2. Oliver
2
OLIVER
O f course I came running.
Liam called, and it took only a millisecond before I raced to grab my car keys. I was working at home after hours, admittedly, a great pastime of mine. But that’s what I signed up for when I became a lawyer, and handling legal for the Spinners hockey team over in Lake Spark only levels up the extra workload.
But taking a break from my laptop isn’t the reason why I was in my car so fast. It’s because of the woman lying on the exam table, currently looking at me like a deer in headlights. It doesn’t deter from the fact that her soft dark blonde hair frames her face, and her gorgeous hazel eyes glimmer no matter her mood. Fuck, I love her lips. Always with a coat of gloss which only highlights the perfect line of her mouth, not too plump. And…
Nope. Can’t go there.
She’s Liam’s little sister. Out of bounds.
I can be ruthless with negotiation when it comes to my job. Out of the office, I’m a little more relaxed, except when it comes to this situation.
I follow protocol; Don’t go there.
After all, I don’t want to risk losing a friendship with a man I’ve known since high school. I didn’t take notice of Hailey back then because she was the little sister a few years behind us in school, but since she returned to Everhope a few years ago, I’ve more than noticed.
She’s beautiful, funny, and a completely inappropriate fantasy.
It’s so simple. I’m supposed to be the good guy, but inside, I want to break every damn rule and let my filthy thoughts of this woman come to fruition. Hailey hasn’t broken the rule, either. She a good girl like that. If only I could whisper that in her ear while undressing her.
Focus, Oliver.
“D-did Liam say what happened?” She seems wary, her bright doe eyes landing on me.
“No, only that you had to rush to the emergency room.” She seems relieved. “Everything okay? What’s going on?” My eyes are transfixed on this beautiful creature before my gaze shifts to the side to try and understand the situation.
“I… I… just a normal kitchen mishap. You know, knife gone rogue, most definitely nothing out of the ordinary.” She swallows, and I can tell she just lied to me, especially as the doctor’s mouth tugs slightly and in an entertained way.
I play along. “Okay, well, looks like we’re keeping knives away from you for a while.” I step farther into the area. I remember blood freaks her out. A kid in her class once scraped himself on a tree and she vomited. Liam had to pick her up from work.
Her eyes hold mine, and I hate that she’s in pain. I’m fiercely protective of her, the same level as her brother.
“Almost done?” Hailey grits out to the doctor.
He cuts the suture. “Sure am. Your boyfriend can take you home.”
Hailey’s strained face probably matches my own. “Uh… not exactly boyfriend,” I correct him, and I hate that I have to. Basically, I’m totally infatuated with this woman who is always so close but not in the way I would like.
By association, she’s in my circle of friends. That’s what happens when your friend invites his sister to every BBQ or that our town is small enough that random run-ins are a given. There is also the fact that she lives down the street from me.
It’s a form of torture. Our level of flirtation isn’t just in my head, I’m too smart to misread it. But our level of respect for one another is even higher. We would never want to taint the circle of friends or our own friendship. There are too many risks if I were to slam my mouth onto hers because her eyes narrow in on me with that playful warning that crosses her lips far too often.
The doctor swings his eyes between Hailey and me. “Ah, apologies.”
Hailey clears her throat, and it’s an awkward silence for a few seconds.
The doctor ignores us as he helps Hailey up to sitting. “Well, it’s great that you can drive her. Make sure to keep the stitches clean until they come out,” he tells her. “No tetanus shot is needed but I’ll write up a prescription of antibiotics as a precaution, as it was a deep cut and you’ll need to start those today, along with a lot of rest today. I’ll get the discharge papers moving.”
A few minutes later, a nurse gives more detailed instructions and has Hailey sign papers. When it’s time to go, Hailey hesitates to hop off the table.
I’m aware it’s because of me.
The thing is, we can have a good time around each other. There are also certain moments when something else lingers, and it causes us to not say much.
Right now? Evidence of that.
