Gaining Ground Read online

  Gaining Ground

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Gaining Ground (The Faith Series, #3)

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Author Bio

  Sign up for Nikki Bolvair's Mailing List

  Nikki Bolvair

  All rights reserved nikkibolvair@ 2016

  E-book cover design by: Lyn Forester https://www.lynforester.com/copy-of-art-gallery

  ISBN: 9780996159999

  This book is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  A big thank you to my beta readers! Without them this book would be terrible!

  Book It With Bolvair List

  The Faith Series

  Love Is Not Lost

  Brokenly Found

  Gaining Ground

  Silent Secrets

  Just Married

  The Lovey Dearest Series

  Delicate Beauty

  Sweet Firecracker

  Honey Babe

  Lovely Dearest (Coming 2018)

  The Lydent Series

  Hidden Light

  The Bridge Over Snake Creek

  Tetchy Sleuth (Coming 2018)

  Winter Fairies

  Frozen Hearts

  Chapter 1

  “Daniels?” a voice whispered in my ear.

  “Hmm?” I didn’t want to open my eyes. It felt like only moments had passed since I had gotten comfortable.

  Whichever McGuire brother it was chuckled. “Movie’s over.”

  “Ok,” I mumbled, keeping still with my head resting on his lap. His fingers combed through my hair in a soothing rhythm. Every tug and small pull set off tingles that had me addicted to this attention, and I was refusing to move. I sighed deeply as sleep cleared from my mind and new thoughts came in.

  It had been over a week since their Uncle Jake had driven Kayden and me home. Brady had been enraged when he’d seen me. So had Lincoln and Tyler. I knew what they’d seen, and it wasn’t pretty. Kayden sported a black eye, while I’d been spared with only a bruised jaw and aching ribs.

  I was put on house arrest, or that was what Brady called it. I remembered that conversation clearly.

  After I was ambushed by the guys and Sarah, Brady took poor Kayden aside and had yet another “talk” with him. You would think with all the talks he had given him, Kayden wouldn’t need another one, but that was not the case in this instance.

  Sarah also took me aside and suggested I didn’t date right now; that maybe it was best to focus on all my late work that was due. Even though she was right, I still defended Kayden and again told her that this wasn’t his fault. I remembered when I glanced over to Kayden and winced when I noticed his eye. If I hadn’t said anything to those guys. If we’d just walked away. I had shaken myself out of my thoughts as my hand had come up to touch my own bruised jaw. Kayden, who saw the movement, glanced over and frowned. Brady had been lecturing him still, just like Sarah was doing with me, but it didn’t matter, we both held each other's eyes as we sent silent messages to each other.

  I softened my eyes. I’m sorry.

  His searched mine. For what?

  My lips pursed. You know why.

  His lips tilted into a smirk. I’m not.

  Then he’d turned his attention back to Brady, and that was it. With that action, he’d just ended our silent conversation. One of my own smiles teased at my lips with his response, because I knew Kayden would do it again. Maybe not the whole restaurant or fighting part, but everything else? Yes. I knew I would too. No regrets.

  When everyone finished talking, it was announced by Brady, my cheeky guardian, that I would be “taking a break” from dating. I had glanced toward Tyler and Lincoln who had joined us, and they winced.

  Oh, brother. Brady should’ve just said it like it was... I was grounded without the option of bail. And my release didn’t seem to be happening anywhere in my near future. I had to take matters of dating into my own hands. I shrugged my shoulders when the three McGuire brothers glanced my way, and tilted my head toward Sarah. If anyone was going to break on the dating part, it was her.

  During that week, I was able to go to my lectures and back home, but that was it. For the next five days, I wasn’t able to see the guys or Raina outside of lunchtime at the diner or Tyler taking me to college and back home again. Today, though, I’d snuck Lincoln in. I think Sarah had noticed, but she hadn’t said anything.

  His hand stopped moving across my head, and I sighed again. It was time to sneak Lincoln back out.

  “Did they try to come in at all?” I asked as I picked up my head from his lap and leaned back against my headboard. I was grateful that they got me the flat screen the last time I got hurt. It actually came in handy for my plans. Movie nights. I couldn’t go out, so they would just have to come in. I chuckled as I wiped away the sleep from my eyes.

  “No. You must be tired though,” Lincoln mused. “Every night your light’s on well past midnight. It's no wonder you’re falling asleep at the drop of a hat.”

  I yawned and turned to smile at him as I let my head fall onto his shoulder. “How else am I going to get caught up with all of my classes?”

  He lifted the remote to the TV, turning it off. “Yeah, I know. Are you anywhere near done?”

  I got up and stretched. “I wish.”

  Lincoln's phone chirped from my side table, signaling a message was coming in. I wonder if his brothers were trying to figure out where he had gone this evening. He reached over and grabbed it, swiping the screen to see who it was.

  I briefly glanced to HotShot, who seemed to be off duty, since he hadn’t given us away to Brady, then looked back to Lincoln. He looked annoyed as he pocketed his phone, before glancing up to me.

  “Daniels?”

