Read Picture Perfect (Butler Island) for Free Online Page B

“Well, you were a referee for
Halloween—you seem to enjoy games.”
    “Alright, what do you have in mind?”
    Grant shrugged his shoulders
attempting to appear at ease, but truthfully he was a mangled mess of nerves.
He’d practically begged her to go on a date with him— that was certainly a first. He couldn’t recall ever having to persuade a woman to spend time with him, but
then again he’d never met anyone quite as unique and fascinating as Olivia. “I
don’t know… I was thinking dinner—even referees have to eat, right?”
    “Alright, I’ll
tell you what… I’ll think about it…”
    He watched as she sauntered away from
him and he couldn’t help but smile. In his thirty-three years he’d never
encountered a woman so indecisive, so determined to have the upper hand. He
felt like a racing greyhound chasing the mechanical rabbit; no matter how
diligently he followed, it was always slightly out of reach. Of course, he
wasn’t chasing a stuffed bunny—he was seeking quality time with a sassy
southern belle. He liked that she wasn’t overly eager. It was intriguing, exciting, and incredibly sexy…
     
     
    Seconds after placing the boxes on
the oversized dining table, the feeding frenzy began. Olivia was suddenly
surrounded by a half dozen hungry firemen. “Am I in the right place? I didn’t
accidently drive to the police station, did I?” she stated as she glanced
around the room.
    Ty put his arm around his little
sister and kissed the top of her head. “Cops aren’t the only ones who like
doughnuts, you know. Especially when they’re doughnuts from Anderson’s Bakery.”
    Randall Burns opened the box, wearing
an unmistakable expression of bliss. “Mmm, they’re still warm… Thanks DD!” he
shouted as he stuffed the Swiss chocolate-drizzled doughnut in his mouth.
    Grant had just returned to the
kitchen when he’d overheard Randall babbling. DD? He’d clearly been
speaking to Olivia, but those weren’t her initials. “Okay, what does ‘DD’ stand
for?” he finally asked.
    Jimmy Phillips tore his mouth away
from his doughnut long enough to give him a very brief explanation.
“Daredevil.”
    Grant turned his attention to Olivia
and raised his brows. “Daredevil, huh?”
    She met his astonished gaze and
smiled as Ty placed his arm around his sister’s shoulders. “Grant, you are in
the presence of a living legend. It’s a funny story— although it wasn’t so
funny at the time… This girl right here stole Mr. Baker’s jet ski when she
was fifteen and took it on a three hour joyride!”
    Grant couldn’t believe what he was
hearing! He’d heard about the free-spirited teenage girl that’d hijacked a jet
ski, but no one had ever uttered her name. He’d always thought it was an urban
legend, unable to comprehend something so outrageous happening on the
slow-paced island. “That was YOU?” he asked in disbelief .
    “Well, first of all I didn’t steal
it—stealin’ implies I had no intention of returnin’ it—I borrowed it. And Mr. Baker should’ve known better than to leave that Jet Ski with the key in
the ignition and a full tank of gas. And finally, I can’t be held entirely
responsible—it was all Randall’s fault.”
    “ Randall? How was it Randall’s
fault?” he asked incredulously.
    “Because I dared her to do
it…” Randall explained as he licked the chocolate from his fingertips.
    “Alright, alright—what’s all the
commotion about”, Chief Handler interjected as he emerged from his office. He
was a large, intimidating man with a deep growling voice, but Olivia knew that
outward appearances were often misleading; Chief Handler was nothing more than
an oversized teddy bear.
    “Good mornin’, Chief”, she said as
she stepped away from Ty.
    “Olivia…?” His roughened expression
suddenly turned softer as he opened his arms, encouraging her to experience one
of his infamous bear hugs.
    She rushed toward him, but was unable
to wrap her arms around