Saving Olivia (Team Cereberus Book 1) Read online

  Bruiser glanced over at her and remarked again at the strength she contained. She had so much passion for Jayden, so much loyalty, and love. He could see it plainly in her eyes. Stretching his hand out, he gently touched her fingers, stroking the digits as she stared into her drink. With a mild shake, she lifted her face and smiled at him. Lifting her fingers, she curled them around his hand and squeezed gently.

  "So, I've seen some extremely strange ways people get nicknames. What's your story? How did you end up with 'Bruiser'?"

  He let her change the subject. "I grew up in a series of group homes. Kids are not always nice to each other, and the smaller ones were often targeted by bullies. When I was about fourteen or fifteen, there was a little girl placed in our home. She was scared to death of everything, and that made her a target. One day I found some of the bigger boys had her cornered. It ticked me off. I told them to leave her alone, but they ignored me." He lifted his shoulder in a nonchalant shrug. "When they refused to stop picking on her, I took matters into my own hands." He looked at his knuckles. "The grown-ups weren't that interested in what happened to the kids as long as they didn't cause too many problems. The bullies tried a few times to take me out, but I always managed to come out on top. The other kids began to call me 'Bruiser, ' and it stuck."

  "Makes sense. What happened to the little girl?"

  His face became cloudy. "Kathy was returned to her birth mother after six months. I looked her up once, just out of curiosity. She ran away from home a half dozen times until she disappeared for good. Who knows where she is now or if she is even alive."

  They sat in comfortable silence for several moments until a bell sounded at the counter. Shouts of "Kopi Luwak" echoed in the room. One of the baristas lifted a tiny cup decorated in gold monkeys on the side and ceremoniously wound his way through the many tables scattered around the room. He stopped at one in the corner where a lady sat with a slight blush on her face. With a great deal of showmanship, the barista placed it before her and took a step back. A hush fell over the room as she lifted the cup, placed it to her lips and sipped. A soft aww slipped from her as a cheer rose in the room. Lifting the cup again, she drained it. The barista picked it up from the table. Handing it to another employee, he took a box and placed it on the table. It was a replica cup complete with gold monkeys, still in the packaging. He bowed to her and returned to the counter. The regular noise in the room resumed.

  "What was that?" Bruiser asked with a laugh.

  Olivia giggled. "That woman just had a cup of Kopi Luwak. It's one of the most exotic blends of coffee available. It's often called 'monkey poop coffee' because monkeys in Indonesia eat the beans. After being partially digested, they exit the animals. Harvesters pick the beans out, process them and make coffee out of them. They say that time spent in a monkey's stomach changes the dynamics of the beans." She shrugged. "I wouldn't know as I've never tasted it and honestly have no desire ever to try it."

  Bruiser made a look of utter disgust and shuddered. "I would never, ever drink that. How much do they pay her?"

  "Actually, she paid them." Olivia flicked her fingers to the menu above the counter. "That cup set her back $150.00."

  He blinked in shock. "A hundred and fifty dollars? Did she fork out a hundred and fifty dollars for a cup of predigested monkey poop coffee? You're kidding me, right?"

  "Nope. I've only seen one other person try it. The cup they serve it in only holds four and a half ounces. She gets a commemorative cup though. It's handcrafted with twenty-four karat gold inlays on it. "

  He contemplated that for a minute. Someone out there at some time found coffee beans in a pile of monkey poop and thought it would be a good idea to try them. He winced inwardly. Just when he thought the world couldn't surprise him, he got another shock. "I don't care if the cup had rubies and diamonds on it and tap-danced across the table while singing the Star Spangled Banner, I'm still not trying it. That's insane."

  She nodded in agreement. "It is, but it's not the most expensive coffee. They don't carry it here because it's so rare, but there is a bean from Panama that is several hundred dollars a pound. It's called Hacienda La Esmeralda."

  "Let me guess. Trained white elephants choose the beans that are ground and mixed with spit from a holy man."

