Pieces of Olivia by Unknown Read Free Book Online Page B

Olivia. See you next time?” He started down the hall, but turned back. “Seriously though, nice job. Something tells me you’re a lot more fun when you’re on top.” He gave a lopsided grin and was gone before I realized just what he had said or the innuendo of what he might have meant.
    I reached my next class, which was two floors down from Poetry, to find a note on the door that class was cancelled for the day and the first class would begin on Wednesday. I left the building, wondering if I should check out the library, and nearly walked into Preston.
    “Small Town. Going somewhere in a hurry?”
    I stepped back, smiling. “Speaking of going somewhere.” I motioned to his outfit. He was wearing a long-sleeve UPF shirt—similar to the one I was wearing, but his was blue instead of yellow, like mine. On his head was a bandana printed with fish all swimming in opposite directions. He looked like he’d either already been on the water or wished he were there now.
    “Yeah, I’m heading out to Bulls Bay. Tarpons are hot right now. Gotta cast when the catching’s good, ya know?”
    I laughed. “No, actually, but I’ll take your word for it.” I started to go around him.
    “Hey, wait.”
    I lifted my hand to shadow my eyes from the sun. “Yeah?”
    “Would you like to come?”
    “Fishing?”
    My expression must have given me away, because Preston burst out laughing. “Yes, fishing. It’s not as bad as Kara says. Try it. You might like it.”
    “That’s pretty doubtful.”
    “Well, then you can get some sun.”
    I held out my arms to show the UPF shirt. “Not so much into sunbathing.”
    He laughed again. “You’re difficult as hell, aren’t you? Just come on the damn boat with me. I promise you’ll have a good time.”
    I hesitated. I knew nothing about fishing. Nothing. I’d made an idiot of myself enough around Preston Riggs. The last thing I needed was—
    “Am I going to have to throw you over my shoulder and carry you there myself? You’ll have fun. Trust me. Do you want me to say please? I’m not against begging.”
    I hadn’t realized that I was staring at the ground, combing my ponytail with my fingers. Or that Preston had edged closer to me and was now so close I could smell his clean, barely-there scent. Like he bathed in that awesome-smelling men’s body wash, but refused to wear actual cologne. Simple. Masculine. And entirely too tempting. It was the kind of smell you only got to enjoy when you were in a guy’s personal space, and I found myself wishing I could stay in Preston’s a little longer.
    “Okay.”
    “‘Okay’ you want me to beg or ‘okay’ you’ll go?”
    I smiled. “I’ll go. But I’m not touching a fish.”
    He laughed. I was starting to like his laugh. How freely he offered it, like it came more naturally to him than to others. “Oh, you’re touching one.”
    “No way. They’re all slimy and ick. I’m not touching one.” We started around the building, toward one of the parking areas out back.
    “Says the girl who’s never touched one. But that ends today. I’m going to help you catch your first fish, and once you’ve reeled the bastard in, you’re going to remove the hook, take a flashy picture with your prize, and toss it back. After we’re done,
you’ll
be begging
me
to go again.”
    I could see the passion in his eyes, and while I seriously doubted I would ever beg him to go fishing, I was intrigued. It had to be pretty fun to get him this hyped up. Then again, we were talking about fishing.
    ***
    We reached Preston’s truck and drove toward Bulls Bay, and he talked about fishing the entire time. Apparently, August was prime for tarpons and Bulls Bay was the perfect spot due to the schools of menhaden that blanketed the area.
    “Does your brother fish, too?” I asked, not realizing that he had never mentioned he had a brother.
    “Brother?” He glanced at me and then back to the road. “Oh, I see Kara’s been talking again. Girl