The shrill ring of Olivia’s cell phone startled her back to reality. She bent over and dug through the bag lying at her feet. Liam’s hand left her shoulder, taking with it the warmth his touch provided. She shuddered as the chill from her damp clothes crept inside her bones.
“Hello?”
“I’m fine. I got a ride with a friend.”
“Why does it matter? I said a friend is bringing me home.”
“If you cared so much, then maybe you should have been here to pick me up yourself! It’s pouring outside!”
“I realize you’re not the weather man, but some people did know it was going to rain. And they don’t hold a degree in meteorology!”
Olivia glanced over at Liam, embarrassed he heard her conversation. The hard set of his jaw and his white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel told her he knew exactly who she was talking to and he wasn’t happy about it.
“No, I don’t want you to come and get me. I have plans tonight anyway.”
“No, not with Liam. Why would you even say that?”
“Well, I’m sorry. I already made plans with Ashley. We’re having a girls’ night. If you wanted to see me so badly, why haven’t you returned any of my calls for the past three days?”
“Max—” Olivia sighed in exasperation. “I gotta go.” She closed her phone and slipped it inside her bag. “He hung up,” she mumbled, waiting for Liam to say something like “I told you he was an ass.” Right about now, she wouldn’t disagree.
“You should get out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold.” His gentle voice didn’t hold even a hint of boasting or self-satisfaction. Liam reached behind her and grabbed the towel she’d tossed behind the seat. His hard, muscular chest pressed against her shoulder. It was the same amazing wall of muscle she remembered running into at the gym. His scent engulfed her in an embrace that left her head spinning. “Sit forward,” his husky command sent shivers of delight racing up her spine. She leaned ahead, and he wrapped the towel around her shoulders. “I’ll take you home.”
Olivia watched him out of the corner of her eye as he drove down the road. Is this guy for real? He’s so thoughtful and considerate—pretty much the exact opposite of Max.
“Would you like a ride to school tomorrow?” Liam asked, pulling into the driveway. “I could bring you until your car gets fixed.”
“How did you know my car isn’t working?”
“Cuz you’re not driving it, and the hood is up.”
“Oh.” Maybe if she would have been looking at the driveway instead of staring at him, she would have seen that. Liam laughed. It was a rich, musical sound that brought a smile to her lips.
“Did you think I was some crazy stalker or something?”
“Or something,” she teased.
“So, do you want me to pick you up?”
“Umm…that’s okay. Max will probably take me. He usually ends up doing something nice after he’s been a jerk.”
Liam brushed the back of his hand against her cheek. A rush of heat ran down her neck and settled deep inside her chest. She resisted the sudden urge to lean into his touch.
“You deserve better than him, Olivia.” His thumb gently caressed the side of her cheek before he pulled his hand away, leaving a brief pang of disappointment in the pit of her stomach.
“Why would you say that? You don’t even know him. Are you ever going to tell me what that fight was about?”
Liam remained silent as he returned her pointed stare. Clearly, he had no intention of discussing the matter with her. She huffed with frustration. “I didn’t think so. Thanks for the ride,” Olivia opened the door to climb out of the car. She started to take the towel off her shoulders when he held up his hands to stop her.
“Keep it.”
Olivia wasn’t sure why she did, or even why she wanted to, but she wrapped the towel back around her shoulders and climbed out of the car. The minute her foot touched the ground, the rain instantly stopped. Every cloud in the sky disappeared before she reached the house.
Chapter Ten
Ashley talked non-stop, ever since she’d picked Olivia up for their night out. She was only half listening, not that Ashley would notice anyway. Her encounter with Liam this afternoon still consumed her thoughts. For hours after she got home, Olivia would swear she smelled his scent on her.
“So, what’s up with you and Nate?” Olivia interrupted in a pathetic attempt to take her mind off Liam.
Ashley frowned, looking over at her. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on! You don’t see it? He’s practically falling all over you. So are you going to throw him a bone or what?”
