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I couldn’t focus on that though, not with him looming over me with fire blazing in his eyes. “Before we get to the wedding, I have to teach my bride-to-be a lesson on what is not acceptable.”
His fist curled into my shirt, and he reared the other one back for his next strike. I braced, only for the hit to never land.
Harvey was yanked away and in a blink, a solid back stood between us. Instincts heaved a sigh of relief as I took in Oliver and the anger burning behind his eyes. His shoulders were in a tight line, and he’d planted himself between us.
Harvey looked at me now, disgust clear. “You cheating bitch, you’ve been shacking up with someone else all while plotting my downfall. Is this why you ruined me? So you could fuck him without guilt?”
The fact he could even try to flip this on me like that soured my stomach and I spoke. “I didn’t even know him until I ranawayfrom you!”
Oliver’s stare never left him even as he asked, “I take it this is what you wanted to talk about?”
I swallowed hard and spoke. “Yes, but I didn’t know he knew where I was.” Then I remembered. “I need to call the sheriff.”
I barely picked up my phone before Harvey sneered. “The hell you will. You’ve cost me more than enough after this mess, and I won’t have you ruining it anymore.”
He took a step forward but Oliver matched him, ready and willing to fight. Harvey eyed him warily, finally removing his attention from me.
“She sure picked a big bodyguard. No wonder she’s fucking you. Did she tell you we were almost married? She left the night before the wedding, to be precise. I can practically see how much you care for her, but you shouldn’t. She’ll leave you, too.”
Oliver barked a laugh. “You think I’m going to listen to a word out of your mouth? She’s terrified of you, and I’m going to bet that’s for good reason. Now you and I are going to have a little chat outside until the sheriff gets here and puts you where you belong.”
Harvey’s lips curled, displeasure clear. Before Oliver could herd him out though, he spat in my direction. “This isn’t over, Jennifer. Not by a long shot.” Then he gripped the nearby vase and flung it at Oliver. He dodged, the glass shattering against the wall as Harvey darted outside into the parking lot.
Oliver cursed, watching from the doorway as Harvey gunned the engine on his car and peeled out. Once he was gone, I finally let myself slide to the floor, my legs unable to hold my weight anymore.
Oliver spared a look at the retreating car before shaking his head and sitting next to me. “This is a stupid question, but are you alright?” He asked, and I gave a watery laugh.
“My nightmare just walked back into my life, but other than that I’m okay.” Even my voice was teary and he winced, nodding.
“Fair enough. Want to move to the living room?” His hands were hovering over me, as if not sure where was safe to touch, and after a minute I nodded.
“We have a lot to talk about, and I need to call the sheriff.”
Thankfully, that call didn’t take long and he was on his way. It didn’t give us much time for me to tell Oliver what was going on, but I’d make do.
Once we were both seated on the couch, I started. “He wasn’t lying about me leaving the day before the wedding.”
Oliver stiffened but I didn’t stop, focusing my attention on the couch cushion underneath me as I continued. “I couldn’t sleep, so I went looking for him. I overheard a call he was on, where he said he was only marrying me for my money and that he was going to ‘dispose’ of a body once the wedding was over.”
He sucked in a breath, but said nothing, his hand trailing over to mine for comfort that I gratefully took. With the solid weight of his hand around mine, I kept going. “I knew I had to leave then, so I picked here because I drove through it on a road trip when I was young. He wouldn’t know where I was, and it gave me time to get everything situated, but now he knows where I am.”
And I had no idea what to do about that.
A beat passed in silence, and then finally he shifted to kneel in front of my legs. His eyes were steady, not an ounce of judgment in them as he soothed.
“He won’t hurt you again. I won’t allow it.”
I believed that, and a warm safety rolled through me. Oliver was the type to protect those around him, even if he didn’t know them well. It was one of the reasons I liked him so much.
Leaning my head against his, I spoke. “Thank you.” I wasn’t sure what else to say, but when I noticed his lips, how close they were, and the near magnetic pull I felt to close the distance, I realized that maybe words weren’t necessary.
Before I could move those last few inches though, he shifted, pressing a kiss to my forehead while shaking his head.
“You have no idea how much I want that kiss, but now isn’t the time. After we talk to the sheriff, if you still want this, then I’ll be more than happy to oblige, but not before.”
And just like that, my heart turned to goo.
Leaning away despite the screaming urge to curl closer, I nodded, scrubbing at my eyes as I did. “You’re right, and we need to talk about all of this too.”
