Synopsis
Book 2 in the Trace and Olivia Series
How far would you go to reignite the spark you once had?
Two years later, Trace and Olivia are as much in love as they’ve always been. But the spark they once had for life is waning and Trace is determined that they find it again. His solution? A road trip. But he doesn’t tell Olivia the real reason they’re heading north.
Olivia is happy to go on a road trip and have more adventures with Trace. Besides, she needs a distraction from the soap opera her life has become. With college over, this is the perfect opportunity to chase down the carefree girl she once was.
But life isn’t a fairytale and you can only escape reality for so long.
Love, laughs, and a hidden agenda.
That’s the name of the game when you’re Chasing Olivia.
(This book finishes Trace and Olivia's story. Book 1 is titled Finding Olivia)
4.5 star review by Jen Skewes
I fell in love with Trace and Olivia in book one and could not wait for the continuation of their story. I must admit a second book sometimes scares me when the couple finds their happiness in the first. I always get that feeling and wonder what will happen to them and will they be ok. How much more drama and angst can I go through with the characters that I love. But Chaisng Olivia was a beautiful story about Trace and Olivia's journey to their happily ever after. It is about two people who love each other unconditionally and go on a journey to find themselves and to get that "spark" back that they felt slipping away. But in a way it was also a way to escape the reality of the issues that they were also facing back home. I don't want to give anything away but can say that Micalea Smeltzer did a fantastic job with Chasing Oiliva and it was the perfect ending to their happily ever after.
Trace and Olivia decide to go on a road trip. They have been through so much together that they needed to get away and find each other again. Not that there were issues between them but in a way they needed to be able to put the past behind them and concentrate on the future. They needed their spark back. Along the way Trace had some surprises up his sleeve for Olivia. But he also helped her live a little, doing things that would normally be our of her comfort zone. They wanted their journey to be fun and adventurous and it certainly was. Their journey helped them face Olivia's past and helped Trace escape his present and at the same time finding himself, figuring out what he wanted for his future with Olivia.
I know I am probably being vague here but there is so much to this story that I am trying so hard not to give away. Chasing Olivia was a very emotional read. I think I may have cried for the last half of the book. They were a mixture of happy and sad tears. There wasn't a lot of drama but that is what I loved about this book. They dealt with real life issues and they faced them together. They never lost sight of their love for each other and their love is what helped them through some of the tough challenges that life threw there way.
I loved Trace in Finding Olivia and fell in love with him even more in this one. He is still the cocky, sexy guy that we first met, and his love for Olivia is so real and genuine. He would do anything to make her happy and protect her and love her, and that shows again in this book. He will continue to make you smile with his cocky ways. Olivia is a great heroine. She is shy at times and Trace's lack of a filter when it comes to his words leaves her blushing, but that doesn't stop Trace, which makes for some adorable moments between them. We still got to see the important people in their lives such as Avery and Luca, Nick and Nora, Gramps, and Trace's family. But we also get to meet some other characters in this book that were a wonderful addition.
I loved Trace and Olivia and am very sad to see their story end. I laughed, cried, became happy, sad and my heart broke right along with them. But it was all worth it in the end, especially in the epilogue which I absolutely loved. Fantastic job!
Alternate scene - Trace's POV
First Kiss
Trace’s POV
“Hell no!” She waved her arms as she stumbled back a few steps when her eyes landed on the sign about karaoke. I stepped around her so that I was behind her and she walked right into my chest. She started to fall, but I grabbed her arms to steady her. My hands practically wrapped all the way around her slender arms. She was so small and I felt like I had to protect her.
“Don’t even think about running away, Olivia,” I bent my head and brushed my lips against her ear as I spoke. God, I loved touching her way more than I should. A guy like me didn’t deserve a girl as sweet and innocent as Olivia. But that knowledge didn’t stop me from wanting her. “I will chase your ass down and drag you back in here,” I warned when I felt her start to pull away from my touch.
“But-but—” She stuttered, looking up at me with wide brown eyes.
“You’re getting up there, and you’re singing,” my tone of voice brooked no argument.
She took a deep breath and her eyes closed. Her lashes were so long that I wasn’t sure they were real.
I watched her carefully, waiting for any sign that she was about to run. After a moment, she pulled her shirt down, wringing it in her hands, and said, “I’ve got this.”
Without a backward glance at me, she turned and strode around the bar.
She could be a little spitfire when she wanted, and that side of her turned me on as much as her sweet side. She was fucking amazing.
She found an empty table and slid her cute ass onto the shiny rubber leather. I sat down across from her and I couldn’t stop my grin.
She glanced over her shoulder at the karaoke setup and I couldn’t miss her hard swallow. I hated that she was so scared, but this was on her list, and I was obligated to make her do it…even if I had to drag her up there kicking and screaming.
“It’ll be fine,” I assured her.
