Page 28 of Sweet Southern Heat

“Of course,” he replied with a single nod. Honey looped her arm through mine and led me away. I reluctantly turned my gaze from Landon to find our friends watching us all with curious stares. Some of them exchanged suspicious looks as they spoke in hushed tones. They all saw Landon carry me out of the woods and were clearly reading too much into it.

Or were they?

The rest of the women huddled around me as I assured them I was okay and relayed the details of my rescue to them. I made sure to leave out the part where my body slid achingly slow down Landon’s when he pulled me from that branch. My skin heated, and my stomach tightened with need at the memory. In the moment, I’d been too frightened to appreciate it, but now that I was safe, all I could think about was how his body would feel sliding against mine without our swimsuits in the way.

“Let’s head out,” one of the guys called, snapping me from my thoughts. We all got into our tubes and continued our float. The tension from recent events melted away and conversation resumed. The afternoon was filled with laughter and drinks as we soaked up the sun.

When we finally reached the lake, everyone climbed out and dragged their floats onto the shore. I instructed them where they could be stored and began my trek up to the lake house. It was my mother’s property, and she'd agreed to let me use it for the weekend since it wasn’t rented out.

“This is where we’re staying?” Landon’s voice was hushed, but I still heard it.

“Yep,” JD replied simply. “Olivia offered to let us stay here tonight when we made these plans.” Landon grumbled something unintelligible under his breath, and their voices faded away. I turned to see that they’d stopped walking, and they stood in the sand having what looked like an intense conversation.

“Do you want me to have someone pick you up? You don’t have to stay,” JD offered, the sincerity and concern in his tone softening the harsh set of Landon’s jaw. Landon lifted his gaze and found me watching the exchange. I couldn’t look away even though I’d just been caught eavesdropping. I awaited his answer with bated breath. Would he bow out because of me? Or would he stay and allow himself to enjoy this retreat?

“It’s not a big deal,” Landon claimed, but I felt the lie coiling around me like the snake I almost stepped on in the woods. Landon Crawford was more dangerous than that rattler. He had the potential to hurt me worse than any venom from a snake bite. Yet, I still wanted to tempt fate. I still wanted to get closer even though I knew it was dangerous.

I turned from them and continued my trek up to the house. Punching the code into the lock box, I retrieved the keys and let everyone inside. Our bags were piled in the living room where the courier had left them. Everyone grabbed their belongings and drifted away to find their rooms. There was one couple among us, so I offered to let them stay in the main room with the king-sized bed and bunked with Honey in one of the many double occupancy rooms with twin beds. They had resisted at first since it was my family’s lake house, but finally relented when I wouldn’t budge. It just made more sense. I didn’t need that big bed all to myself.

Images of Landon with me in that bed flashed unbidden in my mind. All those hard rippling muscles, that smooth, tan skinhighlighted by crisp white sheets. Despite his grumpy exterior, he struck me as someone who could be playful in bed, someone who would make me gasp with laughterandpleasure.

Ignoring the desire tightening in my lower belly, I packed my things away and prepared to meet our companions downstairs. I had some finger foods and sandwiches prepared for everyone to snack on while we hung out until it was time for dinner.

“Ready?” I asked as Honey secured her stunning red hair in a knot atop her head.

“Always,” she replied, and I pulled the door open. I stepped over the threshold and ran right into a solid wall of muscle. It didn’t move, but I stumbled back a step and let out a tiny “oomph.”

“Sorry,” I managed as I regained my footing. “I didn’t see you th—” the words fell away as I looked into familiar blue eyes as they scowled down at me. Neither of us spoke as we took the other in, realization dawning as I glanced from him to the open door next to mine.

“Hey, looks like we’re neighbors.” JD appeared at Landon’s side as he clamped a hand over his shoulder.

“Yeah,” I answered dumbly, unable to form a coherent thought. There were two other open rooms on the opposite end of the house, and Landon just had to be in the one next to mine.

Chapter 27

Landon

I glancedup at the lake house for the fifth time in as many minutes and frowned. Olivia still hadn’t emerged. After setting out platters of food and grabbing a snack for herself, she disappeared into the kitchen while the rest of us headed out to the beach. We were hanging out at her family’s lake house, eating food she’d prepared, but she wasn’t even here to enjoy it. That didn’t sit right with me.

“I’ll be right back,” I announced, but nobody was paying attention, not even JD. He was too busy trying to get Honey’s attention. I didn’t have any proof that there was something going on between them, but my gut told me there was more to them than just friendship.

I entered the kitchen and immediately spotted Olivia standing at the island. Her hands worked a ball of dough back and forth. Lost in her task, she didn’t notice my presence. It afforded me the opportunity to watch her, taking in the rhythmic way her hands pushed and folded the dough. Suddenly she winced and lifted her hand, shaking it out as a pained expression flashed across her features. Without hesitation, I went to her,stopping on the opposite side of the island. She lifted her head, and her surprised gaze locked with mine.

“Are you alright?” I asked, my brow knitted with concern as she rubbed at the delicate bones of her wrist.

“I’m fine. Old injury,” she said in explanation, then her eyes grew wide. I realized what she’d just revealed. It was the wrist that was injured the night of the accident, the night my brother pushed her to the ground. My teeth ground together, and I swallowed the guilt threatening to claw its way up my throat. All this time, I’d blamed her for the accident, but she was the one who’d been hurt by my brother’s actions, not the other way around.

“Let me help,” I said, my voice coming out strained. Without waiting for a reply, I sidled up next to her and waited for her instruction. She offered me a soft smile, a real one, that made her dimples appear.

“You have to wash your hands first.”

“Right,” I said and moved to the sink. After thoroughly scrubbing my hands, I returned to her side.

“Now you need an apron, so you don’t get flour all over yourself.” I eyed her skeptically, wondering if she was just screwing with me. She let out a soft giggle and opened a drawer next to the oven. The apron fell open as she gave it a little shake and handed it to me. I slipped it over my head and secured the ties at my back. Her lips twitched in amusement, but she didn’t comment.

Sliding a large ceramic bowl toward us, she lifted a towel from it and revealed another ball of dough.

“Punch it down,” she said, and my head snapped up. She was definitely screwing with me now.

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