Souls ReAligned (20 page)

Closing it tightly, he struggles to remember if he put the chain lock on before he went to bed. He wanders the house, from room to room, as he checks the windows, looking for intruders. Anxiety, pulses through his veins, as he makes sure the place is secure.

His thoughts flash to Eva’s comments, “He never really left, he’s always watching.” Was he here? Was he just in the house?

Ethan gets his phone out of his jacket pocket and dials.

“McCabe, I’m sorry it’s late.”

“What’s going on?” John’s sleepy voice answers.

“Someone has been in Olivia’s house. I need you to get security over here to keep an eye on things.”

John sits on the side of the bed, now wide-awake and concerned, “Do you want me to come over and make sure the place is secure?”

Ethan rubs his hand on the back of his neck, trying to relieve the tension growing there. Jesus. He doesn’t like the fact that Noah Thompson lives so close. Now he’s suspicious that Sam is around. How the hell can he leave her alone and go to Ireland for a month? “No, I’ve checked the house, John. If someone was in here, they’re gone now.”

“Okay. Well, if you’re sure, I’ll just have one of Travis’s team park outside and keep watch.”

“Great, tell them they need to get here immediately. Oh, and John… I need you to make some changes to our plans for tomorrow.

Olivia wakes in the morning to an empty bed and a note on the pillow.

Good morning, Baby. You looked so beautiful and peaceful this morning. I didn’t have the heart to wake you, only to say goodbye.

xox

E

Jolting upwards, aghast, she reaches for her phone. It’s 8 a.m. Realizing that he’s already gone, she feels distraught. The sudden need to see him, one more time, hits her with explosive force. Tears fill her eyes as she realizes that he’ll already be through airport security. There’s no chance that she can see him, even if she does manage to get there before his flight.

Dialing his number, her heart sinks when it goes straight to voicemail. She hesitates, fighting the urge to leave him a long, effusive, sentimental message. Deciding against it, she hangs up. If he wanted a sad, emotional goodbye, he would have woken her up. He would have gifted her one last kiss.

She shakes her head, hating that he brings out those annoying female ramblings in her. Throwing her feet over the side of the bed, she gets ready for work. All the way there, she thinks about how selfish she is for thinking that he should have considered her needs this morning. He’s on his way back home to deal with a difficult ex and the possibility of a child.

Rachel is waiting for her in her office with a coffee. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she frowns. “He didn’t even wake me up this morning to say goodbye.”

Rachel pulls her in for a hug, trying to rationalize his behavior, “Honey, he probably couldn’t stand to say goodbye. He’s begged you for weeks to go with him.”

“I know. I just want to get to work and not think about him for while.”

“Is that possible?” Rachel asks, doubtful.

Olivia responds with a shrug.

She desperately tries to resist the urge to check her cell phone every two minutes, but it’s not easy. The first couple of hours drag on painfully. Assuming that the flight has already left, she checks the airline website to see what time he arrives in Dublin. Maybe he’ll call her once he’s on the ground.

Diana’s voice blasts through the phone intercom, making her jump. She gets to her feet as Diana requests that she make her way down to Jeremiah Dunn’s office, right away.

Olivia and Rachel look at each other quizzically, as they both step out in the hallway at the same time.

“I’ve been called down to Jeremiah’s office,” Rachel shares.

“Me, too,” Olivia says, furrowing her brow. “It can’t be good if we’re both being called down to the principal’s office,” she jests.

Walking past Diana’s desk, they both get nervous as she awkwardly looks away, without saying a word.

Raising her hand to knock on the door, Olivia pauses, giving Rachel a comical smile, trying to break the tension.

Impatiently waiting for them, Jeremiah swings the door open, and finds them standing there. “Ladies, please come in.”

Stepping back out of the way, he holds the door and lets them enter. Olivia smiles at him as she steps into the room; then comes to a complete halt. Unprepared for her abrupt stop, Rachel walks right into her back, protesting as she bounces back.

Directly in front of her, he sits casually. His leg crossed over to rest his ankle on his knee. The corner of his mouth twitches, trying not to curl into a smile at the look on her face.

Unaware of what’s going on; Rachel impatiently puts her hand on Olivia’s back and edges her to the side, out of her way. Her eyebrows shoot up and her chin drops when she sees him. “Oh, shit!” she mutters.

