Page 57 of Artifice

As soon as she said the name, the table went quiet. The girls’ faces dropped several shades.

And no one answered.

She’d definitely touched on a nerve.

“No one?” Olive said.

Still nothing.

Someone had gotten to them, she realized.

She wasn’t going to get anywhere here.

As she stood from talking to the girls, she nearly collided with someone.

She glanced up and saw none other than Simon Long standing there.

She fought a frown.

“Finding out a lot of information?” His words sounded as if they had a double meaning.

And Olive didn’t like it. She didn’t like the fact this guy thought he knew things about her.

And the thing was . . . he might not know anything. Or he might know more than she wanted.

Either way, the man made her uncomfortable.

“I’m doing my due diligence.” She raised her chin. “How about you? How is your consulting going?”

“Swimmingly.” His eyes glimmered.

They began walking toward an exit, their steps slow as if they both wanted to draw out this conversation.

Olive remembered everything that happened last night. Remembered just how adept this man had maneuvered them away from the danger.

Later today, she needed to call Rex Blackwood, her boss, and find out what he knew about this man. She needed to know if Simon was a friend or an enemy.

“I’m glad you got home safely last night,” she told him. “The water was rough.”

“And you had a long walk.”

“Nothing me and my heels couldn’t handle.”

“But the torn dress may have gotten a little breezy for you.”

She narrowed her eyes, finding this man a little too cocky.

For a moment, she wished she could be blunt with him. Ask him outright what he was up to.

But that wouldn’t be happening. Being blunt was entirely too risky.

They paused near the wall and stared at each other a moment.

Neither of them spoke. Just sized each other up.

That was okay with Olive. She could hold her own.

Just then, a shout sounded, followed by a loud bang.