“I don’t know. He’s a really great friend. I’m just not sure I want to cross that line, ya know? I’d hate for things to get awkward.”
“He’s a lot better guy than most of the losers that hang out here,” Olivia nodded toward the crowd lined up in front of Waterworks as they pulled into the packed parking lot. Ashley didn’t answer her, the bass from the club vibrating inside the car. When she looked over, Ashley was already swaying to the beat of the music.
“This is going to be so awesome!” Ashley climbed out of the car and dashed toward the crowd. “Hurry up, Liv! The line to get in isn’t getting any shorter.”
They’d been waiting in line for almost fifteen minutes when Olivia noticed a guy with dark brown hair come stumbling out the door with his arm slung over the shoulders of a beautiful tall blonde woman. They turned and walked toward the parking lot, giving her a profile shot to the couple. Olivia’s heart stopped.
“Max?” she called loudly.
The guy stumbled to an abrupt halt. Even from across the parking lot, she saw his spine stiffen, shoulders squared. He pulled his arm off the blonde and slowly turned toward her. The intoxicated woman gave him a surprised look, staggered over to a nearby car, and leaned against the hood, obviously lacking the coordination to ambulate independently.
Max swaggered over to Olivia, wearing a shit-eating grin. If this was his “I’m sorry” face, it sucked royal ass. He looked more like the cat that ate the canary. Olivia was pretty sure if she looked close enough, she’d see a few yellow pin-feathers poking out of those gleaming white teeth.
“Hey, Liv…” That unmistakable drunken slur thickened his voice. He reached out and tried to pull her into his arms. She side-stepped his reach, the sour smell of alcohol turning her stomach. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Her shrill voice drew the eyes of everyone in the parking lot. She could feel them staring at her, but she was too pissed off to care. What she did care about, though, was that she just busted her no-good, lying, cheating boyfriend with another woman!
“I was just having a few drinks with some friends,” Max tried to explain, making another failed grab for her.
“Yeah, girlfriends!”
“Cindy isn’t my girlfriend. You know I’ve only got eyes for you.” This time when he reached for her, he moved with surprisingly accurate speed. She yanked her arm back, his fingertips grazing her bicep.
“Yeah, and hands for every other tramp in this place,” Ashley chimed in sarcastically.
Max spun toward Ashley. His glare sent a shiver of dread up Olivia’s spine. “Shut up, Bitch!”
Ashley recoiled in surprise, and Olivia stepped in front of her, shoving herself between her friend and Max. Her own temper flared in Ashley’s defense and she poked her finger into his chest, backing him off. By now a small crowd started to gather, and the larger of the two bouncers walked toward them.
“You know what, I don’t even want to talk to you when you’re like this! Why don’t you just leave? I hope you and your piece of ass are very happy together!”
She turned around to walk away, and Max grabbed her arm so fast, she didn’t even see him move. His fingers bit into her bicep with brutal strength. She bit down her lip to keep from crying out as he jerked her up against his rock hard chest, his black eyes shimmering with hatred.
Olivia
’s heart hammered inside her chest. Suddenly, she wasn’t so sure he wouldn’t haul off and hit her. She’d never seen him like this before, so furious, so out of control.
His top lip curled back in a snarl. “I said she’s just a friend!”
Adrenaline rushed through her veins, her fight or flight screaming at her to run, but she knew she’d never be able to break his grip on her arm. “Oww, Max. You’re hurting me,” she whispered, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.
“Is there a problem here?” A large hand lay heavily on Max’s shoulder. “I think you’d better take your hands off the lady.”
With blinding speed, Max let go of her arm, whipped around, and sent an upper cut into the bouncer’s jaw. The man flew through the air, all two hundred pounds of him. If Olivia hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she’d have never believed a man his size could catch air like that. He landed unconscious into the crowd of people behind them.
A scream rent the air, and she realized it was coming from her. A higher pitched wail grew louder by the second. Someone must have called 911—thank God. Max turned back to Olivia. “I’ll call you tomorrow.” He walked away, leaving her and the drunk blonde across the parking lot staring at him in open-mouth shock.
