Page 38 of Before the Night Falls
Finally, she threw the covers off and got out of bed. She still wore her exercise outfit from earlier. Throwing a sweatshirt over her clothes, she opened the door to the room.
She needed some fresh air.
She slipped down the hallway and out the back door.
Maybe going outside at this hour wasn’t smart. She didn’t know.
But she’d felt safe out here. Plus, she knew Tyson had security.
She wasn’t sure if he’d always had so many precautions in place or if it was only since she’d arrived. Either way, she wasn’t complaining.
Besides, looking at the miles and miles of trees and hills around her felt refreshing. And the patio she most enjoyed was nestled in a corner with two walls on either side of her.
Just to be safe, she brought her pepper spray and her phone.
She prayed she wouldn’t have to use either. Prayed that this jokester who’d sent the flowers had gotten his laughs and would now back off.
Olivia walked to a cushioned patio chair and was about to sit down when she realized someone else was already out here.
She could feel it.
Drawing in a quick breath, she grasped the edge of the chair, her knuckles white with intensity.
She’d thought this would be harmless.
She was wrong.
Coming out here was a terrible idea.
She gripped her pepper spray as she prepared herself to act.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
“It’s me,”a deep voice said from the shadows. “Tyson. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
As Tyson stepped into the outdoor lighting, relief flooded Olivia.
She glanced at his shadowed figure and sighed. “What are you doing up at this hour?”
He stepped closer, his voice deep but calming. “I might ask you the same question.”
“I needed some fresh air. Besides, I feel safe out here.”
Tyson closed the distance between them, and they both took a seat in the chairs. His hair was tousled as if he’d tried to sleep but couldn’t. Wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, he looked down-to-earth and entirely too handsome.
“This is one of my favorite places also,” he admitted.
Silence fell between them. But it wasn’t awkward as Olivia feared. Instead, it was a comfortable “it’s-okay-to-be-quiet-sometimes” kind of silence.
After listening to the sounds of tree frogs and crickets for several minutes, Olivia asked, “Do you have trouble sleeping often?”
“Only when I have a lot on my mind.” Tyson’s gaze lingered on her as if he was trying to get a message across. “How are you doing? I mean it, Olivia. I want to know how you’re really doing.”
She swallowed hard. “I’m not losing it, if that’s what you think.”
“I never thought that.”
This would be a good time to share her story if she was going to at all.
