Finding Faith (Return of the Dragons)

“Not really,” she replied, shaking her head. “Only to get groceries. Then your shop the other day, and here today. I’ve been enjoying the solitude at the farmhouse too much to explore much.”

The curiosity in Lindsey’s eyes intensified, but thankfully the cashier started ringing her up before she asked anymore question. Once they both had bags of books in their hands, they walked outside together.

Olivia was worried that she would pick up where they left off, but Lindsey didn’t press the subject.

“It really was so nice meeting you, Olivia. There aren’t many people around my age in this town, so I hope we can become friends one day. I need to get back to Aaron’s, but I’m pretty sure Cody will be contacting you soon. He was almost done with the estimates when I left.”

Her belly fluttered at the thought of him contacting her, but with a stern reminder that it was business related, she ignored it as she focused on Lindsey—her new almost-friend.

“I’d like that, and it was nice meeting you, too.”

Giving her one last smile, Lindsey turned and walked swiftly in the direction of the company’s headquarters. She watched her go for a few moments and then turned to her truck. The grocery store wasn’t too far from here—no businesses in this town were far from each other—and normally she’d walk, but she didn’t feel like lugging gallons of water down the street.

Getting in, she cranked the motor, brow furrowing when the same roughness she felt earlier came from the engine. She hadn’t expected it to disappear, exactly, but she’d gotten distracted in the bookstore, and it slipped her mind.

Backing into the street, she started down the road to the grocery store, frown deepening. The truck was, if anything, acting even worse, and she focused most of her attention on it as she made her way down the mostly deserted street.

Besides the rough ride, the engine began missing out, and it was sluggish, like it could barely pull its own weight. Pulling into a parking spot, she bit her lip, debating. She desperately wanted to look under the hood, but she also really needed to get the water before the store closed.

Exhaling heavily, she shoved open the door. The water would need to come first, since she wasn’t sure how long it would take to fix the truck—or even figure out what was wrong—and Lindsey said the town rolled up the sidewalks pretty early on Fridays.

She’d just be in and out, and then she’d figure out what was wrong with her truck. And hopefully, be able to get back to the house as soon as possible. Venturing out of her comfort zone to quickly visit a bookstore was one thing.

Diagnosing the problem with the engine, and adding more time in town to fix the problem, was another.

And no matter how hard she swallowed, the unease and fear crawling up her throat at being stuck here, so exposed, all of her dragon friends back home, wouldn’t go away.

Chapter 7

Cody

Frowning when his call to Olivia went to voicemail, Cody left a message, letting her know it was him and that he sent the estimates. He hated talking to machines, but she might not be answering because she didn’t recognize the number.

If that was the case, the voicemail was necessary. Shutting off his computer, he stood and stretched before leaving his office. Even though basically the whole town shut down early on Fridays, he generally stayed and continued working out in his workshop.

When he wasn’t on a job, he was building something new or refurbishing something old. He wasn’t feeling up to it, though. His thoughts were still stuck on a certain blonde, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to concentrate. He’d end up cutting a finger off before the night was through.

He’d heard his sister come back in earlier, so he walked toward her office to let her know he was heading out for the day. Lindsey handled the front desk and also most of the paperwork. Usually, he felt guilty if he left before her, but not now.

He wasn’t sure what it was, but he felt like he had to get out of there. He was too antsy to spend another moment in there.

Coming to a stop, he stuck his head in her office. She had files spread in front of her and she was on the phone, so he didn’t interrupt, just waited on her to notice him. When she did, she raised her hand in a distracted wave.

Returning the gesture, he mimed that he was leaving for the day. Her eyebrows shot up, and a million questions sprouted in her eyes. Never had he felt more grateful that she was on the phone and couldn’t voice them, and he gave her a half smile and a salute, walking quickly away before she ended her call and chased after him.

He loved her more than words could say, but she was a fast-talking chatter box who never seemed to shut up. And she had more curiosity and nosiness than anyone else he knew, so he definitely didn’t want to get caught in that.

For about a block, until he was sure Lindsey wasn’t going to come tearing after him, he strode quickly and with purpose, even though he didn’t really have anywhere to be. Finally slowing to a stroll, he smiled and nodded at some people he passed, but he tried to avoid eye contact or invite conversation.

He was in a mood and wasn’t up to speaking. He wasn’t exactly sure why, but he didn’t question it. Just shoved his hands in his pockets and kept walking.

So consumed by his thoughts, his head down as he tried to sort through what he was feeling, he nearly missed Olivia. As it was, he didn’t see her—he felt her. The cells in his body came alive in that electrifying way he’d only ever felt when she was around, in the way he was coming to associate with her.

Lifting his head, he saw her coming out of the grocery store, carrying four jugs of water to her truck. Quickening his step so he could help her, his brow furrowed as he wondered how she was carrying so many at once.

But then, he shouldn’t be surprised that she could manage it. Olivia seemed to be different in every way from anyone else he knew. He had no doubts that if she decided she was going to do something, she did it, no matter how difficult it was.

By the time he was close, she already had the gallons inside the truck. He wasn’t quite close enough yet to stop her from leaving—not without looking like a crazy man, running down the street after her—and he resigned himself to missing his chance to talk to her.