He didn’t move but instead set his jaw and cast her a defiant look. Those damned glasses only worked in his favor. “No.”
They silently stared each other down. The test of wills left Olivia’s pulse quickening. She felt it fluttering in her wrists, her throat. Her breathing picked up, and when she saw Chuck’s tongue flash over his lips, a little pink dart like a dare to give in, she steeled herself.
“Fine,” she said.
A smile bent his mouth as if he’d won, but instead of climbing into the bed with him, Olivia turned on her heel and left the room. She left him staring after her and walked back to the kitchen.
She knew she could get him out of the bed. He just needed the right incentive.
The kitchen lights automatically flicked on when she entered the glossy space. She yanked open a few drawers, muttering to herself until she found what she was looking for.
“Yes,” she hissed victoriously, and clutched the small metal object in her palm.
Chuck had resumed reading by the time she returned to the bedroom. She felt his eyes follow her as she walked into the closet with purpose.
She ran her fingers over the luscious sleeves dangling on his side and picked out a baby blue shirt with a mononymous Italian label. Chuck looked great in it, of course, but he looked great in anything, so the loss wouldn’t be too bad. She pulled it from its hanger and marched back into the bedroom holding it up by the collar like a stray cat.
He sat straight up as if he’d been electrocuted. “What are you doing?”
Olivia wickedly smiled and snapped open the lighter she’d found in the kitchen. “Get out or I’ll burn it.”
Chuck’s face drained of color as he visibly fought not to leap out of the bed and save his precious clothing. “You wouldn’tdare.”
She flicked on the flame and held it dangerously close to the shirt’s elegant cuff. “Try me. And I’m honestly surprised we’ve made it this far together without me having lit anything of yours on fire before.”
“Olivia,” he warned.
She held the lighter closer and grinned in the flame’s flickering light. “There’s a simple solution here, Chuck. Get out, and I will spare the shirt.”
His throat bobbed as he swallowed. She could see his jaw working from across the room. She’d upped the stakes in the battle of wills by adding a victim.
“What’s it going to be, Chuck: the bed or the shirt?”
He stared at her with both panic and fury in his eyes. His struggle was as tangible as the fabric between her fingers. He silently shook his head.
“Fine,” Olivia said, and moved the flame closer to the sleeve.
“No!” he shouted, and flung himself from the bed, revealing that he was wearing boxer briefs under the covers. In oneswift move, he lunged at her, grabbed the shirt, and threw open the sliding door. He dashed out onto the patio, swearing and moving like he was going to plunge the whole thing into the pool and maybe even jump in with it, when he pulled up short and realized nothing was on fire.
A victorious cackle tore from Olivia’s mouth as she snapped the lighter shut. “Good to know where your priorities are.”
He turned to face her, his miles of bare skin bathed in moonlight, and scowled at her with a murderous look.
They stared at each other, and it took them the same amount of time to realize that not only had she successfully gotten him out of the bed, but she’d also gotten him out of the house.
They both blinked in what felt like slow motion before lunging at the door. Olivia was standing closer to it, so by the time Chuck reached for it, she’d slammed it shut and flipped the lock.
“Olivia!” he yelled at her, standing on the other side of the glass.
She could not stop the sinister smile that spread her lips. Her plan had worked out far better than anticipated.
“Good night, Chuck,” she said with a flirtatious little wave.
“Are you kidding me?” He pressed his hands against the door, fingers splayed wide. “You can’t leave me out here!”
She only laughed harder. She nodded at the cushioned lounge chairs. “By my count, there’s more furniture out there than there is in here, so you’re better off.”
He glanced at the chairs and in his sweep, his eyes landed on the doors on the opposite side of the house leading to the kitchen. He cast her a determined grin before he took off toward them.