Page 28 of Squatch Out!
After running my hand under the wheel well where he hides the spare key—I know because he’s told me that’s where he hides it a million times—I unlock the passenger side and help Olivia up into the cab. Then I take my time circling to the other side. Giving myself a pep-talk about how I amnotgoing to squatch out the moment I’m closed up inside the cab with her. It’s unneeded though; I seem to have my control back.
I make a mental note to ask Owen about it later. Maybe he can help me figure out what caused me to lose control in the first place.
As I pull out of the lot and onto the narrow trail that will take us up to Windy Ridge, Olivia shrugs out of Owen’s flannel. When it starts to slide off the seat and onto the floor, we both reach for it, but I’m faster. With a growl, I snatch it from her and toss it behind the seat.
“Next time when you’re cold, you can have my shirt.”
She looks at me strangely and then points at the t-shirt I’m wearing. Her lips quirk up at the corners. “Isn’t that Owen’s shirt too?”
Shit. She has a point.“Yeah, but at least it’s covered in my scent.”
“Um, that’s alright.” She presses her lips tightly together, probably to keep from laughing at how ridiculous I’m acting. “Thank you, though.” Then she does something I’m not expecting at all. She reaches over and twines her fingers with mine.
The drive up to the campsite flies by, even though I’m purposely driving slowly. I tell myself it’s so I don’t jostle her too much over the rough trail, but really I’m just dragging out the time until I have to let her go. My hand tightens around hers when I roll up next to the SUV. Before I’ve even come to a full stop, Tony and Brian are rushing at the truck.
My hand tightens around the steering wheel, and I’m seconds away from slamming the truck into gear and driving back down the mountain. But before I can make good on that, the door opens, and Tony pulls Olivia away from me. Her fingers slip from my grip, and then he’s helping her down from the cab.
Her brows are puckered when she pulls away from Tony and turns back to look up into the cab. She smiles at me, “Thanks for the ride.”
Before I can reply, Tony narrows his eyes and slams the door shut. Cutting off my view of her.
It’s probably a good thing the windows are the old-fashioned crank kind, or who knows what stupid shit I would have shouted after him. Instead, I grind my teeth as I watch Brian and him walk Olivia back to the fire.
Slamming the truck into reverse, I try not to spray dirt and gravel as I turn around and head back down the mountain. At least until I’m out of view, then I open up the throttle and use speed to burn off the aggression I’m feeling at leaving her behind.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
OLIVIA
Slouched down into a camp chair in front of the smoldering fire, I can’t stop thinking about Sean. My fingertips absently brush across my still tingling lips. The kiss we shared has been running through my mind on a loop that alternates with a flare of anger and then embarrassment.
I wasn’t ready for our time together to be up, but then Tony and Brian were dragging me out of the truck, and Sean was driving away without so much as a wave.
“That was rude!” I’d snarled, spinning around and then shoving Tony away from me.
I’ve been sitting here ever since, rethinking the conversation Sean and I had while we walked. He was so attentive, looking at me like he actually cared about what I was saying, even the crazy bigfoot stuff. And then… when he kissed me…
Tony and Brian had to ruin all of it.
“Hey, Liv?!” Tony says loudly, like it wasn’t the first time he tried to get my attention.
“What?” I snap at him. Then I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Sorry, my mind is just miles away today.”
“It’s okay.” Tony gives me a crestfallen look as he scoots his camp chair closer to mine, so he can lean in and talk to me without anyone overhearing. “Do you want to talk about it?”
He’s already apologized a hundred times for pulling me out of Sean’s truck the way he did, but I don’t think he really is. Just like I don’t think he’s here to talk about Sean. At least the human version of him.
“There’s not much to talk about,” I say, just as Brian appears from behind me and sits on my other side with Darren appearing a moment later.
“Girl, you were carried off by a bigfoot—twice,in as many days. We’ve been dying to find out what happened to you.” Brian says.
I knew the guys wouldn’t leave me alone unless I told themsomethingabout last night. I can’t tell them the truth, obviously. My mind races to come up with something believable enough so they won’t question it. Because when I promised not to expose Sean and Owen for what they really are, I meant it.
“I have some terrible news for you,” I begin. “There really is no such thing as bigfoot.”
“How can you say that?” Tony practically shouts. “We watched him throw you over his shoulder and carry you away.”
Scrunching up my nose, I whisper, “It was just a man in a suit.” It’s not a lie. “Word got out that we were hunters, up here looking for bigfoot, and he thought it would be funny to give us a scare.” I hold my breath, hoping they buy it.
