Driven to Obsession

Chapter 5: The Struggle

The following days were a blur for Olivia. She buried herself in work, trying to distract herself from the whirlwind of emotions that had taken hold of her. The shop became her refuge, a place where she could focus on the familiar hum of engines and the comforting routine of fixing cars. But no matter how hard she tried to escape, Sam Knight was never far from her thoughts.

She hadn't heard from him since the text message, and that silence was both a relief and a torment. Part of her was glad that he had seemingly backed off, giving her the space she needed to regain her composure. But another part of her—the part that had been ignited by his touch, by the dangerous allure of his presence—couldn't stop wondering when he would reappear.

Each night, she replayed their encounters in her mind, her emotions swinging between regret and desire. She knew she should be focusing on the work ahead of her, on the promise she had made to fix his car and maintain a professional relationship. But the tension between them, the unresolved pull, made it difficult to concentrate on anything else.

By the time the weekend rolled around, Olivia was exhausted—mentally and physically. She had managed to make progress on Sam's car, though every time she worked on it, she was reminded of him. The sleek, powerful engine beneath her hands was a constant reminder of the man who owned it, and the way he had made her feel.

It was late Saturday afternoon when the inevitable happened. Olivia was alone in the shop, the other mechanics having left for the day. The soft sound of jazz music played from a nearby radio as she focused on the intricate work of tuning the engine, trying to keep her thoughts solely on the task at hand.

The bell above the door chimed, signaling the arrival of a customer. Olivia didn't look up right away, assuming it was a late drop-off or a neighbor needing a quick fix. But then she heard the unmistakable sound of expensive leather shoes on the concrete floor, and her heart skipped a beat.

She didn't have to look up to know who it was.

"Olivia."

His voice was smooth, almost too smooth, and it sent a shiver down her spine despite the heat of the Miami evening. She slowly straightened up, wiping her hands on a rag as she turned to face him.

Sam stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable, though his eyes were as intense as ever. He wore a dark, tailored suit that emphasized the broadness of his shoulders and the confident way he carried himself. He looked every bit the powerful, successful man she knew him to be, and the sight of him sent her pulse racing.

"Sam," she replied, her voice more controlled than she felt. "I wasn't expecting you."

He took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "I thought I'd check on your progress. See how things are going."

Olivia nodded, gesturing toward the car she had been working on. "It's coming along. I've fixed the fuel injectors and started tuning the engine. I should be able to finish it by tomorrow."

Sam's eyes flicked to the car, then back to her. "Good. I knew you'd get it done."

The confidence in his voice, the way he seemed so certain of her abilities, both reassured and unsettled her. But it was the way he looked at her, with that mix of desire and something darker, that made it difficult to breathe.

"I haven't seen you around," Sam continued, his tone casual, though there was an undercurrent of something more. "I was starting to wonder if you were avoiding me."

Olivia forced herself to meet his gaze, refusing to let him see how much his words affected her. "I've been busy. Lots of work."

His lips curved into a knowing smile. "You know, it's okay to admit that I scare you. That this thing between us... it's more than you were expecting."