‘L iv? Open the door.’ A familiar voice, the mid-Atlantic twang instantly recognisable. Noah.
Seriously? It was fucking Noah?
Her tension eased, though her heart was still hammering as she rushed to the door, quickly unlocked it. As Noah stepped inside she smacked him hard against the shoulder.
He took a step back. ‘Ouch! Steady up.’
‘Steady up? You just scared the bloody crap out of me. I thought you were in Devon?’
‘I came back to see you. That message you sent scared the crap out of me too.’
‘What the hell were you doing out there?’
‘I heard a crash round the back so I checked it out.’
Olivia’s heart was still racing, the shock of everything that had happened, taking its toll. ‘I heard that too. Did you find out what it was?’
‘One of the bins was knocked over. Foxes, I guess.’
‘You really bloody scared me, Noah, banging on the window like that. Couldn’t you have called or messaged me to let me know you were coming back?’
‘I did try to call you,’ he told her, a little testily. ‘Perhaps if you check your phone you’ll see I’ve been trying to get hold of you most of the evening.’
‘You have?’ Shit, her phone. She had put it on silent in the hospital and had forgotten to change it back.
‘Nice wellies by the way.’
Olivia glanced down at her pyjama bottoms tucked into the wellington boots, realised just how ridiculous she looked, and managed a laugh. It sounded slightly hysterical and she couldn’t help it when it turned into a sob, the events of the day finally catching up with her.
‘Oh Jesus, don’t cry.’ Noah looked momentarily panicked, though recovered quickly. ‘Look, I’m sorry I scared you.’ He folded his arms around her, pulled her in close. ‘It’s going to be okay. You’re probably still in shock from the accident.’
She nodded against his shoulder, let him hold her for a moment. He had cut his trip short and come back for her. Given the newness of their relationship, she hadn’t expected him to do that, and her reaction had been to lose her temper with him.
Nice going, Liv. ‘I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to be a bitch.’
‘It’s okay.’ Noah stroked her hair, was silent for a moment. ‘Why are you wearing wellies? Were you off out somewhere?’
The initial shock wearing off, Olivia’s mind went back to the photograph, and for a moment she thought she was going to be sick again. She pulled free from his arms, took an unsteady step back.
She guessed she looked like she was about to pass out or something, because Noah was suddenly looking at her oddly, eyes narrowed. ‘Liv, are you okay?’
‘I’m fine.’ Before the words were out of her mouth, her stomach roiled and she ran to the sink, certain she was going to throw up again. Her stomach must have been empty because little came out. To his credit, Noah didn’t flinch, holding her hair back and waiting patiently with her until she had finished, his eyes full of questions as she steadied herself on shaky legs.
‘So are you going to tell me what that was about? I know you had the accident, but you look like you’ve just seen a ghost.’
Olivia was mortified and just wanted to go back upstairs. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t do this right now. I appreciate you driving all the way back, I honestly do, but I’ll talk to you tomorrow.’
‘Liv?’ She could hear him following close behind her, didn’t have the energy to tell him everything right now. She turned to tell him that.
Noah’s attention wasn’t on her though. He was staring at the photograph on the floor, the one she had dropped before running to the sink.
No!
‘What’s this?’
She rushed to pick it up, almost bashed heads with him as he beat her to it. ‘Give me that.’
It was too late. He was studying the picture and the words written across it, a look of shock on his face. ‘What the actual fuck? Is this yours?’
When she didn’t respond, because seriously, how the hell was she supposed to answer that, he shook his head. ‘Do your mum and Jamie know about this?’
‘No. I only just found it.’
‘If someone put it through the door of your mum’s restaurant, they need to know.’
‘No, don’t wake them. It… it was meant for me.’
He paused, studying her closely. ‘What do you mean, it was meant for you?’ When she wavered, his green eyes narrowed in suspicion. ‘Talk to me, Liv.’
‘It came in an envelope with my name on. Someone pushed it under the door.’ She stepped around him, snatching up the torn envelope and handing it to him. ‘See.’
Noah looked at the envelope then the man in the photo again. ‘Do you know who this is?’
‘Yes.’
‘So it’s real then?’ He sounded disgusted.
‘Yes, but it’s not how you think!’
He pulled out his phone. ‘I need to make a call.’
‘Who to? The police?’ Olivia was panicked.
‘Let me speak to one of my old contacts.’
‘No! Please don’t.’
‘No? Are you serious?’ He looked at her incredulously. ‘This isn’t something you can keep a secret.’
‘Please, Noah. I will call them in the morning, I promise, but not tonight. Please.’ Olivia held her breath, waited, finally releasing it when he slowly nodded.
‘Okay, no police, not tonight. But you’d better start talking, Liv.’
They went into the restaurant, choosing one of the back tables away from the doorway that led to the upper section of the building, not wanting to wake Elena or Jamie. Noah poured large measures of brandy from the bottle that Olivia took from behind the bar.
He was initially guarded with her, firing questions at her to the point she honestly believed that he thought she had something to do with the photograph. As everything came tumbling out though and he learnt about the note and the phone call she had received, plus what she had discovered in the house on Honington Lane, his stance towards her softened.
