Page 57 of Tangled

She chuckles. “Are you having a problem right now?” She whispers, her eyes glancing briefly to my crotch before finding mine again, her face alive with mischief.

“Yeah, which is extremely inappropriate given we’re around hundreds of students right now.”

Olivia’s hand comes up to cover her mouth as she shakes from her laughter. I can’t help but join her, because this situation is pretty funny. But fuck, this woman gets a reaction out of me every time we’re near each other. At this rate, I might not allow myself to be near her at school functions any more.

Once Olivia composes herself, she avoids looking at me while speaking. “I’m sorry, I know it’s not funny…”

“It’s okay, I know you didn’t do it on purpose. But maybe refrain from telling me details like that about you while we’re at work and there are hundreds of pairs of eyes on us, alright?”

She chuckles again. “Okay.”

“So, we still on for tonight?” I say from the corner of my mouth. It seems we’re both trying to make it look like we’re not dating in front of everyone. The less eye contact, the better.

“Definitely. I may not be able to stay up too late, but I’m excited to spend some more time together.”

“Yeah, I’m usually pretty beat on Friday’s too, but I know you have plans tomorrow and I didn’t want to go another week without a date with you.”

That declaration causes her to turn to me, searching my face for something.

“That’s really sweet, Kane,” she smiles up at me, her eyes shining from the lights above us in the gym. I have the strongest urge to reach out and caress her cheek, but I refrain.

“Well, in case you haven’t figured it out, I kind of like you,” I wink, which makes the corner of her mouth tip up. She turns back to face the crowd before she replies.

“I kind of like you too.”

My heart beat starts to pick up, my chest heaving from the deep inhale I take as her words resonate with me. I honestly can’t wait to spend more time with her tonight, and I’m starting to believe that she feels the same way.

Chapter 26

Olivia

I rush home after work on Friday to change and fix my appearance—reapplying my make-up, re-curling my hair, and relaxing a bit before Kane picks me up for our date.

I’ve been anxious all week knowing I got to see him tonight. He originally asked me out for Saturday night, but my mom needs help with some event for the community center that night and asked me to assist.

So here I am, five o’clock on a Friday, waiting to hear the knock of the man who’s been a constant thought of mine since our date last week.

I feel like someone needs to pinch me when I realize how much things have changed between Kane and me. I went from trying to avoid this man to searching for any opportunity to see him. Although, I think that’s what he’s been doing too. His need to borrow a stapler on Tuesday and conveniently running into me in the teacher’s lounge on Thursday seems far too coincidental. His attempt to be sly made me laugh though, and actually started that flurry of excitement in my body whenever I got to see him. Now I get the entire evening with him, and I’m beyond ready.

Three minutes before five, there’s a knock on my door. The fact that Kane is consistent in his timing makes me chuckle, thinking back to last week when he arrived at the exact same time.

“Hi, there,” I greet him as I open the door, reading the smile on his face. He looks just as happy to see me as I am to see him.

“Hi, gorgeous,” he says before stepping inside my apartment and reaching for my hand, drawing me in closer to him. His eyes stare down intently on mine before he presses a soft kiss to my lips. Just as I try to deepen the kiss, he pulls away.

“I’ve been wanting to do that all day,” he says, leaning his forehead down on mine.

“Well, I’m glad you finally have the opportunity now.”

“Yeah, damn jobs and students getting in the way of my game,” he says with a wink as he backs up and pulls me behind him, his hand still clasped in mine.

“Awww, you poor thing,” I tease as I grab my coat and purse on the way out and shut the door behind us.

Once we’re settled in Kane’s truck, I continue our conversation.

“So where are you taking me tonight?”

Kane’s eyes are focused on the road, but his hand finds mine again, slowly rubbing his thumb along my skin.

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