Her head whipped back to face me and if I was a weaker man her glare would’ve cut me to the bone.
“You’re not the one that’s going to have to sing in front of a bunch of strangers!” She cried as her hackles rose, reminding me of a hissing kitten. I found her outburst highly entertainingly. Clearly I had a warped sense of humor.
“That’s true,” I fought a laugh as I leaned back in the booth.
The waitress chose that moment to appear and I hoped the momentary distraction would help calm Olivia. I could tell that she was seconds away from jumping over the table and trying to strangle me. She’d thank me later though…unless she sucked and couldn’t sing—which was probably true—then she’d be cursing my name.
“Can I get you anything to eat or drink? Do you need some more time to look at the menu?” The waitress asked, her pen at the ready.
I sat back and waited for Olivia to order. Ladies always came first.
“Sweet tea, I’m not very hungry,” she frowned as she handed the menu over. I really hoped she didn’t get sick.
“A chocolate milkshake,” I smiled, “that’s all.”
“I’ll be back with that, and if either of you change your mind, and want something to eat, let me know,” she turned and headed behind us.
I watched as Olivia nervously fiddled with a piece of hair. Her skin was tinged green and I knew she was about to jump ship.
“Ready?” I challenged, hoping my tone would make her want to get up there and prove herself.
“No!” She exclaimed, her eyes so wide I thought they might pop out of her skull. “Give me a few minutes to talk myself into this!” She reached up and wiped her damp brow with the back of her hand. I wondered how she managed to make even sweating seem so damn sexy. The girl didn’t even have to try.
I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes. “Are you talking yourself into it, or out of it?”
“In! I’m talking myself into it!”
Oh fuck, it was so hard for me not to comment on the fact that I’d like to bury myself deep inside her. But I knew she’d run if I said something like that, even if I said it in a joking manner—but I wouldn’t mean it as a joke. I wanted her bad. I had never in all my twenty-two years wanted a girl as bad as I did Olivia.
“Sure you are,” I finally said, hoping she didn’t notice my momentary pause.
It surprised me when she slapped her hand down on the table and stood up. There was the spitfire side I’d been waiting to come out and play.
“Challenge accepted?” I asked, unable to hide my grin.
“You betcha’,” she pointed a finger at me and narrowed her pretty brown eyes at me. She turned promptly and swayed up to the karaoke setup. I was a fucking animal and watched the way her ass moved in her jeans.
The waitress brought our order and I started sipping on my chocolate shake.
My eyes never left her as she spoke to the man running the machine. He questioned her about something and she replied back, her shoulders were squared and she looked like she was ready to take on the world.
The song started up and her eyes closed as people turned to watch her.
Open your eyes, Olivia. I said silently. Open those pretty eyes and look at me. No one else matters.
Her eyes opened and connected with mine. I felt like I’d just been kicked in the gut. I never knew that one look would have the capability of wanting to bring me to my knees. Olivia had a hold over me like no one else.
I smiled encouragingly, knowing she needed me to support her tonight.
She started singing and holy shit, I hadn’t expected that voice to come out of her tiny body. She was amazing. I was beginning to think there was nothing she couldn’t do.
Her eyes never left mine as she sang and the words of the song she sang started to get to me. Fuck. When had I turned into such a pussy?
“’I need you like water, like breath, like rain. I need you like mercy from Heaven’s gate. There’s a freedom in your arms that carries me through. I need you.’”
I knew she probably hadn’t chosen the song for any other reason except that she liked it, but the words I need you got to me nonetheless. I was a selfish bastard and I wanted her to need me. I wanted to keep her close to me and never let go. I wanted to hold her at night and comfort her with sweet words. I didn’t deserve her, but I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to stay away.
And that’s why, when her song ended, I pushed away from the table and strode up to her.
“Sing with me,” I pleaded, oblivious to the watching crowd.
Her eyes widened momentarily, like she wanted to argue, but she must have seen something in my face because she nodded.
I told the guy the song I wanted, knowing that by choosing it I was going to be confessing stuff to Olivia that I could never say aloud.
Her eyes widened when the lyrics flickered onto the screen. She looked up at me briefly and the shock on her face was unmistakable.
She started singing and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. How could she be so unaware of what she did to me?
“’I’ve never opened up to anyone. So hard to hold back when I’m holding you in my arms,’” I sang, tilting my head to look at her.
The chorus came onto the screen and we began to sing together.
“’We don’t need to rush this, let’s just take it slow. Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight. Just a touch of the fire burning too bright. No, I don’t want to mess this thing up. I don’t want to push too far. Just a shot in the dark that you just might be the one I’ve been waiting for my whole life. So baby I’m alright, with just a kiss goodnight.’”
