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CHAPTER TEN

Olivia held her breath as she glanced at the screen.

It wasn’t about The Admirer.

No, it was an article topped with a photo of Tyson and her together, taken when they’d gone on a tour of his downtown office. They walked side by side on the sidewalk out front, laughing at something now forgotten.

Then she read the headline: “Fitness Guru and Entertainment Sweetheart an Item.”

She jerked her gaze up to meet his. “What?”

“Apparently, we’re dating now.” He shrugged.

Olivia’s eyes widened. “Is that right?”

“Just read the article.” He pointed to the laptop again. “If it was published, it must be true.”

Olivia shook her head as she scrolled through the heavily elaborated story. She and Tyson had met while filming and hit it off. The two had an opposites-attract romance going on. Those who’d seen the couple around together said they were trying to keep the romance under wraps until the story finished filming.

“You learn something new every day,” she murmured. “It’s funny how they know things about us we don’t even know.”

“Isn’t it, though?”

Olivia studied the picture another minute before glancing back at Tyson. She was glad he didn’t seem bothered. Some people might let things like this make them uncomfortable. Tyson seemed to take it in stride.

She slid the laptop back to Tyson. “Apparently, my dating life is so interesting that even I need to read about it in a digital magazine to find out who I’m seeing.”

He chuckled. “Love your humor, Olivia.”

“I’m glad someone does.”

“I’m sure a lot of people do.” He paused. “Do you need a ride to church?”

“Sure, but we might be setting ourselves up for more town gossip.”

“I can think of worse things.” A surprising calmness permeated his eyes as he stood from his seat and waited for her response.

Olivia could think of worse things too. She’d lived through them.

Before her past could rush back and ruin this moment, she cleared her throat and stood also. “I’d love a ride. Thank you.”

* * *

Olivia and Tyson climbed into Tyson’s F-350 a few minutes later.

He put the truck into Drive and headed toward church. His truck, like the rest of his life, was impeccably clean and organized. The only thing that seemed out of place was a Native American dream catcher hanging from the rearview mirror.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Tyson followed her gaze.

“It is.” Olivia studied its intricacies.

Its willow hoop formed a perfect circle with intricate thread webbing stretched across the interior. If Olivia remembered correctly, Native Americans said it was a sacred net designed to trap nightmares while allowing pleasant dreams to slip through the center hole.

Small, colorful beads adorned strategic points in the webbing, and delicate owl feathers dangled from the bottom edge.

“A friend made it for me.” Tyson touched it lightly with his free hand.

“You have a talented friend.”

“She is.”

Olivia stared out the window at the rolling hillside dotted with farms. Red clay occasionally peeked through the greenery. Weathered barns with rusted tin roofs scattered the countryside alongside white-steepled country churches.

In the distance, the silhouette of the Blue Ridge Mountains emerged as a shadowy blue-gray line on the western horizon, growing more distinct with each mile traveled.

This area really was beautiful.

“So, tell me about your church,” Olivia started.

“It’s called Rising Son Community Church. It’s small and a little rough around the edges, but the people have good hearts.”

Olivia’s eyebrows flew up in surprise. She’d expected a perfect church with perfect people who were as successful as Tyson. Not small and “rough around the edges.”

“What was that look for?” Tyson did a double take at her, his eyes lit with curiosity.

Olivia shrugged. “I don’t know. There’s nothing rough around the edges about you. It struck me as odd that you’d attend a church you described that way.”

“I happen to like people who are rough around the edges.” His eyes hinted at a sparkle.

“And why is that?”

“Because I think anyone who’s honest with themselves will admit they fall into that category.”

His words were unexpected.

She wanted to know more about this man than she wanted to admit.

And that thought terrified her.

* * *

Tyson was curious about Olivia and her questions.

She hadn’t ceased to surprise him.

But beneath her cheerful exterior, he sensed someone who was broken.

He didn’t judge her for that. He was also broken in his own way.

But her jumpiness concerned him.

He hadn’t mentioned to her the fact that someone was threatening him. His home was gated, and there hadn’t been any real danger.

But still . . . the facts were unnerving.

He feared that by telling her, she’d only become more uptight. Instead, he’d asked Hobbes to be extra vigilant.

Tyson didn’t want to concern her.

Before they could talk more, he pulled up to a small, simple church building outside of Charlotte.

Being here was exactly what he needed.