The Guarded Widow (24 page)

Walter traveled the busy highway for about an hour before deciding he needed to take a break. He wanted to stretch his legs. With his poor health he was always worried about blood clots, and he desperately needed to relieve his bladder. So at the next exit, he swung off onto a back road. After driving a few more miles without any restroom in sight, he decided being a man definitely had its perks.

Parking his car along the shoulder of the road, he climbed out and carefully made his way far enough into the woods to ensure no one could see him as he went about his business.

Emerging from the dark forest, he was feeling remarkably better and now ready to resume his trip home.

As he plodded his way back over the dirty, gray snow, Walter was surprised to see an older style car parked directly behind his own car. A stocky middle aged man was just stepping out of the older vehicle as Walter approaching.

“I saw your car and stopped to make sure you didn’t need any help,” Johnny hollered out, sending him a friendly smile.

Walter waved his hand, stepping up to his car door.

“I appreciate it, I’m fine,” he replied before turning his back on the young stranger for a few brief seconds.

Johnny moved with lightening speed.

He grabbed the metal flashlight off his car seat and raced over to Walter. Without an ounce of remorse, he brought the heavy casing down against the older man’s skull with a sickening crack of metal against bony, thin flesh.

The stunning sisters stood, side by side, admiring their reflections in the full length mirror mounted on the inside of the walk-in closet door.

“My my, we clean up rather well, don’t you think?” Maddy asked, flippantly.

Then, as if just noticing the time, she spun around and started to gathering up her belongings.

“I’ll meet you there, Olivia. See you soon.”

Downstairs, Gavin was pacing the first floor as he waited for Olivia to emerge from the clutches of her sister. When Maddy finally descended the staircase, it was without Olivia in sight and by now he was very close to losing his patience.

Elsa, however, took one look at Maddy and began to gush, “Oh honey, you’re such a beautiful girl. I wish…”

With the good intentions of ending her statement, Maddy quickly planted a kiss against her cheek. “Good night, Elsa, I have to go. I’ll see you there, Gavin. Enjoy!”

Then she raced off to Mulligan’s, never wanting to be late for a good party.

Olivia stared, again, at the unfamiliar image in the mirror. The back of her dress was shocking; it literally stopped just above her derriere. And yes, even though the hemline did make her legs look very long, it skimmed a good seven inches above her knees while the neckline plunged daringly low for her usual taste.

As Olivia fingered the thin spaghetti straps, which must’ve been designed purely for show, she wondered why she was even wearing a dress like this.

Well, it’s too late now, she decided as she slipped into her shoes. I’m surprised Gavin hasn’t stomped up here looking for me as it.

One more turn in front of the mirror enabled Olivia to admire the shocking dress one final time. After picking up her purse and wrap, she went to find him.

Gavin was convinced that she was never coming down on her own accord and strode down the hallway with irritation coursing through him. I’ve waited long enough, he decided as he approached the stairs to go retrieve her.

His first jaw dropping glimpse of Olivia descending the second half of the staircase stopped him cold as he completely lost his previous train of thought.

“Wow! You look gorgeous. Wow!”

His tongue suddenly proved uncooperative as he tried to speak and his brain was no help, being unable to think far enough too properly to form a sentence.

Giving up, he finally decided to settle for uttering a third time, “Wow!”

Olivia smiled brilliantly as she leisurely performed a complete turn for him.

The spark of heat which instantly fired within his eyes was worth far more than any words he could have ever spoken.

Stepping forward, he languidly trailed one finger from the base of her neck all the way down the plunging back of her dress.

“I’m going to be the only one to dance with you while you’re wearing that dress,” he whispered in her ear, his voice rough with desire.

Olivia’s lips lifted, giving him a purely feline smile.

“I wore it with only you in mind.”

Then she presented her back to him so he could place the wrap around her. After it was securely draped across her shoulders, he used it to slowly bring her around to face him again.

Parting it open once more, he grinned slyly.

“I’m just enjoying my view.”

Elsa hurried down the hallway before they had the chance to leave without saying good bye. She gushed with motherly pride when she saw them.

“Olivia, you’re a beautiful woman. As a couple, you fit well together.” Before returning to the family room, she paused and reassured them both. “We’ll be just fine tonight. Go, enjoy your evening out.”

Once Olivia finished thanking Elsa again, for offering to stay with the boys, they finally departed for Mulligan’s.

An ardent grin spanned Gavin’s face as he followed her out to the truck. He fully intended to savor their first evening alone together.

Mulligan’s was overflowing with enthusiastic revelers by the time they strolled through the doors. As Gavin checked her wrap and his coat, Olivia delighted herself with a generous eyeful of him.

“You look rather handsome yourself, this evening,” she purred.

Gavin placed a possessive hand on the small of Olivia’s back as he guided her through the crowded New Year’s Eve celebration. In order to be heard over the booming rock song being performed by the band, he projected his deep voice.

“I’ll get us some drinks and meet you over there by Maddy.”

He was keenly aware of heads turning, of men openly appreciating her, as she moved through the throngs of people. Jeff Master’s eyes quickly zeroed in on her, trailing her up and down, not once but twice, before he actually nodded a greeting.

After placing their order, Gavin maneuvered his body in order to allow him a less obstructed view of Olivia while he waited for the drinks.

He immediately zeroed in on Thad Wolfe, the one time blind date, who was confidently sauntering over toward her.

Annoyance roared through Gavin.

Bearing a cocky grin Thad lifted her hand and leisurely kissed it, but then refused to let go as Olivia attempted to draw her hand away.

