Occurs directly after Betrayal. If you have not read or finished reading the fourth book of the Cainsville Series, please do not go further – SPOILERS.
All rights to characters, places, and story themes belong to the author of the Cainsville Series, Kelley Armstrong. I am merely borrowing them.
After they had their supper, sushi as per Olivia's request, they stopped into Gabriel's apartment. He needed to pick up some papers he had left behind. As he was gathering those up, Olivia walked to the window and admired the view. She would never get used to or tired of it. It was breathtaking. As she was watching the window, she noticed movement. Gabriel was coming up behind her. She admired, this time, not the view of the city but the view of his reflection.
"You should pack a duffle bag." She said before he noticed her drooling over his reflection. "You might what a change of clothes for the morning."
"I've never taken anything in the past. Does it bother you that I don't?"
"Not at all." She declared vehemently. "I was only thinking that it would be better to be safe than sorry. You don't have to use the bag, but keeping an extra change of clothes at my place might come in handy somewhere down the road."
"You want me to leave things there?" She hoped she had not shocked him.
"Only extra things. And only if you want to." She really hoped he wouldn't act so offended. He turned around and left her by the window without saying anything else.
A few minutes later, he walked out of his room carrying a bag, and asked if she was ready. She just stared at him.
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
"Yes, I just wasn't sure whether you would do it."
"You are welcome to do the same, you know. Keep an extra bag of clothing here. You spend just as many nights here and I do at your place." She looked... Bewildered. Like she had received a gift she had not been expecting. He had had that bag packed for weeks. He just didn't want make the assumption that it would be welcome. It came as a surprise when she made the suggestion, and it was difficult for him not to grab her and spin her around in a tight embrace.
"We should get going. I'd hate to get stuck in traffic."
The drive to Olivia's was uneventful. She had left her Jetta at his office, it would be safe there over night. He allowed her to drive since he wanted to check and respond to emails. The more he got done now, the sooner he could finish and spend time with her socially.
She chatted a little as she drove, but the closer they got to Cainsville, the quieter she became until he put his phone away and asked what was wrong.
"I have to tell you something." She sounded anxious. "Ricky and I didn't get back last night. We came back the night before." She seemed to be expecting a response. He said nothing. "I know I should have called you right away, but I wanted to... Do something first."
"Do what, exactly?"
"You'll see."
"A surprise? Haven't we had enough of those today?"
"Only for me. You haven't had any surprises today." Not true, he thought to himself as he recalled the image of sun on her ankle. She laughed softly as if to herself, as she turned into town.
When they got to the Carew house, Olivia had herself talked out of showing him the garden. He seemed genuinely taken back when she suggested taking an overnight bag. Setting up her backyard as a surprise for him seemed like overkill. Besides, he seemed to enjoy providing over receiving. But it was too late now. He was expecting a surprise, and she had nothing else for him. Leading the way to the kitchen, she told him about her trip to the tattoo parlour, and how she went shopping, finishing with a recap of the banner. She left off and gestured for him to go into the yard. As he went outside, she hesitated to follow him, worried that he wouldn't appreciate what she'd done. She didn't think she could handle the disappointment.
As he walked out of the back door, he didn't wonder what he'd find, he wondered why he'd find it. He remembered suggesting she get a fire pit or heater for cooler nights, but never thought she'd set it up so soon - she didn't even own the property yet. What he found near the small pond was more than he expected. The fire pit was large, with a rim wide enough to set down their drinks. He sat down on the love seat and draped his arm across the top, and a few minutes later, she sat down next to him.
"What do you think?" She asked hesitantly.
"I think we'll have to wait until it gets a little darker before building a fire, but I'm looking forward to spending a lot of time out here." He said dropping his arm down around her shoulders. Olivia looked up at him with her big wide eyes, and it took everything he had not to kiss her. Instead he said, "Why don't we go in and finish up our work. The sooner we finish that, the sooner we can enjoy your new fire pit."
Hours later than they had intended, they were still sitting at the kitchen table. Gabriel's mood seemed to be plummeting by the minute. Olivia didn't think she was having any more luck than he. He had given her a stack of files to take care of. Her job tonight was to look through the cases, see if she could find any new information online, and add it to the file. She was having a difficult time, and was getting very frustrated. Finally, she threw her hands up, and said she couldn't do any more. Gabriel looked up and glowered at her. It seemed he was in the middle of something very important, and she felt as if she was interrupting him.
"If you don't mind, I might go out for a run. I'm getting absolutely no where and need to blow off some steam." It was a warmer night than usual for this time a year, and she felt as if she should to take advantage of it while she could.
"You want to go out alone?" He sounded surprised, as if she had never gone for a run alone.
"You're welcome to come with me, but I assume you don't have any jogging pants, and those might not be too comfortable." She gestured towards his pants. She hoped he would come, but didn't expect it.
"I keep a set of gym clothes in my truck. With the hours I keep, I never know when I'll get a chance to go. I wouldn't mind letting off some steam as well, if you don't mind the company. I'm getting no where with this case." He sounded hopeful to her, but she would never let on how giddy that made her feel.
