Read Online Secrets - [Guardian Trilogy 01] by Liz Schulte - Free Book Online

something else entirely.
     
    “I’m sorry. I just wanted to thank you for helping me with Christopher.”
     
    I wanted to be a bastard. I wanted to scare her away—save her, but I couldn’t do it. I wanted to know who she was more than I was concerned for her safety though I felt a slight twist of my gut at the thought of her coming to harm. “You’re welcome. He won’t bother you again.”
     
    She nodded, but her lovely blue-green eyes remained pensive and seemed to pierce through me. The faint ring of yellow around each pupil made her gaze nearly hypnotic.
     
    “My name is Olivia Martin,” she eventually said, extending her hand to me with confidence. I kissed the soft, smooth skin on the back of her hand and my chest tightened. Our eyes never broke contact. Nothing existed except for her, and there was nothing I wanted more than to claim her at that moment. No rational thoughts could talk me out of it. She would be mine. I pulled her towards me. She didn’t resist. But not in the same way Candi didn’t resist. Olivia was still consciously choosing me—at least I was pretty sure she was.
     
    “Holden, I’m bored.” I heard Candi’s annoying voice. I chose to ignore her, but Olivia’s eyes flickered from mine breaking the spell.
     
    “Candi, didn’t you look at the pictures?” Patience was one of my stronger virtues. I was good at biding my time.
     
    “It’s Cathi,” she said as if I should care. “Besides they’re all of ugly people.”
     
    An annoyed laugh rolled from Olivia’s lips and her eyes flashed with anger. Her face was so honestly expressive that I couldn’t hold back a smile. Her annoyance was adorable—and I had completely underestimated her. She wasn’t intimidated by Cathi at all. In fact, she seemed to look down on her. Cathi would be heartbroken.
     
    “Cathi, this is the photographer, Olivia Martin.” I waited for the claws to come out.
     
    “Neat.”
     
    “It’s lovely meeting you …Candi was it?” Passive aggression fit her like a glove, but before Cathi could respond with her own barb I put an end to it.           
     
    “Candi, why don’t you go get our coats. I'll meet you at the door.”
     
    “ Cathi. ”
     
    “Does it matter? Please get the coats.” I felt Olivia watching my interaction with Cathi with those curious eyes. I looked back, waiting for the questions that would force me to do what I didn't want to do.
     
    “Can you not remember all of your girlfriends’ names or was that for my benefit?” It wasn't at all what I expected. She might have even been mad at me. Much to my surprise, I sort of liked it.
     
     “I bet I'll remember your name, Olivia.”
     
    “Only time will tell. It was nice meeting you, Holden.” She had a lovely smile.
     
    “Good night.” She was more than I ever imagined she would be. This girl didn’t have a boring bone in her entire body—and I had every intention on searching it thoroughly too. I couldn’t seem to cloud her thoughts for any length of time before she broke through. Suddenly my boring life was becoming very complicated.
     
    I drove Cathi home without speaking to her, and I didn’t walk her to the door or kiss her goodnight. I was completely uninterested. Only one woman held my thoughts right now—and on that front, I had something I needed to take care of. I pulled a wallet from my pocket and went to the address on the license. Now this, I would enjoy.
     

Seven
     

     
     
     
      I dressed as quickly as I could, bringing my makeup for the drive. Juliet drove my car, and I napped in the passenger seat as we headed my mom’s house. She took pity on me and didn’t talk, just put on soft music leaving me to my vain attempts at a little more sleep. As we neared my childhood home she reminded me that I might want to use the cosmetics I’d brought.
     
    “Those circles under your eyes will worry your mom.”
     
    “She may not notice. She’ll be too mad that we’re late.”