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That earns me an eye roll. “Supplementation is hardly a big word, Denver. Even for you.”

I rub my chest as if she’s truly offended me. “Wow, that hurts, Pix. Just so we’re clear, I’m getting some groceries for my neighbour Harold.” I gesture to the fiber supplements. “Including this. And it was his cat I was getting the grass for last week. Griff and I help him out sometimes. He’s older and doesn’t get around as much. Especially when his gout is acting up.”

Emotions fly across her face, and I watch, fascinated. She fascinates me. So expressive, so open, there’s no secrets with Olivia Svensson. What she thinks and feels is clear, if you’re looking for it. Which I am.

“That’s really sweet of you,” she finally says, her hands twisting around the handle of the basket she’s carrying.

I’ll admit, it makes me stand a little taller, hearing her say that. Apparently, I’ve got a praise kink when it comes to her.

“I’ll have you know, I do lots of sweet things.”

“Oh really?” Her eyebrows lift.

“Sure. I always stop to let squirrels cross the road, I buy cookies from every Girl Guide I see, and I even let Griff take the last slice of pizza at least half of the time.” Shit, I’m meant to be pumping up Griff, not flirting. “I mean, he does most of the cooking at home, and I’m a menace in the kitchen unless it’s baking. So yeah, you know, giving him the last slice of pizza when he wants a night off is the least I could do. He’s a really good cook. Makes the best pasta.”

God, I sound like an idiot.

“Wow, that’s very generous of you.”

I can tell she’s holding back a laugh, and despite the fact that I know I should be talking up Griff, I want nothing more than to be the guy who makes her laugh. To see that dimple of hers show up in the middle of her cheek.

“I’m a generous guy.” I drop the orange-flavoured fiber supplement into my basket and nod my head toward the front of the store. “I’m just about done here, what are you doing after this? Want to grab a coffee with me?”

No, Foxxy, bad. Bad. Wait, maybe not. More time with her means more chances to wingman my boy Griff.

Olivia blinks once, twice, three times. “I…okay?”

“Are you telling me that or asking me?” I can’t help but tease, loving how she blushes a deep pink. I step forward, nudging her shoulder with my own. “C’mon. You can help me choose a flavour of yogurt to convince Harold to try it this week.”

“How do you convince him?” she asks as we wander over to the dairy section.

“I bribe him with cookies. He thinks they’re just oatmeal raisin. Little does he know, I sneak ground flax and protein powder into them.” I wink, and that laugh of hers finally breaks free, dimple and all.

“Diabolical.”

I take a mock bow. “That’s me, an evil genius helping my senior neighbour, one fiber cookie at a time.”

We finish up at the store quickly, then after dropping our bags off at our respective vehicles, I meet up with Olivia outside one of the coffee shops near the grocery store. It’s only about half full, so once we have our drinks that I somehow convince her to let me pay for, we take a seat in a pair of comfortable chairs near the front window. For once, it isn’t raining outside, but the sky is still a miserable grey and people are still bundled up in rain jackets.

“How’s your research going?”

“Are you excited for the season to start?”

We both speak at the same time, then pause and laugh. I gesture at her. “You go first.”

“Does that mean I ask first or I answer first?” she says lightly, and I laugh again, shaking my head.

“You’re a menace, Pixie. You answer my question first.”

I don’t miss the way her nose crinkles with the tiniest of smiles every time I call her Pixie. I can’t tear my eyes away from her as she sips her chai latte, thinking about my question, I assume.

“I’m still in the early stages of the project. The lab is finally set up the way I like it, and I’ve got some students working with me to gather samples and record some simple data. But the real work won’t begin until my research trip. I’ve got a permit to go and spend several days deep in Strathcona Park at a remote station, observing lichen growth and collecting some more rare samples. The data I obtain will be key in finalizing my proposal to secure funding to continue my research.”

I nod slowly. “Not gonna lie, half of that went over my head. But listening to you speak about it, I can tell your work must be really important. You’re very passionate about it.”

Olivia ducks her head down, her finger tracing along the handle of her cup. “Yes, I am.” Her strong shoulders lift and lower in a shrug. “Old-growth forests aren’t just key for environmental sustainability and survival. They’re…they’re beautiful. Deeply spiritual, and crucial to First Nations cultural identities. They’re quite literally living links to our past. And lichen is a primary indicator of ecosystem health in those forests.” She looks up and gives me a small chagrined smile. “I’m talking all science-y again, aren’t I?”

“You are. But remember, I think it’s cute.” I wink. Fuck, I’m flirting again, and I hate myself for it.