  She laughed so hard every face in the room turned toward them. Gasping to catch her breath, she shook her head. "No, it has a unique bouquet, kind-of fruity like jasmine tea. It only comes from one plantation in the entire world. Even there, different harvesting areas vary the taste greatly. Sorry, no elephants or holy spit, just plain coffee."

  He leaned back and cocked one eyebrow. "You know a lot about coffee."

  "I worked here for a few months before going into the service. The owner, Philip, makes sure every barista knows all about the different beans. It's part of the charm."

  He whistled and rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. "A woman of many talents. Now I know why you wanted to bring me here." He picked up his cup and drained it.

  "Then the next date, you choose."

  His thumb stilled. "I'll hold you to it. How about tonight? I know a nice little bistro that serves amazing pasta."

  She frowned. "I can't go tonight. I promised to help Auntie Nat with some stuff around the house. Her arthritis limits her from doing a lot of the deep cleaning, so I always do that for her when I come home. Things like organizing the closets, cleaning under the beds, scrubbing the baseboards, and washing all the curtains."

  He mulled it over a moment. "I'm busy the next couple of days. How about Tuesday?"

  She nodded enthusiastically. "Tuesday is great. Jayden and I are going to hang out together that afternoon, but we should be done early."

  "Seven sound okay to you?"

  "Perfect." She checked her cell phone. "We've been sitting here for three hours. I should get home. Jayden wants to go to the park for a little while and sketch flowers. I promised I would take him before starting the big cleaning."

  "Alright."

  Leaving the shop, Bruiser took Olivia's hand in his. Together they walked down the sidewalk to the parking lot housing his SUV. It was a beautiful afternoon with the sun shining down and a light wind blowing in from the nearby seashore. Her hand felt good in his. Looking over at her, he couldn't help but smile. He wanted to get to know her better and today was a fantastic first step. She intrigued him on so many levels, and he couldn't wait to get to know her more. Already, he could tell she was exceptional and given enough time, would become extremely special to him. His smile dropped when he remembered she would be leaving in a few days. He had a feeling he was going to miss her. A lot.

  They reached the garage where his SUV was parked much too quickly. Bruiser wanted more time with her even with something mundane as walking to his car. He opened the door and helped her inside. Once again his thoughts turned to her and the impact she already had made on him. The tentative touch of her hand on his thigh brought his thoughts back. Glancing at her, he saw her look at him as if asking permission. He tucked her hand into his and smiled. Even this little touch meant a lot to him.

  They rode in silence, listening to the radio and soaking up each other's company until they arrived at the bungalow. Pulling into the yard, Bruiser saw Jayden was sitting outside.

  "Bruiser!" He waved wildly. "Livy is taking me to the park. I'm going to draw the birds and flowers. Tomorrow we're going to the museum."

  "The museum is closed tomorrow, Jaybug. We're going on Tuesday, remember?"

  His smile melted. "It shouldn't close. Tuesday is forever away."

  Bruiser chuckled as he got out of the SUV. Olivia was already standing beside her brother. "It's not forever, just two days. That's not long at all."

  He let out a long dramatic sigh. "It's forever, Livy." Turning his face to Bruiser, he grinned. "You want to come with us? I love the museum. I get to see new art types."

  "I don't want to intrude. That's your special time with your sister."

  Olivia
placed a hand on Bruiser's shoulder. "I would love to have you there. Please come with us if you can."

  He contemplated the request a moment. On the one hand, he knew the siblings needed time together. On the other hand, it would be more time he could spend with her. It was selfish, but he let that need take over. "How can I say no?"

  His doubt eased when Jayden jumped up and down, whooping loudly. "Bruiser is going to the museum with us!"

  Chapter 3

  Bruiser's hand in Livy's felt warm and strong as they meandered through the Art Museum exhibits. They stopped behind Jayden as he stared up at one piece encompassing the entirety of a wall. His jaw was open and his eyes wide as he followed the lines painted across the facade.

