Thankfully–with Alexander’s help–my feet touched the grass.


    “Richard, would you help Ava from the tree, please?” Alexander asked as he led me slightly away.


    “Maybe you should put tree–climbing skills on your resume,” Alexander joked. “I never would have guessed that would be an ability of yours.”


    Despite my earlier embarrassment, his good mood was cont


    Weughed together, and the earlier tension between us felt like it had never happened. It was always so strange to me how up and down my rtionship was with Alexander. I never knew what kind of mood this man would be in.


    To my surprise, Gai came out of the house, too, and Alexander asked her to help Kelly and Aiden out of the riverbank.


    Soon, Kelly and Aiden were cleaning their muddy shoes off with a hose in the front yard, and I walked over to Gai, who was wiping her hands on her jeans.


    “Did you see Alexander help me out of the tree?” I whispered to her.


    “Yeah, I was watching through the window.”


    “Did I look as stupid as I felt?” I asked, even though I was afraid of what she would say.


    It took her longer than it should to formte her answer, and my stomach clenched with nerves.


    0.00<b>% </b>


    <b>11:45 </b>


    “You looked…cute,” Gai finally said diplomatically.


    Damn it. I knew that was code, for I had made a fool out of myself. <b>Gai </b>was just trying to break it to me nicely.


    Alexander and Ava were standing a few feet away from us. They seemed to be facing off. Their postures were stiff, and they had their arms crossed.


    “What are you guys doing here?” Alexander asked. “You’re pretty far away from the hotel,”


    “We’re here for an outing,” Ava answered evasively and lifted her chin. “Why are you here?”


    “I’m visiting a friend,” Alexander answered a little too quich


    “Well, thanks for your help with the dog,” Ava said “But we must get going. Things to do, people to see and all that.”


    “Are we ready to go to my uncle’s house?” Kelly asked.


    Ava nodded and led her brother in the direction that Kelly had started to walk in.


    I began to follow after them, but a deep voice called my name. The sound made my heart m against my chest.


    Alexander still had something to say to me.


    *Olivia*


    Alexander gestured for me to follow him under the shade of the tree that Ava and I had just climbed.


    For a moment, we stared at each other. I tried to read the expression on his face and the deep emotion in his eyes, but like usual, he was good


    27.63<b>% </b>


    11:45


    Chisper 144


    at hiding his inner thoughts and feelings from me.


    “Despite my joking around, it was very dangerous of you to climb that tree,” Alexander murmured, his eyes scanning my face and my body as if he were looking for injuries. <i>“</i>You could have fallen and broken your neck.<i>” </i>


    His words made my eyes widen with shock. If I didn’t know any better, I would think that he was worried about me. But he had treated my so cruelly at the restaurant, then took me to his hotel room and gave me the best kiss of my life. Now, he was speaking to me in a soft and gentle voice, and I could see that he had been genuinely worried for <ol><li>me. </li></ol>


    I couldn’t keep up with this man’s mood swings It seeme either wanted to kiss me or have nothing to do with <b>me</b><b>. </b>In in between with <b>him</b><b>. </b>


    was no


    With the sound of the <b>flowing </b><b>river </b>in the background and the scent of wildflowers swirling around us, the atmosphere was too romantic for my liking. Especially since Alexander had decided to be sweet and caring at this moment in time. I <b>bit </b><b>my </b>lip as panic made my stomach clench, and I was unsure how to react.


    The impulsive side of me was screaming at me to wrap my arms around Alexander’s strong body, press him close to me, and finish what we started in the hotel room. But the rational side reminded me that I hade to Osten Vige for a good reason. And I couldn’t just ditch my friends because the guy that I hadplicated feelings for was being kind to me for now.


    “I’ll be more careful,” I muttered and averted my eyes to the ground. “I have to go.”


    Then I turned and I ran to catch up with my friends before I did anything I could regret.


    1745


    My body was screaming in protest the farther away <b>I </b><b>got </b><b>from </b>Alexander’s mysterious dark eyes and inviting body heat.


    Once I caught up with Ava, I grabbed her hand and pulled her faster away. “Hurry,” I urged her.


    ??