Page 95 of Misdirection

Her heart beat harder. It was one of the nicest things anyone had ever said about her. In her profession, people praised her skills. Her successes. They rarely praised who she was.

Olive stared at Jason’s lips.

More than anything, she wanted to kiss him. To be swept back in time to when she and Jason were in love. Back to when she didn’t have the problems and worries she had now.

Somehow, his face was close to hers. Only inches away.

All she needed to do was lean forward, and she could . . .

A whiff of his woodsy cologne filled her senses, making her resolve melt even more.

Olive remembered their time together back when they were teens. Their stolen kisses. The way his lips felt against hers.

Those had been some great days, filled with young love and the promise of a sweet future. She’d forgotten what it was like to feel that way.

Jason reached and tucked a hair behind her ear.

He was waiting for her approval, wasn’t he?

She licked her lips as she decided what to do.

CHAPTER 40

Forgetting about all her problems was tempting. Very tempting.

When Olive felt Jason’s body heat radiating from him, it nearly did her in. All she wanted was to lean into him. To feel his arms around her.

But . . . reality still nagged at her, made her hesitate.

“This is a bad idea.” Despite her words, she still didn’t move away. “You and Adriana . . . you were in love with her.”

“I was in love with a façade. None of that was real, even though I thought it was. You’ve always been my first love, Ollie.”

A thrill went through her. Those were the words she’d craved hearing, that she’d dreamed about.

More of her resolve crumbled.

Then, at once, she remembered that she wouldn’t be staying in Chicago. She’d leave when this case was over.

Being tied down would only hinder her career.

She was thinking with her emotions instead of logic right now. She was breaking one of the rules her dad had taught her.

Her dad . . . the con man. Why would she listen to any of his advice?

“Ollie.” Jason’s fingers tangled with her locks.

Her body continued to melt as desire flickered to life inside her.

This is a bad idea, Ollie. You’ll regret this.

But it would be so easy to lean forward. To feel his lips against hers. To indulge in the moment.

She closed her eyes, ready to give in.

Then a phone buzzed.

Olive jumped away from him as if she’d touched fire, almost spilling her wine in the process.

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