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CHAPTER FIVE

Back in Olivia’s room, Tyson had enjoyed playing the part of Junk Food Cop. He waved his finger when he found the potato chips, put his hands on his hips at the package of cookies, shook his head at the candy bars.

Olivia hammed it up by looking as if she hadn’t known any of the snacks were there.

They were all laughing by the time the segment was over.

“Thanks, Tyson. That was fun.” Olivia reached for the food in his hands. “I’ll take these back now.”

He raised an eyebrow and stepped back, gathering the taboo food close to his chest. “I don’t think so.”

Olivia’s mouth dropped open. “Don’t you trust me?”

The horrified expression on her face was priceless. Too bad that wasn’t caught on camera.

“It’s not about trust. It’s about making good decisions.”

After staring at him in silence a moment, she finally said, “Fine, take it.”

Wes and Chandler glanced at each other.

“Olivia Montgomery, you mean to tell me you done gave up your comfort food just like that? Well, bless your heart.” Wes tilted his head in shock, his Texas accent stronger than ever.

She shrugged a little too innocently. “What can I say? If I’m going to do this program, I’m going to do it right.”

Wes and Chandler stared at her with raised eyebrows.

She glanced over at Tyson. “Technically, the program starts tomorrow. I can have one candy bar before bed tonight, right?”

Tyson shook his head. “Not a good idea. The high amount of sugar will lead to a spike and then a crash in your blood sugar levels. It will make it harder to sleep and can even cause nightmares, among other things.”

Olivia pursed her lips. “You just had to burst my bubble, didn’t you?”

“It’s what I get paid to do.”

“Burst bubbles?”

He let out a laugh. “Keep people accountable.”

“What if I get hungry?”

Her sparkling green eyes made him smile. She really was beautiful in a very natural way. Too many people on TV had so much work done. Tyson preferred people who were comfortable with themselves.

“You can grab something healthy from the kitchen,” he finally told her. “I have faith you’ll be okay, Kiddo.”

Olivia blinked as if offended.

He supposed it was too late to take the word back.

After a few seconds, a grin spread across Olivia’s face, and she jabbed his arm. “Okay, if you say so, Muscle Man .”

Muscle Man? He supposed he deserved that.

His time with Olivia would be very interesting, he realized. Very interesting.

* * *

Kiddo? Had Tyson really just called her that?

Olivia bit back a frown.

His opinion of her was clear.

But that was okay. She didn’t care what the man thought of her.

It wasn’t as if she was looking for a potential relationship.

No, Olivia knew she needed to deal with her trauma before she let anyone else into her life emotionally. Lyle had told her that was only wise.

She couldn’t have a healthy relationship until she conquered more of her demons. Until she was healthy and healed.

It made sense. If forty days could reset her habits and health, could it reset her trauma also? The idea intrigued her.

However, what was with Tyson checking his phone so many times? Afterward, he’d looked so concerned.

He seemed to have a picture-perfect life. But Olivia knew what that was like.

Very few people lived the ideal lives they presented—herself included.

She was interested in digging a little deeper into him, however. Her viewers deserved to know the real man behind this program. But she had a feeling that getting deeper would be a challenge.

It was a good thing she always liked challenges.

Besides, maybe this program would be a good distraction for her—and she could use one of those.

Maybe it would help her stop questioning things.

Questioning the feeling she had of being watched.

Questioning how she mysteriously smelled roses when none were around.

Questioning whether or not Brian Elliot was truly the man who’d abducted her—or if he’d been set up and the police had killed the wrong man.

Tension stretched taut across her chest at the thought.

Yes, a distraction was just what she needed.