Page 71 of Undeniable

I twisted my hands together, all my fears—all my mother’s words—bubbling to the surface. “That someone like you would be interested in someone like me.”

He clenched his jaw. “Someone like you? You mean someone who’s sweet and caring and smart and fucking gorgeous?”

I dipped my head, grateful when my hair fell over my face. “Um. Yeah. I guess?”

He tucked my hair behind my ear, cupping my cheek. “Olivia, I was attracted to you before I ever met you.You.” He placed his hand over my heart. “Not your appearance or anything else, but you.

“And now that I’ve seen you—” His erection dug into me, and he gave me a look that burned with desire. He blew out a breath and shook his head. “Well…have I not made it clear just how much I like you?” He ground against me, and I was hit with a strong pang of need.

I laughed, burying my face in his chest, grateful to be teasing again. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Perhaps I need to show you again.” He flashed me a mischievous grin.

“Perhaps you do,” I joked as he pushed the shirt off my shoulders, allowing it to pool on the floor.

We spent the rest of the day in the shower, in bed, on the couch, trying to prove just how much we liked each other.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

It was late afternoon by the time Olivia and I were finally ready to leave the house. She said goodbye to Luna and grabbed her purse on the way to the door.

“Aren’t you going to set the alarm?” I asked in a casual tone as I slipped on my shoes.

She hadn’t set it last night before bed, but I’d shrugged it off then. I was here, and she probably didn’t set it when guests were in the house. But now that we were leaving, I figured surely…

“I never do.” She fumbled with the buckle on her heeled sandal.

“Ever?” I asked, trying not to let my emotion show as I knelt to the floor before her. I wrapped my hand around her ankle and brought it to my thigh, securing the clasp for her.

She lifted a shoulder. “My dad insisted I install it when I bought the house, but the neighborhood has always been very safe.”

I guided that foot to the floor then took her other ankle in hand and secured that sandal as well. “Mm. Now why would he insist upon having it installed, only for you to never use it?” I peered up at her, caressing her ankle. Bending forward to kiss her skin.Mm. Vanilla.

When I met her eyes once more, she was glaring down at me.

“You know I’m right,” I said.

She huffed. “I know that you can be bossy and overprotective just like him.”

“I’m going to take that as a compliment since I know he loves you and wants the best for you. And if your dad is as big of a celebrity as you say he is, you could be a target.”

She shook her head. “No one cares about me.”

I stood and grasped her chin in my fingers. “Icare about you.”

“You know what I mean,” she sighed. “But thank you for saying that. I care about you too.”

“Then you’ll understand why I want you to be safe.” I pressed my lips to hers briefly before releasing my hold on her chin.

This entire situation was foreign to me. I was used to caring about my clients, my friends, my aunt, but never to this extent. The feeling was as unsettling as it was persistent.

“Now come on, Olga. Let’s get you some food,” I teased, surprised by the intensity of her reaction. Clearly, I needed to feed her.

“Oh, is Coleman the bossy one?” she asked.

“We’re both bossy. It comes with the territory. I work for an elite private security company. I was a SEAL before that. What do you expect?”

“Mm.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

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