Jake looked back over his shoulder and pulled out his gun. “I’ll check to make sure it’s clear, and then, we’ll rest here for a while.”
Still not trusting herself to speak, Olivia just nodded. His eyes narrowed and he shook his head, mumbling something when he turned away and walked toward the cave.
She felt like a total bitch for being so distant with him, especially since he and his team had risked their lives to save hers. He didn’t realize it was as much for his protection, as hers.
After a quick perusal of the empty space, Jake motioned for her to come inside. He held the vines open with one arm, as he would a curtain.
Olivia assumed the reason he didn’t cut them down was because freshly cut vegetation would give away their position.
Careful not to brush against him, she stepped past him.. It was a lot smaller than it looked from the outside, not even the size of her apartment’s tiny, ten by twelve living room.
The air smelled musty, reminding her of an old, stone basement, but it was dry and clean, so she wasn’t about to complain. Not sure what she should do, Olivia stood nervously with her arms crossed in front of her.
Jake dropped the pack from his shoulders and sighed heavily. “We should be good here for a while. You can use the backpack as a pillow if you’d like to lie down and rest.”
“What about you?” It was the most she’d spoken at one time in hours.
He shrugged. “I’m good. Surprisingly, I’m not very tired.”
Olivia broke eye contact. “Me, neither.”
Despite their long hike, she was way too wired to sleep. Too many demons dancing around in her head.
They stood in silence for a couple minutes before Jake moved in closer. Though she wanted to, Olivia still didn’t look at him. Not even when he reached up and smoothed some hair away from her face.
His touch was so gentle, she had to fight against the need to lean into him and take the comfort she knew he was offering.
Tucking the strands back behind her ear, Jake slid his hand slowly down the side of her neck before resting it on her shoulder. His fingers rubbed against the muscles there.
“You’ve been through a lot, Liv. You really should try to sleep while you can.”
He really needed to stop touching her. She couldn’t think straight when he touched her.
Looking down at their feet, just inches apart, Olivia quietly said, “I’m good.”
Keeping the one hand on her shoulder, Jake used the other to tip her chin up, forcing her to look at him. “It’s okay to admit you’re tired. I can lay with you, if you’d like.”
When he brushed across her bottom lip, she came so damn close to giving in. His gaze lowered, and she knew he was going to kiss her.
God, she wanted to taste him again. More than she wanted her next breath.
She pressed her palms against his chest and eased herself away, whispering, “Please, Jake. Don’t.”
The pain in his eyes was unmistakable. Knowing she was the cause broke Olivia’s heart in two. One more thing to feel guilty about. Just add it to my tab.
“Why?” he asked gruffly.
“Why what?” she responded with feigned confusion.
Frustrated, Jake asked, “Why are you pushing me away?”
“I’m not—” Olivia couldn’t even finish the ridiculous lie. Especially when she had literally just pushed him away.
He threw his hands in the air, letting them slap back down against his legs. The sound echoed throughout the confines of the cave.
“Come on, Liv. Last night you were...we were...” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “But today it’s like you’ve completely shut me out.”
He was right, and she hated herself for it. “I don’t mean to shut you out, Jake. I swear I don’t. I just...I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Why not?” he demanded.
Olivia stared at him. He was standing in the middle of the cave, hands rested low on his lean hips. He looked confused and pissed off and, damn, if he wasn’t the sexiest man she’d ever seen. She tore her gaze from his and shrugged one shoulder as she spoke.
“Lots of reasons.” Okay, even to her that sounded lame.
“Such as?” Jake pressed on.
Why the hell couldn’t he just let it go? She wanted to scream the question at him. Already an emotional wreck, Olivia’s own frustration began to grow.
She ran a hand through her tangled mass of hair, still in a state of shock that she was actually trying to convince Jake McQueen that they shouldn’t be together.
“What do you want from me, Jake?”
He took a tentative step forward, his hardened expression unwavering. “I want to know why you won’t give this a chance.”
Olivia’s heart physically hurt as it pounded unforgivingly inside her chest. Her entire adult life—and most of her teenage years—she’d longed for this man to say he wanted her.
She’d spent years fantasizing that one day, he’d look at her the way he had when they’d been caught in the rain. The way he’d looked just before kissing her last night.
And now it finally happens? When she was so screwed up in the head, she didn’t know how in the hell she was going to survive going back home and getting on with her life? Especially when so many had lost theirs? Now he decides to try and start something with her?
Unwilling to admit the truth, but desperate for him to drop the subject, Olivia decided on a different approach. Forcing herself to make eye contact, she crossed her arms and did her best to sound flippant.
“Maybe I’m just not that into you. Did you ever stop to think about that?”
“Bullshit.”
Not only was his response immediate, but the frustratingly handsome man looked as if he were actually fighting a smile. Damn him.
She should’ve known trying to convince him she wasn’t interested was a lost cause.
