Kathy narrowed her eyes on him, planting her fists on her hips. “Don’t you go taking that tone of voice with me Heath Jacobs. I like you, and I always have, but if you don’t change your tone quick, not even the military can save you from me.” Kathy made a show of rolling up her sleeves, like she was getting ready to hit him.
Heath held his hands up in surrender, even taking a step back to keep himself out of striking distance. “Kathy, I’m sorry. I’m just worried about Olivia. We were having a good night, I introduced her to my friends, and then she told the women she had an emergency and left. I just want to make sure she’s okay. She left her phone at the bar, so I can’t call her. Please, will you help me?” He knew laying on the charm wouldn’t help him, so he pleaded to Kathy’s caring nature, hoping she would give him Olivia’s address.
Kathy eased her stance. Not sensing any more danger from her Heath relaxed as well. “In all the years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you worry about a woman the way you do her, or even introduce one of your lady friends to the group.” Kathy smiled, like she hadn’t just threated him a second ago. The woman was scarier than a terrorist. He never knew which way her mood swings were going to go.
Heath rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Kathy was too observant for her own good. “Let’s just say I finally have a reason to want to change.”
“Olivia.”
“Olivia,” he confirmed.
“I had hoped you two would get along.”
Kathy, always the matchmaker. “Can you tell me where I can find her?” He didn’t acknowledge Kathy’s words about Olivia and himself. He had already said more than enough. There was something between them, but he didn’t know what to say.
“I would never betray her trust and give you her address, but I do have a question.”
“What?”
“What is it about Olivia you like so much? I’ve watched you over the years go through women faster than I change underwear. You like an easy conquest, and yet with Olivia, you seem different. So, why her?” She cocked her head to the side, studying him.
“No offense, Kathy, but it’s none of your business.” What was between him and Olivia was private. He didn’t know what to call what it was between them. He didn’t even know what to call her. Casual wasn’t it, and girlfriend felt so serious.
“It is when the girl works for me and lives in one of my rentals. She’s my responsibility.”
She lived in one of Kathy’s rentals? That was a useful tidbit to know.
“Olivia is a consenting adult and doesn’t answer to you about her personal life.”
“An adult with a lot of issues and doesn’t need a womanizer sweet talking her just for a cheap thrill, and then leaving her like yesterday’s news.” Kathy fired at him.
Heath didn’t have a ready comeback. It wasn’t the first time his past was thrown in his face, especially tonight. He did go through women without a care of what happened to them afterward. The thought of discarding Olivia as crassly made him frown. So, where did that leave him? Keep pursuing her or move on?
It wasn’t just a challenge anymore. After the past week, his priorities changed. Not enough for something long term, but more than a few nights. Every time he was with her the passion between them grew more explosive. It had never been so intense before. Not even with Nadine. He was scared of commitment, and being with Olivia, made him think about a future he no longer thought possible.
Kathy continued. “Heath, I care a lot about you, but that girl has been through enough in this life. She needs stability and dependability.”
“What’s your point, Kathy?” He didn’t like threats, it didn’t matter who they came from, and this sounded like a threat.
“My point is.” She said straight faced. “You break her heart, and I’ll break every bone in your body.”
Heath’s eyebrows raised. In all the years he’d known Kathy, she had never threatened him before, but sadly, he knew her threat not to be idle. She wouldn’t succeed in breaking his bones, but he knew she would try, if he broke Olivia’s heart.
It wasn’t something he had to worry about though, because he had no intention of falling in love with her and she him, so there was no fear of hearts breaking.
“Message received.” Knowing he wouldn’t get any answer out of Kathy, he left. What to do? He didn’t know where Olivia lived, so he couldn’t see her. He thought about calling Aaron and getting a list of Kathy’s rentals and search for her that way, but it screamed stalker, so he held off. Heath would go home for tonight and check the diner tomorrow. Olivia worked so much she would most likely be there tomorrow.
Heath hopped in his truck and headed towards home, but not quite ready to go. Maybe, he would go for a drive. The lookout point seemed like a good place to go. Even though now, it made him think of Olivia.
Oliva.Where could she be?
Heath was a few miles from the intersection that took him to the look out, when he spotted a woman standing on the side of the road, flagging him down next to a white car with the hood up with smoke coming out of it. Heath didn’t look at the car, but at the woman standing next to the car. Surely, his luck couldn’t be that good. He squinted making sure he wasn’t seeing things, but sure enough, it was Olivia.
A smile broke out across his face. What were odds of finding her on the side of the road? He wasn’t about to question his good luck. He pulled up behind and her and jumped out of the truck. “Do you need some help?”
“Heath,” Olivia gasped in shock.
That wasn’t the reaction he was expecting. He was about to comment on it, when someone hopped out of the passenger seat. It was a girl, and she looked about ten or eleven, walking around the back of the car to stand next to Olivia, who was staring at him with curiosity. Who was the kid? Her child? No, that couldn’t be right. Olivia would have said something, or at the very least, Kathy.