  “Hmm?” I mumbled as I tried to think of the best course of action to get him out of the house.

  “Do you like it here?”

  I glanced at him briefly before walking to my closet. “Yeah, why?” I asked, not really worried about where his questioning was leading. I grabbed a pair of flip-flops to put on as well as my coat, before coming out. I saw him standing by my bed with his hands in his pockets, waiting for me.

  He smiled, his crystal eyes looked dim as if he was worried about something. “Oh, well.” He shrugged. “You know, I just didn’t know if you had another place in mind to live when you turn eighteen.”

  I paused, scrunching up my brow. What was he getting at?

  “Why would I do that?” I asked, pausing to look at him. He seemed to be nervous, like maybe he wasn’t supposed to ask me this. “I mean, Brady’s here, Sarah, and you guys. Why would I leave?” He sighed, and I felt unsure. There was something he was fishing for, and I wasn’t getting it. So I asked him that question back. “Are you? Staying here when you’re done with school?”

  He gazed at me with a small, tentative smile. “I guess it depends on you.”

  His answer sent a shock to my heart, and I understood. He was thinking of the future. A future with me. It had never crossed my mind that some of them wouldn’t want to stay. That maybe he would want to study at college somewhere else other than here.

  I treaded with caution when I asked my next question as I slowly made my way toward him. “Do you want to move away f
rom here? Is there another place you wish to go... for college?”

  He grabbed my hips when I got close and tugged me to him. His crystal blue eyes studied me as he answered, “Maybe. I don’t know yet.” He curled his arms around my waist, bringing me fully into his embrace. I worried as I mimicked his move, going a little further, putting my head against his chest.

  What did I think about moving? I felt some pressure on my head and knew that he had rested his chin there. I had talked to Kayden on our date about going to college, but he said he wasn’t going.

  “Kayden too,” he murmured.

  “What?” I pulled back, shocked. “That's not what Kayden told me. He said he was going to stay to run the realty business.”

  Lincoln looked confused. “That wasn’t his plan a few months ago.”

  I looked down at his shirt, confused as well. Lincoln pulled me back toward him, rubbing my back as I soaked in that tidbit of information.

  Did Kayden change his mind because of me? No. He couldn’t have. I had only been there for a little over a month. Whatever he had planned before, he had changed his mind now. Then I started thinking... Where? My throat grew tight at the thought of either of them leaving. I licked my lips nervously, clearing my voice to ask, “Where?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Where were you thinking about going to college?” Maybe it was close. Maybe I could visit.

  His arms tightened around me as he sighed. “Arizona.”

  I swallowed. That was not close at all. “Both of you?”

  “I thought so, but now I’m not so sure...” Then he tensed. “Do you think... would you come if we asked you to?”

  I pulled back and glanced up into his worried face. “Would Tyler?”

  He nodded slowly. “He would if you did.”

  My heart raced with his answer as I looked into his searching eyes and replied, “Then I’ll consider it. As long as we’re all together.” As long as they’d have me, I finished silently.

  A true smile broke out as relief spread across his face, and he leaned down to kiss me. “I’ll take that answer.”

  I snuck him out of the house with my mind filled with worry. What was going to happen now? Was I really ready to move again? All of those questions ran through my head as I snuck back in and got ready for bed.

  While lying in bed, I thought of what Lincoln had said. About moving. Was I really prepared to make another change? I had already moved around so much that one more seemed painful. I sighed as my thoughts turned to a tune I had come up with so long ago. While placed in foster care, some of the homes weren’t pleasant. My mood during that time was lonely and dark. I wanted to find a place to call home. A place that was mine. It was when I heard an old English song, or round, called “Rose, Rose, Rose, Rose” that I expressed my feelings with lyrics. I wrote my tune, taking the melody from the round, adding my own words, making the song I sung mine. When doubts rang in my mind, so did the tune.

  Home, Home, Home, Home

  Will I ever have one again?

  I have traveled place to place, like unwanted change.

  The first part rang true at the time, but now I felt like I had a home. Right where I was. Where Brady had let me in. Where Sarah had been nothing but motherly toward me, and hadn’t let me hide in a bubble. I’d even take it so far as to say that she was the reason I was in a relationship with the guys. I’m sure she’d deny that, though. I sighed, thinking about it all. I said I would go, and I did mean it. But when the time came, could I actually do it? Leave my—I sucked in a breath then proceed with the painful thought—Leave my new family behind for them? Leave Sarah and Brady? Thinking about it now, I wasn’t so sure.

  It was three hours later, and I couldn’t sleep. I lay there with millions of thoughts running through my mind, and I knew I had to talk to someone. So I thought about calling Tyler.

  I pulled out my phone, hesitating for a moment. Looking at the time, I realized it was nearing one in the morning. Would he even be up? I settled on a text.

  Daniels: Are you up? #Hacked

  I was glad Kayden had fixed the Hashtag at the end of my messages. It was getting old and was too long. The new one was shorter, simpler, and we all knew what it meant. My phone beeped, and I glanced at it.

  Tyler: For you, anytime.

  I snorted.

