Page 61 of Love for a Lifetime

Dawson nodded. “I’ll help.”

“You don’t have to. I can handle it.”

“I know you can, but I want to. I don’t have a date waiting on me.”

Right. Anna was meant to be his date tonight. A cold chill dampened any fire Dawson had kindled inside her.

Anna was her friend–her friend who was completely infatuated with her other friend. How could she ever tell Anna about what happened with Dawson?

Technically, nothing happened. Olivia just had feelings for Dawson that were bubbling over–sure to be obvious to everyone if she didn’t get them under control.

“Okay. If you’re sure you don’t have anything better to do on a Saturday night.”

“There’s no place I’d rather be.”

Olivia rolled her eyes, but a traitorous smile played on her lips. It was much easier to think Dawson was joking when he said incredibly sweet things than to give in to the hope that his words held truth. “Of course.”

She took the first step toward the reception, but Dawson grabbed her hand, holding it like a lifeline for a man lost at sea.

He lifted her chin with a gentle finger. When she looked at him, his playful smirk greeted her.

“Keep your chin up, my queen. You’re the most beautiful woman in any room.”

She couldn’t play it off like his kindness didn’t affect her anymore. Looks weren’t her primary focus or even near the top of her list, but his assurances touched a soft part in her heart she’d forgotten to nurture.

“Thank you.”

His hand dropped from her chin, and he flashed her a playful wink. “Let’s finish up this night on a good note.”

Nodding, she fell into step beside him as they made their way back to the reception. The dances were dying down, and guests congregated in groups to say their goodbyes.

When the crowd thinned, Olivia began working. The Bensons had generously offered their building for cheap, and she intended to leave it in better shape than before.

Once the happy couple were off, Dawson and a few other friends pitched in. Before long, everything was packed away, and the entire building was spotless.

Olivia tied up a large trash bag, but when she went to move it, the thing was so heavy it dragged on the ground.

“Got it!” Dawson said beside her before relieving her of the weight. Then he was off without another word.

Maybe he was right. Many hands did make light work.

Olivia finished sweeping the floor when Dawson walked back into the reception hall. The place looked bigger when it was empty.

“You ready to head out?” he asked.

Olivia looked around. She rode with Lyric to the ranch with the intention of asking Mark for a ride home, but that plan bit the dust a long time ago. “I think so.”

Dawson jerked his chin toward the door. “Let me take you home.”

Turning off lights and locking doors as she went, she followed Dawson out of the building. Stars hid behind clouds, leaving the night pitch black as soon as she turned off the exterior lights.

Dawson reached for her, wrapping his big hand around hers. The touch tightened her muscles at first, but she quickly relaxed as he guided her past the cabins to his truck.

The ride to her house was short and quiet. Getting up before the sun and working till well after dark wasn’t out of the ordinary for either of them, but the emotional toll of the day had Olivia’s shoulders sagging.

He pulled up in front of her small house and turned off the engine. Without a word, he got out and made his way around the truck to her. He could have just dropped her off in the driveway, but Dawson had never been that way. She stepped out of the truck, careful to watch her footing in the heels as she navigated the darkness.

She unlocked the door and turned to Dawson. Shadows covered his features, but she could easily make out the lines of his jaw and the heat in his eyes.

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