“Keep up the good work,” I tell her. “With a little bit of luck, we’ll submit the bid with FEMA like we agreed.”
“I’m not sure about that just yet, but I did promise I would give this my best effort,” Olivia says.
“And I can’t say this enough: your effort is truly appreciated.”
I hand the tablet back and our fingers touch. For a fleeting moment, my skin brushes against hers and a thousand electrical signals burst up my arm, then tumble down my spine in crackling, playful rolls. Her effect on me is damn near dramatic, and I have no idea how much longer I’m gonna be able to stay away from her.
She lingers in the doorway for a second or two. It’s as if she wants to tell me something, but in the end she changes her mind and politely excuses herself.
Countless other people pass through my office over the day. I barely remember half of the conversations that I engage in. All I can do is quietly watch Olivia working. Every hour that passes finds me staring. As soon as she turns her head, however, I look away. It’s a torturous thing to do, but I can’t let her see the cracks in my armor. There’s too much at stake.
Maybe that’s how temptation is supposed to work, anyway.
It’s all a haze until the office is empty again. Zara came in earlier. She mentioned something about her and Lilian going to lunch again. There’s good news on the divorce front, apparently. But my mind doesn’t recall anything beyond that, as I continue to steal every glance that I can at Olivia behind her screen. She’s wearing her blue-light glasses now. Those thick black rims are ridiculously sexy. I’m not sure why, but they force my gaze to drop down to her lips, and it takes ages to pull her out of my sight.
This is ridiculous.
I can’t. I’m her boss. I look out for her. She delivers for my company. I’ve got valuable stock to protect. Maybe afterward I can take her to dinner somewhere. Maybe we’ll end up tearing each other’s clothes off…
Or maybe this is all in my head. I’ve got too much going on, but thinking about her, watching her—it’s what keeps me calm and focused, oddly enough. I’m scrolling through her resume again. Looking for details. Any piece of information that might help me get to know Olivia better.
“I’m done for the night,” she says at one point.
I look up and realize it’s dark out. When did the whole day pass? I’m last in the office again, along with Olivia. Her dedication makes my chest tighten even more. Everything she does sets a little fire inside me. “You should get home. It’s late,” I say.
“I wanted to finish the weather pattern integration module,” she replies. I can tell she’s tired from the subtle pout of her lower lip. It looks particularly kissable. “And I did.”
“You never cease to amaze me,” I say, trying to summon a smile. She deserves it, but I’m far too guarded. Too accustomed to my loneliness to reach out to her, to try and touch her soul no matter how badly I want it. “Need a ride home? I can drive you.”
“No, thanks, I’ve got my car. I need to pick my brother up from physical therapy, anyway,” she adds with an awkward chuckle. “He’s been calling for twenty minutes, and I was so focused on the module, I didn’t even hear the phone vibrate.”
“Your brother. Which one? I remember you have four.”
“Right. Yes,” Olivia replies, beaming like the morning sun. “Carl is the oldest, he’s a football coach at Syracuse. Alan and Dave are both in the military. Marines. And Rick, he’s under my wing for now. He plays for the Forty-Niners, but he’s out with a knee injury right now. My parents would have taken him in for his recovery, but they’ve also been dealing with a few health problems lately, so Rick is staying with me.”
“All right. So that makes four big men ready to crush the skull of anyone stupid enough to break your heart,” I manage a subtle quip. It makes her laugh lightly, and that, in turn, makes my own heart skip a few beats. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
She nods once and leaves.
Maybe I should’ve said something more. Maybe I should’ve bought us a bit more time. There’s a lot I’d like to say to her. Plenty that I would like to do. Instead, I find myself gliding out of the building and driving away, my mind floating in the opposite direction, desperate to be with her, wherever she’s gone to fetch her brother.
By the time I’m home, there’s a tight knot in the pit of my stomach and a burning desire to find her and sweep her in my arms and ravish her with kisses. I can’t do that. I can’t. All I can do is notice the pair of earrings that Stacy left behind—on purpose, no doubt. I don’t know her last name, only that she works at a coffee shop downtown.
We had a thing last night. It was meant to take some of the pressure off. I suppose it did what it was supposed to do, at least on a physical level. But I’m empty again. Stacy can’t fill this hole inside me. The scary part is that I think Olivia might. But Olivia is the forbidden fruit, and I cannot indulge. My lips tingle as I check the note Stacy left.
Bring these back to me, if you dare.
Not going to happen.
I toss the earrings in the dumpster, along with the note. I was clear from the beginning that last night would be the extent of it. If Stacy ignored me, it was at her peril. I can’t chase after anyone. The only woman I actually want is too precious to even touch.
I’m gonna fall asleep thinking about Olivia.
Damn.
CHAPTER10
OLIVIA