  Daniels: I hope that wasn’t an innuendo because I’m sure Brady has a ‘talk’ for you too. #Hacked

  Tyler: You and your dirty mind. And here I thought you were a good girl.

  Daniels: Tyler! #Hacked

  Tyler: Yes, Baby?

  I shook my head and smiled. I was in the middle of writing him a text when he sent another one.

  Tyler: What happened with the court workers that came to town? You never did explain. Is everything ok?

  I froze when I saw his message, and erased my original message to write a new one. Hotshot, who was sleeping on my bed, woke up and lifted his head. He must have felt the tension that was seeping from me, because he crawled toward me before flopping down beside me, giving my leg a nudge for comfort and settling down.

  Daniels: They wanted another statement on my father's death. #Hacked

  A second later, my phone rang, and before I could say hello, I heard Tyler on the other line.

  “They don't think you did it, do they?” His voice was rough with sleep. I felt sorry; I must have woken him up earlier with my text.

  “No. There was once a time I thought I did it, but with this old neighbor coming forward, it looks like it wasn’t me at all.”

  “A new witness? The neighbor? What did he say, and why didn't he come forward before?”

  “About two weeks ago, he and his friend were talking about my family. He lived across the street from me at the time. A few houses down, but he’s moved since then. Surprisingly, he didn't know what had happened to my family. He had gone on a family fishing trip the day after my parents died, and when he came back he moved. He said one of his relatives convinced him to move closer to them, which happened to be a few towns away. He told police he was so focused on moving that he didn’t have a chance to find out what had been going on. When his friend mentioned that they never found out who killed my father, he realized that he had information the police didn’t. Even though it had happened a long time ago, he still reported it.”

  “What information did he have?” Tyler's voice was clearer, more awake than it had been before. His question made my skin prickle like hot spikes along my arms as it brought back what the court workers had told me.

  “He saw someone come into our house that night, when my parents were arguing. He thought it was a family friend. Never thought twice about it when things quieted after.”

  I heard Tyler shift. “So the person that went into your house that night, most likely killed your dad.”

  “And saved me.” My heart pounded when I said those words, because it scared me. Why did they save me, and how did they know?

  “Faith,” Tyler sighed. “You don't know if that person was actually trying to save you. He might have thought you were already dead and took an opportunity. He might have knocked out your dad to take his money, or even loot the house. It even could have been that same neighbor. Don't go romancing the idea—”

  “That's enough, Tyler.” HotShot raised his head at my tone. “I see your point. And it couldn’t have been the neighbor. Why would he have bothered reporting it, then?”

  I was angry at him for giving me that other point of view. For putting doubt in my head. I desperately wanted to believe that the person who came into my home was there to save me and not there to do ill will.

  I heard another sigh on the line. “Because he might feel guilty? Something like that can eat a person up inside.”

  I didn’t respond. He did have a point. “I’m sorry, Faith.” He groaned, knowing that I was upset.

  My nose burned as my eyes watered, but I kept the tears at bay. “I just want to believe that whoever it was, was good.”


  “I know. I’m sorry. I should have kept my mouth shut.” He did sound guilty, tired, maybe a little bit frustrated, too. “It’s late, Baby.”

  Now I felt terrible and dejected. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ll let you—”

  “Can I come over?” He sounded unsure. Like he was worried I’d say no.

  I let out a weak chuckle as relief filled me. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

  “Meet you at the back door again in ten?”

  I agreed. “See you soon.”

  With HotShot following at my feet, I got up and headed downstairs to wait by the door for Tyler. I hoped he didn’t bark when Tyler showed up.

  Chapter 2

  Tyler was waiting by the door when I got there. He was wearing an olive green knitted sweater, and at the bottom, a white undershirt peeked out at his waist. Dark blue flannel PJ pants were followed by a pair of worn shoes that settled the look of Tyler.

  His cheeks were flushed as white puffs of steam curled into the night when he breathed.

  “Hey.”

  I blushed, and opened the door wider to let him in. HotShot grumbled and growled a little at him, but then settled down. I quietly closed the door behind me, putting my finger to my lips to remind him to be quiet. I grabbed Tyler’s hand and led him upstairs to my room.

  Inside my room, I went right to my phone and found my alarm. “I need to put a timer on so I can sneak you back out,” I whispered to him as he sank down onto my bed. He took off his shoes and then the olive sweater. “Sarah goes out running at six, and a little bit after that Brady gets up to shower. That's when you need to head home.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” he agreed, slipping under my covers as HotShot hopped onto my bed and settled on his spot at the end. I set the alarm on my phone, and put it on my bedside table, then climbed in beside Tyler. He opened his arms, and I eagerly cuddled into his warmth.

  He leaned over and kissed the top of my head, then gently rearranged us so I was lying on his chest, with one of my legs resting over his.

  I was nervous about being there with him like that, but almost too tired to care. He stroked my hair like Lincoln had done earlier. His other arm was curled over my torso, while his hand rested on my lower back. After a second, the hand at my back drifted downwards toward the hem of my tank top, before slipping underneath to touch my bare skin.