I knew these lyrics revealed way more than I was willing to say. God, I wanted to kiss her so fucking bad, but I didn’t want to ruin our relationship. It might kill me, but I’d rather be her friend than mess up what we had. I couldn’t help believing though, that we were inevitable.
I found myself getting as close to her as possible as we sang. My free hand fisted at my side as I resisted the urge to touch her soft pink cheeks. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could be a good boy and resist her. I was only so strong.
The song ended and we both stood there, staring into each other’s eyes. It was the most powerful moment in my life and my gut told me that things were never going to be the same for me after tonight.
My hand refused to stay at my side a second longer and I reached up to cup her cheek. Her mouth parted as a shaky breath escaped her. For some reason, I thought it was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.
“I knew you could do it, Olivia,” my thumb flicked over her full bottom lip. I wanted to kiss her so bad, but I held myself back. Kissing her would be selfish. I didn’t see how I could promise her anything and Olivia was the kind of girl that deserved the world.
“You did?” Her breath was labored and I wasn’t sure if she was just winded from singing, or if I affected her that much…god, I really hoped it was me.
“Okay, maybe not,” I laughed, pressing my forehead against hers. My eyes closed and I reveled in her warmth.
Her laughter joined mine and it made my stomach do funny things. I’d never felt so…giddy before. That was the power Olivia had over me. She made me feel things I never thought were possible. “You mean you thought I might suck?”
“Well, yeah,” I shrugged, fighting a grin. “I don’t expect you to be perfect at everything,” I chuckled, refusing to move my hand from her cheek. I needed to touch her a little longer. “I mean, you were definitely horrible at painting.”
She poked my side with more strength than I knew she had. “Ow!” I rubbed my side, pretending to be injured. “You were amazing, honestly,” I added. My words were true and she deserved to hear them.
“So were you,” a small smile turned her lips, “I didn’t know you could sing.”
I started to explain that I was good at everything when someone rudely cleared their throat to get our attention. I wanted to kick them for disturbing the moment.
“Uh—if you two are done, there are other people that would like to sing,” a man said.
“Sorry, sir,” I took Olivia’s hand and led her off the small stage and back to the table.
I hated to release her hand so we could sit down at the table, but I had no choice. I wrapped my hand around the cold milkshake glass to resist the urge to touch her.
“I didn’t know you could sing,” she repeated.
“Oh, I don’t,” I dismissed her comment with a flick of my hand. Singing was something was good at and liked to do.
“I beg to differ,” she glared, “your voice is amazing.”
I rolled my eyes, taking a sip of my shake. “It’s average, there’s a big difference,” I shrugged.
She snorted, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “If you think your voice is average, I’d like to know what you think is extraordinary.”
I snapped my fingers together, lighting up. “Steven Tyler has an extraordinary voice. Aerosmith is one of the greatest bands ever.”
She laughed, shaking her head. “Says the man who was dancing to a song about blowing the roof off the place.”
“Hey, variety is the spice of life,” I reasoned. “I can’t help it that I enjoy different styles of music. Old rock and techno happen to be my favorites,” I sucked down more of my milkshake.
“You’re nuts.”
“Sanity is overrated,” I quipped, winking at her. “So,” I leaned forward, “think I can convince you to sing another song?”
“No,” her head flicked back and forth. “I’m done for now.” She looked a bit green and I felt like a dick for picking on her.
“As long as I get to hear your voice again. It’s beautiful,” I said, meaning it. Her voice was soft and sweet…exactly what I imagined she’d sound like.
“Uhmm,” she muttered in agreement, drinking her sweet tea. Her eyes were far away and I wondered what she was thinking about.
I finished my milkshake and slapped some money down on the table.
“Ready to get out of here?” I asked, already sliding out of the booth.
“Yeah,” she smiled in relief now that she knew I wasn’t going to make her get up there again.
As we walked out of the restaurant, I had to resist the urge to put my hand on her waist and mark her as mine. It was pissing me off the way guys were staring at her and complimenting her. She. Was. Mine.
An old guy approached us and his words stopped me. “She’s a keeper lad. A forever girl, that one,” he pointed a shaky finger at Olivia to further drive home his point. “Don’t let her get away like I did,” he slapped me on the shoulder and shuffled away.
A forever girl.
He was right. That’s exactly what she was.
Olivia started laughing when we exited the busy restaurant. “A forever girl?” She giggled, biting on her luscious bottom lip. Her cheeks were flushed and her curly hair breezed around her with the wind. I want to grab her, fist her hair between my fingers, and kiss her senseless.
But I didn’t.
I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jeans and she stiffened, her smile falling when she noted my serious expression. “But you are a forever girl,” I ceased my steps, standing in the middle of the parking lot.
“What does that even mean?” She stopped too, looking up at me. She was such a little thing. I had the insane urge to reach out and wrap my arms around her.