  "Livy! Do you see it?"

  She chuckled softly. "Yes, Jaybug, I see it."

  "They did it with cans of paint." His fingers twitched. "I didn't know it could be pretty, too."

  She frowned, not sure exactly what to say. Livy loved that her brother saw art in everything around him, but he tended to try to copy them later. She almost balked when she noticed the advertisements outside the massive building declaring the current exhibition of Street Art. She could envision Auntie's face at discovering the walls of her house covered in graffiti.

  As if sensing her distress, Bruiser stepped up. "It's pretty amazing, but you know there's more than just spray paints here." He let her hand go, and though she missed the warmth, she was happy to watch him interact with Jayden.

  Bruiser pulled Jayden to the side of the piece and pointed. "See, this is just a huge canvas and not painted directly on the wall. I know you have seen the stuff sprayed across the walls and buildings, but this is different. Those people were vandals. They were painting where they didn't have permission. It would be like someone coming to your house and drawing on your pictures in your sketchbooks. That wouldn't make you happy, would it?"

  Jayden swallowed and shook his head. "I like my pictures how they are now. It's ok if someone draws on an empty page in my sketchbooks but not on my pictures."

  "That's right," Bruiser continued. "You need to give them permission. Even if what they did was the most beautiful picture you had ever seen, it would make you sad that they covered your picture you already drew there. These paintings are the same. The artists are painting on canvas and boards. They aren't putting their art on walls where they don't have permission. It's very important always to make sure you get permission first."

  Jayden's gaze returned to the side of the canvas and Olivia could tell he was mulling things over. Finally, with a slight nod of his head, he returned to where she was standing. "Can we stop and get some canvas?"

  Olivia blinked in surprise. In all the years that Jayden had been drawing, his sketchbooks were always enough. Not even the various teachers could get him interested in working with canvases. Yet, here he was asking for a new medium all because of Bruiser's careful explanation of the rules. She wasn't sure what to think about it.

  "I'll take you in the morning. I'm sure Bruiser has a lot he needs to do. He doesn't have time to be a taxi cab for us."

  Bruiser stopped beside her and pulled her against him. "I don't mind at all. There's no reason for you to have to make a special trip when the art store is on the way."

  "Well, okay. If you are sure?" She looked up into his beautiful deep green eyes.

  The laugh lines crinkled as he smiled. "I'm sure," he murmured.

  She continued to stare at him, becoming lost in the depths. She didn't know what it was about him that attracted her so much, but she knew he was fast becoming important to her. Being in the service was a bit of a damper on her social life. She made it a point not to date any of the men serving with her although she was asked many times. That was one complication she didn't need. However, there was something about Bruiser that drew her like a magnet. He was strong, disciplined, courteous, and protective. Watching the way he had interacted with Jayden touched her. He not only took the time to explain the painting to him, but Bruiser had also carefully given him an important lesson on boundaries. She smiled up at him and bit back a shiver when he ran a finger over her cheek. She liked him. She liked him a lot.

  "I hope you guys aren't gonna kiss," Jayden interrupted their moment. "Kissing is dumb," he continued.

  Bruiser dropped his hand. Olivia closed her eyes and took a step back. "No, we aren't going to kiss," she said ruefully. Dropping her voice, she muttered to herself, "Unfortunately."

  Bruiser must have heard her because he snorted then covered it with a cough. "What's next?" he asked.

  Jayden's face lit up. "The next room has air paint. There's even a video that shows how he does it. He has a little pen that shoots air and paint out at the same time. Come look."

  Just like that, the mood broke. Olivia loved her little brother more than anything on this Earth, but there were times she wished he wouldn't be quite so forthcoming. "I'm coming," she said and started to follow.

  Bruiser grabbed her hand and swung her around until she was facing him again. "We'll pick up where we left off later," he promised with a naughty wink.

  Her heart flipped in her chest, and she couldn't do anything but nod dumbly. "Yeah, okay," she said breathlessly. Bruiser grinned and pulled her against his side. Together they followed Jayden out the door.