‘So that’s everything?’ As he swirled the brandy in his glass he was studying her, she suspected for any trace of a lie.
She was used to fun Noah, teasing Noah, occasionally pain-in-the-arse Noah. She knew he had served in the police for several years before branching out with his own business, but she had never seen this side of him before and the new harder version unsettled her a little. She broke away from his sharp green gaze to study the hardwood floor. The restaurant had her mother’s touch all over it, from the simple vases of gerberas on red check tablecloths to the low copper lighting, to the brick walls, where pans hung from hooks and shelves were filled with large jars of spices.
‘What happened in the past?’ His voice distracted her, bringing her back.
‘Huh?’ She glanced up to meet his eyes again. ‘Nothing.’
‘Nothing?’
When he regarded her suspiciously, Olivia’s shoulders sagged, defeated. She had hoped he would understand and be supportive. Although they had only been involved romantically for the past month or so, they had been friends for longer. She needed him on her side, but this was starting to feel like an interrogation. ‘Honestly, I’m not hiding anything. I wish I knew what this was about. You know me, how boring my life is. It’s always been that way.’
Her last comment had been added lightly, hoping that mention of her dull life might provoke a smart-arse comment, but this time it didn’t come. Noah nodded, his expression still serious, considering. ‘Well, someone thinks you did something so we need to know what that is in order to find out who is targeting you.’
‘The police are going to think I’m involved. They might think I killed him.’
Noah raised a questioning brow and for a moment she thought he was actually going to ask if she had, but then the corner of his mouth twisted up and he seemed amused by the idea.
‘What?’
‘He was a big bloke.’
‘So?’
‘And you’re a squirt.’
‘I am not a squirt. I’m five foot six. That’s hardly a squirt.’
He actually had the nerve to roll his eyes at that comment, but Olivia let it slide. He was back to teasing her again, which was both familiar and welcome. She needed familiar right now.
‘I just see it as a bit of a stretch, you overpowering someone twice your size and chaining him to a chair.’ Noah was silent for a moment, running his finger around the rim of the brandy glass. He downed the rest of his drink, reaching for the bottle and pouring another measure.
Olivia held out her glass when he offered the bottle. She wasn’t a big drinker, but tonight was an exception.
‘You’re sure you don’t know who he is?’
It was the third time he had asked that question and Olivia gave him the same answer. ‘No.’ This time though, after a moment of hesitation, she added, ‘At least I don’t think so.’
Noah arched a questioning brow. ‘You don’t think so?’
‘I didn’t recognise him. But that’s not to say our paths have never crossed. I can’t remember every single person I’ve ever met. Can you?’
He looked like he was about to challenge her on that with some bullshit brag that yes he could, but a crash from the kitchen had them both jumping up.
‘What was that?’
‘Wait here.’
When Olivia ignored him, started to edge towards the door, Noah caught hold of her arm, pulling her back as he stepped in front of her. Normally the move would piss her off, but after the day she had experienced, she was already jumpy. Instead she caught hold of the back pocket of his jeans as she followed him out of the restaurant.
The large kitchen was cold from the breeze blowing through the open back door.
‘That was shut, right?’ she questioned.
‘Yes.’
Noah moved quickly, pulling Olivia behind him when she refused to let go of him. Outside he glanced around, looking for any sign of an intruder. If there had been one, he (or she) was long gone.
‘I guess the lock didn’t catch,’ he said eventually, turning to go back inside.
Olivia knew he didn’t believe that and was saying it only to reassure her.
‘Where’s the photo?’ she asked as he closed the door, this time locking it. She glanced at the stainless-steel counter, certain that’s where they had left it.
‘You had it.’
‘No, I clearly remember you took it and wouldn’t give it back. I thought you had left it here on the counter though.’
Noah thought about that for moment, nodding. ‘You’re right. I did.’
They both looked at the counter again then back at each other.
The little ball of dread that had been churning in Olivia’s gut started spinning faster. ‘So where the fuck is it?’ she whispered.
‘Honestly, I don’t know.’ Noah sighed. ‘Look it’s late and I’m tired. Why don’t I stay here tonight.’ He must have caught the flicker of hesitation on Olivia’s face, because he held up both hands. ‘This is not about sex. I just don’t think you should be alone.’
‘I’m not alone. Mum and Jamie are in the house.’
‘You know what I mean.’
Yes, she did, could see the concern on his face. She also knew she could trust him. Nearly six weeks and they still hadn’t slept together. Lots of making out, yes, and he had been more than patient, stopping every time she asked him to. She couldn’t keep putting it off. Knowing that made her feel both anxious and guilty. What if he didn’t want her when he understood why she was holding back?
‘Let me stay with you, Liv.’
She wanted him to. She really did. ‘Not tonight, okay. It’s been a hell of a day and I just need to be by myself to process it.’ She found a smile for him, knew it probably looked a little contrite.
He studied her and for a moment she thought he was going to push the issue, but then he nodded. ‘Okay, but I want you to promise me you’ll lock the door after me and no more going outside.’
