. “This has been a long, emotional day. Maybe I just imagined seeing someone.”
It wasn’t her imagination, but Erik refused to upset her further by telling her that. After he’d grabbed a flashlight out of his truck, he’d gone around back. He followed a set of large footprints around the house and into the wooded area. Whoever Olivia saw had fled.
♥♥♥♥
Much to her dismay, Olivia’ insides were still trembling. When she told them it must have been her imagination, she knew it hadn’t been. Someone had definitely been outside her window. She cut a glance at Erik. His presence helped ease her trembling insides and her fear.
“Would y’all like a cup of coffee? Or some ice-cold lemonade?” she offered, not wanting Erik to leave.
One of his eyebrows spiked, and he studied her as if he were contemplating what to do. “If you’re not too tired, I’d love a glass of lemonade.”
Some of the knots in her stomach unraveled. “No, it’s not too late.”
“I’d love some too,” Audra piped in. “But, hey, why don’t y’all go sit down and let me get it?”
Bless her heart. Olivia knew what her friend was up to. They’d lived together long enough that Audra knew when Olivia was still scared. But still, Audie was her guest, and Olivia wanted to wait on her. “Thanks for the offer. But I can get it. Besides, you don’t even know where the glasses are.”
Audra tsked. “Well, duh. How hard can it be?” She smiled, her eyes twinkling with mirth. “There are only so many cupboards in a kitchen. And I’m assuming the lemonade is in the fridge, and the ice is in the icebox. And if it isn’t, then you’ve got one whale of a water puddle somewhere.” Audra laughed, obviously pleased with herself. “Please, Liv. Let me do this. I’d feel better if you went and sat down.”
Olivia couldn’t refuse the pleading look in her eyes. Besides, her knees were still weak from the ordeal. She nodded. “Thank you.”
Audra smiled, then bolted toward the kitchen.
Olivia looked over at Erik. “Would you like to sit down?”
“Sounds good.” Erik took her elbow and led her toward the sofa.
An hour and half breezed by, and the fear had finally subsided. Erik offered to stay and sleep on the couch, but Olivia declined his kind offer, convincing him that she was fine now and that Audra was here with her. Reluctantly he left with the promise that they would call him if they needed him. Exhausted from the stressful ordeals of the day, Olivia fell into bed.
The next morning, at Erik’s arena, Olivia breathed in the tepid morning air filled with fuel, grease, dirt, coffee, and something sweet. Men, women, and children milled about getting autographs and snapping pictures of themselves next to the monster trucks and their drivers.
As Olivia and Audra wove their way through the maze of monster trucks to get to Erik’s, Olivia felt like a dwarf amongst all the mammoth vehicles. They strolled up to the Mad Masher.
“Oh, Livvy! This is your best one ever.” Audra stood back, admiring Olivia’s masterpiece. “I love those eyes. He looks like he’s fixin’ to take a chunk out of those cars.”
“She did a fabulous job, didn’t she?” The admiration in Erik’s eyes was worth all of the hard work she’d put into this project. “I think I’ll keep her around.”
Something about the way he looked at her and the way he said he’d ‘keep her around’ made her wonder if his words held a double connotation. Oh, please, Olivia. Get a grip. Just because you think you love him doesn’t mean he feels that way about you. Anyway, you need to nip those feelings in the bud. It’s not going anywhere and you know it.
“Well, I’m up next. I’d better get ready.”
Olivia watched Erik put on his fire gear and guzzle a bottle of Gatorade. Audra and O
livia stepped back when he ducked underneath the fiberglass body and climbed up inside the Mad Masher. When he fired up the truck, Audra’s hands flew to her ears. Not Olivia. She loved hearing the monster truck’s massive roar. Olivia grabbed Audra’s hand and tugged her forward. “C’mon. Let’s grab a seat in the stands so we can watch him.”
They ran to the grandstands and climbed several stairs. “Where ya going?” Audra puffed. “What’s wrong with the seats down below?”
“I want to get up high enough so I can see him.”
They sat on the dark blue wooden bench. Olivia leaned forward, waiting for the announcer to call Erik’s name. From where she sat, she could see Erik’s truck on the left entrance, and a big black monster truck on the right.
