Page 34 of Knocked up By the Minotaur

Olistaire turns to look at me with a smile, squeezing my fingers in his. “Hello.”

“Brad’s here,” I tell him, widening my eyes as I dart them deliberately across the street. “Act natural.”

“Ah.” His gaze follows mine, and he doesn’t say anything else as we walk.

“What’s he even doing here,” I mutter, sending a few more surreptitious glances his way to see if he’s spotted us yet. “He’s barely ever up before ten.”

“The town’s only bed and breakfast is nearby,” Oli replies, offering no further elaboration, and I nod. Is that why he brought us here? To help me with Brad, so that we’d be spotted? That seems smart, I think, and shove away my disappointment at the idea that his spontaneous invitation had an alternate motive. He’s being thoughtful. Relax, Grace.

The Silver Spoon comes up before us, it’s rustic brick facade and red-and-white striped canvas awnings looking cute in the sunlight. There are a few outdoor seats with striped umbrellas dotted around, and I tug Oli over to one, still glancing at Brad, who’s stopped just opposite us.

“Kiss me,” I say, watching Brad stand with his head bent as he types into his phone, and I move into the solid chest before me. “Quick.”

“Look at me.”

“Hm?” Why won’t Brad just turn over here already?

“Grace.” Two warm fingers press just under my chin and turn my face. Oli’s gazing down at me with a lightly creased brow, and the warm morning light makes his chocolate eyes look like they’re glowing. He slips those fingers along my jaw until his palm rests on my cheek, and he tips forward, his expression intent as if he’s trying to unravel some sort of secret.

I blink as I stare at him, suddenly caught in his gaze. A slow warmth begins to curl low through my stomach when his other hand settles gently at my waist, and now I’m staring at his lips. Of their own volition my hands find his narrow hips, and when I tug him closer his expression softens, and he smiles.

Aaaand none of that.

I turn my face quickly away, looking towards the diner again just to break the addictive, hypnotizing eye-contact I was falling into, and notice through the reflective glass windows that Brad’s phone is down and his body turned towards us, finally. Great. Excellent. Got what I needed.

Time to stop pawing at the Greek God in my arms before I fall on his knot again.

“Actually, let’s sit inside,” I say awkwardly, disentangling myself and turning for the doors.

We’re quickly seated at a booth near the entrance, with two coffees before us and our orders taken by the purple-skinned waitress that’s always here, and Oli remains uncharacteristically quite through the whole thing. The hum of the diner and the incredibly loud shouts of the troll at the kitchen pass wash over us, and I take an awkward gulp of my coffee as the waitress finishes setting us up.

Once we’re left alone, Oli rests an elbow on the table and begins absently twisting the rim of his mug back and forth as he gazes at me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing!” I smile brightly, and grab at my own drink again. “Great coffee this morning. Really… brew-y.”

He lets go of his mug and reaches over to slip his fingers into my free hand. “Grace, did I do something wrong?”

I sigh and drop the pretense. “No.”

“At the jazz bar,” he continues quietly, brows once more drawn, “should I not have—”

“Shhh,” I say, letting go of his hand to cover his mouth with my fingers, as flashes of me curled on his lap while he fingered me publicly whirl intensely through my mind’s eye, and I flush. “Shush,none of that.”

His brows raise, and a spark of amusement flashes across his face as he looks at my undoubtedly pink cheeks.

He trails a finger up the back of my hand, before gently removing it from his lips. “What about when I set the shower head to vibrate and—”

“Oli!” I squeak, feeling my cheeks heat even further. “Seriously. No more. We can’t do any more of that ever again.”

His smile fades, and when I pull my hand from his, he lets his own fall to the table.

“It’s just… Alright, look.” I clear my throat and lean back. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings because you’re an incredible lover, and I’m seriously fighting myself with this decision right now—which you’re nothelping with, by the way, so stop being so attractive and seductive, please.”

He huffs lightly, but his eyes don’t warm with their usual good humor.

“I can’t sleep with you again, because I’m going to get attached to you and then you’ll break my heart, whether you mean to or not.”

He blinks and looks down at the table. “I see.”

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