Getting to his feet, he starts toward them.

Scowling at Rachel’s comment, Jeremiah closes the door. “Ladies, I understand that you already know Ethan O’Connell,” he says, in a formal tone.

Neither woman speaks as Ethan extends his hand, cordially. When he takes Olivia’s hand in his, he smiles, as she looks at him completely befuddled. “It’s nice to see you again, Miss James,” he says with his charming Irish brogue.

Completely lost she looks at Jeremiah for direction. “Please, sit down.”

Ethan gallantly pulls out chairs for both ladies as they sit on the opposite side of Jeremiah’s large glass desk.

“Mr. O’Connell,” Jeremiah begins, “has come to me this morning with an interesting business proposal.”

Olivia feels all the air escape her lungs as she looks over at Ethan’s stoic business face. A grin briefly washes across his lips, as he imagines all her unvoiced questions.

“Seems that he finds himself in need of our best IT software analyst to work out some problems he’s having on a project in Ireland.”

Looking over at Rachel, Olivia’s chin drops. She knows exactly where this is going now.

“O’Connell Industries has offered us a contract for your services on that project, Olivia. It seems they’ve heard how brilliant you are. They’re willing to pay quite generously for you time over the next month. Of course, all expenses will be paid on top of your regular income, with a rather large bonus upon completion of the contract.”

“Mr. Dunn,” she interrupts. “I’m in the middle of a project right now with a very difficult client. It would be unwise for me to take on a different project.”

Looking nervously at Ethan from the corner of her eye, she becomes extremely annoyed that he appears to be smirking.

“I called that client a short while ago,” Jeremiah continues. “He’s been advised that Rachel Parker will be taking over his account. He’s also been reassured that, during your absence, you’ll be available remotely should Rachel have any questions or need your assistance with anything. Mr. O’Connell has assured me that you’ll have all the tools you need to do so.”

Speechless at what’s just transpired, Olivia glances between Ethan and her boss. Turning to Rachel, she looks for support. Instead, she’s met with a defeated shrug. Taking a deep breath, she bites her tongue before she gets up the nerve to speak, “Do I have a say in the matter?”

Concerned, Ethan leans forward with his elbows on the edge of the desk. With his two fingers steepled, he presses them against his lips. Fighting the urge to speak, and take control of the conversation, he grows tense.

“I’ve already accepted and signed the agreement, Olivia,” Jeremiah advises, “You leave this evening. Give the file to Rachel and go home and pack.”

Nodding, she starts to get to her feet. Ethan stands quickly, and pulls out her chair. She won’t look at him, even for a minute. He suspected she’d be upset about it, but now he feels like a total dick.

Jeremiah gives Rachel a few last instructions. Ethan waits patiently to shake his hand and close the deal. By the time they leave his office, Olivia is already in her office on the other side of the building. Taking a few steps down the hallway, Rachel unexpectedly grabs Ethan by the ear. Shocked by the pain, he follows her without protest into the empty break room. “Are you out of your mind?” she asks, letting go and turning to face him.

“What was I supposed to do, Rachel?” he asks defensively. “I couldn’t leave her here. I think someone was in her house last night.”

“WHAT?” Rachel is horrified, “Sam?”

Ethan shakes his head, “I don’t know for sure. I suspect so. Did you know about the sedatives that Thompson has been giving her?”

“She’s still taking those?” Rachel gasps, “I thought she stopped taking them a long time ago.”

“He stopped by last night with more. Christ, Rach. Those things are strong enough to knock out an elephant. It makes me sick to think of the things he could do to her, if she took them while he was there. She’d be out cold for hours and have no recollection of it, at all.”

Closing her eyes, Rachel holds up her hand, making him stop, “Okay, I get it. This is OLIVIA you’re messing with! There had to be a better way to get her to go. It’s going to be a very long flight. I’m glad I’m not sitting beside her on the plane.”

Rachel makes her way down to her office where Olivia is waiting with the account file. Frowning at her, Rachel closes the door, “Okay, I know you’re pissed, but go easy on him. He clearly didn’t think this through.”

“You’re joking, right? He thought it through with a great amount of detail. In fact, I bet he’s had that plan in his back pocket for a long time,” Olivia argues. “Great way to start a relationship.”

