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“Oh, so you know her. So you know what I mean.”
“Yeah. I’m Olive,” she says, putting her hand between us to shake. “I run Black Soul Books across the street and supply Fitzy with her daily dose of smut.”
“Leo.” I don’t shake her hand, because I honestly don’t want to stop touching her hips, and if I move them, I don’t know how to get them back on her. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, Leo. You’re not one of those smut shamers, are you?”
We stare at each other for a long moment.
“No, ma’am. I love a Clair Kingsley novel myself.”
I watch her eyes light up with recognition and mentally give myself a high-five for reading the librarian’s pick of the month last month.
“The Bailey brothers are badasses,” I add for the cherry.
Something’s happening here. Something exciting. Something like magic.
“Leo! Don’t just stand there. Take her to your apartment so she can dry her clothes.”
Andpopgoes the bubble. Hello, reality.
I blink out of the daze, and Olive shakes her head. Quickly, she begins to squirm in my arms, so I set her on the nearest step. Her pale cheeks blush as she tries to wipe off the streaming mascara.
“My god, I’m a mess, aren’t I?” she says to no one and starts to leave.
“I think you’re beautiful.” The cheesy words are out before I can stop them.
Luckily, she looks back at me with a light laugh, as though she doesn’t believe me, but I see the sparkle in her eyes and a shy smile and consider myself winning.
I clearing my throat, preparing for rejection. “Fitzy’s right. I can take you up to my place and get you dried off, at least enough to sit in the back of an Uber to get home.”
Her shy smile almost beams, but it’s gone in the blink of an eye. I can tell she’s going to say no.
“I was actually trying to sneak out of here, but thank you anyway. Maybe I’ll see you.” She backs away, trying to tuck her long wet hair behind her ears.
I nod, disappointed, as she slinks back into the crowd. A heavy weight falls over me at her absence, which makes no sense. Slowly, I make it up the stairs and out of the water, just to realize I’m in nothing but my boxer briefs.
Fuck.
I quickly cover my Olive-induced erection and do my best to slip into the crowd unnoticed. The ladies are all about the next santaow, who’s working his six pack while they all flock to place a bid for a date with him. They don’t notice me.
I think it’s going to be an easy escape.
CHAPTERTHREE
Olive
Ireluctantly push through the crowd. Secretly, I wish I was back in the pool, wrapped up in those strong arms of Leo’s. Would it be weird to turn around and tell him I’ve changed my mind?
For me, absolutely. I’ve sworn off men. How many times have I preached to Fitzy about not setting me up? All for this to happen? No way. The simple fact is, I’d love to go up to his condo but don’t really need my clothes. Those cheeks of his would really turn red then.
The thought has me biting my lip, not paying attention to my surroundings. Suddenly, I’m face to face with Katie, who stares at me expectantly, probably wondering why I’m here at Fitzy’s party when I told her I couldn’t attend hers this evening. But then again, what can I say? Fitzy knows all my tricks. I had to come, or she would have physically pulled me from across the street.
Quickly, I slap on a fake bright smile. Even though my makeup is dripping down my face, I stand tall and do my best to act and feel casual.
“Katie! Hi!”
“Olive.” Her eyes rack over my soaking wet dress and the tangled hair sticking to my neck like an old itchy scarf.
