Page 65 of The Reborn

Camden shot me a questioning look, obviously sensing something had changed since Olivia had stepped out of the room.

I gave him a quick shake of my head, letting him know it didn’t have anything to do with the reason I was there.

He strode over and lowered his voice. “Everything okay, man?”

“Yeah. But we do need to be going soon. I’ve got a guy coming to install an alarm in her car.”

“Sounds good.”

I gave her a couple more minutes to chat with Vanessa and coo over the new baby before I stepped in to break up the party. “Olivia.”

She snapped around at my voice like she’d been electrocuted.

“Sorry, but we need to head out. I can bring you back later after the car alarm is in if you’d like.”

“That’s fine,” she bit out, sounding like it was anything but fine as she turned back to Vanessa to hug her goodbye. “I’ll come see you when you get home. You let me know when you’re ready, okay?”

“Of course. Thank you for coming by.”

“Please. We’re family.” She moved to hug her brother again. “Congratulations. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

As she unlocked the stroller with a still sleeping Elizabeth, he shot me one more look. “Take care of them,” he said quietly.

I nodded and followed her out the door, somehow feeling doomed.

Her shoes tapped loudly on the linoleum of the hospital hallways as she walked in front of me at a fast clip, her back ramrod straight.

I let her keep her distance, but not too much, as I followed her to the elevator, then down to the car. I couldn’t fathom what she would be upset about. I’d stepped out to take a call from my ex-wife, but it’s not like I’d professed my undying love or anything. I racked my brain for what I’d even said that could’ve been taken out of context, but I came up short. There was no context, and this was all getting too damn confusing.

After she got Elizabeth buckled into her car seat and we got on the road, I faced her profile, taking heed of Kade’s words. “Did I do something to upset you?”

She took her eyes off the road long enough to shoot me a surprised look. “What? Why?”

“How about because you’ve barely looked at me since we got to the hospital.”

I knew I’d hit my mark when her hand flexed, gripping the steering wheel. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Right.” Make nice with my best client’s sister. “Is this because my ex called?”

She didn’t respond, but her cheeks bloomed a deep pink, giving me my answer.

“We’re divorced. It’s over between us, so—”

“Justin, stop.” She shook her head and lifted a hand to silence me. “It’s not my business whether you talk to her or not, or if you want to patch things up. We...” She waved a hand between us. “Work together or whatever you call it. So don’t worry about it, okay?”

I’d worked with plenty of people and didn’t know the taste of their lips, didn’t crave their flavor like fine wine. Yeah, there was something between us that was a bit more than working together, I just didn’t know what to do with it. “That’s bullshit, Olivia, and we both know it. When it’s just the two of us, you can at least be honest.”

I saw her brows furrow from the side as she absorbed my words. “I don’t know what you want me to say,” she finally said, her voice soft. “You’ve been the one pushing the whole professional boundaries thing. At least until you laid that kiss on me at church today.” She added that last part under her breath, but I caught it.

“Fair enough. You’re right.” I rubbed a hand over my head to the back of my neck as tension suddenly bloomed there. “I have absolutely obliterated all professional boundaries with you, and if I have crossed any lines that you didn’t want me to, please tell me now and I’ll find a way to make it right.”

She seemed to wilt as stress melted from her shoulders. “No.”

“No?”

“You’re fine. It’s me.”

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