Chapter 11 Duke #2
The soft glow from the pink flower lights hanging above their heads showed me all I needed to see.
Charlie slept just like her mother, sprawled out with her mouth wide open.
If Harper seemed to mind, I’d have never known.
She was just as chaotic, her sheets wrapped around her legs, clinging to the stuffed bunny she’d had since she was a baby.
There was no way in hell I could wake them up and tell them to leave.
Not after everything Olivia had already done for Harper and me.
When she stopped by, I should’ve just asked if Harper could stay the night with her instead.
At least that way the girls would’ve been more comfortable, and she wouldn’t wake up with a headache from sleeping like a goddamn pretzel.
I was also embarrassed for her to see the way I’d been living. To see how much I’d let things slip lately. I hadn’t gotten groceries this week because I’d been too busy, so Harper and I had been living off of PB&J for the past two days.
Olivia wouldn’t ever judge, but she was like her brother in the way she always wanted to help.
Neither of them could leave well enough alone.
Most of the time, I didn’t mind, but going through this divorce was different.
I felt like a failure on so many levels, telling myself that accepting help was a sign of weakness.
But when I stopped and asked myself what the worst that could happen was, I drew a blank.
This town had rallied in support of Harper and me on many occasions, even if it was just stopping by the bar for a drink or smiling when they passed us in the grocery store.
Leaning on someone to get by was normal.
I didn’t want Harper to grow up thinking otherwise.
Closing the door to my daughter’s room, I decided to take a shower.
I could worry about everything else in the morning.
There were some spare blankets and pillows in the hall closet that I could grab.
Sleeping on the floor for one night wouldn’t kill me.
Maybe it’d finally convince me to invest in an air mattress for emergencies.
Not that I ever planned to have Olivia over like this again.
Turning on the shower and shedding my clothes, I let the small space fill with steam before stepping inside. I really needed to shave the stubble lining my jaw, but I’d do that later. All I wanted to do now was sleep.
I washed my hair and body quickly, trying my best not to focus on Olivia sleeping just in the next room.
I’d spent too many nights thinking about her in this shower, and my dick did not need the reminder.
Last thing I needed was to be in here all night, fucking my fist and wondering what she’d sound like coming on my tongue.
After rinsing with cold water as an extra measure, I stepped out, patted myself dry, and secured the towel around my waist. These were the times I wished for luxuries like the fucking warmer we used to have at the old house.
Tennessee nights could be chilly as fuck.
I’d just begun brushing my teeth when the bathroom door opened. Olivia stood in the doorway, sleepy chocolate eyes widening as they trailed slowly down my body. She didn’t try to hide her perusal. It was far too blatant to pretend it was anything but what it was.
And even though I knew it was a bad idea, I let her.
There was something exciting about the way she was staring at me.
It made me feel a prickle of pride. For the first time in years, someone was seeing me as a man—not just Harper’s dad or the owner of Frank’s Bar.
And it wasn’t just anyone. It was Olivia fucking Hart.
My best friend’s sister and the object of all my recent desires.
“I-I’m so sorry,” she stammered, voice raspy from sleep. “I should have knocked, but I must be dreaming.”
I waited for her to slam the door, but she didn’t. She stood there, chest heaving, staring at me with these big doe eyes that made me want to sink to my knees in front of her.
“Do you need the bathroom?” I asked, trying to focus on the situation at hand.
Olivia watched with rapt attention as I spat out my toothpaste before turning to face her. There was a subtle flush creeping across her cheeks and down her neck. I wondered how far it went beneath her wrinkled blouse. If it covered the pale expanse of her chest like I imagined it did.
I really needed to move, to stop standing here like some fucking creep. The longer we stayed like this, our restraint crumbling by the second, the harder it would be to walk away from her.
Thirty minutes ago, I could’ve given any number of reasons we shouldn’t be alone together. Yet now I couldn’t think of a single one.
“Y-yes.” Olivia cleared her throat. For the first time since she walked into the bathroom, she met my gaze. “Yes, I did, but I’ll… go.”
As she turned to head back into the living room, my hand reached out on instinct to stop her and landed on the bare skin of her arm. “It’s all yours,” I said, gesturing behind me. “I was just finishing up.”
I hurried past, trying not to think about how soft she felt until I finally heard the bathroom door snick shut. Making quick work of my time alone, I grabbed a clean pair of boxers and a shirt from my makeshift dresser and changed.
By the time Olivia emerged from the bathroom, I’d already made my bed on the floor. There wasn’t much space in the cramped room, leaving me lying just beneath her.
Her steps faltered as she noticed me on the ground. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
I turned over my shoulder. “Going to sleep. Looks like we’re having that sleepover a little earlier than intended. I pulled a blanket out for you, too. It gets a little cold at night.”
“No. I’m not talking about that. I meant what’re you doing on the floor?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Dunno if you’ve noticed, honey, but there isn’t another place to sleep unless I plan on spending the night in my truck. So sit your ass down on this couch and settle in for the night.”
“You’re not sleeping on the floor.”
“I’m good here.” She didn’t move. She just stared at me in that impossibly bossy way of hers until I asked, “Do you have a better idea?”
Olivia’s gaze flicked between the couch and my makeshift cot for a moment before ripping the blankets from my body. I scrambled to grab them back, but it was too late. “What are you doing?” I hissed, grabbing a pillow to cover my crotch.
“Come on. We’ll share.” She sat down, curling her feet beneath her body and situating the blanket I had laid out for her. Then she patted the cushion beside her. “Your turn.”
“Olivia…”
She rolled her eyes. “My god, Duke. It’s either this or I’ll be the one sleeping out in my car. You’re being an idiot.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I growled.
She flicked her gaze toward the couch in challenge, practically begging me to call her bluff. “I think we both know I would.”
With a sigh, I pushed off the ground and took my seat, ensuring my body was as far as it could be from hers. She handed over the blankets with a saccharine smile before grabbing the pillow I’d dropped and handing it to me. “Happy now?”
She settled into her spot, eyes slipping closed. “Very.”