Olivia came out of the ladies’ locker room with five minutes to spare. She’d pounded the daylights out of “Greg” and felt much better. He really wasn’t to blame for the entire situation, but putting a face and a name to her frustrations felt good. How long her sense of inner peace would last was anyone’s guess. She’d showered and braided her hair into some semblance of order. As she approached the desk. Reg came out of the back and shook his head.
“Sorry. I got a call from Anderson and had to get some stuff ready for his team. I’ll have your supplies in a few minutes.”
The last thing she wanted was to be late for her meeting with Greg, but this couldn’t be helped. “Take your time, Reg. You’re not supposed to be overdoing it.” The man had had minor surgery a few weeks ago.
“I’m okay. Got the doctor’s go-ahead last week. The grapevine claims, now that you’re getting married to one of Robertson’s men, you’re going to leave us. Judging from this, I’d say that comment might be a little premature. You’ve got a lot of gear here. Be careful. Don’t let the stars in your eyes blind you.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t. When I aim, I’ll shoot straight. You can count on it.”
“With you, I always do. If I ever got caught in a firefight, I’d want you at my side. Congratulations on your engagement. I heard you’re going to ski again, too. Big changes coming your way. You now, I saw you in Lake Placid at the Nationals six years ago. You were very good.”
Wow! The rumor mill is moving at light speed today.
“Thanks. You never mentioned you’d seen me ski.”
“No. Mr. Marshall told us not to. He figured you were still pretty torn up about it, but since you’re getting married and going back on the slopes… So, what’s all this for?”
“Nothing in particular,” Olivia said and felt heat burn in her cheeks. “I just want to stay sharp while I’m on leave. We’ll be in the woods. There might be wild animals around… Greg’s waiting for me, so can you hurry this up?” All this dissembling was driving her insane. She’d been raised to tell the truth, but these last few years she’d learned to dance around it.
“Okay, okay. I don’t want to know. Give me ten, and I’ll have it filled. It’ll be heavy. You want me to get one of the boys to carry it up for you?” he joked, knowing full well she was as strong as any of the boys he could call to help her.
Before Olivia could make the expected tongue-in-cheek comment, Greg stepped up beside her. She knew it was him before he spoke, her nose teased by the scent of the spicy aftershave she’d recognized, but refused to appreciate in the elevator earlier. She’d noticed it in Jack’s office too. The scent was pleasant, not at all girlie, and suited him.
“Here I am, honey. Sorry, I’m late.” Olivia started when he put his arms around her and kissed her hair. She hoped he put her reaction down to surprise and not the intense reaction the sound of his voice and the brief touch of his lips had created.
She watched as he let go of her shoulders and held out his hand to Reg. “Greg Stuart. Have you got my gear ready? Rachel called down.”
His gear? Olivia frowned. She noticed he’d kept his promise and had donned the sheepskin jacket he’d worn in the elevator.
Reg shook Greg’s hand. “Pleased to meet you. Congratulations. If I were twenty years younger, I’d have given you a run for your money. I was just telling Livy it’ll take me about ten minutes to organize everything.”
“Not a problem.”
Greg smiled down at her and the butterflies in her stomach took flight. Nerves no doubt, and she’d skipped breakfast. Olivia looked at him, intent on putting some distance between them, and smiled, hoping it appeared genuine. From Greg’s raised eyebrow, she wasn’t so sure she’d succeeded.
“I forgot something in the ladies’ locker room. You can wait here. I won’t be long,” she said, grabbing at the flimsy excuse. There was no way she could stand here beside him like this and make small talk for ten minutes. His closeness confused her. He was an assignment, albeit an unusual one. She needed distance and time to think.
“Hurry up, darling. I miss you when you’re gone.” Greg winked.
She was about to say something scathing, and he must have known it. Before she could open her mouth, he pulled her into his arms and captured her lips. His kiss was soft and tender, not invasive in any way. It made her feel safe and treasured, and more confounded than ever. There was no denying the man’s appeal, but she’d allowed herself to be swayed by good looks and a flashy exterior once, and all it had done was bring her pain.
“Hey, you two. Get a room. We’re waiting to get some help here.”
The sound of Lincoln Grover’s voice was as startling as a bucket of ice water dumped on them would have been. She pulled out of Greg’s arms, angry and mortified, doing her best to hide her reaction to him. Confused at the emotions coursing through her, she turned and hurried down the hall, the sound of her heels contrasting with Lincoln’s laughter loud in her ears.