both Dare and Malone Senior owed her apologies. A lot of them.
Hell, maybe some flowers, too.
“I can’t sit here and pity-party it any longer. I have to find out who’s behind all this.”
“Yes, we’ll help you,” Candy said adamantly.
“No, no. I don’t need you getting into any trouble because of me.” Olivia held up her hand before they interrupted. “No, end of discussion. I’ll do this on my own.” She stood, her legs weak and shaky.
“Maybe you should do that tomorrow, Agatha Christie. Sleuthing at this time of night, and after consuming alcohol, might not be a good idea.” Candy held onto her bicep to keep them both upright.
Olivia peered at the mantel clock, surprised to see that it was nearly midnight. The afternoon had flown by once the girls—and alcohol—arrived.
“Yes, a good night’s sleep might help.” She made her way to the hall on her own, using the walls for support. “Both of you make use of the spare room. The futons are always ready, so goodnight.”
“Everything will be better in the morning, Liv,” Holly said softly, eyes sleepy as she made her way down the hall.
“Both of you to bed, I’ll lock up and be right behind you,” Candy ordered.
Olivia wanted to believe what Holly said was true but she didn’t believe in fairytales any more. She was in some deep shit and had to find a way out of this mess.
Dare would have been the one person she’d turn to in order to clear her name. Why couldn’t he believe her?
She closed her bedroom door, crawled up the bed and fell into a heap on her stomach.
Dare’s face, eyes disappointed, was the last thing she saw before her body relaxed and sleep claimed her.
****
Dare knocked on Olivia’s condo door. He wasn’t sure how to make things right with her but he had to try.
He hadn’t really believed she’d betrayed Presley and Malone, and ultimately him, but the evidence was overwhelming. He had to struggle with his part in everything. She’d left the office the day before thinking he believed she’d betrayed them one hundred percent.
If anything, he’d been ninety percent sure of her innocence but couldn’t make heads or tails of the rest. It all happened so fast, it took a while for his head to stop spinning. Someone had used her to leak information. He’d needed time to find out who and why. To say he was surprised at what he uncovered was an understatement.
He knocked again, a little harder this time, and waited. He hoped she wasn’t looking through a window or peephole and refusing to the open the door. He could understand her reasoning, though. Nothing like the man you’d spent hours with—opening up and exploring one another repeatedly from head to toe—believing you’re a dishonest and unethical person.
He had to hold out hope she’d at least listen to him.
He heard footfalls on the other side of the door, stood straighter and braced himself for what lay ahead.
Please, Livvy, let me back in.
The door swung open. Dare was taken aback by the attractive woman on the other side.
Her blonde hair was mussed as if she’d spent the last twenty-four hours in the throes of passion, her barely there t-shirt covered her assets and hung off one shoulder. She was positively gorgeous. Her large breasts were more than a handful, and many men would love to find out just how much of one.
While he could appreciate her beauty, she did nothing for his libido. Olivia was the only woman who made him think of endless nights, rolling naked in bed, on the floor or wherever, and dying in her arms. Plus the fire in this woman’s eyes was enough to kill a man.
“Who the hell are you?” she demanded.
“Who are you? I’m here to see Olivia.” He took a step forward, only to find himself pressed against this woman, whose height barely cleared his jawline. He looked down. Her sky-blue eyes fired daggers at him. He didn’t really want to do battle with this woman but would if need be.
He remembered Livvy
Hell, maybe some flowers, too.
“I can’t sit here and pity-party it any longer. I have to find out who’s behind all this.”
“Yes, we’ll help you,” Candy said adamantly.
“No, no. I don’t need you getting into any trouble because of me.” Olivia held up her hand before they interrupted. “No, end of discussion. I’ll do this on my own.” She stood, her legs weak and shaky.
“Maybe you should do that tomorrow, Agatha Christie. Sleuthing at this time of night, and after consuming alcohol, might not be a good idea.” Candy held onto her bicep to keep them both upright.
Olivia peered at the mantel clock, surprised to see that it was nearly midnight. The afternoon had flown by once the girls—and alcohol—arrived.
“Yes, a good night’s sleep might help.” She made her way to the hall on her own, using the walls for support. “Both of you make use of the spare room. The futons are always ready, so goodnight.”
“Everything will be better in the morning, Liv,” Holly said softly, eyes sleepy as she made her way down the hall.
“Both of you to bed, I’ll lock up and be right behind you,” Candy ordered.
Olivia wanted to believe what Holly said was true but she didn’t believe in fairytales any more. She was in some deep shit and had to find a way out of this mess.
Dare would have been the one person she’d turn to in order to clear her name. Why couldn’t he believe her?
She closed her bedroom door, crawled up the bed and fell into a heap on her stomach.
Dare’s face, eyes disappointed, was the last thing she saw before her body relaxed and sleep claimed her.
****
Dare knocked on Olivia’s condo door. He wasn’t sure how to make things right with her but he had to try.
He hadn’t really believed she’d betrayed Presley and Malone, and ultimately him, but the evidence was overwhelming. He had to struggle with his part in everything. She’d left the office the day before thinking he believed she’d betrayed them one hundred percent.
If anything, he’d been ninety percent sure of her innocence but couldn’t make heads or tails of the rest. It all happened so fast, it took a while for his head to stop spinning. Someone had used her to leak information. He’d needed time to find out who and why. To say he was surprised at what he uncovered was an understatement.
He knocked again, a little harder this time, and waited. He hoped she wasn’t looking through a window or peephole and refusing to the open the door. He could understand her reasoning, though. Nothing like the man you’d spent hours with—opening up and exploring one another repeatedly from head to toe—believing you’re a dishonest and unethical person.
He had to hold out hope she’d at least listen to him.
He heard footfalls on the other side of the door, stood straighter and braced himself for what lay ahead.
Please, Livvy, let me back in.
The door swung open. Dare was taken aback by the attractive woman on the other side.
Her blonde hair was mussed as if she’d spent the last twenty-four hours in the throes of passion, her barely there t-shirt covered her assets and hung off one shoulder. She was positively gorgeous. Her large breasts were more than a handful, and many men would love to find out just how much of one.
While he could appreciate her beauty, she did nothing for his libido. Olivia was the only woman who made him think of endless nights, rolling naked in bed, on the floor or wherever, and dying in her arms. Plus the fire in this woman’s eyes was enough to kill a man.
“Who the hell are you?” she demanded.
“Who are you? I’m here to see Olivia.” He took a step forward, only to find himself pressed against this woman, whose height barely cleared his jawline. He looked down. Her sky-blue eyes fired daggers at him. He didn’t really want to do battle with this woman but would if need be.
He remembered Livvy
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