Guiding the Fall

by Christy Hayes

  “I’m not a child, Jack.” But she eased down onto his legs anyway and draped her arms over his shoulders.

  He drew his hand around her back and cupped her breast. “Nope. Definitely not a child.”

  “What have you done?” she asked.

  The fact that she didn’t push his hand away or playfully continue the banter meant she was as worried as he was. “Douglas Napster is flying down from Denver tomorrow. He’s an administrative lawyer with a specialty in school regulation.”

  “He’s flying in? Tomorrow? Don’t you think that’s a little extreme? The hearing date hasn’t even been set.”

  “No, I think it’s prudent. I think it’s what I should have done from the very beginning.” He kissed her on the neck and let her scent ease the furious pounding of his blood. He hated that some small town superintendent and no good parent could make her feel so low. “Did you call your brother?”

  “No. I wanted to talk to you first. Are you calm enough to talk about this?”

  “What’s to talk about? You need help from a competent attorney. I’ve secured that for you and I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  “I’m not sure parading a corporate attorney from Denver is the best way to go. This isn’t the big city. I’ll probably be deemed guilty for calling in the big guns.”

  “First of all, Napster explained that the hearing doesn’t determine guilt or innocence. It simply gives each party another chance to tell their side of the story, including the investigator, who can present evidence from her written report.” He wouldn’t tell her he’d had to threaten the man into coming himself when he’d suggested his most capable associate. Jack didn’t even want to examine the panic that had taken hold of him since Olivia had dropped the bomb at dinner. “Napster thinks the super got wind of the investigator’s recommendation and didn’t like it. A hearing is her last shot at administrative action against you.”

  “So he thinks the investigation was in my favor?”

  “Either that or there wasn’t enough evidence to support the claim.”

  “That’s good, right?”

  “If that’s the reason for the hearing. Either way, it doesn’t matter. He’s good and he’ll be here tomorrow. Sometimes the threat of a countersuit can stop the hearing before it gets started.”

  “A countersuit? For what?”

  “Defamation of character. A civil suit against her for your loss of income and the delay in your degree.”

  “I would never do that, Jack. He’s a kid. He used incredibly poor judgment and I hope, after all this, he’s learned a valuable lesson, but I’m not going to countersue.”

  “I don’t think you should take any option off the table right now.”

  “It’s not up to you. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I appreciate your help, but I’m not sure about using Mr. Napster.”

  “Olivia.” He cupped her cheeks and brought her face in line with his. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. A lawyer is a lawyer, but they specialize for a reason. It’s not going to make you look guilty for having an experienced and well-prepared attorney on your side; it’s going to make you look innocent. You are innocent, and we’re going to make sure this is the end of the road.”

  “You’re not going to budge on this, are you?” She dropped her forehead to rest on his. “This isn’t going to help with Tommy. He’s going to be pissed when you swoop in with your fancy out-of-town lawyer.”

  “Do you really think I give a damn about anything but you?”

  She leaned in and kissed him, just a brush of her lips against his. “Why are you doing this, Jack?”

  The words were out of his mouth before he even had time to think. “I protect what’s mine.”

  Chapter 41

  Jill called Olivia as she hung up an apron on the peg in the kitchen. She figured they’d commiserate over their shared waitressing duties since the Pizza Den had a waitress call in sick. She didn’t expect to find Olivia huffing onthe other end of the line.

  “Why are you breathing so hard?” Jill asked. “Is bussing tables really that taxing?”

  “I’m not bussing tables,” Olivia explained. “I’m walking.”

  “Walking where? Did your car break down?”

  “I needed some air.”

  “Wait,” Jill said. “You’re walking and no one is holding a gun to your head? What’s going on?”

  “I know,” Olivia laughed. “Can you believe it? I’m walking around Jack’s property. He was supposed to come with me, but he got a stuck on a call. I was restless, so I went ahead without him.”