  Bruiser placed his hand on Olivia's back and gently guided her to the table the hostess indicated for them. Pulling out the chair, he waited until she sat before taking his seat on the other side of the small table. The tiny bistro only held a dozen or so tables and required reservations, but it was worth it. Not only was the atmosphere comfortable with hundreds of tiny lights in the exposed rafters and candlelight on each of the tables, but it also played soft jazzy tunes turned down low. The food wasn't bad either.

  The waiter took their drink orders and promised to return in a few moments to give them time to peruse the selections. Glancing over the top of his menu, he couldn't help but smile as Olivia concentrated on the offerings.

  "Everything alright over there?" he asked.

  She glanced up with confusion on her face. "There are no prices. How do you know what something is going to cost?"

  He chuckled. "Don't worry about the cost. Pick out what you want. I promise it's not going to break the bank. They are extremely reasonable here." He turned his menu so she could see it. "See, it's a set list of options. You pick one item from each section. There's an appetizer, a salad or soup, an entree, and a desert. The meal is four courses."

  "Wow," she whispered and looked down at her menu. "That's a lot of food."

  Her indecision was adorable. "Just order what you like."

  The waiter returned and took their orders. Olivia balked at the full four courses but relented when the waiter assured her he could box up any leftovers. When he left, Bruiser smiled at her.

  "I remember you telling me you were leaving the Army in a few months. Have you got your plans set?" He sat back slightly and watched her over the table. Damn, but she was beautiful! She had chosen a deep blue dress with silver highlights across the bodice. It was form fitting but covered her from collarbone to knee with wide strap sleeves. The color made her eyes appear more blue than green. He also appreciated the toned down style of her makeup. It let her natural beauty shine through. If he hadn't known better, he would never have known she was on active duty. Olivia radiated sophistication and grace.

  She took a sip of her wine and peered into the glass. "My separation is in June, so I'm going to apply for the fall semester at the University of San Diego. If I can't get in then, I'll try for the spring." She placed the glass carefully on the table top. "I've already started the paperwork to get the 911 bill; I don't know how long it will take."

  He reached over and touched her hand, gently rubbing his finger over the top. "I admire your drive. You seem to have everything mapped out. Do you know what you want to go into?"

  She looked up at him, and a beautiful smile lit her face. "I want to get a double in Psycho
logy and Special Education. I want to be able to help challenged children who go through traumatic events. There is a trauma counselor, Ara Palmer, who worked with Jayden after..." She paused. Her eyes took on a haunted sheen as if remembering something particularly painful. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "She helped him a lot. I admired her, still do, in fact. Jayden was so deep into his mind he didn't even want to draw anymore. She brought my brother back to me."

  Bruiser wrinkled his brow at the obvious pain in her voice. "Sweetheart, are you alright?" he asked gently. "I don't mean to pry but if you need to talk, I'd like to think we are friends and you can tell me whatever is bothering you."

  She shook her head slightly. "No, I'm alright. It's just old ghosts haunting me."

  She sat up as the waiter appeared at the table and placed a dish containing pieces of flatbread decorated with slices of fontina cheese and pieces of prosciutto. "Piadina," he announced with a flourish. "Enjoy."

  After he had left, Olivia glanced down at the plate. "Sort of looks like a pizza with no sauce."

  Bruiser laughed. "That's a pretty good description of it." He picked up a piece and held it to her coral lips. "Open."

  Her lips pulled upward with the barest hint of a smile before opening to take the bite he offered. He watched as she chewed the antipasti and a look of delight lit her face. "Oh, that's good," she exclaimed.

  He chuckled and tossed the rest of the piece into his mouth. When he swallowed, he nodded. "It is."

  They worked their way through the rest of the meal. The conversation was stimulating with him telling her what he could about being in the SEALs and she recounting endless stories of her own experiences in the Army. She didn't broach the subject of her past, and he was wise enough not to ask.