Page 68 of Rivals Next Door

Truce over.

However, when I stepped out of the bathroom and saw her sprawled in my bed, guilt kicked me in the nutsack again, and I stifled a groan. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. She had an arm thrown out to the side I’d slept on as if searching for me even in her sleep… like she used to do back in the day. I shook my head and kept walking until I was out of the room. I refused to get sucked back into her web.

A while later, I was lounging in the kitchen. I was focusing on my laptop, catching up on work, and patiently waiting for Olivia to emerge from the bedroom. I knew she was awake because I heard the shower running, but I lost track of how long ago that was. As if thinking about her conjured her up, I heard a soft rustle behind me, and I turned to see her standing in the archway.

I blinked and swallowed hard. The sight of her with her fresh face, bright eyes, tousled hair, and hot little body clad only in my t-shirt nearly knocked me off my seat. The more time I spent around her, the more I saw the woman I loved and I didn’t like it. Seeing her like that wasn’t conducive to my ruthless revenge plan.

“Hey,” she greeted. Her small smile crumbled and her face flushed when all I did was stare at her while scowling severely. “I found a drawer with shirts. I hope you don’t mind. Since I showered, I didn’t want to put on my clothes from last night.” Her blush deepened. “I also made use of your toiletries.”

“That’s fine,” I said, noting her discomfort. It was natural that we’d have this awkwardness between us. I expected it. “So, I guess you’re heading back to your place now?”

Her eyelashes lowered to hide her eyes, but I saw her disappointment. “Are you kicking me out?”

I huffed. Maybe I was. I wasn’t trying to be rude but being around her like this when I wasn’t distracted with sex was unbearable.

She took my silence to mean yes, and she sighed heavily. “I thought you’d at least offer me a cup of coffee before ending our truce.”

My jaw tightened, and I slid off my stool to face her. “Look, Olivia…”

“Not Liv anymore? The truce is really over.”

“Last night?—”

“It’s okay, Alex. I know. It was a mistake like the last time. Let’s just blame it on the alcohol.” Her lips twisted wryly and there was an air of acceptance about her. “We don’t have to make this weirder than it already is. I’ll go.”

I stood in the same spot even after she disappeared because an internal battle raged. Tell her about Don Weaver or not? Hammer the nail into her coffin or rescue her? Those hurtful things she said to me years ago… they still stung…

Olivia appeared again, still wearing my shirt and holding her bundle of clothes. “Is it okay if I borrow your shirt a while longer? I’ll have it washed and?—”

“Yeah, sure.”

She folded her lips and gazed at me as if wondering what else to say. “Thank you, Alex… for everything.”

My eyebrows shot up, and she blushed profusely.

“That sounded… I don’t mean the sex. I mean everything with my brother and hanging out last night. It was… fun.”

She looked as if she’d keel over from embarrassment so I rescued her. “I know what you meant. No problem.”

It sounded as if we were saying farewell for good when we were going to see each other as early as tomorrow.

“Right. Bye… neighbor.” She gave me a tight smile and hurried out of the kitchen.

It only took me a few seconds to break. “Goddamnit!” I took off after her. “Liv, wait.”

She paused at the door, looking back with a mix of hope and hesitation.

“I…” I struggled with the weight of what I wanted to say and with disbelief that I was actually going to cave and save her. Raking my fingers through my hair, I said, “There’s something I have to tell you.”

She searched my face with slight creases in her brow. “Okay…”

“I wanted to beat you… in business, and I’m still going to, but not like this.”

Her hopeful expression melted away leaving only annoyance. “Can we not do this right now? Not before my first dose of caffeine.”

“This isn’t about our rivalry… not really. You can’t partner with Weaver.”

She scoffed. “Last night, I commended you for not being a sore loser. Was I wrong?”

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