  “What is going on?” Jill demanded. “You don’t get restless or take walks.”

  “Oh, Jill, everything is so messed up.”

  Jill leaned against the Den’s brick wall and watched the leaves fall as Olivia caught her up to date and told her about the meeting she and Jack had with the attorney that morning. Jill picked up a large red leaf and marveled at the color before tossing it on the ground with the others. “It sounds like the attorney from Denver isn’t worried at all.”

  “He’s not. It’s pretty clear this is way beneath him. God only knows how much Jack paid him to fly down this morning. He’s already back in Denver.”

  “Jack’s got plenty of money, but he sure is expending a lot of time and energy for someone he’s only sleeping with.”

  “He cares about me. He’s also got a ton of money and he gets bored easily. This is another project for him to work on, another problem to solve.”

  “So, you’re just an interesting puzzle he’s working on at the moment?”

  “It doesn’t always end with a waltz down the aisle, Jill. You newlyweds tend to forget that.”

  Jill needed to tone down her prying. Olivia was upset and she didn’t need Jill poking at an open wound. “You’re right. I’m being snarky because I’m worried about you. You’re under a lot of stress and I get that, but I think the case is being handled.”

  “It is.”

  “You’ve been under a lot of stress before and you’ve never strapped on a pair of tennis shoes and hit the pavement.”

  “I’m in the woods.”

  “A technicality. I think it’s this thing with Jack that has you upset.”

  The pause told her more than enough before Olivia said, “You’re so obnoxious when you’re right.”

  “Tell me,” Jill pleaded. “I want to help, Olivia. You sound so sad.”

  “I do? I’m not sad, not really. I’m just…confused. He has me so torn up inside.”

  “How?”

  “It doesn’t feel like a short-term arrangement. We agreed to just sex, but that’s not what if feels like.”

  “What does it feel like?” Jill asked. She closed her eyes so she could not only listen, but try to feel what Olivia was experiencing.

  “It feels like a relationship. He doesn’t want me sleeping at the apartment. I spend every night at his house. When we make love, Jill, he’s so tender. Not always. He’s fun and he’s so cocky. He feels like he’s got a lot to prove, but he treats me with such reverence. No one has ever made me feel so special, so worshiped. I know he’s been with more exciting women, women with fabulous lives and careers, but he listens when I talk. And he makes me laugh.”

  “Olivia, honey, you’re in love with him.”

  “No. No, I can’t be. I won’t.”

  “You don’t have any choice. Your heart doesn’t care what your mind has to say.”

  “I knew going in this was a risk, but I never thought I’d fall so hard so fast.”

  “How does he feel?” Jill asked.

  “I’m not sure. We never talk about our feelings or the future, but he says things that make me wonder how much he cares. He could be the kind of guy who goes all in at whatever he’s doing at the moment. That’s how he made his money—by jumping in and risking everything.”

  “Don’t you think it’s time to have an honest conversation with him? When I was stressing out about my feel
ings for Ty, he felt the same. If we’d only talked about it, it would have saved us so much anxiety and grief.”

  “Everybody knew how Ty felt about you. The only one surprised he asked you to marry him was you.”

  Obviously Jill needed to talk to someone with an objective opinion of Olivia and Jack. “So you’re not going to talk to him?”

  “No. As big of a risk I took in starting something with him, I’m not willing to risk losing it by pushing too hard or by changing the terms of our agreement. I know I’m going to get my heart broken in the end, but I’m not going to push him away any sooner.”

  “Olivia…”

  “I’ll be fine, Jill. You just caught me in the middle of a pity party. Oh, hey!” Jill heard Olivia give someone a kiss. “Jack caught up to me. I’ve got to go.”

  Fine, Jill thought. Go pretend to be carefree and unattached. She’d do her own digging. She knew just who to call.

  When Lyle answered with a barking hello, Jill had to wonder what had crawled up his butt. Hadn’t he seen her name on his display? “Hello to you, too,” she said. “What is with everybody today?”

