Rescue Breathing (10 page)

One blonde, with what can only be
described as an ample bosom, is fawning over what looks to be a
very handsome, very tall man.
He seems to be physically trying to scoot out of her way,
but he isn't making much progress. She's like a magnet. It's funny
because he looks familiar somehow. I haven't seen his face yet, but
there's something about him. Is it the voice? No….who would I know
here? Maybe it's someone from the conference?

As I
'm racking my brain for who it could be, he angles himself
slightly toward me as he talks to the blonde. Oh. My. God.
It'
s Owen.

CHAPTER NINE

Owen

I put my empty glass on the bar and
attempt to get the bartender
's attention for a refill. He acknowledges me but continues
to work on the drink he's concocting. As I wait, I look around the
busy bar. Most of the patrons are coupled up, and my group clearly
dominates the small space. The bartender hands me my drink, and
when I raise my head to thank him, my eyes fall
on…Olivia?

“
Olivia…” I murmur to no one
specific.

My God, she looks hot.
Like, really hot. Her hair is down in soft
curls and her eye makeup is done in such a way that accentuates her
beautiful blue eyes. And her lips… Mmmm, those lips. I start to
salivate when I remember how she tastes, and I definitely want
more.

Olivia casually looks around the room, and
moments later, her eyes settle on me.
Our eyes lock, and I'
m mesmerized.
Smiling wide, I quickly excuse myself from my group and
walk up behind her. I pull out the barstool next to her and take a
seat. Leaning in next to Olivia, I touch my shoulder to
hers.

“
I saw you checking me out,” I
smirk.

Olivia chuckles softly and blushes; I
melt.

She smiles up at me and bats her long
eyelashes.
“Who, me?
Checking you out? I was just looking for the bartender.” she
teases.

“
Hmm, I see.” I grin. “It's nice to see
you, beautiful.”

Olivia starts to fiddle with the stir
stick in her drink and turns a bit in her seat, crossing her legs.
“It's nice to see you too, Owen. Are those your friends?” she asks,
gesturing toward my party at the end of the bar, which is now
watching us intently, including a none-too-happy Monica.

“
Yeah. We're kicking off the weekend here
tonight. I know most of them, but the blonde...Well…I think she's
looking to be the entertainment for one of them tonight,” I say as
Olivia focuses in on me.

I eye Olivia up and down, drinking in her
features—her sexy black dress that clings to her perfectly, her
flawless skin, and her striking blue eyes that contrast with her
long brunette hair. I want to reach out and touch it.

I lean in close to her. “You look
downright fuckable. Please tell me you came down here looking for
me. I couldn't take it if you dressed like this for someone else,”
I tease, grabbing my chest and feigning heartbreak.

“
Fuckable, you say? I'm assuming that's a
compliment?” She raises an eyebrow at me.

I chuckle and nod.

“
I actually came down here to meet my
girlfriend for a drink, but unfortunately she doesn't seem to be
able to make it. So instead, I'm just being that lonely girl at the
bar everyone else feels sorry for.” Olivia makes an exaggerated
pouty face at me and sticks out her bottom lip. I want to suck on
that lip… God, she's gorgeous.

“
Then you're lucky I came to your rescue.
It's kind of my thing. I'm a firefighter and all.
Besides, I
can
't have you swept up
by one of these wolves at the bar. You? In that dress? Looking
all...
fuckable
? No
way,” I say, shaking my head adamantly, and her cheeks turn pink.
“Now that you have me, Miss Olivia, what are you going to do with
me?” I ask with a sly grin.

She tilts her head back to laugh, and I
catch the faint scent of her hair. It smells delicious—a mixture of
peach, pineapple, and lemon.

“
I can't get over how lucky I am. It's
overwhelming really,” Olivia replies sarcastically.

I lift my eyebrow, indicating that I've
caught her subtle jab, and she lets out another giggle.

“
Can I buy you a drink?” she asks. “It's
the least I can do since you've been so complimentary to me
tonight.”

I nod my head in thanks as she orders another
beer for me and a second mojito for herself.

“
Don't hate me for saying this, but I'm
glad your friend wasn't able to make it tonight. Fate is at work
again,” I say, smiling brightly.

The bartender gives us our drinks and
Olivia raises her glass to toast. “
To looking fuckable,
” she says with a grin.

“
You definitely have that one covered,
beautiful,” I murmur, clinking her glass.
And to me making that
happen
, I think to
myself.

She appears to be so carefree and
genuinely confident
—like
she has absolutely no fucking clue that she is hands down the most
beautiful woman in this place.

“
In all seriousness, your dress looks
amazing. It would look even better in a pile on the floor of my
room.” I'm purposefully cheesy just to hear her laugh again, which
she does easily. She's charismatic and sexy. It's very
alluring.

“
Too much?” I question jokingly.
“
You
can
't tell me you've
heard a better pick-up line. Don't crush me now…” I tease as she
grabs my upper arm, laughing and trying not to spit out her
drink.

“
I am in awe of your pick-up skills.
Seriously, they're fantastic,” she mocks me sarcastically. Olivia
nods toward my group of friends. “I bet blondie liked it
too.”

Looking over to my friends, I see Monica
laughing and still mingling with them. I scowl and turn to look
back at Olivia, who beckons me closer, hooking her finger toward
me. I lean in close to her as she whispers, “If it makes you feel
any better, I've been thinking about how much better my dress would
look on the floor of your room too.”

Our lips are just an inch or so away from
the other. I'm so tempted to go in for a kiss and reward her for
her boldness, which is a major turn-on. Olivia leans back in her
seat, recrossing her long, toned legs, brushing them against mine.
The hem of her dress rides up her thigh, but she makes no move to
adjust it.

