26. Olivia
Chapter 26
Olivia
Several sets of anxious eyes found us as we emerged from the tree line.
“Olivia,” Honey shrieked and ran toward us. Landon released me and placed me gently on my feet. I instantly missed the warmth of his skin and the safety I felt cradled in his arms. A second later, I was tackled by my best friend. Her embrace nearly knocked the wind out of me. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?” She pulled back and held me at arm's length, inspecting me for injuries.
“I’m fine. There was a snake, and I was stuck in a tree.” Honey’s head tilted, and her brows drew together as if trying to reconcile my story with why Landon had carried me back. “I lost a shoe,” I added quickly, nodding to my bare foot and wiggling my toes for emphasis.
“Oh,” she replied simply. “Guess you couldn’t go traipsing through the woods like that. Good thing Landon was there to save you.” A sly grin curved her lips as her eyes found Landon over my shoulder. I turned to face him and noticed for the first time that his torso was bare, a pair of navy and white striped board shorts resting low on his hips. My cheeks heated at the memory of him holding me close to his chest as I clung to him desperately.
“Yes, I’m glad he found me so quickly.” Landon shifted his weight from one foot to the other as though the recognition made him uncomfortable. “Thank you for coming to my rescue,” I said, hopeful he felt my genuine appreciation. If it wasn’t for him, it was hard to say how long I would have been stuck in that tree.
“Of course,” he replied with a single nod. Honey looped her arm through mine and led me away. I reluctantly turned my gaze from Landon to find our friends watching us all with curious stares. Some of them exchanged suspicious looks as they spoke in hushed tones. They all saw Landon carry me out of the woods and were clearly reading too much into it.
Or were they?
The rest of the women huddled around me as I assured them I was okay and relayed the details of my rescue to them. I made sure to leave out the part where my body slid achingly slow down Landon’s when he pulled me from that branch. My skin heated, and my stomach tightened with need at the memory. In the moment, I’d been too frightened to appreciate it, but now that I was safe, all I could think about was how his body would feel sliding against mine without our swimsuits in the way.
“Let’s head out,” one of the guys called, snapping me from my thoughts. We all got into our tubes and continued our float. The tension from recent events melted away and conversation resumed. The afternoon was filled with laughter and drinks as we soaked up the sun.
When we finally reached the lake, everyone climbed out and dragged their floats onto the shore. I instructed them where they could be stored and began my trek up to the lake house. It was my mother’s property, and she'd agreed to let me use it for the weekend since it wasn’t rented out.
“This is where we’re staying?” Landon’s voice was hushed, but I still heard it.
“Yep,” JD replied simply. “Olivia offered to let us stay here tonight when we made these plans.” Landon grumbled something unintelligible under his breath, and their voices faded away. I turned to see that they’d stopped walking, and they stood in the sand having what looked like an intense conversation.
“Do you want me to have someone pick you up? You don’t have to stay,” JD offered, the sincerity and concern in his tone softening the harsh set of Landon’s jaw. Landon lifted his gaze and found me watching the exchange. I couldn’t look away even though I’d just been caught eavesdropping. I awaited his answer with bated breath. Would he bow out because of me? Or would he stay and allow himself to enjoy this retreat?
“It’s not a big deal,” Landon claimed, but I felt the lie coiling around me like the snake I almost stepped on in the woods. Landon Crawford was more dangerous than that rattler. He had the potential to hurt me worse than any venom from a snake bite. Yet, I still wanted to tempt fate. I still wanted to get closer even though I knew it was dangerous.
I turned from them and continued my trek up to the house. Punching the code into the lock box, I retrieved the keys and let everyone inside. Our bags were piled in the living room where the courier had left them. Everyone grabbed their belongings and drifted away to find their rooms. There was one couple among us, so I offered to let them stay in the main room with the king-sized bed and bunked with Honey in one of the many double occupancy rooms with twin beds. They had resisted at first since it was my family’s lake house, but finally relented when I wouldn’t budge. It just made more sense. I didn’t need that big bed all to myself.
Images of Landon with me in that bed flashed unbidden in my mind. All those hard rippling muscles, that smooth, tan skin highlighted by crisp white sheets. Despite his grumpy exterior, he struck me as someone who could be playful in bed, someone who would make me gasp with laughter and pleasure.
Ignoring the desire tightening in my lower belly, I packed my things away and prepared to meet our companions downstairs. I had some finger foods and sandwiches prepared for everyone to snack on while we hung out until it was time for dinner.
“Ready?” I asked as Honey secured her stunning red hair in a knot atop her head.
“Always,” she replied, and I pulled the door open. I stepped over the threshold and ran right into a solid wall of muscle. It didn’t move, but I stumbled back a step and let out a tiny “oomph.”
“Sorry,” I managed as I regained my footing. “I didn’t see you th—” the words fell away as I looked into familiar blue eyes as they scowled down at me. Neither of us spoke as we took the other in, realization dawning as I glanced from him to the open door next to mine.
“Hey, looks like we’re neighbors.” JD appeared at Landon’s side as he clamped a hand over his shoulder.
“Yeah,” I answered dumbly, unable to form a coherent thought. There were two other open rooms on the opposite end of the house, and Landon just had to be in the one next to mine.