Over the Edge (Bridge #3)(9)

“I’m serious, you know. We love having you here.”

I exhaled a sigh. “Thank you. I guess something’s missing, is all. I’m just not sure what it is yet.”

“Well, when you figure it out, I’m here for you. To talk and bitch. Whatever you need.”

I nodded, pretending for her sake that whatever was missing in my life could be fixed that easily. But in a matter of weeks, Maya’s life would dramatically transform. As grateful as I was for our rekindled friendship, she’d have bigger priorities than tending to the emptiness that had taken up residence around my heart.





Chapter Three





IAN



I flipped through the morning news channels, landing on a story that covered the three-alarm fire I had worked the night before. The electrical fire had sparked in the basement and spread quickly, consuming most of the building. Thankfully, we were able to get everyone out and contain it. I was exhausted, but my adrenaline was still kicking hours after my shift had ended.

The news segment played out, and I caught a glimpse of my face as I worked the hose.

“Fuck,” I muttered.

Will shuffled out in a pair of mesh shorts. His hair was sticking up. He glanced at the television. “Fuck what?”

“I have to pay for dinner at the station tonight. Standing rule when one of our faces hits the papers or the news.”

He chuckled and went to the kitchen, emerging a couple of minutes later with a steaming cup of coffee from the fresh pot I’d brewed.

He sat at the end of the couch, took a sip, and rested his head back with a tired sigh.

“What’s with you?”

He rubbed his eyes. “Ah, I didn’t get a lot of sleep.”

I smirked. “Sounds promising. Who kept you up?”

“No one. Got shot down, and I could have really used the company.”

“Not often that you let one slip through your fingers. She must have been a piece of work. Either that or you were on your worst behavior.”

“Little bit of both. But Olivia Bridge is definitely a piece of work. I’m determined though.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Hoping to hear from her today, actually.”

I stared at him, frozen as I replayed his words in my head. Had I heard him right? “Wait. Olivia Bridge? As in Darren and Cameron’s sister?”

“That’s the one. I take it you’ve met her?”

“A couple times at the gym. Darren nearly broke my face for looking too long.”

He grinned and blew a puff of steam off his mug. “Can’t blame you for looking. I took her out last night and couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Would be a lot easier to get her under me if her brothers stayed out of the way, though. Either way, she’s an adult. She sure as hell has her own mind.”

Guilt swirled in my gut. I loved women, and I’d taken my fair share to bed. Will and I were cut from the same cloth that way. My friend’s baby sister getting mixed up with either one of us definitely wasn’t good news, especially if Darren got wind of it.

“So what’s the plan?” If she’d already shot him down, maybe there wasn’t one.

“Just waiting on her to make the next move. I’ll let you know if it goes anywhere.”

He winked, and more guilt took root.

I was between apartments and had accepted a room at Will’s place a few months ago in return for some side work that he needed for his renovation. In that time, we’d gotten to know each other well. An easy friendship had formed, and women were a regular part of our interactions. We pursued them, enjoyed them, and sometimes we even shared them.

Putting Olivia anywhere near that category challenged my already taxed nerves. Darren was one of my best friends. I’d saved his life, and I knew he’d do the same for me in a heartbeat. His sister was a ten, but f*ck.

I tried to focus on the television, which was now broadcasting a political story that made me want to throw the remote. Same shit, different day.

I stood and tossed the remote to Will. “I’m going to clean up and get some sleep. I’ll catch you later.”

“All right. Hey, I need you to help me pick out some of the materials for the condos above the Bridge site. You want to swing by there later? You owe me rent, and my bathrooms need tile.”

I laughed. “Yeah, sure. I’ll come by before my shift tonight.”

Once in my room, I hastily undressed and fell into bed. Behind my eyelids, a vision of Olivia formed. Those icy blue eyes that I couldn’t forget. Every time we met, I had to fight every primal instinct not to make a move on her. I could hardly fault Will.

Not voicing some reservation felt like a betrayal to Darren, but I couldn’t keep Will from pursuing a beautiful woman.

But if he managed to get her into bed…

I groaned and rubbed my eyes. Damn. We weren’t going to share her. No matter how much I might want to.

WILL



The scent of wood and dust tinged the air. I stood still with my arms crossed. The sounds of progress filled my ears, but my thoughts were far away from the work that was being done before me.

Three days had passed. I’d had Tom rip out the studs of the entryway wall and add reinforcements to support Olivia’s dream glass wall. Wishful thinking, perhaps. I hadn’t texted or called, and I hadn’t heard a word from her either. The gauntlet had been thrown, and I’d be damned if I was going to beg.