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Don’t bother,” she called after him.
“What was that you said about losers?” Ashley asked, taking Olivia’s arm and guiding her away from the crowd. “You still want to go inside?”
Olivia nodded, even though it was the last thing she wanted to do. If she went home right now, all she’d do was cry herself to sleep, and Max would win. Obviously, he wasn’t going to lose any sleep over her, so why should she disappoint Ashley and let him ruin her plans?
***
It took less than five minutes for Liam to reach the club. Whatever had set Olivia off hadn’t lasted long. Her fear already subsided into an undercurrent of anger and sadness, filling him with a restless need to see her, to make sure she was all right. Even though she may be physically safe, emotionally, she was not well. As he pulled into the parking lot of Waterworks, he saw an ambulance loading a man into the back of the rig.
Liam jumped out of the Camaro and blew past the crowd of people waiting in line to get inside. Maybe it was his size, or maybe it was the fierce scowl on his face, but no one said a word as he stormed into the club.
Despite the low lighting in the bar, he had no difficulty locating Olivia. His vision, day or night, was preternaturally acute. She sat alone at a table on the second level, overlooking the dance floor. Her beautiful face had boredom and disinterest written all over it. He wove through the crowd, making his way toward her.
As he walked up the stairs, some guy with a drink in his hand and a stumble in his gait approached her. She glanced up at the guy and gave him a polite, nervous smile. She cast a glance back into the crowd of dancing bodies, probably looking for whoever she came here with.
Unable to take a hint, or maybe too drunk to read body language, the guy helped himself to the seat across from Olivia. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and a frown pinched her brows tight as her anxiety spiked, sending a hum of energy simmering through his veins.
He struggled to keep his own emotions in check as he approached the guy. Embers of jealousy burned in the pit of his stomach like acid. He approached the stranger from behind. Olivia looked up, her genuine smile and rush of relief skating over him like a caress.
“Excuse me,” Liam laid his hand on the guy’s shoulder. His grip tightened when the guy ignored him. “I think you sat down at the wrong table.”
“I don’t think so,” the guy slurred, refusing to take his snake eyes off Olivia.
“Look,” Liam growled, “we can do this the easy way, or the hard way. I personally have no preference, but either way, your ass is leaving this seat.” The man finally turned toward him, and the seething glare on his face suddenly faltered.
Out of patience, Liam yanked the guy up, who grabbed for his drink, sloshing it over his hand. “Maybe you should wait to be invited before helping yourself to a lady’s company. This is a good way to get yourself hurt,” he growled, shoving the drunk away.
Liam turned back to Olivia, whose vibrant green eyes watched him with a gratitude and relief. “Thank you,” she said over the loud drum of the music. “I told him I wasn’t interested, but apparently the alcohol made him deaf.”
“No problem. Mind if I sit?” He nodded toward the now vacant seat.
“Sure.” She smiled. “You can be my bodyguard.”
“From the looks of it, you need one. What are you doing here, Olivia? This place doesn’t really seem like your thing.”
"It’s not. I'm here with Ashley. Girls’ night out, remember?"
He glanced around the crowded club. The dance floor was packed full of bodies crushed up against each other, gyrating to the heavy beat of the music. "She out there?" He nodded toward the lower level.
"Yep."
"Want some company while you wait for her to get back? I can run interference for you."
She laughed. He loved the sound of it; the light melody made his heart skip a beat. Lord, she’s beautiful.
"Sure, the company would be nice. Hey, can I ask you a question?"
He nodded.
"What did you say to that guy before he left? For a minute there, I thought you were going to hit him."
"I just gave him a little advice, that's all."
"Um-hmm, I'm sure you did." The mischievous light in her eyes made him smile. He glanced down at her hand resting on the table and found it excruciatingly difficult to resist the urge to reach out and take it. The memory of her petal soft skin made his fingers ache to touch her again.
"You don't believe me?" he teased.
