Page 82 of Beautiful Place By the Sea

“Here.” I hand Oliver one of the outfits, suddenly nervous. “I’ll just go over here to change.” I gesture to the far corner of the room, where the shadows are deeper.

I can’t see him, but I can hear the amusement in his voice. “What, afraid I’m going to see you naked?”

My stomach flips. “I wouldn’t say I’m afraid, exactly.” I shimmy out of my wet clothes and almost gasp in relief as I slip into the dry fleece. The temperature dropped quite a bit with the rain, and I didn’t realize how chilled I was.

“Well, I don’t want to read too much into this, but Kyle’s pants fit me shockingly well.”

I turn around, and my heart skips a beat. Oliver’s changed his pants, but he’s currently standing shirtless next to my bed. As far as the pants go, he’s right—they do fit. Actually, they fit him much better than they did Kyle, who was toned enough, but in an almost boyish way. He wasn’t particularly muscular or masculine. Not like Oliver.

“Did you do that on purpose?” I cross the room to throw my wet clothes in the laundry bag hanging off the doorknob.

“Do what?”

I narrow my eyes. “Say something about the pants so I’d turn around and see you half naked?”

“Now, Ivy,” he grins, “why would I do something like that?”

“Mmhmm. That’s what I thought.”

He throws the hoodie over his head, mumbling from inside it, “I’m sorry to have offended you with my pectorals.”

“Oh, there was no offense taken, I promise.”

It’s weird, seeing Oliver standing in my room, wearing my clothes. It’s making me a little dizzy, actually, so I ask, “Want some food?”

“Sure,” he says, hair mussed from its trip through the hood of my sweatshirt. “Let me just call my dad real quick and let him know I’ve not been lost to the sea.”

I snort at his turn of phrase. “I guess that is a legitimate concern around here.” I want to give him privacy for his call, but it’s too dark to leave without the candle. I’m hoping to conserve my phone’s battery in case of an emergency, or I’d use it as a flashlight. “Is it okay if I stay while you talk? It’s so dark.”

“Yeah, totally.” He rustles through the pile of his wet clothes and grabs his phone, then dials.

His dad must pick up right away. “Hey, Dad. Just wanted to let you know I’m fine, but I’m waiting out the storm with Ivy.”

My breath catches in my throat. The familiarity in his use of my name suggests he’s talked to his father about me. My brain starts tearing through all of the things he might have said.

“Yeah, we’re good,” he’s saying. “No power over here, though. You?” He pauses. “Okay, well, you be careful. Call Dale if you need anything; he’s right next door.” Oliver grimaces. “Yes, Dad, we will. See you soon.”

He hangs up. “Sorry about that.”

“No need to be sorry.” I flash him a flirty grin. The fact that he’s such an attentive caregiver is, quite frankly, blindingly hot. “So, what have you told your dad about me?

“Hmm.” His lips turn up in amusement, and his eyes sweep over my face, landing on my mouth. “I bet you’d like to know.”

“Yes, obviously. That’s why I asked.” I take a step closer.

His features flicker in the candlelight. “I told him you’re a little bossy sometimes.”

I feign offense. “Gee, thanks.”

He laughs, then tentatively reaches for my hand. “And I told him you have great taste in books.”

My heart starts skittering around my chest like it’s never beat steadily before. I squeeze his fingers in mine. “If you knew how much that sort of praise goes straight to my head, I’m not sure you’d offer it.”

“Maybe,” he replies, quieter now.

“Anything else?” My voice comes out in a whisper.

His eyes flick up to meet mine. They’re dark, surrounded by shadows. I’ve never seen anything more sensual in my entire life.