Page 45 of Texting, Trouble & Touchdowns
I smirk.
And, fuck, I love getting under her skin.
“Come on,” I say, nodding toward the trail. “Let’s finish our walk before you slip again and fall for me.”
“I wouldn’t fall for you,” she argues.
I hum, dropping my voice low. “Huh. You seemed to like being in my arms. Don’t deny it.”
Her head snaps up so fast I’m surprised she doesn’t give herself whiplash. “Don’t flatter yourself, Crawford.”
“Whatever you say, Doc.”
She mutters something under her breath—something about regretting every life choice that led her to this exact moment.
Since she’s all worked up and I can’t leave enough alone, I say, “We could’ve just kept walking. You didn’t have to throw yourself at me.”
She throws me a look that could melt steel.
“I slipped,” she snaps. “Because you dragged me onto this godforsaken trail when I could’ve been sitting somewhere peacefully with an iced coffee, contemplating the mess you’ve made of my life.”
I nod solemnly. “Right, right. I made a mess of your life. Not the shady vet who sold you the clinic, not your complete lack of financial planning, not the person who convinced you that home inspections are for losers—nope. Just me.”
She glares harder. “You are so annoying.”
I smile, pleased. “I know.”
She exhales, turns on her heel, and keeps walking.
And I?
I watch her, already thinking of the next way I’m going to break her stoic exterior.
We walk in relative silence for a while.
By relative silence, I mean Olivia muttering something to herself. It’s probably about how much she hates me while I take in the view.
The view being Olivia—irritated, flushed, and trying so hard to that pretend she’s not having a good time.
Chapter Fourteen
Lucian: Morning, any updates.
Olivia: Updates?
Lucian: I had to drive to NYC to visit baby Luna—and my annoying older brother who needs me to babysit—so I’m missing the updates.
Lucian: Hello . . .
Lucian: You can only ignore me for so long.
Lucian: Did you block me?
Olivia: So, you’ll be pleased to know that the destruction of my clinic continues.
Lucian: Finally. I was starting to think you’d forgotten about me.
Olivia: Oh, trust me. I try. But then something ridiculous happens—like Pete telling me that my floor has to be ripped apart, just like he did to the primary bedroom’s bathroom. Then, I remember that somehow, this is all your fault.
