How raw his right butt cheek was proved that, and he blushed at the memories from yesterday. He couldn’t afford to become that same sex-starved deviant tonight. They had a job to do, and distraction was dangerous. Like the slower kisses and embraces that had started to increase the more they were together.
Pacing closer to the pickup counter, anxious for his name to be called, Andrew noticed a familiar head at a table around the corner and stopped cold.
Olivia again.
This was the coffee shop close to Avalon and Ford’s offices. He’d never known her to frequent this place, but without his order finished, he was forced to stand there, not quite hidden enough from her table if she glanced up and—fuck. She saw him.
And dared to look happy about it as she wandered over as if she’d been waiting for him.
“Breathe, Andrew,” she said, just as perfectly polished and beautiful as she’d looked the other day. “You’d think I was the Wicked Witch with the way you look at me whenever we run into each other. Or is it WickedBitch? I never did apologize, did I?”
“No,” Andrew choked on the sharp retort he’d had ready, “you didn’t.”
“And I’m not apologizing now. I’m sorry I hurt you, but I’m not sorry for being pragmatic.”
Wow. “You are unbelievable.”
“So why don’t you try being pragmatic?”
“What?” Andrew just wanted out of this conversation.
“You’re working that Avalon case, right? With Ford?”
“Are you serious?” Andrew snarled. “You think I'd tell you—”
“This thief has been all over town,” she whispered. “The police may be trying to keep it under wraps, but the uptick in burglaries can’t be ignored.”
“I can’t talk about an ongoing case with the press.”
“You’re not a detective anymore.”
“And whose fault is that!” he erupted, drawing a few turned heads, which made him burn with embarrassment. He tightened his fists to calm down. “The tenuous relationship I still have with the PD would be ruined if the same shit that forced me to quit starts happening again.”
“You should be thanking me.” She smirked.
“Excuse me?”
“Admit it.” Closing the space between them, Olivia reminded him of all the reasons he’d found her so alluring—that take no prisoners, all in control presence.
Like Ford.
“You were miserable following in Daddy and Steven’s footsteps. You’re happier on your own.”
“Thatwe can agree on.” Andrew made it clear that he didn’t only mean for work.
“You’re so mad I used you.” She moved closer, practically pressing to his chest, almost a full foot shorter than him, but still a powerhouse. “Use me a little. I’ll promise not to print anything about a serial robber until after the police or Vallancourt make an official statement, and you corroborate a few details.”
This was the worst kind of déjà vu, but as Andrew opened his mouth to tell her off, he remembered how relentless she was. Olivia was a shark. Giving her a controlled something might be better than giving her nothing and having her keep showing up unwanted or printing details that could hurt them.
“Ford and I are revamping Avalon’s security.”
Her eyes widened. “Youareworking together.”
“You can't print that. He’s worried about his enemies finding out he’s…” Shit, Andrew had to stop before he said too much.
“Gone soft? Everyone knows he’s in security.”
“He’s trying to protect someone.”
