through a lot. I just wanted to . . . offer you comfort.”
“I appreciate it. But I’ve got to say no.”
He finally managed a glance at Olivia’s table.
Empty.
But they hadn’t gotten past salad. Had something happened, maybe to Annabelle?
He excused himself from his ruined date and punched a number into his cell. “What happened?” he asked Alex.
“A better question is, what the hell happened in baby class?”
“Nothing.” Brad paused. “Okay, maybe something did. But I’m going to fix it. I’ve got to go.”
Relieved that Annabelle was okay, Brad stopped briefly in the kitchen to tell his staff he’d be back at 8:00 a. m.
In his car, Brad slammed his hands on the steering wheel and cursed. No matter what he told himself, Olivia wasn’t a fleeting, temporary memory from an innocent time long past. She was as deeply entrenched in him as the massive roots of the centuries-old beech trees in the town square. It appeared he was as incapable of undermining her as he was of forgetting her.
He couldn’t stand her feeling badly because of him. He wanted to apologize. Be her advocate instead of her enemy. He couldn’t give her anything else, but he could at least give her that.
As he headed out of the lot, he couldn’t believe he’d just chosen complicated, full-of-trouble, give-him-grief Olivia over all-I-want-is-sex Erika.
CHAPTER 9
The incessant knocking forced Olivia to come to the door even though she wanted company about as much as she wanted her wisdom teeth pulled. Brad stood propped on the other side, his thick crop of hair and the tip of his nose pressed against the screen, making for a scary sight. She smoothed down her old gray T-shirt, covered with water blotches from Annabelle’s bath. “It’s been a long day. I’m really not up for company.”
“I come bearing food.” He dangled a cardboard take-out box in front of her. “And something to wash it down with.” He produced two icy cold bottles of beer from behind his back. He looked at her with a hopeful expression. “Now will you let me in?”
“Brad, I’m really tired. I’m afraid I’m going to have to take a rain check.” Something smelled really amazing in those cartons but no way was she going to show any further weakness in front of him today, even for something as elemental as hunger. Her stomach betrayed her by growling loudly in protest.
“Actually, the food is just a peace offering. I came over to talk with you.” He paused. “Please.” His eyes held a soft, penitent look that mushed up her insides a little and almost got to her.
Olivia cast him a wary glance. “I don’t want any more advice about what I should do for Annabelle.” Her gut was still all twisted up about that. She hadn’t even been able to eat dinner with Alex.
He grinned widely. “No more advice. I promise.” He pushed open the screen and strode through the doorway, handing her the beers and setting the take-out containers on the small kitchen table, which stood between the kitchen and family room.
He wore a T-shirt and athletic shorts, and his feet were bare. As he made himself at home, finding plates and silverware, Olivia did not want to notice the broad chest that tapered down to a lean waist or his tanned legs full of rock-hard muscle, covered with the same light coat of bronze hair she’d seen on his arms. He looked as delicious as the food smelled.
But looks were deceiving. He had his own agenda to push and it was the opposite of hers. She was exhausted and upset and fed up and she would not allow sex hormones to rule her body.
He turned from the table, his gaze raking her with a slow sweep. He lifted one well-defined brow. “Wow, what happened to you? Water fight?”
Olivia looked down at her shirt. A water stain revealed the outline of her bra and oh, God , was that a nipple perking up? She quickly peeled the shirt away from her skin. “I’m sure you’d like to show me how fast you can bathe a baby without spilling
“I appreciate it. But I’ve got to say no.”
He finally managed a glance at Olivia’s table.
Empty.
But they hadn’t gotten past salad. Had something happened, maybe to Annabelle?
He excused himself from his ruined date and punched a number into his cell. “What happened?” he asked Alex.
“A better question is, what the hell happened in baby class?”
“Nothing.” Brad paused. “Okay, maybe something did. But I’m going to fix it. I’ve got to go.”
Relieved that Annabelle was okay, Brad stopped briefly in the kitchen to tell his staff he’d be back at 8:00 a. m.
In his car, Brad slammed his hands on the steering wheel and cursed. No matter what he told himself, Olivia wasn’t a fleeting, temporary memory from an innocent time long past. She was as deeply entrenched in him as the massive roots of the centuries-old beech trees in the town square. It appeared he was as incapable of undermining her as he was of forgetting her.
He couldn’t stand her feeling badly because of him. He wanted to apologize. Be her advocate instead of her enemy. He couldn’t give her anything else, but he could at least give her that.
As he headed out of the lot, he couldn’t believe he’d just chosen complicated, full-of-trouble, give-him-grief Olivia over all-I-want-is-sex Erika.
CHAPTER 9
The incessant knocking forced Olivia to come to the door even though she wanted company about as much as she wanted her wisdom teeth pulled. Brad stood propped on the other side, his thick crop of hair and the tip of his nose pressed against the screen, making for a scary sight. She smoothed down her old gray T-shirt, covered with water blotches from Annabelle’s bath. “It’s been a long day. I’m really not up for company.”
“I come bearing food.” He dangled a cardboard take-out box in front of her. “And something to wash it down with.” He produced two icy cold bottles of beer from behind his back. He looked at her with a hopeful expression. “Now will you let me in?”
“Brad, I’m really tired. I’m afraid I’m going to have to take a rain check.” Something smelled really amazing in those cartons but no way was she going to show any further weakness in front of him today, even for something as elemental as hunger. Her stomach betrayed her by growling loudly in protest.
“Actually, the food is just a peace offering. I came over to talk with you.” He paused. “Please.” His eyes held a soft, penitent look that mushed up her insides a little and almost got to her.
Olivia cast him a wary glance. “I don’t want any more advice about what I should do for Annabelle.” Her gut was still all twisted up about that. She hadn’t even been able to eat dinner with Alex.
He grinned widely. “No more advice. I promise.” He pushed open the screen and strode through the doorway, handing her the beers and setting the take-out containers on the small kitchen table, which stood between the kitchen and family room.
He wore a T-shirt and athletic shorts, and his feet were bare. As he made himself at home, finding plates and silverware, Olivia did not want to notice the broad chest that tapered down to a lean waist or his tanned legs full of rock-hard muscle, covered with the same light coat of bronze hair she’d seen on his arms. He looked as delicious as the food smelled.
But looks were deceiving. He had his own agenda to push and it was the opposite of hers. She was exhausted and upset and fed up and she would not allow sex hormones to rule her body.
He turned from the table, his gaze raking her with a slow sweep. He lifted one well-defined brow. “Wow, what happened to you? Water fight?”
Olivia looked down at her shirt. A water stain revealed the outline of her bra and oh, God , was that a nipple perking up? She quickly peeled the shirt away from her skin. “I’m sure you’d like to show me how fast you can bathe a baby without spilling
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