“Heath, I won’t be here long, and I have no intention of having a casual fling, which is obviously all you’re interested in. So, find someone else to play your games with, because I’m not interested.”
Heath didn’t have a ready response. Olivia looked serious, but that couldn’t be right. Women didn’t resist him, at least, not for long. He expected her to play cat and mouse for a while, and then give in, but the way she looked at him now, told him she was serious. She wasn’t interested in him. That was new. All women loved him.
First Linzy, and now, Olivia rejected him. He must be losing his touch. “I’m sorry, Olivia.” He wouldn’t pursue her anymore, if she wasn’t interested. He would never force his attention on a woman.
“Thank you.” She sighed in relief.
Olivia turned away, as a male customer came in the front door. The man turned and looked at Olivia, who gasped upon seeing him, and then dropped her tray on the ground. The man at the door looked at her curious, before turning away to find a seat. Olivia picked up her tray, looking around at the people around her, who only glanced at her curiously, and then went back to their food. Not Heath, though. He watched her intently. Something had spooked Olivia, when the man walked in.
The man didn’t look at her familiar, and Olivia didn’t seem to know the man. So, why then, did she seem skittish seeing him? Another mystery.
“Olivia?” The owner, Kathy, came out of the kitchen looking concerned. “You okay, hon?”
“I’m fine,” Olivia said. Her hands shook holding the tray. “Just clumsy.” She laughed it off, but it sounded forced. Kathy’s piercing eyes didn’t look like she believed her, but she didn’t say anything.
“I’m just glad you didn’t have food on that tray.”
“Me too.” Olivia turned back to Heath. “Do you need anything else?” Olivia looked down at her tray, instead of meeting his eye. The strong woman was gone, and now, there stood a cowering woman. Heath didn’t like it one bit.
“I’m good, thanks.” He smiled at her, hoping to coax one from her in return. Though, it had been in vain.
Olivia nodded pulling out the check from her apron and setting it down in front of him. Heath reached for it at the same time as she was setting it down, and their fingers brushed. Olivia gasped, as her eyes locked with his, before pulling her hand back, as if scolded, and then she raced into the kitchen.
Heath’s hope suddenly returned with a vengeance. She had felt it, too. He would bet his career on it. Olivia had felt that spark, when they touched. Only a moment ago, he was ready to throw in the towel and walk away, like she asked, but not now. Not when she felt something, too. He would just have to play things differently, as Olivia wasn’t like his normal conquests. Heath dug into his pancakes with renewed energy, as a new plan was formulating in his mind.
He still had a chance to win over Olivia.
Chapter 2
After delivering the last tray of food, Olivia took a break. She had to get herself back under control, before her shaking caused her to drop another tray; this time with food on it. It wasn’t just the fact that the one customer looked like her ex, it was Heath. The man had been coming in almost daily for the past month. At first, she thought he was just a regular, but he only stayed long enough to ask her out, eat his pancakes, and drink a cup of coffee, before he left again.
It quickly became obvious he was here for her. As flattering as it was, she didn’t want the attention. Heath was handsome alright, and he knew it, reminding her of her ex, Royce. Thinking his looks could make her forgive anything, but that’s where their similarities ended. Heath seemed nicer than Royce had ever been. When Royce smiled, it was cold and calculating, but Heath smiled like he enjoyed life. It must be nice. She had once enjoyed life, too.
Olivia had been running for the past few months just struggling to stay alive and under the radar, while doing everything in her power to keep herself alive, and as far away from Royce, as she could.
Olivia sat down on a bench taking a deep breath. Her shift had barely started, but she was already exhausted. Her feet hurt from standing all day, and her back and shoulders were tense. Waitressing was hard work, but she had to do it. She needed the money, so she could get to her next destination. Always on the move, and she hated it, but what choice did she have. If Royce found her, he’d kill her. Then, who would protectIvy? No, she had to stay on the move, and always one step ahead of Royce. The only thing she hadn’t accounted for was meeting Heath.
Olivia had spent so much time running and trying to stay alive that she forgot what it was like being wanted by a man, and not for just his punching bag. Heath didn’t look like he abused women, but then that’s what she thought about Royce. It wasn’t fair to compare the two, especially since she didn’t know Heath. While Heath didn’t look like he physically hurt women, she was sure he had left a string of broken hearts in his wake. As much as Olivia missed intimacy, she couldn’t risk her heart again.
Her hands still shook from where she and Heath touched, but it was for the best to just forget him. In a few more weeks, she would have saved enough for her andIvyto get away again. It wasn’t the life she wanted for her daughter, but she didn’t have much of a choice. Royce had connections, and she feared he could easily track her, if she went to a big city. Though, it would be easier for them to get lost in one.
“Damn you, Royce.” She whispered, as tears pooled in her eyes. The bastard had ruined not just her life, but her daughter’s as well.
“Olivia,” Kathy called from the back door. “We’ve got customers waiting.”
“I’m coming.” Olivia stood up, stiffening her spine. She had to be strong not just for herself, but forIvy,too. Olivia wiped the tears from her face and went back into the diner.
“Are you crying?” Kathy asked concerned, as Oliva stepped past her.
“I’m fine.” She wasn’t, but she plastered on a fake smile.
“You’re not upset about the tray, are you?”
“No,” Olivia chuckled. She had instantly liked the owner, Kathy, when Olivia first met her. The woman towered over a lot of the customers, being over six feet, and even made Olivia feel short at five-foot eight, but Kathy was the kindest woman Olivia had ever met. It didn’t hurt that Kathy was around her same age. Olivia never imagined at thirty-one that this was where her life would end up.
Kathy hadn’t asked her a lot of questions, when she asked for the job, and then asked to be paid in cash. Kathy must have sensed Olivia was in a tricky situation and was trying to give her a helping hand.
“Then, what has you crying out here in the back?”
