Page 42 of Artifice (Pros and Cons Mysteries #4)

B ack in her room, Olive’s heart still pounded out of control.

There was so much going on here, and she didn’t like it.

Her mind finally settled on thinking about Jason.

As his image filled her mind, guilt pounded through her.

She wasn’t sure whether or not the guilt was justified. She hadn’t made any promises to Jason. They’d just exchanged one kiss.

But for some, kisses were more like promises.

Though she’d prided herself in getting through most of her adult life without any connections, there were only two people who were exceptions to that rule.

Tevin and Jason. But she still wasn’t sure what to do about Jason. If she truly trusted him.

She wanted to. But more than one thing held her back—including fear.

Everyone she’d ever truly loved was now dead . . . well, everyone other than Jason. But that had been so long ago.

She knew the extreme pain of losing loved ones. Part of her never wanted to put herself through that again.

That was why Olive didn’t let herself get too attached. Quick and easy relationships were ideal.

Then there was Jason . . . who waited in the wings.

She needed to find out more answers before she made any of these decisions.

With those thoughts in mind, she picked up her phone and stared at it a moment.

Then she dialed Jason’s number.

“Hey.” Jason’s deep rumbling voice sounded across the line. It had dropped an octave to the more intimate tone that made Olive’s blood race.

“Am I catching you at a bad time?” She leaned back against the pillows on her bed.

“Never. I’m just settling in to relax for the evening. How are you?”

She wished that she could tell him. But that wouldn’t be prudent right now. “Staying busy with this new assignment.”

“Staying safe?”

She remembered watching Ms. Strickland jump from the cliff. Remembered learning that a crime boss might be involved with what was going on.

Then she said, “Always.”

“I hope that’s the truth.”

She pictured Jason in his living room with his dog beside him.

The image warmed her heart.

What if she just outright asked him about his family’s potential connection with her family’s murder? Why not tell him?

She knew.

There was no good way to ask the question. Any way she worded it, her inquiry would sound accusatory. Besides, if someone in his family—probably his dad—was somehow involved, Olive didn’t want to tip them off.

It seemed nothing about her life was simple. Ever.

“I can’t talk very much about my day,” she finally said. “So why don’t you tell me about yours? I could use a distraction.”

He let out a breath. “What is there to say about Conglomerate?”

Conglomerate was the tech business where he served as head of security. It was where they’d first reconnected when Olive had been on assignment there—using an alias, of course.

They’d stayed in touch ever since and had even been able to see each other last month when Jason himself hired Olive to investigate a young mother who’d solicited thousands of dollars in donations for a fake illness.

“Has Conglomerate been keeping you busy?” Olive finally pushed.

“Yes, it has been.”

“Then why do I get the sense you’re bored?”

He’d been an Army Ranger before leaving the service and accepting this cushy new job.

“The job is fine,” Jason said. “I get paid well so I can’t complain.”

Jason didn’t even need to get paid well. He’d been adopted, and later on in life his biological grandfather had found him. In a short period of time, his bio granddad had changed his will and left all his money to Jason.

And by all his money, Olive meant all his money. The man had been loaded. And he’d passed away within only months of first meeting Jason.

“Not enough excitement for you at Conglomerate?” Olive pressed further.

“Maybe. I guess I’m used to being out in the field playing a more active role. Here I’m mostly monitoring people who come and go, developing emergency plans, and checking in with everyone under me to make sure they’re doing their jobs.”

They chatted for several more minutes. Then before they got off the phone, Jason asked, “Do you know yet when I might be able to see you again?”

Her muscles tightened, even though she’d known that the question was coming.

But maybe it was a good thing Jason had asked. Maybe she could set a deadline for herself. Sometimes not making a decision felt worse than just deciding on something.

“I finish this assignment on Saturday”—she hoped—“and then I’ll be heading back to Indianapolis.”

“I could meet you there Saturday evening. Would that work for you?”

Her pulse quickened at the thought of it.

Could she have answers for him by Saturday? And what if she didn’t? Should she meet and pretend as if nothing were wrong?

Those were the questions she had to contend with.

She contemplated on how she should answer before finally agreeing.

But she hoped she didn’t regret this.