Leo moved to the window in his room and peered into the darkness, his mind racing. Neil asked the team to respect Leo’s position and Olivia’s privacy. If Olivia did in fact cross the line, and Leo was told about it . . . then him staying silent about said line meant he grabbed her hand and jumped over that line with her.
Even though he didn’t want to be put in that position, he knew he was going to work overtime to uncover every last detail of Olivia’s past.
It was hard to imagine her as anything other than what he was seeing right then. A resilient, caring, sensual, confident woman who intrigued him first with her looks and then with the sheer mystery of what made her into the person she was. And yes, the chemistry was driving him straight to a cold shower several nights a week.
There wasn’t a lot of privacy in the house, which was probably a good thing. Especially now that Olivia was no longer convalescing and starting to thrive. The looks she cast his way, the teasing touch when she didn’t think anyone else would notice . . . the sensual, playful side of the woman had Leo looking forward to every morning and every moment with her.
Since their initial lip-lock in the kitchen, they’d all but abstained from physical touch.
Well, except that one moment where he’d pressed her up against a tree in the woods while they were alone on a walk. So much heat and friction . . . they were both breathless when they stopped and stared into each other’s eyes.
Her breath was heavy on her lips . . . swollen from his kiss. “You’re making it hard to resist,” she whispered.
“Me? You’re the one dragging your foot up my leg under the dinner table.”
A proud smile washed up her face. “I like watching you try to keep it together.”
He pulled her hips flush with his, enjoyed the spark in her eyes with the contact. “I think you’re trying to make me choke on my food.”
“We’re both consenting adults . . . Why again are we resisting what’s going on?” she asked.
The answer for him was easy. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
She glanced down at her chest. “I think I’m past that.”
He placed his hand on her face, made her look at him. “You don’t know who you are, and the last thing I want is for you to have any morning-after regrets.”
“The more I get to know you, the less I feel that’s possible,” she whispered.
“The more I get to know you, the more important it is for me that you’re in the right place when this does happen.” He’d be a fool to think it wasn’t going to.
She teased him with her hands. “I’m not opposed to tying you up.”
Why did that excite him?
“I have a feeling it won’t be the first time I’ve tied up a man.”
“You’re a dangerous woman.”
She leaned up, her lips close to his. “I’m worth the risk.”
Leo shook the memory from his head.
He removed his cell phone from his back pocket and opened up his photos.
Olivia had stopped and picked up a pine cone on their walk back, and Leo snapped a few pictures of her. When she caught him, he turned the phone around and took a picture of the both of them.
They looked relaxed. Considering what had brought them together, the image felt like such a contradiction.
“We look good together,” he’d told her.
She accused him of being sentimental. Something no other woman before her had done.
He’d likely have plenty of time to ponder the why of that at another time.
But for now, he needed to determine who the woman was behind the picture.
“Even I can’t steal any more of your money,” Pam told Neil, her duffel bag next to his by the door.
“I’m happy to keep you on longer.”
Olivia watched the two arguing over her.
“You needed me for two weeks tops. And even that was a stretch. It’s been a hell of a lot longer than that. I’m flying back with you.” Pam didn’t give him any room for argument. She turned to Leo and opened her arms.
Leo stepped in and hugged her goodbye. “Take care of her.”
Olivia laughed. “Her can take care of herself.”
Pam scowled over Leo’s shoulder at Olivia.
She moved on to Isaac, who hugged her briefly, patting her sides. “Much as I tried to fatten you up, it looks like I