I tilted my head, contemplating my words carefully before I spoke. “You’re not the kind of girl that guys fool around with, Olivia. You’re the kind of girl, that when a guy finds her, he’ll do everything he can to keep her.”
Her mouth dropped open and I heard her small gasp.
I strode around her and to my car. I didn’t want to look at her right now. I had just admitted way too much and I was pissed at myself. I wasn’t strong enough to stay away.
I grasped the steering wheel tightly in my hands, refusing to look at her when she got in the car. I felt her confusion, but I couldn’t explain what I was thinking to her. She wouldn’t understand. I was used to getting what I wanted—and I wanted Olivia—I knew all I had to do was express interest and she’d be mine. But that seemed wrong. She was so…innocent—despite what her list might state…and I wasn’t.
I didn’t deserve her.
But I wanted her.
Bad.
I had to kiss her. I had to taste those lips one time, even if it killed me.
I didn’t bother going back to my place, even though her car was parked there. I knew if I did, I wouldn’t be able to resist taking her back up to my room and licking her entire body.
“My car—” She started when she realized we were parked in front of her dorm.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it’s here in the morning.”
She eyed me for a moment, wondering what was going on with me. But she didn’t say anything.
With a shake of her head, she put her hand on the door to get out.
Panic seized me and I grabbed her arm. “Wait.”
She stopped, turning her head to look at me. I didn’t say anything, all words seemed to have left me along with my breath.
“Take a walk with me.” It wasn’t a question. I needed her to do this. I was about to break all my promises to myself and kiss her…I had to. And I’d make sure it was a kiss she never forgot.
“It’s cold,” she complained.
I had a solution for that. I unbuckled my seatbelt and grabbed a sweatshirt from the back of my car. “Wear this,” I handed it to her, hoping it didn’t smell.
She slipped my sweatshirt on and it nearly swallowed her whole.
I slipped out of the car and she stepped into place beside me. I wasn’t very familiar with the campus layout, but I knew the pavilion was close.
I stopped walking when we came to it and leaned against the metal fence separating the land from the water. It was a pretty campus and I was surprised that this shitty town could make something so nice.
Olivia stepped up beside me, staring at the water too. She shivered as a gust of wind blew by and I inhaled the scent of her shampoo. God, how did she smell so good without even trying? She didn’t have to drench herself in perfume to smell nice. She didn’t even wear a lot of makeup and she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
I entwined my hands together and clenched my teeth, fighting a war with myself. I brought her here because I wanted to kiss her. But I’d also thought the walk would give me time to cool down and talk myself out of it. I didn’t want to ruin what we had.
I glanced at her and she was studying my face. There was sadness in her eyes and her brow was furrowed in worry. I wondered why she looked like that.
I straightened and said, “I enjoyed singing with you tonight.” My words were merely a stall tactic. I needed to turn and leave. But I couldn’t get my feet to move.
“I enjoyed singing with you too,” her words were shaky and her gaze flicked to the ground.
I stepped forward, so my boots bumped into her sneakers. “Olivia,” I said her name softly, like I was speaking to a frightened animal.
Slowly, her head rose and her eyes met mine.
“There’s something I’ve wanted to do ever since I met you,” I admitted, lowering my head.
When my lips were just a breath away from hers, she gasped, “What?”
A small chuckled escaped me and then I was kissing her. I had waited what felt like forever for this moment. Her lips were as soft as I’d imagined and I could spend the rest of my life kissing her. I pressed closer and her arms wrapped around my neck. My fingers found the silky strands of her hair and I groaned. Nothing had ever felt like this before and I wanted more…so much more.
My other hand settled at her waist, pressing her into me. My tongue flicked against her bottom lip and her mouth opened, welcoming me. Her body curled against mine and nipped at her bottom lip with my teeth. She let out a small cry and it was like a slap in the face.
What the fuck was I doing?
This was wrong. So very wrong. I couldn’t take advantage of Olivia like this.
My hands clenched at my side. I was angry at myself, but I still wanted her. There was a battle raging inside me and I wasn’t sure which side would ultimately win.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” I gasped, shaking my head. Tears filled her eyes at my words. “I’m sorry,” I repeated as I turned and all but ran away from her.
I knew I’d really just messed things up, but I couldn’t make myself turn around and face her…not yet at least.
About the Author:
Micalea
Smeltzer is an author from Virginia. Her name is pronounced Muh-call-e-uh. She
is permanently glued to her computer, where she constantly writes. She has to
listen to music when she writes and has a playlist for every book she’s ever
started. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading a book or playing
with her three dogs.
You can email Micalea at:
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Buy Links:
Finding Olivia Amazon US: http://amzn.to/168VaEn
Chasing Olivia Amazon US: http://amzn.to/19kpbWa
GoodReads:
Finding Olivia: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17931161-finding-olivia
Chasing Olivia: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18484048-chasing-olivia
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