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“No… Just a question.”

“Shoot.”

“Why?” Olivia inquired softly.

Grace shrugged. “You do quality work and deserve to have it showcased properly. I happen to be in a position to help you achieve that. So, I did.”

“Simple as that?”

All Grace needed to say was,Yes. To tell her she was busy, which was true, and end this call. But in fact, it was not just assimple as that. She hesitated. Encouraged, Olivia went on.

“I thought we were done, you know?”

“We are.”

“Right, okay. But when you do something like this, it makes me wonder.”

Oh, Christ.“It’s business, Olivia.”

More silence greeted those words. Stubborn, uncooperative silence. The kind Grace was definitely not used to. People in her world did what they were told. Her company performed like the well-oiled machine she had designed it to be. Her staff gave her results and solutions, not questions or tantrums. The escorts she hired were all experienced professional submissives who knew how much to tease and provoke in order to enhance the pleasure of the game.Herpleasure. Then, there was Olivia. Not staff. Not a hired escort. Charlie’s friend. And she was just…What?Grace wondered as she stumbled in her own mind. A woman that she could not control and who challenged her sense of order and peace? One who made her want to kiss her again just by being on the phone? She rubbed her left temple where the headache was trying to migrate.

“Just do me a favor. Accept the gift and leave it at that,” she instructed.

“Okay.” But Olivia said that and went on to insist in the same breath. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you like me.” Teasing. Warm. Hopeful.

Bad,Grace reflected. This was bad. Definitely should not be encouraged. And yet… She wanted to stay on the phone. Talk to her some more.

“I don’t dislike you,” she grunted in compromise.

Olivia gave a light chuckle. “Cool. I don’t dislike you either, Grace. Okay, I’ll accept the website.”

“Halleluia.”

“Yes, but on the condition you do me a favor in return.”

Grace’s right eyelid started to twitch. “What kind of world do you live in?”

“A daring one, apparently.”

“I’ll say. So, what’s the favor?”

“I’ve been dying to see Janis Cassidy’s work. And it’s a long drive to Ottawa. I thought maybe I could come with you. Share the driving… Keep you company?”

Damn Charlie for planting that seed. The idea of spending a day alone with Olivia filled Grace with equal amounts of dread and excitement. This was not just about catching the work of a genius architect, she knew... Herheadache flared.

chapter 15

Olivia was prepared to be denied, but she was still disappointed when it happened. Of course, the favor thing was just a joke. The generous gift of a brand-new high-tech website certainly did not mean that Grace had to do anything else for her. But at least on the surface, Olivia disguised the request as a bit of a tease, which helped to laugh it off when Grace said no. Olivia did not insist again after that. Just,‘Sure thing. No problem. Well, thanks again. Bye…’Dana would disapprove of this blatant attempt to chase, for sure. Olivia sighed and called Joel next, who turned out to be as helpful and friendly as his work was brilliant. He told her not to hesitate to call on him again if she needed to make changes or to feature new work and that he was now, as instructed by his boss, her personal web advisor. So, Grace had thrown that in as well…

“Never met a woman so confusing. What say you, Everett?” The cute puppy cocked his head and gazed at her with hopeful eyes. “And you’re just chasing treats. Alright, then.”

Olivia gave him one, then scooped him up and headed to her workshop. Might as well focus on something useful, eh. She put on her headphones, considered the slab of raw wood in front of her, and decided to go with the flow and see what happened.A couple of hours later, having managed to keep the enigmatic Grace Michaels out of her mind for more than ten minutes in a row, which felt like a major victory, she paused when her phone vibrated in her pocket. One look at the number on the screen had her heart rate shooting through the roof.Grace.She whipped the headphones off.

“Hello again.”

“I have a vicious headache,” Grace announced as if it might be her fault.

“Oh?” A bit puzzled, Olivia frowned in wonder.“Well. Are you staying hydra—“