Page 27 of Sweet Southern Heat

“Olivia.” I returned her greeting cordially even though I was just as surprised to see her. JD didn’t mention who was coming today—or maybe he did since I hadn’t checked my messages—so I hadn’t expected to see her. I was going to have to start asking more questions when JD invited me to hang out with him. This was the second time I’d been blindsided by him throwing me and Olivia together. How would I get her out of my head when I had to spend the entire day with her?

“I didn’t know you were coming,” I offered, trying to keep my tone light and friendly. Her eyes skirted to the side where Honey stood smirking at me like she knew a secret and I didn’t. An unreadable expression flashed across Olivia’s face, but it was gone before I could analyze it.

“Yeah, um, this is one of my favorite things to do when I’m in town. At least, it used to be. I haven’t been back for so long…” Her words trailed off, and she winced. Guilt speared through my chest. I was at least partially to blame for her long absence. I’d been borderline hostile to her that day in the grocery store, my anger boiling over until I was ready to burst. But all that anger had been misplaced. Now that I no longer wore the blinders that painted my brother as the victim, I could see she wasn’t the villain. What else had I been wrong about when it came to Olivia Duprey?

We were onlyon the river twenty minutes before we had to stop so someone could pee. I shook my head. Already breaking the seal and we weren’t even halfway to our destination.

We all disembarked and dragged our inner tubes up onto the bank. Nobody wanted to risk getting separated so if one person stopped, we all stopped.

“I’ll be right back,” Olivia promised before slipping off to find somewhere private to relieve herself. Long minutes passed, and I began to worry. How far had she gone? Did something happen to her?

A blood-curdling scream ripped through the trees, and without hesitation, I started moving. I ignored the protests that came from behind me as several people called my name. Blood pounded in my ears as I ran in the direction the sound came from. I had no idea what I’d find when I got to her, but I wouldn’t stop until I found her.

“Olivia!” I called when I didn't see her. I stopped, glancing left and then right as my eyes searched the area.

“Help!” Her voice was close. I ran toward the sound, calling her name again. “Over here,” came her desperate plea,

Finally, a flash of hot pink caught my eye, and I ran toward it. Olivia stood perched on a low hanging tree branch, her gaze fixed on the forest floor. I approached slowly, trying to see what had her so spooked.

“Olivia,” I said softly, and her gaze shot to me. Her terrified expression relaxed as relief flooded her features. “What’s wrong?” I asked, as I neared the tree.

“S-s-snake.” Her voice trembled with terror. I moved closer, inching my way toward the base, but I still couldn’t see anything. Then I heard it. The unmistakable rattling of a snake’s tail. My eyes searched the undergrowth until I spotted it.

Fuck. It was a big one. No wonder Olivia had screamed like that. Now I had to figure out how to get her out of this tree without getting too close.

The branch she stood on looked thick and sturdy. It could easily bear her weight if she walked down it. I crept closer, tryingnot to disturb the rattlesnake, but the sound it made in warning gave me pause. This was as close as I could get.

“Olivia, you’re going to have to walk down this branch,” I instructed, placing my hand on the rough bark, “and let me help you down.” She nodded and released the trunk, grabbing ahold of another branch just above her head to steady herself as she made her way toward me on shaky legs. “That’s it. You’re doing great,” I offered in encouragement. Time seemed to stretch out. Though it only took her seconds to get to me, it felt like hours.

When she reached me, I noticed she only wore one flip flop, the other most likely lost in her haste to climb up the tree. I reached for her, and she hesitated, looking over her shoulder at where the snake still lurked around the base of the tree.

“I’ve got you,” I promised, and when she returned her gaze to me, the look of trust shining in the rich amber depths caused my chest to constrict. She braced her hands on my shoulders, and I gripped her waist, lifting her easily from the branch. Her body slid against mine as I lowered her to the ground.

“Thank you,” she breathed as she stared into my eyes. A riot of emotions burst in my chest at the way she looked at me.

Clearing my throat, I rasped out, “Where is your other shoe?” She pointed to a spot on the ground where the brightly colored flip flop rested, the snake’s body concealing part of it.

“You’re definitely not getting that back,” I said, and a wisp of a laugh left her lips. “You also can’t walk through the woods like that, so I’ll have to carry you.” She began to protest but was cut off when I bent and scooped her into my arms. She let out a surprised yelp and grasped for purchase around my neck, her arms squeezing me tightly. A blush crept over her cheeks, and she loosened her hold.

“Sorry,” she said sheepishly, and I chuckled.

“It’s alright.”

She drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. She was shaken up, and it took the entire walk back to the riverbank for her to stop trembling in my arms.

Chapter 26

Olivia

Several setsof anxious eyes found us as we emerged from the tree line.

“Olivia,” Honey shrieked and ran toward us. Landon released me and placed me gently on my feet. I instantly missed the warmth of his skin and the safety I felt cradled in his arms. A second later, I was tackled by my best friend. Her embrace nearly knocked the wind out of me. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?” She pulled back and held me at arm's length, inspecting me for injuries.

“I’m fine. There was a snake, and I was stuck in a tree.” Honey’s head tilted, and her brows drew together as if trying to reconcile my story with why Landon had carried me back. “I lost a shoe,” I added quickly, nodding to my bare foot and wiggling my toes for emphasis.

“Oh,” she replied simply. “Guess you couldn’t go traipsing through the woods like that. Good thing Landon was there to save you.” A sly grin curved her lips as her eyes found Landon over my shoulder. I turned to face him and noticed for the first time that his torso was bare, a pair of navy and white striped board shorts resting low on his hips. My cheeks heated at thememory of him holding me close to his chest as I clung to him desperately.

“Yes, I’m glad he found me so quickly.” Landon shifted his weight from one foot to the other as though the recognition made him uncomfortable. “Thank you for coming to my rescue,” I said, hopeful he felt my genuine appreciation. If it wasn’t for him, it was hard to say how long I would have been stuck in that tree.

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