I’d known her damn near my whole life and had never seen her as anything other than my best friend’s little sister. Why now? Why, when I truly couldn’t afford any distractions, did she decide to waltz back into my life and fuck with my head?
The worst part was that it wasn’t even on purpose. Olivia hadn’t done a single thing to make me spiral out of control like this. She hadn’t insinuated anything. Hadn’t offered anything, either. Save for a few lingering glances on both our parts, she’d been completely appropriate.
It was maddening. She was maddening. This whole situation was maddening.
“Uh, Dad?” Harper’s voice pulled me back to the present.
I jerked my gaze away from Olivia, realizing Lucy was standing at the head of the table with a notepad and pen, a knowing smile on her face. “What can I get you, Duke?”
“You sure you’reokay with taking her?” I asked, walking through the front door of our cabin.
After lunch, Olivia and the girls followed me back home since Harper needed to pack a bag. I wasn’t thrilled about the prospect of anyone else seeing where we lived, but it wasn’t exactly a secret anymore. She knew I didn’t live in some fancy house anymore. Knew Harper and I were doing what we could to make ends meet.
“Positive. We’re gonna do mani-pedis. Watch junk television. Eatsomany sweets,” Olivia paused, smiling as I turned toward her with a raised brow. “Oh, relax. It’ll be fine!”
“I just don’t want to impose.”
Olivia held up her hands. “Duke, I swear. It’s not an imposition. I’m happy to do it, and the girls are ecstatic. Take the night off and relax.”
Truth be told, I could use a night to myself. The house was a mess, which didn’t take much. It was a grand total of 600 square feet. Most of my chores had been pushed aside since Sawyer had come down with the flu last week. She was back now, but I had to rely on our part-time help more than normal and fill in the rest of her schedule with my own time.
Or what little of it still existed.
Running a hand through my hair, I nodded. “I can pick her up first thing in the morning?—”
“Or I could bring her home in the afternoon when Charlie and I head over to Grady’s. It’s on the way,” she said, looking around.
That was bullshit. Grady’s place was on the other side of town, and we both knew it. But rather than argue, I just nodded again. “Alright. I’d appreciate that.”
Olivia’s head swiveled in my direction, her jaw slack in surprise. “Did you just… agree with me?”
“Alright. Let’s calm down now,” I said, turning toward the kitchen. I needed to put some space between us.
Much to my dismay, she followed.
“Maybe I should jot this date down. You know, for the history books.” She cleared her throat and held her hands out in front of her face. “The day Duke shut up and didn’t argue.”
I couldn’t help it. My lips twitched. “Feels like a mouthful.”
“Thank god I can fit a lot in mine,” she shot back with a playful smirk.
Goddammit. Now I was thinking about what all she could do with that mouth. How she’d look up at me from her knees, brown eyes glistening with desire. The way her lips would look wrapped around my?—
“Ready!” Harper announced, running into the living room with Charlie hot on her heels.
Oh, thank god. There was no way I could’ve continued that train of thought without embarrassing myself any more than I already had today.
I hadn’t realized how close Olivia and I were standing to one another until Harper’s voice had us jumping apart.
“Got everything you need, kiddo?” I asked, turning toward my daughter. She was staring at Olivia and me, no doubt wondering why I was acting so strange.
Get in line, kid. I was asking myself the same thing.
She hiked the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder. “Yup. I’ll only be gone a night, Dad. It’ll be fine.”
“Alright,” I conceded. “Give me a hug before you go.”
She rolled her eyes, but came over anyway. I was sure that to someone like Olivia, whose family was borderline overly affectionate, our little side-hug looked awkward.