Page 51 of Love on the Byline

“Any meal, anywhere, any time.”

She turned to face him, looking up at him from under herthick lashes. The low light made her eyes seem dark and fathomless. “How do youfeel about tuna sandwiches?”

Twenty minutes and one taxi ride later, Ollie found himselfsitting on the concrete curb of a gas station. He stared dubiously as Blaketore into the other half of the tuna sandwich he held in his hand. She didn’tappear to stop for breath as she consumed it, making happy little food noisesthe entire time.

When she finished, Blake looked at Ollie’s half of thesandwich and then back at him.

“Have at it,” he said and handed it over, content to watchher enjoy it.

“Do you get much free time?” she asked between bites.

“Some.”

“I was wondering, because your job seems to keep you busy.”

“It does,” Ollie admitted. “Bran’s job is demanding. Hell,his life is demanding. Like I said, I try to help things run moresmoothly for him.” Somedays he was better at it than others.

“Cooking, running errands, answering his calls,” she pausedand met his gaze.

And his texts.

She knew.

Ollie braced his elbows on his knees. “How did you figure itout? Did Bran say something?”

“No one had to tell me it was you in the texts. You and heare very different people. I know sometimes people talk differently than theytext, but your voice is pretty consistent,” she said. “I knew it was you.”There was no anger in her tone.

“I was going to tell you, I just didn’t know how to bring itup.”

“I think I knew then, when we were texting.”

This surprised him. “Why did you play along?”

After a pause she said, “Because I’ve always enjoyed talkingto you.”

There was a question in her words and in the way she staredat him, a slight hint to what she wanted, what they both wanted—more timetogether.

“Please don’t back out,” he blurted.

A tiny crease appeared between her brows. “From...?” After amoment, she let out a breath. “Is that what tonight was about? Making sure I’llfollow-through? God, it’s always about Bran,” she muttered as she got to herfeet. Disappointment clouded her features.

Ollie took her elbow and gently turned her to face him.“Bran needs this, yes, but I... I just want...”

Her dark eyes widened a little as she looked up at him.

The silence stretched on for a long minute during whichOllie’s heart crawled up into his throat and threatened to spill off his tonguein a torrent of begging.

Blake put him out of his misery. “I’m still in.”

The wave of relief he felt threatened to buckle his knees.

“On one condition,” she added belatedly.

“Anything.”

“I can’t...” She took a breath. “You and me, we...haveunfinished business, I think. And I can’t...” Blake stepped back and squaredher shoulders. “Am I wrong in thinking you and I... might—?”

“No. You’re not wrong.”

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