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I laughed since it sounded like a scene from Casablanca. “You have a hell of an imagination.”
She slips the roses into a vase behind her desk and pours water from a bottle that was sitting on the shelf.
“These smell lovely.”
“Olivia, how have the last two days been?”
“You mean has Paul been his usual self?”
“Yes. I’m sorry if I made things harder for you and Henry.”
“I haven’t heard from Paul. He’s been holed up in his office. I think whatever you said scared him.”
I raise my eyebrows. “I’m surprised. I thought once I wasn’t around; he would tear into you.”
“Oh, he’s angry, and I’m waiting for that pot to boil over. I know it will eventually.”
“I hope when he does, I’m around. I did everything I could not to punch that asshole in the face.”
“That’s not very professional.”
“Neither are his actions. Do you have much more to go?”
“I’m almost finished. If you stop distracting me, I’ll be done in five minutes.”
Letting her go, I check my messages on my phone, one from my brother asking if I was attending Hunter’s bachelor party this upcoming weekend, which I almost forgot. There was another from Lexi asking if I was coming to dinner on Friday. I wanted to, but I also wanted to take Olivia on a date if she would have me.
Speaking of, I ask her, “Are you going to Lexi’s on Friday?”
“I was planning on it. Are you?”
“Sure,” I say flatly.
“You don’t sound so sure.”
“I’d prefer to take you out on a date. I’ll be tied up this weekend with Hunter’s bachelor party, or else I would ask you out on Saturday.”
“Are you positive you’re ready? This is a big turnaround from a few days ago.”
“I’ve gotten some clarity.”
“Was it a miracle?”
I figured I could tell her the truth. “No. I went to a bereavement group. It’s something I should have done a long time ago. I was kidding myself to think it would get better on its own.”
“Just one visit and you’re already thinking of the future?” she sounds skeptical.
“I talked to someone who was just like me. He lost his wife, and he told me that moving forward was hard, but he did it because he didn’t want to be alone any longer. I don’t want to be alone either; I realize that now. Cassie wouldn’t want me to be alone either.”
Olivia peers at me with a soft gaze. “I want to hear about Cassie when you’re ready to tell me.”
I was surprised by her statement, but knowing the type of person she is, it shouldn’t have been.
“I’d like you to know her.”
She smiles and returns to her work. I tip my head back and close my eyes, listening to the clacking of her keyboard. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, Olivia was whispering in my ear.
She was so close, and my body’s reaction to her was instant. I feel myself harden, so I shift in my seat as she backs away to let me stand. Fortunately, my shirt was over my pants, so my partial erection wasn’t visible. I made sure to grab her hand and keep her behind me. One more whiff of her perfume would have me carrying her off to my office.
