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I shook my head. “That’s what I thought. I believed she wanted to be together so badly that she’d do anything, even hide our relationship and spend important occasions like Christmas and birthdays alone. But it turned out I was wrong.”

“She dumped you?”

“Worse,” I said. “I knew she was ambitious and wanted to be chief vet like I did, but I never realized she’d go to such great lengths to achieve that goal. After we had been together for five months, she went to my boss and told him I had sexually harassed her. That I had pushed her into a relationship, and that she’d agreed out of fear of repercussions. Bollocks, of course.”

Olive threw me a sympathetic look. “That’s horrible.”

I ran a hand through my hair. “I know. I lost my job. I lost the woman I loved and who I thought loved me back. I lost credibility in our community because who’s going to believe a hotshot vet over a female vet in training? I figured moving as far away as possible would be best. You know, clean slate and all that.”

Olive looked shocked by my revelation. “Well, couldn’t you tell them it was nothing but lies? Show them messages, emails, anything that could serve as proof?”

“I tried, but no one wanted to listen to me.” I hesitated for a moment before continuing to speak. “I just wanted to forget the whole thing as fast as possible anyway, so I didn’t push it any further. I didn’t even tell my mum because I felt so ashamed.”

Olive scooted closer and put her hand on my arm. The hairs on my neck shot straight up. I wished my body would stop reacting to her like that. It was no use anyway. We could never act upon any feelings between us if there was even such a thing as true feelings between us.

“Sue should be the one feeling ashamed, not you. Seriously, what kind of a person does something like that? It’s so unfair and horrible. Not only to you but also to everyone who has really been harassed.” She paused for a moment. “I can’t believe someone would do that. It’s just wrong on so many levels.”

“I know. After it happened and the dust had settled, I promised myself I’d never get emotionally involved with a coworker ever again. Nothing good can come of such a thing.”

Olive creased her brows, and a look of disappointment ran over her face, only briefly, but still noticeable. She licked her lips, playing with her hair before answering. “Never say never, right? Not everyone is as evil as Sue. There are still good women in the world.”

Like you?I wanted to ask but bit my tongue.

“There’s one thing I’m happy about, though. She didn’t put up a fight for Archie. It pains me to know she never truly loved him, but at least she didn’t try to steal him from me. He’s more important than any job.”

Olive wiped her mouth clean with a paper napkin. “Archie’s the best. I would put up a fight for him, no doubt about it.”

I laughed. “You’re not getting your hands on him, lady.”

“Who says I’d leave you and him if you guys were mine?”

Uh-oh, where did that come from? Was she being serious or still joking? Trying to make me feel better, maybe?

She ducked her chin and laughed. “Sorry, I have this problem where I just blurt out stuff without thinking about it first. You probably think I’m a desperate creep.”

“Quite the opposite actually,” I admitted.

“Really?” Her soft-looking mouth lifted up into a smile. Clearly, my answer made her feel happy.

Our eyes locked, and it was like I forgot everything I’d told myself, everything that had happened and could still happen. There was only now. And Olive. Olive’s lips, looking so inviting, begging me to kiss them.

We drew closer until our faces were only inches apart. Her fingers intertwined with mine, and my breath caught in my throat. I knew where this was going if I didn’t stop it. I had to stop.

“I can’t do this,” I said with a hoarse voice, yet ran my hand up her arm. “You’re my employee, this isn’t right.”

“I know,” she said, putting her hand on my neck. “It’s so wrong.”

“We should stop.”

“Definitely.”

I gently pulled her onto my lap, and fire spread through me. I lost the ability to think. Reason had made way for a hunger I didn’t know I had in me.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,” I said again. “I promised myself I wouldn’t go there again.”

“No, we should be sensible adults and stop.”

Her gaze traveled to my mouth, and she bit on her lower lip, a soft gasp escaping her mouth. If she really wanted me to stop, she’d push me away. Instead, she leaned into me.