Page 58 of Cabin Fever

She frowned before stopping, refusing to look at me. "I know. You won't stop reminding me. It's almost as if you're convincing yourself more than me."

The last part she mumbled to herself, but I heard every word.

"What does that mean?"

"It means . . ." Olivia turned suddenly, her face full of anger or resentment or something else that made me wonder what I had done. "Never mind. It's not your fault."

Now I got it. A little time with her sister and she's right back to the spoiled little princess that passed out on my kitchen floor all those weeks ago. Olivia goes back to her chore, and she practically beats the rake against the dirt floor.

"My fault? I'm sorry if this is too much for you. I never asked you to help me." I walked over and took the rake from her. She gasped but within seconds, she narrowed her eyes at me.

I had the sudden feeling we were two bulls ready to do battle, but she was the stronger one. I was about to be ripped to shreds.

"Why don't you stay the night with your sister at whatever fancy hotel she's staying?"

"She's at The Lodge." Olivia folded her hands over her chest as she glared at me.

"Good. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you again. I'll head inside and call you a cab."

I turned and marched through the barn door and headed to the cleaning area in the back of the cabin. While I was washing my hands in the outdoor faucet, I heard Olivia come up behind me.

"Why do you want me to leave? I thought you needed my help?" Her voice cracked, and I looked up. Despite the hurt in her words, all I saw was anger disguised by a beautiful face.

I wiped my hands and shoved past her to go kick off my boots. I needed to get away from Olivia. Maybe I should take Kitty for another walk. A long one where I was too exhausted to think of anything other than what was right in front of me.

The water ran from the tap, but I didn't stick around to wait for Olivia to finish cleaning up. I went inside and headed straight to the only place where I had any sort of privacy—the bathroom.

It didn't take long for Olivia to knock on the bathroom door. "Carter, open up. Unless you're going number one . . . and especially if you're going number two. Then just say so and I'll leave you alone."

"What if I'm going number three!"

I knew that didn't make sense, but I was angry.

"Oh, number three? Can I watch?"

Well, that was unexpected.

"What? You want to watch me go number three?"

"Yes. I've never seen anyone go number three before, Carter. I'm curious."

I opened the door and stared at her. Her cheeks were flush and the way she bit her bottom lip, I wondered if number three was something sexual.

"You want to watch me do a number three in the bathroom?"

Olivia's smile grew, and I felt she knew that I had no idea what a number three was.

"Here, I'll help you."

I took a step back as she reached for my shirt. "Do I really need to take my shirt off for this?"

She nodded. "I would think so."

Once the last button was undone, she pushed the shirt down my arms. It became caught on my cast and she began to tug a little harder.

"You have to twist it down." I tried to show her, but she wasn't having it.

"No, I got this, Carter."

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