Page 48 of Nemesis

I grabbed a few ingredients from the refrigerator and set them on the counter to quickly make her something. I’d stopped at a store on our way here, paying off a kid to grab a few things we’d need.

She padded to the kitchen and leaned her elbows against the island.

“Hand me a knife,” I commanded softly.

She opened a drawer and pulled one from it, then handed it to me without a word.

That’s a first.

I sliced pieces of bread, then did the same with some tomatoes and lettuce. Grabbing the cheese and turkey, I assembled two sandwiches, only pausing to ask her if she wanted to add anything to it.

I reached into one of the cabinets and pulled a plate down, then placed the sandwiches on it and handed it to her.

She crinkled her nose.

“What’s wrong?”

“Hm, could you cut the crust?” She paused. “Please?”

Please. Another first.

I shook my head, a small chuckle rumbling in my chest at the memory of Sofia always asking me the same thing.

I obliged, pushing the thought of Sofia out of my head, and handed the plate back to Olivia, this time crust-free. I walked back to the couch and she trailed me, plopping down closer to me this time around.

She folded one of her legs under her before picking up a half and while she ate, I propped my reading glasses back on, diving back into reviewing the tapes.

Every once in a while, I glanced up at her and caught her staring at me. Her gaze wasn’t hostile this time but rather appraising, as if she were attempting to solve me.

I noticed how close our thighs were to each other, barely an inch separating us.

I waited for her to say something, but she seemed content with the silence. I didn’t know how long we sat there, her eating as I kept analyzing the screens, while the rain settled into a soft lull.

At one point throughout the evening, she got up and I heard her rummaging through the kitchen. A few minutes later, she came back and slid something in my direction. I glanced away from my laptop, only to realize she’d made another plate.

This time it was for me.

Inexplicably, my heart skipped a beat, and I looked up at her. We stared at each other before I eventually forced myself to look away, muttering a thank you.

It probably meant nothing, but no one had taken care of me in a very long time and her small gesture tugged at my heart strings. I tried to refocus my attention and concentrate on the task of finding something,anythingin the footage Jaxon had given me, but every once in a while, I couldn't help but look over at her.

It was past midnight when sleep tugged at my consciousness. I turned my attention to Olivia, only to find her already fast asleep. I studied her in the dim light from the fire and the sight of her nestled against the corner of the couch constricted my airways, the air leaving my lungs in a whoosh.

I sighed, ruffling my hands through my strands.

God, she is breathtaking.

I gently shut my computer screen and moved off the couch. I wanted to pick her up and move her to the bedroom, knowing sleeping on the couch would be uncomfortable, but she seemed so at peace, which was such a rarity, that I didn't want to do anything to disturb it.

My eyes lingered on her form before they studied her face, noticing details I hadn’t before. The slope of her nose, her thick lashes fanning her high cheekbones, the faint constellation of light brown freckles on her nose, the curve of her lush lip.

I’m fucked.

I tore my gaze away and my jaw clenched at the unwelcome images crowding my thoughts. I knew I shouldn’t be thinking about her like this, but I couldn’t help myself.

Her quiet snore snapped me out of my thoughts and I slowly got up, making sure to move without waking her up.

I grabbed a blanket from the closet and draped it over her body. Her curls were pulled into a loose bun on top of her head. A stranded curl fell over her face and I got on one knee, hunching over to reach for it and tuck it behind her ear.