Sheltering Olivia

Chapter 1 Heath slid into what he was calling his regular booth at Kathy’s Diner. He had been coming here every day for the past month to see Olivia, the waitress. She barely spoke to him much less glanced at him, since he started coming. He first saw her, while helping his teammate Samuel’s now girlfriend, Linzy, carry dog food to her truck. Once he saw Olivia, he’d become obsessed. He had quickly abandoned his plans of seducing Linzy. It had been more a game to mess with Sam than anything. Linzy was more interested in Sam, and he knew when to back off. The moment he spotted Olivia it had been like time slowed down, which was new for him. It was as if he were watching her walk in slow motion. Her hair shown like spun gold, as it bounced off her shoulders. His eyes traveled down to her narrow waist and fit legs. Heath couldn’t tell how tall she was from the distance, but she looked tall, which suited his six-foot frame, as he liked taller women. Heath couldn’t see her face, only her side profile, and he’d desperately wanted to know if she was as beautiful as the rest of her. Forgetting everything else, Heath had followed her into the diner. At first glance, he didn’t see her sitting down at any of the booths. Then, his eyes found her, as she came out of the employee’s only door with an apron around her waist, and he felt like his heart would burst from his chest it thumped so hard. She looked up at him, as she came out, and he forgot to breathe. She was more beautiful than he imagined. Her eyes were as blue as cornflowers with perfect bow shaped lips just made for kissing him. He thought she felt the instant connection too, when her eyes dilated, but then she told him to take a seat wherever he wanted and had barely spoken to him since. Heath had tried everything. He even talked about the weather. How boring was that? He had tried every trick he knew to get Olivia to go out with him, but she resisted. It had become a challenge to him now. One he had no intention of backing down from. Olivia came out of the kitchen with a tray full of food, and his body instantly went on alert. His eyes tracked her, as she moved around the diner, filling up glasses, handing out food, and then disappearing into the kitchen again. He didn’t understand his obsession. He had never pursued a woman for so long, but he was determined that Olivia would go out with him. Olivia reemerged carrying a tray to the booth in front of him with a big smile on her face, as Heath watched her silently. His lip twitching watching her smile and wishing he could see that smile directed at him. Never once had she smiled at him, only scowled, but it didn’t deter him, though. He knew she was interested, and only playing hard to get. His patience would win out in the end. Olivia turned to him and all but rolled her eyes. “You again? I shouldn’t be surprised.” She said in a bored tone, propping the tray against her hip. She thought she looked defiant, but all it did was draw Heath’s attention to her slim figure, and the slight curve of her hips. Heath didn’t take offense, as he could see the rapid fall of her chest and the change in her stance. She liked that he was coming to see her, even if she would never admit it out loud. It sounded cocky and arrogant, but he knew women and their bodies, as well as his own. Olivia would be his. He just had to be a little more patient. He would wear her down eventually. “Morning, Olivia.” This was becoming his favorite part of the day. Even her sharp tongue aroused him, and he loved her fire and passion. “Don’t you have anything better to do?” She asked with a raised eyebrow. “And miss seeing you? No.” He answered honestly. Olivia huffed. “What do want?” “You to go out with me.” It was the same thing he said every time she asked. “To eat. What do you want to eat?” She snapped, as her eyes flashed bright with irritation, which only made him chuckle. “My usual.” Olivia shook her head and stomped away back into the kitchen. A smarter man would have moved onto another woman by now, but no other woman intrigued him, like Olivia did. There was a mystery about her he wanted to solve. He had asked around about her, of course, but no one knew anything about her. She was a solitary woman, and she had only come to town a few days, before he saw her, but no one knew where she’d come from. She avoided talking about anything to do with her past, which made him even more intrigued. Olivia returned a few minutes later with a cup of coffee and a plate full of pancakes. If it wasn’t for the fact that he worked out every day, he’d probably be as big as a house, eating out almost every day, but to see Olivia, was worth the few extra miles he had to run. “Do you need anything else?” “Yes, your phone number.” He said without missing a beat. Olivia took a deep breath, probably in irritation, which only brought his attention to her chest. Her breasts looked large, which suited him just fine. “How many times do I have to tell you no?” “Give me one good reason why you shouldn’t.” He said instead. “Because I’m not interested.” She said in a ‘duh’ tone. “Liar,” he said boldly. She could say no with her mouth, but her body said yes. “Look, buddy.” Olivia growled. “Heath,” he interjected. Heath wanted to hear his name from her lips, as they had never exchanged names. He only knew hers, because of the name tag. Olivia never gave him much of a chance to exchange names until now. “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.