“Are you still feeling dizzy? Need help? Maybe we should get you something to eat,” I list. The overbearing concern ripping through me returns.
It causes her to crack a gentle smile. “I’m okay. Just want to get home to my couch.”
“Yeah, of course.”
She stands up, and we walk out to the parking lot. I’m quick to open the passenger side door of my sports car so she can slide onto the seat.
When I start the engine, the energy feels different to our normal encounters with one another.
“So, uh, the wedding is almost here,” I say in an attempt to start our conversation as we drive off.
“Yeah, Liam is excited. Colorado should be fun.” Liam’s fiancée, Ava, is from there, so they decided to have their wedding where her parents live.
“Lucky you for flying out.” I grimace
She chortles. “Why did you volunteer to drive?”
“Because I’m a good best man and Liam needs his car for their honeymoon driving around the Rockies.”
“Well, it’s sweet of you. I would never be able to drive that far. I want to save humanity, and my driving will not help with that.”
True. Her driving scares the hell out of the entire street.
We turn onto Everhope Road, where lush green trees line the street, with yards and mailboxes at the end of driveways that make the houses feel more like homes. Hailey is now renting out her friend Esme’s old house. Esme moved next door to be with my buddy Keats. And I live down the street. It’s enough distance to subtly avoid people if need be. My brother lives even farther up, on the corner of our street. It’s all a crazy coincidental map.
Parking then turning the engine off when we arrive in front of her house, I don’t hesitate and quickly exit my car and circle around to help her.
Her mouth stretches into half a smile. “I’m okay, really. Just need to chill on the sofa.”
I hold my hand out, and she fishes out the keys from her purse.
I’m a gentleman, so I’m going to ignore her insistence that all is well and assist her inside, stealing the opportunity to enjoy every second of touching her.
She tosses me her house key, and I catch it before my hand lands on her back, causing her breath to catch because of the second of a magnetic pull that draws her eyes up to meet my own. Our lingering gaze drops, and we mosey our way to the front door, and I unlock it. Walking in, I’m surrounded by the smell of cedar. Her home is cozy. Throw pillows and blankets in the living room. A lot of candles, too.
She drops her purse onto the floor and saunters straight to the living room where she plops down on the sofa, sighing in relief.
“Let me get you something to drink.” I’m already halfway to the kitchen while she gets comfortable, not giving her any opportunity to protest.
As soon as I’m in the kitchen, I wince at the sight. It looks like a crime scene. There is blood on the floor and a drenched kitchen towel. My eyes draw a line up to the counter where there is a cut bagel and a knife nearby. “Yikes. Are you sure there isn’t a dead body buried in the backyard or something?” I call out. Debating, I decide to grab her a bottle of water from the fridge before I clean this mess up.
Opening the door to the fridge, I catch sight of something from the corner of my eye. Closing the fridge with one slow push, I examine the contents of the bag of bagels on the counter.
Huh , pre-sliced.
My eyes travel between the bag and the floor. Ah.
With water in hand, I stroll back to the living room, and I do my best to keep a straight face. I shouldn’t find this funny, but I kind of do.
I lean over the back of the sofa to hand Hailey the bottle of water. “Here you go. Where are your cleaning supplies? Something tells me paper towels won’t cut it, no pun intended.” I lick my lips, struggling to keep my grin in.
“You don’t need to do that. It’s my blood.”
“It’s okay. You’re kind of missing a finger right now.”
Her brows rise, and she huffs out a breath in agreement.
I scratch my chin, debating if I should, but I just can’t help it. “I noticed the bag of bagels.”
Her shoulders sink and eyes roll. “Har-har.”
Teasing her always brightens my day. “A pre-sliced bagel?”
She seems embarrassed, but after a few seconds, a line draws on her mouth, a smirk. “I’m never going to hear the end of it, am I?”
“Probably not.”
“I had a moment, okay? Lesson learned, and I think I hate bagels now.”