“Coming up next is Erik Cole in the Mad Masher. He’s one of the tough ones to beat today. Along with Brody Taylor in the Extreme-a-nator.”
Cheers rose from the crowd. A young man stood up in front of Olivia.
“Hey, sit down!” she yelled, shocking both him and herself.
His mother pulled him down. “Sorry.”
Olivia sent her a polite smile and returned her attention to the race just in time to see both monster trucks come speeding down the arena.
“Here they come now racing down thunder alley folks, over sixty miles an hour,” the announcer yelled, his voice blazing with excitement. “Into the turn,” he continued as Olivia watched them slow down and make a sharp turn. “O-o-h this looks pretty even,” the man continued.
The left front and back wheel on Erik’s truck raised off the ground about a foot. Olivia clutched the seat and held back a scream. Her hands relaxed the second Erik righted the massive beast. The loud roar of the trucks when they hammered it, as Erik called it, sent goose bumps racing up and down Olivia’s spine. In eager anticipation, she gripped the bleacher chair with her hands, cutting off the circulation in them. Both drivers, now neck-and-neck, hit a dirt ramp.
“This is close folks.”
It sure is, Olivia agreed with the loudspeaker. Every muscle in her body tensed with excitement.
Their trucks flew, noses first, up into the air, a good twenty feet or more.
Olivia fought the urge to stand, especially after she’d just yelled at the boy in front of her for doing that very same thing. Chills raced up and down her spine as her adrenaline shifted into high gear. She held her breath as she watched Erik’s truck lunge over the finish line. The front wheels hit seconds before the rear wheels. A couple of short bounces and it was over. Olivia jumped to her feet, clapping her approval.
“What a race!” The voice over the loud speaker bellowed. “Brody Taylor won, but not by much.”
Olivia tuned out the announcer and grabbed her friend’s hand, yanking her up. “C’mon, Audra.” They hurried down the steps and ran toward the contestants’ pit, carefully making their way to where Erik had parked.
Erik climbed out, removed his helmet and gloves, and slid out of the fireproof suit. Ben stepped up and handed him another Gatorade. While Erik guzzled the drink, Olivia noticed Ben looking at her. Instead of his usual friendly manner, his eyes were glazed with animosity. Erik must have talked to him about stopping by to see her every morning. After that day Erik showed up and Ben looked uncomfortable, Ben hadn’t been back. But she had no idea it would make him this angry.
The way he continued to glare at her made her nervous. She tore her gaze from him and put it on Erik. “Wow. You must have been thirsty.” She stepped closer to him.
“I have to drink a lot before and after driving. Because of the fire suit you can get dehydrated really fast. That’s probably our biggest concern. Trust me, getting dehydrated is no fun.”
“Hey, bubba!” Camara threw herself at her brother. He picked her up and swung her around before planting her back on the ground. “Great job! Nice save back there.”
Chase grabbed Erik’s hand, then pulled him into a hug. “Pretty fancy drivin’.”
“Not good enough. Brody beat me.”
“Well, you can get him in the freestyle.” Camara’s voice oozed with confidence.
Chase and Camara turned toward Olivia.
“Good to see you again,” Camara said.
“You too.”
Camara’s gaze shifted toward Audra.
“Where are my manners? Camara, this is Audra, Audra this is Camara.”
“Nice to meet you.” They met in the middle of the little group and shook hands.
Camara stepped back beside Chase. “This is my husband Chase.”
Audra shook Chase’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Chase nodded.
Olivia’s hungry stomach chose that moment to growl. She looked around to see if anyone else had heard it. Much to her relief, no one seemed to notice it because of all the noise around them. “How long until the next event?”
“They’ll start in about an hour. They’re bringing in some cars and stuff now.” Erik turned toward the workers who were unloading a bright red, giant storage container.
In fear of her perpetually growling stomach, Olivia anchored her arms across her middle. “Well, I’m going to go find something to eat. I’m famished.”
“Me, too,” Erik, Audra, Camara, and Chase all said.
Everyone laughed.