Fuck. Me.

I lean in close again and smell her hair
as I nuzzle my nose to her ear. “Then I suggest we go find out just
what it looks like.” I place my hand on her upper thigh and rub
from side to side, my fingers inching closer and closer to her
inner thigh.

I know I
've had a lot to drink tonight, but my proximity
to her is what is truly intoxicating. After tilting my head to the
side, I dart my tongue out, touching the skin on her neck. I feel
her shudder, and she grins with satisfaction. I place a light kiss
on her neck, just under her ear. Her flesh comes to life with goose
bumps, and I know I'm having just as much of an effect on her as
she is on me.

“
Let's go up to your room,” I whisper hotly
into her ear. “Let's finish what we started on the plane last
night.”

“
I don
't know, Owen… Is that such a good idea?” she asks absently
as she leans into me, opening up her neck as I continue to kiss and
nibble at the skin between her neck and shoulder. Her breath is
shallow, matching my own as my fingers continuing to explore her
thigh. “Won't your friends miss you?”

I freeze.
Holy shit. I've completely forgotten about Travis,
about all of my friends, about the guys' weekend. Olivia's gotten
me so fucking turned on, I've become “that guy”—the one who ditches
his friends for a
very
hot piece
of ass. I drop my head and run my fingers through my
hair.

“
Shit. I forgot about Travis,” I blurt
out.

I look over toward Travis, who has been
watching me.
He lifts
his glass, acknowledging me, his eyes narrow with an insincere
smile. He's pissed. Great.

“
Shit,” I say again.

My heart sinks to my stomach, and
I
'm torn between what I
want to do and what I should do. I want to stay here with Olivia
all night, but I can'
t
just ditch Travis.
He's
the whole reason I'
m
even here.

I turn toward Olivia and take her hands in
mine. “I came here with my friends hoping to find you, and I did
and now...” I say, exasperated.
I watch Olivia
's
expression turn from amused to confused to hurt.

“
I should wrap things up with the guys. Can
I call you later tonight? I'm really,
really
sorry, Olivia. I didn't think this through if I actually
did see you.” I feel like a complete and total asshole.

I
'm royally fucking this up...I know
it.

CHAPTER TEN

Olivia

I feel like someone threw a bucket of ice
water on me and what was my quickly heating libido.
Right… His friends. I was kind
of kidding, but I guess he isn't. I sit up, pulling away from him a
bit. I don't want to come off as a leech. How unattractive is
that!? I mean, Olivia, what did you think you were going to let
happen tonight anyway?

Who am I kidding?
I know exactly what I was going to let—no,
what I was hoping would—happen tonight. I uncross my legs and sit
with my hands on my knees. He straightens, looking uncomfortable. I
decide I should let him off the hook and cut my losses. I give him
what doesn't feel like a genuine smile, although I sincerely hope
it comes across as one.

“
Hey, look. You're right. You're here with
your friends. You should be hanging out with them and celebrating
Travis. I'm going to go to bed anyway. It was a long day for me.” I
put my hand on his upper arm as I slide off the barstool. Wow, he
has big muscles. I bet he could lift me and…
No.
No, no, no, Olivia.

Owen looks down at where my hand is
gripping his arm. His eyes linger there for a moment, and then he
looks back into my eyes, letting out a huff of breath. “Olivia,
shit...I'm really, really sorry,” he sighs. “I got kind of lost in
talking to you and… Fuck.” He looks absolutely lost, torn, and
unsure. It's really kind of cute. “I'll call you tonight, and if
it's not too late, maybe I can come up for a drink, or maybe we can
make plans to get together another night?” He looks so sincere that
I just want to make him feel better.

I smile at him in an attempt at seeming
reassuring. My heart and head tell me that he won't call tonight.
That he'll get hammered with his friends, which in all fairness is
what he's supposed to be doing tonight, and I'll pass out while
watching a Lifetime movie. I am working hard at not coming across
as a desperate woman, which is painfully difficult. Since when am I
so unsure of myself?

Don
't be a total loser, Olivia.
I push up on my toes and kiss
him sweetly on the cheek.

“
Have fun tonight, Owen. Feel free to call
if you'd like. If you don't, that's okay too. It was really nice
running into you again.”

“
Hey,” he says, stepping back a bit, “you
sound like you've already written me off. Give a guy a chance. If I
say I'll call, I'll call, okay?” He actually looks offended, which
surprises me. I was just trying to give him an out.

“
I'm sorry,” I apologize, truly meaning it.
“I didn't mean to offend you or imply you were a player or
anything.
I just
don
't want you to feel
obligated or stuck."

I reach out and stroke his cheek with my
fingers. He leans into my touch, surprising me.

“
Go have fun with your guys,” I insist.
“Just not too much.” He grins at me, looking a little pleased at my
directive. “Seriously, call if you can. If not, we'll catch up
another night.” I lean forward and give him a peck on the cheek. As
I do, I whisper, “And feel free to check out my ass while I walk
away.”

I hear him sigh heavily, which makes me
smile. When I sit back, he looks like a little boy who had his
candy taken away. I push the stool back from the bar and stand next
to him, smiling warmly.

“
Goodnight, Owen.”

“
Night, Olivia,” he replies.

I give a half wave and a smile to his
friends, who are watching us, and I turn to walk toward the exit of
the bar. As I get to the door, I turn and look back at Owen. He's
watching me. I smile my most arresting smile, take a deep breath,
and walk to the elevator bay, motherfucking myself the whole
way.

While the elevator is moving up to my floor,
my phone buzzes with a text.

I WILL call you later.

Wait for me to help you take that dress
off.

I stare at the screen, shocked.

"Uh, Miss?"
 I hear a nervous voice behind me. “Is this
your floor?"