I feign shock. “Bagels are on the bad list? Oh no. Part of your soul must be dead.”
Hailey looks good when she’s in a light mood, and lucky for me, she appreciates my humor.
Rounding the couch, I sit down on the other end. “Relax, we all have our moments.”
“Have your moments ever led to perhaps never feeling your thumb again?” she challenges, and she holds up her hand.
I want to swoop up her thumb to kiss it better, but that’s not a great idea. “Thumbs are overrated.” She narrows her eyes at me, playing along. “Besides, it isn’t that bad, just needs to be on the mend.”
“I guess you’re right. Least the stitches will be out for the wedding in two weeks.”
“There ya go.”
Our eyes lock, and we both pierce the other with the connection. It’s silent in the room, but the lack of words feels loud. The air feels heavy.
Maybe we both notice because in unison we search for another focal point away from each other.
“I’m sorry I ruined your… whatever you were doing… probably work.”
“You know me so well. Yes, that was the case.”
She shakes her once. “Tsk-tsk, Oliver. Work-life balance is key.” The way her tsks roll off her tongue could be my undoing right here, but I’ve grown restraint over the years.
“You’re just lucky you have a lighter work week for the summer, Miss Teacher Extraordinaire.”
She throws a pillow at me with her good hand. “That’s because we teachers need to recover from the rest of the year.”
“Fair point.”
It’s way too easy to shoot the breeze with Hailey. Maybe that’s why Liam has never noticed. He just assumes Hailey and I are good friends.
“Speaking of recovery, I’ll go clean what’s left from the crucifixion of the bagel, and I can go pick you up something from the store so you can eat to keep up your strength,” I offer.
She stretches her bare foot, nails painted with dark purple nail polish, out across the couch to jab my leg with her toe. I’m not sure what’s better? Her touch or how even her toes are hot as fuck. “Stop it. You don’t need to take care of me. I’ll manage.”
I attempt to keep a straight face. “But I think the grocery store is having a sale on pre-sliced bagels.” She digs her toe deeper into my calf, and I yelp even though it didn’t hurt. “You fainted who knows how many times at the emergency room due to blood. I’m not sure walking into the kitchen is the best of ideas. I’ll do it.”
The only thing I see in her gleaming eyes is pure appreciation with a hint of affection. I love it. I wonder if she realizes how much she deserves to have someone treat her like a queen. She has a heart of gold, is kind to all, and lightens every social gathering. I mean, for fuck’s sake, she had us all dressed up for a 20s-themed murder mystery last year. And there was the real crime that happened—her legs in a flapper dress while she dragged me along to solve clues.
A twinge twists in my stomach because I can never be her king, and I hate the idea of her with anyone else.
She’s dated guys in the past, and whenever she was single, I wasn’t. Then there were the months that she was settling into her new job and I was deep into the hockey draft. Basically, the timing was never in our favor.
Plus, her brother would kill me.
And I get it.
Abruptly, I stand up. “Okay, you just chill here while I take care of the kitchen.”
“Really, thank you. Maybe Liam will be here soon.”
I grab the throw blanket and spread it across her body, tucking her in because I love touching her when it’s allowed, and she appears cozy and peaceful.
She touches the back of my hand that’s fixing the blanket on her body, causing me to still. “You’re my hero.”
One squeeze of her hand and it takes all my strength not to swoop down and kiss her on impulse. She realizes her error, and her hand leaves mine in a flash.
I leave her be and clean the kitchen, every once in a while chuckling to myself about the situation. It was a whole-grain bagel. Kind of boring but fine. A few thrown-away towels, a hell of a lot of cleaning spray, rubber gloves well used, and I’m done.
“Okay, I’ll head to the store,” I say as I meander back into the living room, and I smile as I soak in the view of a sleeping angel.
Hailey is asleep, with her face delicate and her lips tipped faintly in a smile. She must be dreaming. Stepping forward, I selfishly take the opportunity to lean down and tuck a tendril of her hair behind her ear. She doesn’t stir, and I just admire her for a few seconds.