  “Sorry. What do you mean ‘everybody’?”

  “I just talked to Olivia. She’s not herself, either.”

  “I am myself, but I’m in a bad mood,” Lyle explained.

  “Why are you in a bad mood? You’re never in a bad mood.”

  “It’s a long story.”

  “Too long to tell your oldest friend? I called you, remember? This goes on my phone bill.”

  “True enough. I’m in a bad mood because Erica is too stubborn to let me in.”

  “Jack’s sister?”

  “I swear, Jill, she’s got me by the throat.”

  “My goodness, the Forrester family has certainly made an impression on my two best friends.”

  “You could say that.”

  “So why won’t she let you in? Does this have something to do with her past?”

  “I think it does. Mom said I need to stay steady and wait for her to come to me.”

  “That sounds like good advice. I suppose it’s hard to stay steady when someone’s got you by the throat,” Jill said.

  “She’s testing my patience.”

  “You’ve got more than most.”

  “I used to think so. Enough about me,” he said. “Are you calling to make sure I haven’t spilled the beans?”

  “No. I trust you not to tell. I’m calling because I just got off the phone with Olivia and I’m worried about her.”

  “I know. Can you believe the trouble that little brat caused? She’s pretty shaken up.”

  “I think that lawyer Jack hired made her feel better.”

  “Yeah, you should have heard people talk. He flew down from Denver on a corporate jet.”

  “You know as well as anyone how much money Jack has.”

  “Enough to where this won’t set him back, that’s for sure.”

  “Still,” Jill prodded. She had to lead Lyle where she wanted him to go. Men didn’t pick up on subtle cues. “Don’t you think it was awfully generous for him to fly in an attorney for Olivia?”

  “He can afford to be generous.”

  “Afford it, sure, but why bother? It’s not like they have a real relationship.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, do you really think they’ll continue to see one another after you’re done with your research?”

  “I don’t know. I know he’s itching to get the hell out of the valley.”

  “Why?”

  “We’re not accessible. He’s trapped at home unless Erica or Olivia drive him somewhere. He’s way too independent for that to continue much longer.”

  “Do you think Olivia’s going to get her heart broken when he leaves?”

  “How do I know? I’ve barely seen her since they hooked up. She stays over there at night and only comes home to shower and change.”

  “That sounds serious. It sounds like they’re living together.”

  “I guess,” he said. “When you and Ty were hooking up, didn’t you two spend most nights together, too?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “But what? I hate to break it to you, Jill, but Olivia’s a big girl. And Jack, well, Jack gets what he wants no matter who he hurts in the process. He wants Olivia.”

  Jill began to panic. “What do you mean ‘no matter who he hurts in the process’? What do you know?”

  “Nothing. I just meant that he goes after what he wants. If he has to step on someone to get there, he doesn’t care who gets hurt.”

  “You don’t sound like you like or trust him very much?”

  “Let’s just say he’s got a past, too. When he moved on to bigger and better, he never looked back,” Lyle said.

  Oh, no. Olivia was doomed. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “Sorry to sound so rough on him, but I’ve got to keep it objective when I’m interviewing him. When I’m not, I have to vent.”

  “Do me a favor, Lyle, and call me when you need to vent.” Lyle knew more than most about Jack Forrester. Jill may live across the country, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to protect her best friend. Olivia needed someone looking out for her.

  Chapter 42

  Tommy was surprised a pretty brunette answered Jack’s door. He knew Olivia was there. Her car was in the drive, and Lyle had confirmed she hadn’t slept at home in weeks. What was the man doing? Tommy wondered. Running a den of debauchery? “I’m looking for Olivia Golden,” he said.

