Page 10 of Obscurity (Pros and Cons Mysteries #5)

A s their discussion about the case wound down, familiar tension settled between Olive’s shoulders.

The tension of her and Jason’s relationship, their past, of unspoken conversations.

She busied herself putting away her notes, though she felt Jason’s presence beside her like heat from a fire.

This cover required intimacy they couldn’t fake, in a room designed for couples who actually wanted to share space.

She leaned back against the bed, hating how nervous she felt. She prided herself on being calm, cool, and collected. “So, how was your last assignment?”

Jason leaned back also and shrugged. “I managed to track down the father. He wasn’t dead. He simply didn’t want to be a dad anymore and wanted instead to start fresh somewhere else.”

“Some people . . .”

He glanced at her and nodded. “Yes, some people.”

Another moment of awkward silence stretched between them.

“Olive, I know you’ve been avoiding me,” Jason finally started, the hard lines on his face softening some. “What I’m not sure about is why. Are you upset I’m working for Aegis? They approached me, just for the record.”

“I’m not upset. I think you’re a good fit.” Her words were sincere.

“Ever since I was hired, you’ve sounded stiff and distracted whenever we talk on the phone. Something is obviously going on.”

She wished she could deny his words, but she couldn’t. Instead of answering directly, she said, “I thought you liked working for Conglomerate.”

“I did, but I was ready for a change. Ready to be in the field instead of supervising security.” His gaze lingered on her.

She couldn’t deny that Jason made a great Aegis agent. But working with him complicated everything. Everything .

Rex had brought it up once. I take it you’ll be able to keep your professional boundaries in place?

Of course, Olive had said yes. What choice did she have if she wanted to keep her job? But Jason being her colleague threw her into an emotional tailspin.

She glanced at him now. Should she even open up this can of worms about why she was keeping her distance? It could compromise her ability to fully focus on the case right now.

And that wasn’t fair to Chloe or her family. They deserved her full attention.

“I just have a lot on my mind,” she finally told him. “It’s not personal.”

He stared at her another moment before slowly nodding. “Okay then. Maybe we can talk things through when you’re ready. Because, Olive, . . . I know exactly what I want.”

“And what’s that?” As soon as she asked the question, she realized her mistake.

“You.” The word sounded low, quiet—and intimate.

Her cheeks warmed.

At once, she remembered their last kiss. She’d love more than anything to recreate it.

But Jason didn’t know the things she knew—at least, to her knowledge he didn’t know.

She needed to figure out how to navigate this situation. Too much was on the line not to.