What do you want to try next?
Something harder.
Before Olivia could say what that might be, the phone rang, and she jumped. She’d been so focused on what they were doing that the outside world had gone away. She didn’t want to answer, but when she got up and looked at the caller ID, guilt flooded over her, and she snatched up the receiver.
CHAPTERTEN
“Ms. Langston?” a voice asked.
“Yes.”
“This is Sarah Riley from Unique Interiors.”
The name of the shop was like a stab to Olivia’s chest. She’d been so caught up with her unknown ghost and then with Travis that she’d completely forgotten about her business obligations.
“What happened?” The voice on the phone went on. “We were expecting you this morning.”
“I know. I’m sorry,” she said again. “I got hung up with something. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
When she clicked off, she saw Travis watching her. He didn’t have to ask what was wrong. He could read it in her mind.
“You were supposed to deliver a bunch of furniture to that shop this morning.”
“Yes,” and I have to do it. It’s too short notice to call anyone else. Will you be okay if I leave you here for a while?”
He laughed. “As you saw from that FedEx driver, nobody’s even going to know I’m here.”
“Right.”
“Or are you asking if I’ll be okay on my own?”
Maybe I was wondering if I’ll be.
Before she could say more, he was beside her, turning her to face him and wrapping her in his arms. She closed her eyes, clinging to him, wishing that she hadn’t met him, when it was already too late.
He didn’t answer her, only held her close, his hands sliding possessively up and down her back, and she knew his thoughts and emotions mirrored her own. She longed to stay in his arms—stay with him, but she had to deal with the real world now.
“I’d better get dressed,” she finally whispered.
When he let his arms drop, she eased away from him and headed down the hall. Upstairs, she took a quick shower and pulled on clean jeans and a T-shirt.
“I’d ask if you needed help loading the van, but I can’t exactly carry anything,” Travis said.
“At least until we get better at moving stuff around with our minds. Then we can fly it from here to there.”
“A paper napkin isn’t quite the same as a wooden bench.”
“Maybe we can get to that point. But luckily for today, the shipment is already in the van. I had a local guy load it for me. All I have to do is drive it over there.”
“You’re going to St. Stephens,” he said abruptly, and she knew he’d pulled that piece of information from her mind.
When she nodded in acknowledgement, he added, “I don’t like your going over there.”
She’d been trying to put the location out of her mind, but he’d picked it up. It was the town where he’d lived, the town where the kidnappers had chartered his boat. For all he knew, it was also where they’d find Mr. Smith, although he couldn’t be sure of that.
“I’ll finish my business and come right home,” she said, wondering if she was telling the truth, knowing he was wondering the same thing. But there was no point in their discussing it further.
They hugged again before she went outside, and she wanted to cling to him. She wanted to call Sarah and say she couldn’t come. Instead, she pointed the van down the driveway. As she increased the distance between herself and Travis, she tried to hold the mental link with him. At first, she could still feel it, but by the time she reached the road, she was alone. More alone than she had been before he’d turned her life upside down.
