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“We have crab salad,” Oliver suggested, beginning to shift off of me.
“Okay, get off me,” I joked, nudging him playfully.
“I want to lay here for a few more minutes. You smell good,” he admitted, his voice softening.
“So do you. I love your cologne,” I confessed, feeling a surge of affection for him.
“I love you,” Oliver said, his gaze warm as he looked into my eyes.
“I know that,” I replied confidently, snuggling closer to him.
“You’re very confident,” he remarked, a hint of amusement in his tone.
“I know I’m right. You do love me, and I love you,” I said, smiling up at him.
Oliver moved off my body, rolling to my side. I turned to face him and rested my head on his chest. He stroked my hair gently, tucking a strand behind my ear.
“I’m glad tomorrow is Saturday. I’m tired.” I admitted, feeling the exhaustion from the busy week settling in.
“We had a busy week. Next time we go to St. Croix, we spend a week,” Oliver suggested, his voice tinged with excitement.
“The next time we go will be in July. I want to be surprised,” I replied, feeling a sense of anticipation.
“Then I need to take a couple of days to check on the house in June,” Oliver said, his expression serious.
“No. I hate when you leave me,” I protested, tightening my grip on him.
“Christ, Ryleigh, you can’t have it both ways. I want to inspect the house and make sure it’s to spec. Everything is made to withstand two-hundred-mile winds if we have a hurricane. I want to make sure it was built properly,” he explained, his tone firm yet gentle.
“Then I’ll go with you, but I won’t accompany you to Fox Island,” I compromised, trying to find a middle ground.
“Fine. You’ve gotten very attached to me,” Oliver teased, a playful smirk on his lips.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Fox. I just like your warm body next to me,” I retorted, poking him in the side.
“I’ll bet,” he chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Now, let’s clean up and get some dinner.”
Chapter 13
“Well?” I asked, hands on my hips, as Oliver walked through the door after spending four hours with Finley going over his books. He placed his brown briefcase on the floor and shook his head.
“It’s not good,” he replied, his expression grave.
A sharp twinge shot through my stomach as I stared at him, searching his face for any sign of reassurance. His sapphire eyes remained impassive, revealing nothing. I groaned in frustration.
“He can’t lose the company. It’s so important to him. I’m giving him the money,” I declared, feeling the urgency of the situation.
“You’ll do no such thing,” Oliver countered, his tone firm.
I felt irritation rising within me. “Fuck you, Oliver. Don’t you dare tell me I can’t give my brother help. He has a baby on the way,” I snapped, my emotions running high.
“Calm down, sweetheart. I’m giving him the investment. I was kidding, but you jumped so quickly that I didn’t have a chance to explain,” Oliver said, his voice steady.
My mouth dropped open in disbelief. “You were playing a joke?”
“Yes. Even if his books were a mess, I would’ve given him the loan. He has several contracts he’s working on, and once finished, the funds will help bolster the business. Finley took on too much and exhausted his liquid cash. He had more going out than coming in because he needed to hire more programmers. That’s a dangerous mix,” Oliver explained, his words bringing a sense of relief.
“But his business is all right?” I asked, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease.
