Page 64 of Undeniable

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You know how I told you my boss, Seth, asked me to do something.”

I nodded. “Yeah.” How could I forget?

“Even though I’ve never been responsible for acquisitions, Seth expects me to get my dad to agree to do a biography for Igloo Books.”

Considering her success with Spines for Soldiers, I was shocked that her position was conditional on something so…ridiculous. On something that had absolutely nothing to do with her or her ability to perform her job.

“Fuck that,” I spat.

“Yeah.” She laughed, but it felt like she was blowing me off as she returned to the kitchen for something else.

“I’m serious, Olivia. You don’t need Igloo.”

But then I thought about my conversation with Zeke, and how he needed his job. And how many rules Olivia and I were breaking and how that might impact her position. For all I knew, shedidneed this job.

She rummaged in the cabinets, while I continued to peruse her photos. The next one was of Olivia and a redheaded girl about a foot shorter than her—both of them wearing flight jumpsuits.

“Did you go skydiving?” I asked, unable to hide the surprise from my tone. “Or was this taken at one of those indoor air places?”

She laughed, setting a plate with some cookies on the coffee table. “I can tell you think so highly of those indoor air places.” She mimicked my disdain.

I lifted a shoulder. “I just think nothing compares to the real deal. But somehow, I can’t imagine you wanting to jump out of a plane.”

“Alyssa and I went for my twenty-fifth birthday.”

“Surely that wasn’t your idea, though. It seems…out of character.” I kept glancing between her and the photo as if trying to make sense of it.

“It was, and it wasn’t. Have you ever been?” She sank down on the couch, and I joined her. “Why did I even ask?” She rolled her eyes. “Of course you’ve been. It was part of your training for the SEALs, right?”

I nodded, distracted by her proximity, by her vanilla scent. We were talking about skydiving, but all I could think about was kissing her. Pressing my lips to hers and…

Luna pounced on something, and I cleared my throat and glanced toward the cat. “It is. Though it’s a bit different from jumping as a civilian.”

“Sorry.” She waved a hand through the air. “I’m sure you don’t want to talk about work—not when you’re finally on vacation.”

I leaned forward to take a sip of my water. “Doesn’t bother me. But I’d rather hear more about you.”

“God, you are smooth, aren’t you?” I couldn’t tell if she was amused or what.

I leaned back, draping my arm over the back of the couch. “Only with you.”

She glanced away, but I placed my hand beneath her chin, guiding her attention back to me. For the first time since I’d met her, I saw uncertainty in her gaze. Why? Why did she doubt my interest in her? My attraction?

She was always on my mind. And that attraction I’d felt from thousands of miles away had only intensified upon seeing her.

Was this scary?

Terrifying.

But did it feel right?

Absolutely.

I’d been a fool to think I could somehow shut off my feelings for her. As if they could ever be denied.

“Olivia—” I waited until her eyes met mine. This close, I realized they had a hint of blue to them as well. They were enchanting. “You’re all I can think about. All I can see. You’re everything I want.”

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