As the bar tender chatted with another patron, Gavin directed a dangerous glare at the man who was now practically drooling down the front of the revealing sequin dress. Once their drinks were tightly clenched within his fists, Gavin furiously elbowed his way over to her. He arrived just as Thad’s lingering hand curved around Olivia’s waist as he attempted to guide her out to the dance floor.

Immediately recognizing the hot claw of jealousy which was fiercely gripping him, Gavin managed to remain outwardly calm as he issued Thad Wolfe a threatening look through narrowed blue eyes.

“Here’s your drink, Olivia!”

By now Thad, who was completely oblivious to the glowering man beside him, was gently resting his hand on the smooth bare skin exposed by the deep V of her dress. Gavin stepped forward with a menacing glare and growled so there would be with no uncertainty.

“Keep your hands to yourself, Wolfe. She’s no longer available.”

Olivia nearly choked on the sip of wine she’d just taken.

Thad cautiously eyed Gavin, who stood a good six inches taller than he, before wisely shrugging his shoulders and then walking off.

Temper soaring, Olivia angrily began to admonish him. “Gavin Rafferty, you…”

But he only shook his head at her.

“You were warned, Olivia. I’d already told you I would be the only man dancing with you tonight.” He flashed an irresistible grin. “I believe I handled that far better than the incident with Jeff Masters.”

Olivia tilted her head up and studied him. “You baffle me, Gavin.”

Linking her hand within his, he gently began tugging her out onto the dance floor with him.

“I shouldn’t. I want to be the only one to touch you. Now come here.”

Gavin possessively drew her into his arms, leaving no doubt in any other man’s mind in the room who she belonged too.

Olivia loved the way her body slid up against his as they moved together, how she felt his fingers lightly running over her skin. She nuzzled his chest, even loving the way he smelled.

With sudden clarity, she realized that somewhere during the course of these last few short weeks, she’d gone ahead and fallen in love with him.

This knowledge shocked her.

But since she was determined to enjoy this one night together, Olivia forced herself to forget about the events which had brought them together. Her new found love for him enabled her to relax within the arms of the man who held her and to simply just enjoy being with him.

Maddy had reserved seats for them at her table, so after a couple of bone melting slow dances, they made their way over to find them.

After observing how Gavin’s eyes rarely drifted from her sister, Maddy smiled, leaned over to Olivia and whispered loudly, “I think the dress did the trick”.

In agreement, Olivia laughed with her. “It certainly did, Maddy. It certainly did.”

At ten minutes to midnight, Gavin led Olivia off the dance floor and out onto the festively decorated outdoor patio. The night air was crisp and clear with stars twinkling overhead. Surrounding trees and shrubbery had been adorned in white Christmas lights and were blinking merrily.

“I wanted a few minutes alone with you,” Gavin explained as Olivia shivered in the frigid air.

He smiled down at her with kindled desire already darkening his eyes.

“Come here, I’ll warm you up.”

Drawing her in close, he tilted her chin up with one finger while his mouth hungrily descended and began plundering hers. The finger which still lingered under her chin started trailing down her neck to follow along the plunging neckline of her dress.

Olivia shivered again, but was no longer cold.

He drew her shoulders back and his tongue followed the same path his finger had just traveled. Her knees weakened and she leaned against him to hold herself up. A hot burning heat began culminating deep within her, making her want him. Now.

Melding her body into his, she physically felt his need for her through the thin sequined dress.

Olivia’s eyes darted up to Gavin’s and he grinned down at her, shamelessly.

“I think I’m going to need a minute or two before we can go back inside,” he murmured, still grinning as her cheeks flushed warm from the combination of pleasure and embarrassment.

The mood suddenly shattered as the patio door burst open and Ron Barton hastily strode out.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he quipped as his eyes skimmed, ever so slowly, over the revealing sequin dress.

Gavin noted his friend’s gaze was definitely lingering longer than necessary and his response was a fierce growl. “Have you seen enough, Ron?”

Olivia’s cheeks reddened even more.

“I will see you inside,” she huffed and then purposely ground the narrow spiked heel of her shoe into his foot before walking off.

Ron offered a half hearted apology before explaining why he was there.

“A clerk at a nearby convenience store saw one of the faxed photos of Johnson. She claims he was in buying food staples and supplies. It seems he’s planning to settle in somewhere for a while.”

Gavin clenched his hands into fists and shoved them into his pants pockets. He stared off into the crowded parking lot, recalling the photo of Olivia which had been waiting for her in the cemetery.

“Apparently, Johnson was sneaking around the house on Christmas Eve. He’s been back in the area for at least a week. But the question remains, where’s he holing up?”

Ron glanced over at him.

“I really am sorry about staring at her, Gav. That was just quite a dress.”

Gavin placed his hand on Ron’s shoulder as he returned an apology.

“Well, I’m sorry I jumped on you. I was feeling a great deal of pent up frustration when you walked out here.”

When they reentered Mulligan’s, Ron held the door open for his partner. As Gavin passed by him, he heard Ron sigh aloud.

“Hell Gav, given the cut of that dress, I’m sure you were feeling a lot of frustration. Consider it forgotten.”

Gavin had just stepped back inside Mulligan’s crowded bar and spied Olivia when the lead singer of the band announced there was less than a minute until the New Year entered in.

Ron patted his shoulder.

“I’m heading out to talk to this clerk. Do you want in on this?”

Gavin nodded his head, barely acknowledging Ron’s existence. He’d already made eye contact with Olivia, over the sea of dancing people.