Page 83 of Joker in the Pack

And his first question was about my belongings rather than me. “Nothing that I could see. He got disturbed by a patrol car.”

“At least the police made a bit more effort this time. Good to know my chat with Graham had the desired effect.”

“It wasn’t the police. Nye sent someone.”

“That cowboy? What did he do, round up a gang of vigilantes?”

“Not at all. They seemed very professional.”

“And the Mafia wear suits. Olivia, your cottage clearly isn’t safe. Why don’t you come and stay at the manor until the police get to the bottom of this? My housekeeper can cater to your every need.”

A month ago, I’d have leapt at that invitation. The chance to be taken care of rather than fending for myself. I’d grown used to being on a rich man’s arm when I was with Edward. But had I truly enjoyed it? Now that I had the chance to fall back into that lifestyle again, I found I didn’t want to.

Despite the difficulties at Lilac Cottage, I’d achieved something for myself and experienced a freedom I’d never had living under Edward’s thumb in a rented flat.

And then there was Nye. An added complication. He made me feel things I shouldn’t, and it wouldn’t be fair to stay with Tate with another man at the forefront of my mind.

“I appreciate the offer, Tate, really I do. But I’ll have to decline.”

“But you’re in danger. Who knows what that man will do next? And there’s your burglar on the loose too.”

And so jealousy reared its ugly head. Tate was more worried about Nye’s presence than my damn stalker.

“I’m not going to be scared out of my own house.”

“For the record, I think you’re making a terrible decision.” And there was the lawyer in Tate making an appearance.

“Noted. But it’s still my decision to make.”

“Well, call me when you come to your senses.”

And with those words, it hit me. Maddie had been absolutely right—Tate was Edward all over again. My whole life, I’d gravitated towards men my mother would have rated A+. She’d ingrained a mental checklist in me.

- Does he have a pretentious job? Check.

- Is he reasonably handsome? Check.

- Does he have enough money to look after me? Check.

- Is he well-connected socially? Check.

Tate met every one of those criteria, and so had Edward, and I didn’t want to waste another two years of my life on a man who’d hurt me without a second thought when he moved on to a new model. Quite literally, in Edward’s case.

No, I needed to start a new list, my own this time. One that would most likely leave my mother’s ghost tutting in the background every time I added an item. What should I start with?

- Does he make my heart pound?

- Does every nerve ending burn at his merest touch?

- Does the timbre of his voice send shivers through me?

- Do I want to push him onto the nearest flat surface and ride him until I’m screaming?

Freaking hell, Olivia!My own thoughts shocked me.

They scared me too. Because right now, there was one man in my life who ticked all of those boxes, and he wasn’t Tate.

Those thoughts weighed on my mind all afternoon as I tried to get some work done. “Tried” being the operative word. With Nye sitting opposite me, I couldn’t even remember the password for my own website.

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