Before Olivia could answer, a waitress walked up to their table. Setting down their glasses of water, she leaned forward, giving him a full cleavage shot. He looked away and met Olivia's eyes, watching him intently. Her light smile was gone, replaced by the tight set of her full lips and a narrowing of those beautiful emerald green eyes. Her emotions shifted quickly, sending a low hum of energy rippling through his veins. The sudden flare of jealousy surprised him.
“Can I get you something to drink?” the woman asked, giving him a flirtatious smile.
“Yes, thank you.” He glanced back at the waitress. “I’ll have a Sprite, and she’ll have a Mountain Dew, please.”
The waitress cast Olivia a competitive glance before turning away to get their drinks.
“How did you know I liked Mountain Dew?”
“It’s what you ordered at The Wrath.”
“You remember that?”
Why did she sound so surprised? “Of course I do.”
The waitress returned with their drinks. This time she brushed her breast against his shoulder as she leaned forward to put their drinks down. He scooted his chair over to the side, edging away from the brazen woman. The only female he had interest in touching was the one sitting across from him with a very pissed-off look on her face. “Is there anything else I can get you?” she purred, leaving the question open-ended.
“No, thank you.” He barely spared the waitress a second glance. Apparently, she didn’t appreciate being blown off, because she stormed away in a huff. Olivia laughed, but it wasn’t the same carefree sound as before.
“What?” he asked, not quite getting the joke.
“Seriously, could she be any more obvious? I’m surprised she didn’t just climb in your lap and get it over with.”
She was jealous…A roguish smile pulled at his lips and he chuckled. “Maybe you could run interference for me.”
Her cheeks flushed bright pink. She was probably embarrassed the waitress had gotten under her skin. “I might have to, geeze.” Olivia gave him one of those dazzling smiles he felt all the way to his toes. “But what if I chased off the girl of your dreams?” Was she flirting with him? Man, he hoped so.
“I’m pretty sure that isn’t going to ha
ppen.” He reached across the table and laid his hand over hers, brushing his thumb over the top of her hand. Her slender, delicate fingers jumped beneath his touch as she stared at him. Those deep emerald green eyes held his gaze for the longest time. Her brows pulled tight in concentration as she studied him. Now that he touched her, her emotions flowed into him like a direct current, making it easier to feel exactly what she felt.
She was trying to decide if she could trust him. She wanted to, but there was a part of her that held back. Maybe it was the part of her that belonged to Max. Just the thought of that bastard made his blood boil. “I would never do anything to hurt you, Olivia.”
His confession pulled a gasp from her parted lips. Her almond shaped eyes widened in surprise. She looked a little guilty that he’d guessed what she was thinking. She pulled her hand out from under his and reached for her Mountain Dew.
Out of nowhere, Ashley came bounding up behind Olivia, startling her. Ashley grabbed her by the shoulders and bent down beside her ear. “Miss me?”
Olivia jumped. Ashley laughed and looked up, locking eyes with Liam. A slow, mischievous grin spread across her face. “Guess not…” she answered, bumping her arm into Olivia’s shoulder.
“Quit,” Olivia replied, smiling back. “Where have you been? You’ve been gone nearly an hour.”
Ashley grabbed Olivia’s hand, pulling on her arm. “Dancing—hey, you want to come out there with me?”
Olivia dug her heels in, refusing to budge from the chair. “That’s okay, I’m good here.”
Ashley stopped tugging and looked back at Liam, giving him a head to toe once-over that left him feeling like he should check to make sure he was still wearing clothes. “Oh, I bet you are. Okay, well then, I’ll just leave you two alone. See you in a little bit.” Ashley gave her head a feminine toss, sending her blonde curls airborne and swaggered away. She suddenly stopped and looked back over her shoulder. “Hey, Liv, I met this guy and he could really use a ride home. Do you mind?”
“No, go ahead. I think I’m going to take off early anyway since it looks like you’ve got a dance partner. Call me tonight when you get home.”
The Redemption Series Page 8