Page 25 of Animal's Reformation
“Okay.” Lucy looked over at Olivia. “My dad doesn’t know how to cook.”
“Hey, I make killer bacon and eggs.” He chuckled.
“I mean like Aunt Jada.” A small smile danced across the girl’s lips. “She’s my aunt. I never had an aunt before,” she said to Olivia.
“Aunts and grandmothers are awesome,” she replied, fully aware of Animal’s piercing gaze on her.
“Do you cook?” the girl asked.
Taken aback, Olivia just nodded.
“See …” she said, looking at her dad.
“What’s your point?” he asked. “She’s a woman—of course she can cook.”
Olivia laughed dryly. “I don’t think there’s a cooking gene in women, but I could be wrong.”
Lucy giggled and Animal’s forehead furrowed as he rocked back on the heel of his boots.
“I was going to bring over dinner to you and your dad as a thank you for helping me out on Saturday. What’s your favorite food?”
The girl scrunched her face and tilted her head as if deep in thought.
“You don’t have to do that,” he said, irritation apparent in his voice.
Olivia threw him a sidelong glance. “I know that, but I want to. If you hadn’t come along, my cabinet would’ve been ruined in the snowstorm that night.”
“Spaghetti,” Lucy said.
“I didn’t know that.” Animal rammed his hands in the pockets of his jacket.
“I love spaghetti too. How about I make up a batch and bring it by on Wednesday night?”
Lucy looked over at her father. “Will that work?”
“Yeah.” His gaze fixed on Olivia. “That’ll work just fine.”
Animal was doing that thing again with his eyes, drawing Olivia in and captivating her, yet making her a nervous wreck.
Olivia pulled up the collar of her sweater and glanced away. “I’ll let you two get going.” She smiled at Lucy.
For several seconds the three of them stood in silence, but Animal’s gaze on her never wavered. Breaking the quiet, Olivia waved at Lucy then walked away, very much aware of his eyes on her behind as she walked back into the school.
Once inside, she leaned against the concrete wall and took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm her nerves.Why do I let him get to me?There was something oddly familiar about Animal, but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. Also, an aura of danger surrounded him, and from the way Ashley and Jenny acted toward him, she knew women picked up on it. Many women were drawn to that—bad boys, a walk on the wild side—but Olivia wasn’t one of them. Growing up with a dad in an outlaw club, she’d had her fill of danger and recklessness and all the women who’d thrown themselves at her father without even giving a damn that he was married with children. Then again, he hadn’t given a shit about that either.Why am I thinking about all of that right now? And what’s up with that dumb nickname—Animal. His buddies probably gave it to him because of the way he parties or something equally juvenile.
“Are we still coming over to see your house?” Alice asked, jarring Olivia out of her musings.
“Uh … yeah. Is Harper still down for it?” she replied.
“She is. We thought we’d christen your house with Chinese food and a good bottle of Chardonnay. I already bought the wine.” Alice shifted her large tote from one hand to the other.
“I insist on paying for dinner. Does delivery from Twin Dragons sound good?”
“Works for me, and you know Harper loves that place,” Alice said.
“Then it’s a plan. Come on over around six.”
“Okay, I’ll tell Harper. See you soon.” Alice opened the front doors. “Are you leaving now?”
