Page 33 of The Felicity Theory (The Laws of Love 4)

“You’re seriously not planning on staying in Perth, are you?” Her astounded tone made him bite back bile. Did she think that he was hiding out? Becausedamn it, she was right.

“No, I’ve actually got other plans.”

“What kind of plans?”

“A camping trip.”What the fuck?

Leonie burst out laughing. “You’ve always hated camping.”

Oliver’s spine stiffened. “This is different. I need to get out in nature. To re-charge my creative energy.” Meanwhile, his brain was doing triple backflips. Because what he actually needed to do was to shut this down right now. Tell Leonie it was a joke. Instead, he opened his mouth and dove in deeper. “I’m driving over to the east coast. With a friend.”

“Which friend?”

“You don’t know her.”

“I see.” Light as air. “Well, that’s a turn up for the books, babe.”

“Could you please stop the babe thing.”

“Okay. Oliver.But maybe you could give me a rough date that you and—yourfriend—will arrive in Sydney. So I can make some decisions about when to come back and finalise things.”

The air was so frosty now he expected to see a plume of ice as he breathed out.

“I’ll talk to her and let you know,” he said casually, his tone belying the pounding at his temples. “I have to go, Aaron’s waiting for me.”

“As soon as possible, okay, I’ve got a life to live.” Jesus Christ… and he hadn’t? “Wish them a—er—lovely wedding. Goodbye…Oliver.”

“GoodbyeLeonie.”

Oliver pocketed his phone. Tried to calm his breathing down. Sure, he was mad at Leonie. Bruised and confused still. But something else was pressing into his brain, demanding attention.

A freakin’camping trip?

Heat, dust, flies, all the things he loathed.

And…a girl who just might make you laugh along the way.

If, of course, he could get this strangesexual vibe under control. He waited a few more moments to let his heart rate slow. Reminded himself that his attraction to Felicity was nothing more than a system glitch due to months of flatlined libido.

And what’s more, he was being a conceited fuckwit. He had no idea if she even wanted a travel companion.

But as he walked back inside, Oliver couldn’t stop chewing over the scenario.

What if hedidgo with her? After all, he had been worrying about her driving that ridiculous painted kombi with no experience of the Australian bush. They could share the driving. Of course, he’d bring a tent, but maybe it would be good for him, sleeping under the stars, getting out in nature. Laughing and chatting with a woman, who,okay, okay… admit it, he quite likedher company.

That wasn’t a crime.

You know what… It might be good.

And then the memory of those perky perfect nipples blew in from somewhere and the zipper of his pants tightened.

On second thoughts, it would be one almighty cluster-fuck.

Slamming the lid on the whole crazy idea, Oliver stalked back inside.

---