Chapter 9 Duke
DUKE
“That last goal was so sick, Harp!” Charlie said, hooking her elbow with Harpers as they skipped ahead of us toward the diner. “You were totally unstoppable!”
Harper blushed, but her smile was as a mile fucking wide. “I felt unstoppable. I just hope Ashley isn’t too mad about it at school on Monday.”
“Who cares?” Charlie replied, shrugging. “You were awesome. That’s all that matters.”
Olivia and I strolled behind our girls, both keeping an amicable distance between one another.
After the game ended, the girls were thrilled when Olivia told them about lunch.
Even more so when she asked if Harper wanted to spend the night.
Both girls elected to ride with her so they could make plans for the evening.
Just as well for me, because I needed a goddamn minute to get my head back on straight.
I’d spent the entire drive to the soccer field this morning worrying so much about what to say when I saw Olivia that I’d decided it was better if I didn’t say a damn thing at all.
When I spotted her standing at the outskirts, looking so fucking lost and out of place, I knew my plans to stay away from her were headed directly out of the window.
Given my general lack of manners toward her, I was surprised she even mentioned lunch. If I were her, I’d want to spend as little time in my company as possible.
Yet here we were, walking into Lucy’s Diner side-by-side. Lucy herself called out a greeting as our daughters blew through the door and headed for the only open booth. The diner was always busy on Saturday mornings, so seating was a gamble.
I would’ve preferred a table. Somehow it seemed a little less intimate, but I could manage for an hour. How hard could it be to sit directly across from the brown-eyed woman who—to my utter chagrin—kept showing up in the most unexpected places?
That single thread of optimism came crashing down the moment Harper and Charlie slid into the same side of the table, leaving Olivia and me no other option but to sit next to one another.
“Oh. Um…” she stammered. We stared at the glittery red bench seat as though it’d personally offended us. “Girls, why don’t we—”
“Slide in,” I muttered, stepping to the side so she could move past me. She hesitated a moment longer, clearly looking as apprehensive as I felt, but we didn’t need to make a big deal out of a seating arrangement. “This is the only open table.”
Olivia’s eyes scanned the diner in confirmation before flicking back to mine.
She straightened her shoulders and offered me a polite smile as she glided past me.
I held my breath as I followed suit, keeping as much space between us as possible.
It wasn’t enough, though. Her sweet perfume somehow mixed perfectly with the scent of pancakes and syrup, making my mouth water for something other than food.
“Good morning, you four!” Lucy said, dropping four menus on the turquoise table top. “Did you girls enjoy the game? Heard there was quite an upset.”
We followed Harper and Charlie’s gaze to the table where that Ashley girl was sitting with her parents. She had her arms crossed tightly over her chest and was glowering at her stack of pancakes as though they’d kicked her puppy.
Harper’s shoulders fell, and Lucy clapped her on the shoulder. “Don’t let her get you down, sweetie. It’s a competitive sport. And you were clearly the better player today.”
My daughter tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Lucy tutted. “None of that ma’am nonsense. How many times do I have to tell you that? Now, what’re we having to drink?”
“Two chocolate milkshakes and two waters for us,” Olivia said, winking at Charlie.
“Ooh, Dad! Can I have a chocolate milkshake, too?” Harper asked, widening her green eyes. When my kid was as cute as that, how could I say no?
“Make that four,” I said. Fuck it. Why shouldn’t we indulge a little bit?
“Four shakes and four waters coming right up!” Lucy dashed off to put our drinks in, and the girls immediately jumped back into their planning, leaving Olivia and me to sit in silence.
I should say something—anything, really—but nothing came to mind. I’d never been much of a talker to begin with, and that hadn’t changed as I’d gotten older. I saved my words and my breath for shit that mattered and didn’t feel the need to yap just for the sake of it.
Olivia, though, did not share my opinion apparently. I could feel her knee bouncing anxiously beneath the table. She was making the whole damn seat vibrate with her fidgeting. Without thinking, I reached out my hand and braced it on her knee before giving it a squeeze.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Why did I do that? And why was I still doing it?
Olivia turned to me, wincing as she took in my stern expression. “Sorry. Nervous habit.”
“Don’t see what there is to be nervous about,” I said.
Still, I kept my hand in place.
She laughed. “Well, this is a bit awkward, isn’t it? I mean, we’re just sitting here in silence.”
“It’s not silent. The girls are talking right there, and we’re surrounded by about forty people having their own conversations.”
“But we’re not.”
“What do you want to talk about? The weather? Oh yeah, it looks really nice out today. Heard there’s gonna be a storm next weekend, though,” I said sarcastically. “How is that any better?”
She blew out a breath. “Guess it isn’t. Especially not if you’re gonna be an ass about it.”
“Honey, being an ass is my default.” There it went again. The same slip of the tongue as earlier. I hadn’t meant to say it, and I definitely hadn’t meant to be a repeat offender. At least this had a bit more bite to it than before.
Olivia scanned my face. I wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but I didn’t like it. That woman had an uncanny ability to slide beneath my skin. I was defenseless against her. It pissed me off.
Yet my hand was still on her goddamn knee.
“Well, it doesn’t have to be,” she said, shifting in her seat. The movement caused her legs to close, trapping my hand right between her thighs. Her skin was hot, even through the fabric. It was enough to snap me out of whatever stupor I was in.
I pulled back, quickly placing my hand in my lap to cover the situation taking place in my jeans. For the second time in a week, Olivia Hart had me thinking about everything I shouldn’t be.
I liked sex just as much as the next person, but it’d never been a necessity for me.
It wasn’t something I thought about every minute of every day.
During college, I dated a few women before meeting the one who’d eventually become my wife.
It wasn’t like I was inexperienced or anything, but I wasn’t what she wanted.
Sarah always said I wasn’t affectionate enough. That I didn’t show her the right amount of physical attention. So, I tried. I tried to be conscious of every move, every touch, just to try and make her happy. It was never enough.
So, color me fucking shocked when I had to stroke myself multiple times in the shower two nights ago because I couldn’t get the infuriating woman in front of me out of my head. When I realized what I’d done, I panicked.
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’re okay 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. Eat so many 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.