Some people might label this as bordering on obsession territory, but I consider it as just grabbing an opportunity.
Sighing, I step away and head to the door. One more glance over my shoulder, and the corner of my mouth tugs at the picture of her. But I can’t stand here forever.
Opening the door, I nearly run into Liam who has concern imprinted on his face.
“I owe you.” He is quick to step through the door, brushing me aside.
“She’s asleep.”
He pauses on his quest to find Hailey and eases. “I mean, it’s not a major injury, so that’s a relief. We’ve all had stitches at some point, right?”
I nod in agreement. “I’m sure she will laugh about it in the future.”
Liam swipes his hands through his hair. “Totally right. Thanks for picking her up. I’m so lucky that you were around. It’s times like these I wish Hailey had a boyfriend to help her, but then I fear that they might be like you and focus on work and not her.”
His words hit a little harder than I would like, and I’m offended. “Someone is being a little honest today.” I’m almost curt in tone but hold myself back.
He grins and lightly pushes my shoulder. “You know that I’m messing with you. I’m sure you would feel the same way if she had a boyfriend. You are protective of her like a sister.”
My stomach sours because that is most definitely not how I view her.
Scratching the back of my neck, I accept that her brother is here to care for her and my services are no longer needed. “I’ll head out. She probably needs some dinner soon. Don’t bug her too much about the bagel incident, I already have.”
A cheeky look shades his face. “That ain’t happening.”
I chuckle. “Fair enough. Are you ready for the big day?”
“I am. Just a shame that a wedding entails a lot of logistics and planning. Ava is about to lose her cool. It will all be worth it, though.” She travels a lot for work, so I don’t know her as well as I would like, but she is sweet and completely softens Liam.
“It will be great. Cigars, whiskey, the whole shebang.”
“Thanks again for driving out. I owe you one.”
I wave him off. “You’d do the same.”
“You can still add a plus-one for the wedding if you want.”
“Nah.” I shrug. “Solo is fine.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means a saint, but none of the women that I’ve been with have kept my attention. Plus, there hasn’t even been anyone lately.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you if Ava throws one of her single bridesmaids at you.” He grins.
Hailey is a bridesmaid, and she’s also not bringing a plus-one, but I won’t hold onto the hope that she gets steered my way. Liam would never allow it.
“I’ll make a run for it. Anyhow, I’m going to head out.”
“Thanks again.”
I shrug it off as though it’s nothing then leave the house. As I stare at Everhope Road, where neighbors are walking with dogs and kids are playing on the street, I can’t help but feel that something is missing, there is a dullness inside of me.
I should go find a distraction.
For the most part, this whole situation doesn’t bother me. That is until every time I come face to face with Hailey, and then I go a little haywire.
My brother hands me a coffee that he ordered at the counter of Foxy Rox. This place is great. A very relaxed vibe with delicious coffee and a few tables and sofas. The background music is Indie and mostly the under-50s find themselves here. There is a restaurant on the river boat that the older generation prefers. The bakery selection here is second to none, too.
Carter takes a sip of his own coffee as he sits across from me. He’s older than me, divorced, and is the town sheriff. “You leave tomorrow for the wedding?” He was invited but can’t take the time off work.
“Yeah. I’ll stop overnight somewhere when I get too tired of driving.”
“Don’t speed.” He gives me a pointed look and grins. “I would hate for a sheriff in the middle of Kansas to give you a ticket.”
His jokes are so old but still make me smile. “Nah, I’ll just throw on a podcast and drive through America’s cornfields until I hit Colorado.”
“Good. I’m happy you have a little downtime even though it’s busy at work for you.”
I sigh at the reminder. “Tell me about it. The draft is coming up, and after that, we have free agency. I’ll be turning out hockey contracts on the double.”
“Good. Me and everyone else is hoping that the Spinners take the cup next year. Need a solid team for that.”