  The brunette gave him the once over in a none-too-friendly way before stepping aside and calling for Olivia. Olivia appeared at her side in moments. The women stood shoulder to shoulder like two opposite sides of a coin: one light colored and slender, the other dark and curvaceous. If he hadn’t been so pissed at his sister, he may have made more of an attempt to be nice to the brunette.

  “What are you doing here?” Olivia demanded.

  Typical for Olivia to know he was pissed before he ever opened his mouth. “I want to talk to you. Since you’re never home, I figured I’d find you here.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You mean ambush me here.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “What do you want?”

  “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Tommy asked. Considering the woman hadn’t backed away, he figured the least Olivia could do was give him her name.

  “Erica Forrester, this is my brother, Tommy Golden.”

  Erica nodded at Tommy. “Nice to meet you,” she said and disappeared, leaving Olivia scowling at the threshold.

  “You’re not going to invite me in?” Tommy asked.

  “No. It’s not my house.” She stepped outside and closed the door. “What’s going on? If you wanted to talk to me, you could have called.”

  Tommy kicked some dirt with the toe of his shoe. She wouldn’t make it easy. Fine, he thought, he’d get right to the point. “How’d the meeting go with the attorney yesterday?”

  “It went fine. He’s confident the hearing is a last ditch effort by Dr. Hell. He’s going to send his own investigator down. It’s handled.”

  “Better than Mitchell Garrity?”

  “I don’t know, Tommy. How many school hearings has Garrity worked? Because this guy, Napster, he’s handled a ton.”

  “Good for him.” Tommy turned around and eyed the pastures on the sprawling property. He wondered just where the tower would go up. “Is your boyfriend around?”

  “Jack?” The circumspect look on her face spoke volumes. “He’s inside working. Why?”

  “I’d like to meet him. You’re sleeping with him, you’re here all the time, he’s paying for your lawyer. Can’t the man spare a couple of minutes to meet your brother?”

  As if he were summoned, the door jerked open and Jack appeared. He was taller than Tommy remembered and certainly broader. The guy had probably twenty pounds of sheer muscle on his frame. “Olivia?” Jack wrapped an arm around her waist. “Erica said your
brother’s here.”

  Olivia swallowed, as if gathering her nerve. “Jack Forrester, meet Tommy Golden.”

  Tommy grasped Jack’s outstretched hand. The man had a grip of steel. “Welcome to the valley,” Tommy said. “How long do you plan to stick around?”

  Olivia took an audible breath that Tommy ignored.

  “Until my work here is finished.”

  “What work is that?” Tommy asked. “Besides my sister.”

  “Your sister isn’t work. The rest is, and I’m sure you already know the answer. So why don’t you say what you came to say and stop wasting our time.”

  The guy didn’t back down from a challenge, that was obvious. “I live here. A wind farm in the middle of an agricultural area that also happens to be in the path of migrating birds isn’t welcome. If you intend to go through with the wind farm, I intend to fight you every step of the way.”

  “Why is everyone around here so dead set against progress?” Jack asked. “The ski development and exploring alternative forms of power could transform the valley. You can delay the inevitable, but you can’t stop it.”

  “We can and we are. If you don’t want us to add your project to the list, I’d suggest you put a stop to this study right now.”

  “My business decisions are made based on research and analytics, not emotion. I’ll conduct the wind study, analyze the findings, and proceed from there. A coalition of small-minded locals who fight progress at every turn isn’t going to stop me.”

  “Perhaps,” Tommy said and drew the word out as if he were too stupid to realize the man had just called him small minded. “But the county has to issue a permit for the temporary tower.”

  “Is that a threat? If you think I’m going to tuck tail and run because you have some pull with the local authorities, you’re mistaken. I don’t want to have to call in the big guns, but I will.”

  “Like you did with Olivia?” Tommy asked as his blood boiled. The smug son of a bitch had an answer for everything.

  “I have a sister, Mr. Golden, so I understand where your loyalties lie, but I called an attorney for Olivia because I care. I’d rather not leave her future up to chance.”