Page 53 of Rivals Next Door

I just couldn’t help doing the one thing that would complicate matters, could I? Maybe everyone was right. It was in my nature to be impulsive, but I was also frighteningly determined when it came to something that I wanted, and I still wanted to prove something to Olivia. Our slip into intimacy was over, and she was still my enemy.

19

OLIVIA

“Olivia, you idiot,” I hissed as I pressed the heels of my hands into my eyes. I’d been berating myself intermittently for two days now since I stupidly fell back into bed with Alex. How could I have been so weak?

Because you still wanted him, you ninny.

My snarky self-consciousness was right. If I hadn’t been wallowing in regret about the way I lost the only man I’d ever loved, I wouldn’t have slept with him the first chance I got. Releasing a long-winded sigh, I shut my eyes tightly and tried to rid my mind of all things Alex.

I failed because all I could see were images of us in my bed. I could practically feel the heat of his lips as he kissed his way down my stomach to settle his broad shoulders between my thighs. He was still a god in bed… even better than he was in college. Of course, he would be. He’d had years to perfect the incredible skills he already had.

I groaned out loud as I squirmed in my chair because my underwear was getting suspiciously damp. Maybe it was normal to keep reliving every erotic detail of my night with Alex. I mean, I hadn’t had incredible sex, let alone an orgasm, in about a decade and that night I had four. Alex had really made up for the frenzied love-making on the couch. He’d taken his time strumming my body to the point of?—

My phone rang, making me jump. Feeling ridiculous, I picked it up.

“Ms. Brentwood?” My assistant’s voice helped to pull me from the haze of two nights ago because I was reminded that I was at work, and I had important things to focus on.

“Yes, Janice?”

Janice’s hesitation made me frown.

“Mr. Knight is here to see you…”

My heart rolled and then filled with dread. He was the last person I wanted to see, especially since I spent the majority of the morning thinking about how he rocked my world the other night. However, I knew what this impromptu visit was about. It seemed Alex kept his word about helping me, despite apparently hating my guts.

“Show him in and push back my upcoming meeting thirty minutes.”

“Sure,” Janice chirped and hung up.

I got about ten seconds to compose myself. By the time Alex stepped into my office, I was poised and in ice princess mode. Still, my heart galloped at the sight of him. Embarrassment flooded me too because the things we did the other night were just… wow. Plus, I’d foolishly gotten my hopes up thinking that us getting intimate meant that he’d change his mind about ruining me. I’d even entertained thoughts about us possibly finding what we once had. I could just slap myself for being so silly.

“Alex,” I greeted as I stood up.

“Olivia,” he returned icily.

A pang of sadness struck me. It seemed impossible for us to be friends and that was tragic because I still loved him.

“Please, sit,” he said. “This is going to be quick. I just wanted to update you on that situation, and I didn’t want to do it over the phone.”

I stared at him as he tugged at his jacket before he sat on one of the chairs in front of my desk. Was it possible that he was just as uneasy as I was after the other night?

“Of course,” I said, glad that I managed to keep my voice steady.

“I’m making progress on getting you and Liam out of the crosshairs of your… new friends.”

I snorted my annoyance at suddenly having to deal with people I’d never cross paths with if not for my irresponsible brother. “How exactly are you doing that?”

“With the assistance of Boston PD,” he said casually.

My eyebrows elevated. The police were assisting him, not the other way around. I was starting to think that what Elena said was true. Perhaps Alexander Knight did run the city from behind his computer… like an evil genius… but minus the evil part. That was scary for someone like me who was on his most hated list.

“I see,” I said. “Well, that’s great. Thanks again.” I had no idea what else to say regarding his generosity. “Does that mean those cops can stop keeping an eye on my apartment and this office?”

“No.”

“But Alex?—”

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