“You can’t be too hungry yet.” Erik’s teasing voice yanked her attention his direction.
“Oh yeah?” She planted her hands on her hips. “And why is that?”
“Cuz I haven’t heard that stomach of yours roar yet.”
Whether it was guilt or embarrassment, Olivia wasn’t sure, but heat rushed into her cheeks.
“Ah ha. I knew it.” He looked so pleased with himself. “It did rumble. You just lucked out. With all of the noise around here, none of us heard it.”
“That’s a first,” she mumbled under her breath. Why did she have to have a stomach that alerted the whole world to her hunger? It was downright embarrassing. She should be used to it by now, but she wasn’t. Avoiding direct eye contact with anyone, she said, “Audra and I are going to the concession stand. You want us to bring anything back? Or did y’all want to go with us?”
“I need to check some things here.” Erik nodded his head toward the Mad Masher. His pit crew was already wrenching on the truck. She learned that term from Erik. It just meant working on it, but the monster truck drivers couldn’t be that ordinary about anything. “Would you mind bringing me something back?” he asked.
“Of course I don’t mind. I’m happy to do it.” Olivia felt her lips curl upward.
Erik stuck his hand inside the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a money clip. “I’d like a couple of foot long chili-cheese dogs and a large, fresh-squeezed lemonade.” He removed the clip, peeled off two bills, and handed her two twenties.
Olivia stared at the money. “Dogs cost that much?” She gasped, looking at him.
“No, I want to treat everyone to lunch.”
“I can get mine,” Olivia said quickly.
“I know you can, but I wanna buy. Please?” His dipped chin, sad puppy dog eyes, and protruding lips tempted her to want to kiss him. Disgusted with herself for getting carried away with her emotions, she stopped herself from rolling her eyes at herself and her wondering imagination.
“Okay. What does everyone want?” She looked at Audra. “Help me keep all of this straight.”
“I’ll go, too, if y’all don’t mind.” Camara stepped closer to them.
“No, not at all.” It blessed Olivia that Camara wanted to go with them. There’s that word blessed again. Ugh. She needed to get him and his comments out of her head, or her heart wasn’t going to have any chance at all.
After taking their orders, the three of them made their way to the long concession stand line where they chatted like they’d known each other forever. Olivia really liked Camara. In fact, she’d love to have her for a sister. Ack! Stop this nonsense. I don’t want to love anyone—not now, not ever. So why was she allowi
ng such ridiculous thoughts to even enter her mind?
“Don’t you think so, Livvy?”
Olivia blinked. Didn’t she think so what? What had she missed this time?
“Were you daydreaming again, girlfriend?” Audra looped elbows.
Olivia knew her flushed cheeks were giving her away.
Audra tucked her chin to her neck and peered up at her.
“Okay, okay. Yes, I was daydreaming again. So there. Are you happy now?” Olivia feigned aggravation.
“What were ya dreamin’ about?” Camara asked. She stuck the tip of her straw in her mouth and took a drink, never taking her eyes off of Olivia as they headed back.
Olivia’s face flamed. No way would she tell Camara what she was thinking. She could just see it now. Oh yeah, by the way. I’m in love with your brother and I want you for a sister-in-law. Lands o’ Goshen. That would certainly go over big.
The toe of Olivia’s shoe snagged on a clump of dirt. Instinctively, she hoisted the food carriers upward. They teetered precariously as she scrambled to maintain her balance.
“Oh, Livvy! Are you okay?” Audra reached to right her.
With lightning quickness, she regained control of her body. “Is that all anyone can ever say to me?” She chuckled nervously.
“What do you mean?” Camara questioned her. Her big brown eyes, so like Erik’s, focused on Olivia’s face.
“Oh nothing.” She bobbled her head. “It’s just that I’m forever finding myself in a pickle.”
“Ooo. I know that one. Me, too.” Camara giggled, then puffed her bangs out of the way.
It was then that Olivia noticed the scar above Camara’s eye. “Erik told me that you nearly died. Do you mind if I ask what happened?”
Coming Home: (Contemporary Christian Romance Boxed Set): Three Stories of Love, Faith, Struggle & Hope Page 13