“You think this is my fault.”
“I’m just saying.”
“You’re the one who needs to be careful. You’re small and delicate, and you traipse around jumping into messes like you can’t get hurt. When someone tries to mug you, you try to fight back.”
“I just couldn’t let it happen again. Besides, they wanted to take me somewhere, and even I know that’s not a good idea.”
“At least you know that much.”
She jabbed me in the chest, her finger leaving an invisible, searing burn on my skin. And I wanted more.
“You need to be more careful.”
“Careful, Mr. Covington, someone might accuse you of caring.”
I squared my shoulders. “Hardly.” My gaze fell on her lips, and my gut tightened. No. Stop looking at her mouth.
Olivia swallowed hard. “I am… uh…” The spark of lightning between us danced. I could physically feel the tension in the room. I needed to get changed. I needed her to get out for me to do that. But goddamn, her hands were on me as she patted me dry. “Look, it’s fine. I’m just going to help you, and then we’ll get back to our day, okay? God, I’m such an idiot. I was really trying to help.”
She continued to pat me with the towel as she spoke rapidly, hardly taking a breath. Each press of her palm was stoking the flame, playing with fire. “Um, Livy?”
She kept on talking though. About how I needed to be more careful. That I should have better situational awareness. Have a clue as to what was happening around me.
All the while, she had zero idea what was going on in my head. The war I was having with myself about touching her, about what was appropriate. All the blood rushed south, and I clenched my teeth, trying to fight against my growing erection. She chose that moment to glance down.
Fucking brilliant.
Her voice went throaty when she mumbled, “Um, I think you’re mostly dry. You can handle this yourself. I’m going to go.”
I cleared my throat in a desperate attempt to regain control. “You probably should.”
But she didn’t move, just stared at me with those wide dark eyes. Daring me.
“Olivia?” It sounded like a plea.
Her wide dark gaze met mine. “Yeah?”
“I’m going to kiss you now.”