Everyone around here is a Spinners fan. Football or baseball are forgotten sports here; instead, we all back hockey.
“A few days off will reboot my engine. Anyhow, what else is new?”
“I picked up a stray dog that I had to take the shelter if you are still looking for a new companion.”
I snort a laugh. “As much as I love dogs, I’m traveling too much in the coming months. Besides, sometimes I’m not home all day, so the little guy won’t have many walks. As for companions, I have friends.”
Carter slides his coffee to the side. “Okay, I won’t press. Everything else good? You seem a little, I don’t know…” He tips a shoulder up toward his ear. “Lacking energy. Are your gym sessions not delivering?”
“Nah. All good. Sometimes, I just need to shift my mind when a big wedding is added to my calendar.”
“Yeah, I’m not a fan of big weddings.” Of course, he would say that. His own wedding was small. “Rosie’s parents never let us forget it that we chose that route. Maybe that should have been my sign.”
“You grew apart and she is younger than you. It’s not like you two are going to kill one another if you cross paths.”
He ponders my statement for a few beats but doesn’t comment, instead shifting his attention to something else. “How are Liam and Hailey? I see Hailey around. Sometimes at the grocery store.”
I swirl my coffee with the spoon. She texted me a thank-you the other week, and it’s been two weeks since I’ve seen her. “I’m sure she’s fine. Liam is busy with his wedding prep.”
Or I’ll kill whoever may cause otherwise.
“Okay.” He doesn’t ask any more, instead eyeing the menu on the wall, which is ridiculous since he always orders the same thing. “I’m kind of starving. I should probably order a muffin or something. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? I’ll need to take it to go, I have a meeting with Dad.”
We both groan from the thought. Our parents are local elite, if we are honest. Their words more than ours, even if it’s true. Our dad used to work in finance in Chicago before settling down in Everhope. They have a big house along the river a few streets over from Everhope Road.
“Dad still trying to push you to run for mayor next year?” The pressure stems from his own agenda, even if Carter would be good at it. Our dad is now retired but seeing one of his sons in government and having a little control of local taxes is a bonus.
He continues to study the wall. “Hell if I know. I’m only going for entertainment. I normally zone out as soon as Mom hints that I should reconnect with Rosie.” It exasperates him always. They love his ex-wife. “Okay, bran muffin and another coffee.” His cell begins to vibrate as he stands, and he quickly answers on his approach to the counter.
I don’t listen in, instead my eyes wandering to the wall to examine the menu, even though I know everything on there. But my eyes stop and pin on where I see Hailey walk into the café.
Shit.
I pretend not to look at her, and I’m saved when my brother touches my shoulder. “I need to run. They need me at the station.”
“Don’t worry, Carter, we always have a muffin on standby when you’re here,” Sara, the owner, calls out, and he winks at her.
But her calorific gesture brings attention to us, and Hailey’s eyes swim straight to me, and the corner of her mouth slowly lifts.
“See ya,” I distantly hear my brother say. I only tip my nose up to acknowledge that I heard him.
As he leaves, saying hi to Hailey in passing, Hailey slowly walks my way.
“Hey.”
“There you are. Did you come for a bagel?” My cheeks tighten from a grin.
She sits herself on the chair that my brother just vacated. “Quiet, you.” She points a finger at me with a warning glare. “And I need coffee. I’m flying out tonight.”
“All packed?”
“Yeah, and I should even be able to keep my carry-on. I hate when they make you gate check.”
Sara arrives at our table. “Can I get you something?” she asks Hailey as she wipes her hands on her apron that is covered in flour.
“Yeah, a flat white with oat milk.”
“To-go or for here?”
A scratchy sound escapes from Hailey’s luscious lips before her eyes sweep between me and the barista. “Uh… you know what?” Confidence seems to overtake her. “For here.”
I’m relieved she said that. But also, a bit pissed.
Now I have to remind my dick to be a warrior and keep it together.