Page 66 of See You Maybe

Jessica’s embarrassed fidgeting broke Olivia from the spell she was under. She bit her lip, ordering herself not to cry. She’d been about to reveal more than she’d ever told anyone. Olivia cleared her throat and reached for her purse.

“Goodbye, Jessica.”

Can this line move any slower? Olivia groused to herself, checking the time on her phone. Normally she didn’t mind lines, but she was already running late after meeting with the board that afternoon. Using work as an explanation for why she was late would only lead to a lecture from her mother.

She should be relieved that the decision was finally made. Her vote hadn’t mattered in the long run as the decision to go with the Bloom Communications offer was unanimous. But Olivia couldn’t shake the feeling that Declan would not take losing lying down.

Over the last few days, Olivia had done some research online, and reading between the lines, she thought she had a pretty good handle on where the animosity between Declan and Chris came from. Only the notification of leadership change had been reported in the business pages. It was in the gossip blogs that she learned all the nasty details about what happened after David Bloom’s death.

It was obvious the two men were looking to destroy each other, and she hated Armstrong was caught in the middle. However, on paper, the decision was straightforward. Chris’s offer was better, not only because the purchase price was higher, but because Chris had readily agreed to add the stipulation Richard wanted—that all the current employees would be retained.

They had sent the same stipulation along with their questions to Bloom Capital, but Declan hadn’t deigned to get back to them. Richard was eager for it to be over.

The woman in line in front of her stepped back suddenly and bumped into Olivia, causing her to lose her hold on the three bottles of her mom’s favorite wine that she had cradled in her arms.

Shit! Olivia frantically fumbled for the bottles as her purse hit the ground, but one slipped through her fingers. Before it could smash on the floor, a tanned hand shot out and caught it, just as the scent of sandalwood and bergamot hit her. By the awestruck look on the other woman’s face, it was exactly who Olivia feared it was.

The woman practically leered as she gave Declan a detailed once over. “Your reflexes are amazing. Are you a professional athlete?”

“No.”

The light in the woman’s eyes only dimmed slightly. “Well, you’re certainly good with your hands.”

Did she just lick her lips?

Despite herself, Olivia bristled and considered accidentally hitting the woman over the head with one of the bottles.

“I think this is yours.” Olivia wanted to ignore him, but Declan nudged her with the bottle. Olivia turned just enough to take the bottle, refusing to look at him.

“Thanks.” Her purse still sat on the floor. Thankfully, it had landed upright. As she tried to figure out how to gracefully hold the bottles while also picking it up, Declan bent again.

He was standing too close, and it was playing havoc with her body. Her skin prickled. She was burning up.

The woman in front of them wasn’t happy being ignored. “Such a southern gentleman.”

Olivia was proud of herself that she didn’t laugh outright. Declan’s chest brushed against her back, her temper making her heartbeat pick up its pace.

Or, at least she told herself it was her temper. He was trying to intimidate her, but little did he know, she’d promised herself years ago that she would never let a man make a fool of her again.

Olivia pivoted, elbows out, but instead of forcing Declan to take a step back as she intended, Olivia practically bounced off him, while he barely budged, even when her elbow collided with his abdomen.

Which made her angry.

The situation was made worse when his hands immediately shot out to steady her, before he plucked the bottles out from the crook of her arm with one of his large hands and tucked them into the same arm where he still held her purse.

“Let me help you with these.” He had the audacity to smirk at her. “You seem a bit unsteady.”

If looks could have killed, Declan would be laid out on the floor in front of her. Dead.

“I’m fine. Thank you.” Olivia said through her teeth, as she reached to reclaim her bottles. But Declan had them so snug between his bicep and forearm, nothing less than a fight was going to get the bottles back.

“That’s so sweet of you.”

Olivia gave the woman credit. On the outside Declan looked like a dream. It wasn’t until later you found out it was all a lie. After all, hadn’t she agreed to a week with a stranger in a foreign country after only eighteen hours and some mind-blowing sex?

“Succubus,” she muttered.

The woman’s forehead creased. “What?”