Rachel purses her lips, trying not to laugh, “It’s kind of funny, actually.”

“There’s nothing funny about it, Rachel,” she scowls.

“Come on, think about it. It doesn’t matter how hard you try to fight him, he always finds a way to get you to do things his way.”

Gah! “He does it because it annoys me,” she complains.

“He does it because he loves you,” Rachel insists.

Considering it true, Olivia’s face turns red.

“Don’t you have some packing to do?” Rachel teases, “Apparently, in a few hours you’re going to be on a plane bound for Ireland.”

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“Doing what? Getting on a plane with a man that loves you so much he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving you behind.”

“I’m not going to let this slide. No way,” Olivia promises, ignoring Rachel’s last comment.

“I never presumed that you would. He’s waiting out front for you. Don’t torture him, too much.”

Packing up all the stuff she’ll need from her office, she heads down the hallway. She can see his taut firm behind, as he leans on Diana’s desk chatting; flirting actually.
What else is new?
Looking up to see her struggling with her laptop bag, he moves toward her and takes it out of her hands.

“Here,” he offers, “let me help you.”

Olivia looks at him, trying not to be angry, but failing. “Thanks.” Dropping everything on the floor, she walks away.

Getting into her car, Olivia backs out her spot and heads home. Loading her stuff into the back of his car, he stands and watches as she pulls away. Taking a deep breath, he shakes his head. He knows that he’s in for one hell of a fight when he gets there.

Knocking gently on the back door, he turns the knob and lets himself in. Reaching the top of the stairs, he finds her waiting for him, arms crossed, and looking pissed!

“I wouldn’t be here right now if I were you, Ireland! I’m so angry with you. Say one word and you just might receive a spin kick to the scrotum.

The tension falls from his shoulders and he smiles, “Ah, there she is. There’s my girl.”

Confusion shows on Olivia’s face, “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know who that girl was, yesterday; the one that didn’t say a word about me changing her Facebook status. She wasn’t my girl. My girl is feisty. She would have kicked my ass.”

“If you’re trying to sweet talk me, Ethan, you’re not doing a very good job of it. And since you brought it up… why the hell did you change my Facebook status anyway?”

“I was about to leave town for an extended period of time. Since you were refusing to go with me, I felt that certain people needed to know that you’re no longer available,” he says, unapologetically.

“What? Are you kidding me right now?” Crossing her arms in front of her, she shifts her weight to one hip.

“No!” he says, moving toward her. “Make no mistake. I’ll protect what’s mine.

Olivia stares at him open-mouthed, “Is that what this is about? Noah? Is this about rubbing it in his face in some childish contest where I’m the prize?”

“Not just him… Carter, as well,” he says reluctantly. “They need to know that you belong to me.”

She explodes, “BELONG TO YOU?”

Fuck!
This isn’t going the way he planned.

“Well, that’s just awesome!” she says sarcastically. “So this is all about jealousy?”

Ethan sighs and scratches his head. “Olivia.” He wants to apologize, but she thwarts his every effort to speak.

“Is that the reason you tried so hard to win me over? It’s all a game to you? Well, you won, Ireland! So what now? I’m no longer a challenge, so you get bored and move on?

“OLIVIA!” He grabs her by the arm and pulls her into him forcefully, “Bloody hell, woman! Would you JUST… SHUT… UP!” Determined to get her full attention; he claims her lips with a hard, rough kiss, preventing her from uttering another word. When he’s certain that she’s going to run out of air, he softens his grip and pulls away.

Olivia tries to catch her breath, attempting to regain her train of thought.

Ethan lowers his forehead so that it’s against hers. “Can I talk now?” he asks in a softer, calmer tone.

Bothered by the fact that his kiss has disarmed her, she nods her head, as she licks at her swollen lips.

“Olivia, this is not a game to me. I’ve told you before, that I knew we were meant to be together the very first moment I saw you.” Leaning down, he brushes his lips against her again, this time in a very soft sensual kiss.

“Yes, you’ve said that a few times,” she says, irritated. How many times does he think he can use the soul mates thing to get his ass out of trouble? She tries to pull away.

Sensing her doubt, he tightens his grip, “Do you remember that night? Do you think I accidently missed the net with that shot?”