Page 18 of Light My Fire Three Times
Her lips quirk up at the corners, her eyes flicking to my lips for a split second. She’s aware of the tension. Aware of how close we are. And she’s enjoying it.
“Getting to know each other?” she repeats, her tone teasing, playing along but holding something back. “And what makes you think I’m interested in getting to know you?”
I smirk, leaning just a little closer. “I think it’s obvious, Olivia. You wouldn’t still be here with me if you weren’t intrigued. Not many people can resist the Madden charm.”
She chuckles. “Oh, trust me, I’ve got my own charm.”
I lean in a little more, the heat between us becoming palpable.
“I’m not so sure about that,” I challenge. “But I’d love to see you try.”
She doesn’t back away. She doesn’t give me that shy, hesitant smile most people would. No, Olivia’s different. Her eyes narrow slightly, sizing me up, and I can feel her calming presence in the space between us.
“I think you’re overestimating yourself,” she shoots right back.
I can’t help but grin, my pulse quickening at the way she’s looking at me. “You think so?”
Before she can answer, the door to the bar swings open, and the cool air hits us both. I take a breath, trying to ground myself, but the chemistry between us is undeniable.
Damn, she’s fire.
So intense I can hardly stand it, and the night is just getting started.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Olivia
OCTOBER 31ST
I don't knowwhat possessed me to follow Karl outside.
I’m not the type to let myself get swept up in things, to lose control or let someone lead me into a situation where I’m suddenly questioning my own decisions.
But here I am, following him down a narrow alley beside the bar, the cool night air hitting me in a wave of reality.
It’s quieter here, far enough from the buzz of the bar that it feels almost intimate, like we’re in our own little world.
I’m not used to feeling this way, not like this.
Karl leans against the brick wall of the alley, a smirk playing on his lips as he watches me, but there’s more in his eyes. A depth I can’t quite put my finger on.
It’s like he’s waiting for me to make the next move, to either prove that I’m here for the fun, the adventure, or to give up and walk away.
But walking away isn’t an option. Not when I can feel the heat between us like a current, pulling me closer even though I know better. I cross my arms, trying to hide how unsettled I am by the whole thing.
“Olivia Quinn,” Karl says, savoring the taste of my name on his tongue. “You’ve got that look about you… as if you’re deciding whether to jump into something wild. Don’t think you can keep that kind of thing hidden.”
I swallow, my pulse ticking up a notch as I stare back at him. “Whatlook?”
He pushes off the wall, closing the gap between us by just a few inches. “The kind that says, ‘I’m not afraid of anything’ but I know you’re fighting something underneath it all.”
His eyes flicker to my lips for a split second, just long enough for me to catch it.
I laugh, trying to play it off, but my voice feels too shaky to be convincing. “You think you’ve got me all figured out, huh?”
Karl tilts his head, his gaze never leaving mine. “No. But I think you’re making this harder than it needs to be.”
I take a slow step back, but he moves forward, his hand lightly brushing against my arm as if to steady me.
