“I’m not planning on it. I just want to see how the courting relationship is via a computer. Talking with people and interacting with the opposite sex has become so impersonal thanks to electronic devices. At least that’s one of my premises of the research paper.”
“Interesting. Okay, I can come over and help you set up a profile that’ll be sure to get you plenty of hits. I haven’t been over to your house yet, so I’m looking forward to it.”
“Thanks. Have fun tonight, and I hope you meet someone perfect for you.”
“Perfection is a nebulous word. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Olivia put the phone down, filled her plate, soaked the pan in hot water and dish soap, then padded into the living room and sank down on the couch. She picked up the remote and clicked on the TV, channel surfing until she found a cooking competition, then settled back and ate her food.
The insistent ringing of her doorbell woke her, and Olivia realized that she must’ve dozed off. The chimes kept sounding in rapid succession, and she sat up, wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, and ran her fingers through her mussed-up hair.
“Hang on a minute, will you?” she called, scurrying toward the door.
Olivia looked through the peephole and her stomach lurched when she saw Animal filling the space.Shit!She glanced at the mirror on the wall and groaned.I look a mess. What the hell does he want anyway?Sorry she’d called out, she fluffed her hair once more, pinched her pale cheeks a few times, and yanked open the door.
“Why are you ringing my doorbell like a lunatic?”
Animal ran his gaze over her, making her feel weird, angry, and vulnerable all at the same time.
“I came over to thank you for the dinner. Lucy thought you were gonna bring it over yourself and eat with us, but she liked it.”
“That’s good. I was real busy after work so I just dropped it off.”
For a long pause he stared intensely at her. “Yeah … Right.”
Feeling exposed, she wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. “It’s cold out there. Do you want to come in for a minute?”Why did I ask that? I just want him to go away.
“I normally would, but I gotta get back. Lucy’s alone.”
“Of course.”Now I really feel like a doofus.“I won’t keep you then.”
“I wanted to ask you something,” he said, moving closer to her.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach and she leaned in toward him. “What is it?” Her gaze fell on his mouth—on those perfectly shaped lips that looked so smooth and tempting.
“My sister looked after Lucy last night …”
His voice faded away as Olivia wondered what he did last night. Was he out with a woman? Probably. He was a good-looking guy and a biker to boot. Women flocked to those types of men.
“So how about it? I can pay you pretty well.”
Pay me? What the hell is he asking me?“Uh … I’m not—”
“Lucy likes you and that’s a huge plus, but if you can’t do it, then, maybe you can recommend someone to help her.”
“Lucy? Help her with what?”
“Reading.” Animal looked at her like she was a space cadet.
“Oh, right. Sorry, I’ve had a really long day, and I was dozing when you rang the bell. So you want me to tutor Lucy?”
“Yeah—she’s got a problem even if her teacher doesn’t agree. My sister’s noticed it too.” A frown knitted his brows. “But I already told you that.”
“Sorry,” she mumbled. In that instant Olivia got the impression that he didn’t like to repeat himself. “I can assess her if you’d like. I’m super busy right now with working at Slavens part-time and then at a dental clinic the other days. I’m also in college. I really don’t have a lot of free time.”
“I was thinking just once or twice a week. I can pay you seventy-five an hour.” He glanced over at his house for the umpteenth time.
“That’s too much,” she said as she calculated the extra money per week. She could apply it to buying window coverings.