Free Had a Great Fall (An Olivia Thompson Mystery) by Jullian Scott

“This is him- Nate.”
    Emma started to squirm so Olivia set her on the ground. Teddy grabbed harder at her arm. “Aunt Oliviaaaa. Let’s go to my room.”
    “Okay, okay.” She turned to Nate. “Can you be trusted on your own?”
    “Don’t worry about him,” Taylor interjected. She winked at Olivia. “I’ll take good care of him.”
    Needless to say, Olivia was more than a little nervous as she followed Teddy to his room. Fortunately, her nephew was so entertaining that she quickly forgot about Nate being left alone with the adults. Emma found them a few minutes later and promptly knocked down the Lego tower that Teddy had proudly been building.
    “Now we just have to start over,” Olivia said cheerfully to keep Teddy from crying. “Show me how you build it, Teddy bear.”
    She was so focused on the kids that it took her a while to realize that she was being watched. “Geez. How long have you been standing there?”
    “A while.” Nate smiled sheepishly. “I was supposed to tell you that dinner is ready.”
    “But instead you decided to stare at me like a weirdo?” She smiled so he would know she was kidding. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
    “No reason.” He glanced over his shoulder. “That Taylor is…lively.”
    Olivia laughed. “Lively? You mean nosy.”
    “Okay, yes.” He laughed in relief. “I thought maybe there was something about me that brought out her inquisitive side.”
    “What did she ask you?” Olivia asked wearily. She had been on the receiving end of Taylor’s personal questions on more than one occasion.
    “She wants to know when we’re going to get married,” he said, not quite making eye contact with her. 
    Olivia let out a groan. “She didn’t... What did you say?”
    “Something about being divorced and pathetic.” He flicked a stray Lego with his toe. “Then I ran here before I could say something else stupid.”
    “I knew I could count on you to make a good first impression.” Olivia stood and held out her hands to the kids. “Let’s go, kiddos. It’s time for dinner.”
    The kids were too excited to be held back by Olivia. They jumped to their feet and took off down the hall.
    “They are cute kids,” Nate said, watching with amusement in his eyes. “You’re good with them.”
    “Being an aunt is easy. All the fun and none of the responsibility.” Olivia wasn’t sure she liked the wistful look in Nate’s eyes. “Don’t get any ideas.”
    “Who, me?” he feigned indignation. “I can barely take care of myself, let alone a small human being.”
    Olivia nodded. “That’s right. Remember that.”
    “Am I the woman in this relationship?” he asked, looking worried.
    The idea of Nate, one of the toughest and manliest people Olivia knew, as the effeminate person in their relationship made her laugh out loud.
    “Oh yeah.” She reached up and ran a hand over his unshaven face. “You are such a girl.”
    “We’re going to be late for dinner,” he said, his arms slowly going around her.
    “I’d take your hot body over a hot meal any day.” Olivia kissed him quickly, cutting off whatever he was about to say.
    The kids had already demolished the food on their plates by the time Olivia and Nate took their seats at the table. Brian looked mildly perturbed by their late arrival, but Taylor just smiled.
    “How did you two meet?” she asked, handing Olivia a bowl of asparagus.
    “In college, actually.” Olivia smiled at the memory of the first time she saw Nate. “He saved me from a drunk guy.”
    “That’s not entirely true,” Nate objected with a smile. “You saved yourself. I just got to witness your amazing right hook.”
    “You hit someone?” Taylor’s eyes widened.
    Olivia took a big bite of meatloaf and then pretended that she couldn’t answer because her mouth was full.
    “In Olivia’s defense, the guy totally deserved it.” Nate’s leg brushed against hers. “I was smitten right away.”
    “But that was years