Her eyebrows rose.
“That’s not it. Honestly. It’s just that … I don’t know. I’m thinking more of expanding the current business.”
Her face remained neutral for a moment, then her mouth made a pretty O of surprise. “You’re going to add a restaurant!”
“Shh.” Jamie glanced around to be sure no one heard. “Not quite. And maybe not anything at all. I’m taking your class to explore the possibilities. That’s all.”
“Well, I think that’s great. What responsibilities do you cover at the brewery?” She turned to face the view, now that she’d wrung his secret from him.
“I manage the front room and we all have input into the brewing side.” Some more than others.
“Food service would be a lot more involved, you know.”
His neck burned with self-consciousness. Was she implying he couldn’t handle it? “Yeah, I know.”
“Well, let me know if you need help with anything.”
“I’ll be fine.”
She bumped her hip against him. “You’re right.”
Maybe she did think he could handle it. Maybe she saw something in him. “Am I?”
“Yes,” she said softly. “It is an amazing view.”
Ah. Of course. He leaned against the railing and took it in, aware of her arm only a millimeter away from his. When goose bumps swept up her skin, he had the perfect excuse to hook her arm into his and ease her closer. A whisper of a breeze swept her hair from her neck.
“I’m glad you brought me out here,” she whispered. “But we forgot to search out Victor.”
“He saw us.”
“He did? Do you think he could tell?”
He slid his thumb along her wrist. “Oh, he could tell.”
“But how?”
Jamie met her questioning eyes. She looked absolutely puzzled, and he felt simultaneously amused and dumbfounded. “Your mouth,” he said, letting his gaze fall to her lips. “Your eyes.”
She shook her head as if she didn’t understand.
Jamie smiled. “You looked aroused,” he clarified.
The muscles of her arm jumped as a blush washed over her face. “I don’t know … I’m sure that …” When she started to pull away, Jamie wrapped his fingers into hers and held her still.
“There’s nothing wrong with arousal, Olivia. Is there?”
“I just—” She shook her head again, and when she pulled away, he let her go. “I don’t even know you.”
Alarm sparked in her wide eyes. She didn’t seem to know that it was part of the excitement. Part of what had made her cheeks flush and her lips soften when he’d kissed her. “It’s chemistry,” he murmured. “Nothing to do with common sense. The opposite of it, in fact.”
“Chemistry,” she murmured. Her eyes flickered, traveling down his body, and Jamie felt those chemical reactions begin to burn again. Her mouth curved up on one side, before she shook her head and banished her smile. “Well, thank you.”
“For the chemistry?”
“For playing along.”
He was playing, all right, but it wasn’t a part. Still, if that helped her feel better about it, Jamie could let it go.
“Can I get you another glass of wine?”
“No, I think we can go now.” She winked. “Your work here is done.”
“Olivia—”
“Thank you again. For everything. But I think you should just take me home.”
Jamie sighed. That didn’t sound like an invitation. But at least he’d gotten a kiss. He’d bring her an apple on Thursday and see where it went from there.
CHAPTER FIVE
HE HADN’T CALLED.
Olivia lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling and feeling stupid for even thinking it. She’d known he wouldn’t call. She’d told herself she didn’t want him to. But now that she was faced with seeing him in class in a few hours, it felt awkward. On her part, at least. Jamie would probably just laugh.
At least she hadn’t invited him in when he’d walked her to her door. She’d left him with just one more kiss. One more slow, hot, body-tingling kiss.
She smiled. Maybe it was worth the awkwardness. She didn’t feel like a new woman or anything, but she definitely felt a few degrees brighter.
It was a good start.
Still, even if he was interested, she didn’t think she could keep walking down this road with Jamie. That man was potent. Hell, he’d been potent before he’d put his mouth on her, and then he’d gone from intoxicating to deadly. Olivia had no doubt she’d have a very good time with Jamie Donovan, but she’d be just one on a long list of women. She didn’t want to think what it would be like to watch as he walked away, taking his good time with him.
Whatever her intentions, it came as no surprise to her that when the phone rang, Olivia immediately thought of Jamie. More proof that she was already in over her head. She made herself walk slowly to the phone, then answered it without checking the ID, pretending she didn’t care who it was. “Olivia Bishop.”
“Oooolivia Bishop,” a friendly female voice crooned.
“Gwen?” she asked, just as she realized what was about to happen.
“So I talked to Marcie last night….”
“Oh, God.” Olivia put her hand to her eyes. Marcie was friends with one of Victor’s fellow professors.
“You naughty little witch,” Gwen drawled, obviously enjoying her secret. “You’re totally getting it on with Jamie Donovan. I don’t know whether to hate you or put you on a pedestal.”
“I am not getting it on with Jamie Donovan.”
“Liar.”
Olivia smiled as she shook her head. “I’m not lying.”
“Look, I admire that you’re trying to protect his modesty. It’s cute.”
“Gwen,” Olivia said, laughing. “Okay, I admit that I went to the party with him, but that is all that happened.”
“That’s all?” Gwen squealed. “Where the heck did this come from? You met him once. One time!”
“I know—”
“And you said you were trying to ease back into the dating world. This is like shooting yourself out of a cannon.”
Olivia collapsed onto her bed, laughing so hard she couldn’t catch her breath.
“I need all the details,” Gwen said. “Please God, give me some details!”
“I’m sorry, Gwen, but I don’t have any!”
“Just any level of story then. Put me out of my misery.”
Olivia sighed. She wasn’t going to tell Gwen everything, but if she refused to speak it would look even worse. “Jamie asked me out, and I—”
“Now, hold on. Back it up, sister.”
This part wasn’t easy, and she wished she could get away with leaving it out entirely. Instead, she decided to fudge the details. “I saw him. On campus. He asked me