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Cole’s gaze met hers. His dark eyes were nearly black, and so often shuttered, but this time, his emotions were laid bare. Sympathy. Understanding. Sadness. They were more similar than either had realized. Teens who’d lost their parents, but had the strength and resilience of grandparents to rely on. That kind of loss shaped you. Changed you. And only someone who had experienced it could relate.
The waitress came, interrupting the moment. She plunked down some water glasses and then took their order before hurrying off.
Olivia undid the wrapper on her straw, dunked it in her ice water, and took a long drink. The liquid soothed her dry throat, but the memory of the blade touching her neck flashed in her mind. As much as she tried to keep the attack at bay, it was never far from her thoughts. “Do you think the man who assaulted me will be found soon?”
The shift in conversation seemed to suit Cole just fine. He straightened in his seat. “We’re doing everything we can to make that happen.” He tilted his head. “Chief Sims said he purposefully asked you to keep the stalking to yourself.”
Olivia nodded. “To be honest, I was relieved. Serenity is a small town with all the perks and difficulties that come with it. Gossip runs rampant, and I had my business to consider. If word got out that I was being stalked…” She shook her head. “It could destroy everything I’ve built.”
“How so?”
“People might be afraid to hire me, fearing they’d be dragged into whatever this mess is. Or worse, they’d blame me for it, as if I’d somehow invited the danger. Most of my business success comes through word of mouth. The last thing I want is the wrong kind of attention.”
Blessed Events was her passion and Aaron’s legacy. Her event-planning company wouldn’t have existed without her fiancé’s help. She would walk over hot coals to prevent it from going under. Olivia twirled her straw. “Before tonight, the stalker hadn’t done anything except send creepy notes. The attack changes things, and I’m not sure what to do next.”
Cole’s expression softened. “You don’t have to make a decision right now. Eli and the rest of Ranger Company A will assist Chief Sims with the investigation. Hopefully, they’ll make progress quickly.”
The waitress arrived with their food, interrupting the conversation. They both said grace and tucked into their meals. The conversation drifted from one topic to another. By the time dinner was over, Olivia learned that Cole loved being a Texas Ranger, watched action movies in his free time, and spent vacations traveling to the best fishing spots in the country. The easy conversation and the food relaxed her. Olivia’s headache disappeared.
She leaned back in her chair and rested a hand against her stomach. “Thank you for dinner. I feel much better.”
“Good.” Cole wiped his mouth with a napkin before tossing it on his empty plate. He hesitated. “I hate to do this, but there are some questions I have about the case.”
Olivia figured so. Cozy mysteries took up most of her bookcase, and she’d spent time talking with Sienna about her private investigation company. It was kind of Cole to wait until after dinner though. “I don’t know how much I can help you. I’ve told Chief Sims everything.”
“My questions aren’t about tonight. They’re more general.” He shrugged. “This may lead nowhere, but it can often help to have a different person’s perspective.”
Talking about the stalker threatened to reignite her fear, but Olivia tamped the reaction down. Her fingers played with the cross bracelet on her wrist. A gift from her mother that served as a reminder of God’s constant presence in her life. Olivia had faced tough challenges—the loss of her parents and home, the sudden death of her fiancé, the struggle to build her business from the ground up. Through it all, faith had been her touchstone, bringing her comfort during those troubling times. This would be no different.
Olivia straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath before meeting Cole’s steady gaze. “Okay. What do you need to know?”
FIVE
Olivia was tougher than Cole had initially given her credit for.
Oh, there had been tears. Terror and shock. All understandable, given what she’d been through. Truth was, Olivia had every reason to collapse under the weight of the events. Instead, she faced them head on with a determination and resolve that was impressive. There was a core of steel behind that beautiful face.
Perhaps it had something to do with God. Olivia seemed to draw strength from playing with the delicate cross bracelet on her wrist. It reminded Cole of his beloved grandmother. Nana had carried a rosary with her at all times. When troubled, she’d pull it from her purse, or the pocket hidden in her soft dress, and run gnarled fingers over the beads. The practiced movements always brought her comfort.
Cole was envious of the depth of their faith. He believed, he prayed. But so often, God seemed far away. Untouchable. Not the loving and caring Father who provided strength in times of need. The level of trust Nana—and it seemed Olivia—put in the Lord wasn’t something he could bring himself to do.
Shoving the notion aside, Cole considered his line of questioning. He hated dragging Olivia through all of this again, but the investigation demanded it. “Chief Sims mentioned you lost your fiancé a few years back.”
A shadow crossed her face. “Aaron. He died a little over three years ago.”
“Have you dated anyone since then? Even casually?”
She shook her head, the caramel-colored strands running over her shoulders like a silky waterfall. “No.” Olivia released the bracelet she’d been playing with. “After Aaron died, I was too grief-stricken. It’s only been lately that I’ve entertained the notion of dating again, but growing my business has been the priority. I barely have time for my grandparents and my friends, let alone a relationship.”
Cole considered her answer. It matched what Chief Sims had told them. But it didn’t necessarily button up the topic. One of the things Cole did frighteningly well was put himself in a perpetrator’s shoes. He thought like a criminal. In this case, like a stalker. The man was obsessed with Olivia. He desired her. And that kind of connection didn’t come from afar. His compulsion would drive him close to her. “What about men you’ve gone out with, even just as friends?”
She frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“You agreed to have dinner with me earlier. We both know it wasn’t a date, just a friendly meal while we worked on my speech for the wedding. However, your stalker might misinterpret something benign as romantic.”
Her eyes widened with understanding. She once again fiddled with the cross pendant on her wrist. “I plan weddings for a living. That puts me in contact with groomsmen, friends, family members. Even if I tried, I doubt I could remember every mild interaction.”
She was right. Any one of those men could’ve interpreted her kindness as flirtation. “Did any of the guys hit on you? Or ask you out?”
