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CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

After they’d eaten and talked for a couple of hours, Tyson turned to Olivia. “Ready to get going?”

Olivia nodded. “Let me just tell Tina goodbye.”

She found the girl and sat beside her.

“Will you take this to remember me by?” Tina pulled a beaded necklace from her neck, the intricate pattern of blue and white beads catching the light.

“I don’t need a necklace to remember you.” Olivia’s heart warmed at the gesture.

“Please, take it.” Tina pressed it forward insistently.

Olivia glanced at Tyson, hoping for an indication as to whether or not she should accept it. He nodded, his eyes showing pleasure.

“Thank you, Tina. It’s very beautiful.” Olivia gave the girl a hug. “Would it be okay if I came back to see you sometime?”

Tina’s eyes widened, and a smile spread across her face. “Don’t forget about me.”

“Never, sweetheart. Never.”

When Tina hugged her again before running back to her family, Olivia fought tears. Tyson slipped an arm around her shoulders and led her back to his F-350. Olivia wished they didn’t have to leave.

“Thanks for sharing your visit with me,” Olivia said inside the truck.

Tyson started the engine and backed out, silence falling between them.

Olivia waited for Tyson to explain and knew he would in good time.

“As I told you, my grandmother was a full-blooded Cherokee,” he said. “Many of the people on this reservation are without hope. Their life expectancy is only forty-five years. Alcoholism and suicide are rampant. There’s also a 50 percent unemployment rate.”

“That’s awful. Why, though? I don’t understand.”

“The same opportunities aren’t available here. Educational resources are limited. The closest university is almost two hours away. Most families can’t afford to send their children, even if they wanted to go.”

His knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, and Olivia gave him a moment to gather his thoughts.

“These people have been promised change for generations,” he continued. “Every politician, every developer, every well-meaning charity comes through with plans that never seem to materialize. Just more broken promises.”

Olivia could only imagine what that might be like.

They drove through winding mountain roads for another twenty minutes before pulling to a stop in front of a piece of property that had been cleared.

“This is where the new school will be built.” Tyson’s voice shifted—pride, hope, and something deeper. “It will have twelve classrooms, one for each grade.”

Excitement zinged through her. She’d wanted to know more ever since she’d seen those blueprints on Tyson’s desk.

“Want a closer look?” Tyson asked. “I mean, it’s nothing but land right now, but I still know the basic layout.”

“I’d love one.”

They climbed out of the pickup.

“Hold on a sec.” Tyson jogged behind them to speak with the security agent a moment.

Then he came back and led her onto the property.

Tyson began to show her where a cultural center would be, a place where elders could teach traditional crafts. He showed her where the library would stand, one with resources in both English and Cherokee. There would also be a community kitchen where families could gather.

The fitness empire, the books, the products . . . all of it fed into this dream.

If Olivia thought she admired him before, seeing this new side of him did her in. There was no going back now, no matter if she got hurt or not.

Tyson Stone was the most incredible man she’d ever met. Maybe one day she’d tell him that. Right now, some kind of fear held her back from speaking the words.

As they continued to walk the property, a pop in the distant woods made them both freeze.

Their peaceful moment disappeared.

Had someone followed them here?

* * *

Tyson heard the sound and tensed.

Was someone watching them?

Donald should be keeping an eye on things.

But Tyson didn’t want to let down his guard.

“What was that?” Olivia whispered.

Tyson shifted, placing himself between her and the potential threat. “Probably just the wind knocking down an old branch or something.”

They waited, listening.

Silence.

They heard nothing else.

But he knew Olivia was shaken. He’d shown her the property, so now they could leave.

“I think we’re okay,” he murmured.

She nodded, still not appearing completely convinced.

But there was one more thing he wanted to do.

He hoped Olivia might be up for it.

“I think you’ve seen enough here,” Tyson said. “I just wanted to show you what’s been keeping me occupied for the past few years.”

“Did you want to feature this location on the show?”

He shook his head. “No, I’m not showing you because I want attention. I don’t need my name behind this. I just want to see this school built, so the good work can start.”

He reached for her hand.

She eyed his arm a moment before slipping her fingers between his.

He led her toward his truck, keeping his eyes wide open for trouble as he did so.

He thought they were safe, but he didn’t want to take any chances.

Once he saw the security agent still guarding the area, he breathed a little easier.

He turned to Olivia. “You ready to head back?”

“Back to life? To reality?” She frowned. “Not really. It’s been really nice to get away from everything for a while. Thank you.”

“There is one more place I could show you.”

Her eyes brightened. “I’d love to see it.”

He contemplated the idea another moment, wanting to make sure the move was wise.

But they were out here alone. No one knew they were here. And they hadn’t been followed.

They should be safe.

“Perfect,” he finally said. “You’re going to love this view.”

“I can’t wait.” Olivia grinned softly.