research corporations. Though the corporation was strictly private—no government affiliations whatsoever—what he did deep within the bowels of that facility was top secret. That was the part of their relationship that she related to the most readily.
He shrugged. “Nothing notable.”
She hummed a note of acknowledgment and sipped her wine. “I think I’ll change.”
He reached for the next vegetable in need of slicing. “Ten minutes. Don’t be late.”
She produced a smile and turned away from the domestic scene.
This was her life. Comfortable. Easy. But there were times, like now, when she felt out of place. As if she didn’t really belong here in this house…with this man. She downed a gulp of wine in hopes of bolstering the facade of happiness she’d worked so hard to veneer into place over the past three years.
“Don’t think about it,” she scolded softly as she tossed her purse onto the table in the hall. Allowing a patient’s session to prompt this much anxiety was not her usual response. She was stronger than this.
The journey through her home was taken slowly. She surveyed every detail as if for the first time. Anything to get her mind off these ridiculous feelings of apprehension.
She had updated the house immediately after moving in. Gutted the place, actually. Sparing no expense, she had wanted a relaxing yet sophisticated living space. The interior decorator she’d hired had taken great pains with the decor and the furnishings had accomplished that goal. Using things and everyday decisions to fill the emptiness in her life had worked as an excellent distraction at first. Eventually it was not enough. She’d turned her attention elsewhere.
Dating had proven a practical trial for occupying her time for a while. However, no one had lasted beyond date number three until Jeffrey. She tossed her double-breasted suit jacket onto the king-size bed in their room and strode into the walk-in closet to find something more comfortable.
It wasn’t that she’d fallen in love with Jeffrey. He’d simply fit nicely into the life she’d created for herself. He was reliable, kind and always considerate. He made no complicated demands. Simple was her new motto, after all.
Pink silk lounge pants and a matching camisole replaced her skirt and button-up blouse. The tile of the en suite bath felt cool beneath her bare feet, a welcome respite after wearing stilettos all day.
Once she had taken the pins from her French twist, she brushed through her long dark hair until it glistened around her shoulders. If she really took the time to consider her reflection, she would have to admit that she looked the same as before. Her hair was longer and darker, but otherwise she’d changed very little. Same green eyes. No additional wrinkles to speak of for a woman closer to forty than thirty. It was everything else in her life that had altered.
She hissed a breath of impatience. Why couldn’t she stop this? She hadn’t had this much trouble focusing since…since the beginning.
She grabbed her empty glass and headed back to join Jeffrey.
He’d set the dining table. Flowers, candles and the lovely white bone china they used every day. He placed the salad bowl in the middle of the table next to the linguini and white-wine sauce before he looked up.
“You need another drink.”
He moved to her side to remedy that situation without her having to say a word. That was another thing she enjoyed about Jeffrey. Making her happy appeared to be his single goal when they were together. She should be grateful.
She was.
“Smells heavenly.” She thanked Jeffrey for the refill and settled into the chair he pulled out.
He took his own seat directly across from her and lifted his glass. “To us.” He smiled as their glasses clinked. “And a lovely evening.”
She returned the smile and drank deeply from her wine.
Now was all that mattered.
Her new life…this moment.
The unmistakable sound of her cell phone chimed from the hall. She groaned.
“Don’t answer it,” Jeffrey suggested, looking mildly annoyed at the intrusion.
Olivia sat her glass down. “I shouldn’t.” She took a deep breath and rose from her chair. “But one of my patients is having a crisis. If he needs me…”
Jeffrey rolled his eyes but said nothing as she left the table without finishing the statement. He understood her dedication to her work even if he didn’t like it at times. He was every bit as dedicated as she was.
She walked to the hall table and fished her phone from her bag. Jeffrey was right. She shouldn’t answer. If it was one of her patients, he could leave a message.
The display flashed an icon she didn’t remember seeing before. She frowned as she attempted to remember what it meant.
Then she knew.
Never count on anything to last.
Chapter 2
For ten seconds Olivia couldn’t breathe.
This was impossible.
She told herself to inhale. Instinctively she reached up and fingered the necklace that served as a constant reminder of all she wanted to forget.
“Is everything all right, Olivia?”
Her gaze shot to the dining room where Jeffrey stared at her, concern marring the smooth features of his intelligent face.
She swallowed. “I have to take this.”
Before he could give her a disappointed look for allowing the intrusion during dinner—during their time—she escaped out the front door.
This was not a call forwarded from her office number or her home number or any other number represented by some part of her present life.
This was the past calling. An old cell number she’d once used as a lifeline…a number she’d tried for three years to forget but could never bring herself to let go.
By the fifth ring she had reached the edge of her driveway. She flipped open the phone, her heart pounding. “Yes.” It was a miracle her voice didn’t quaver.
“Sheara?”
The earth shook beneath her, or maybe it was her rigid frame doing the shaking. She tried to steady herself but the name reverberated through her like the aftershocks of a major quake.
This wasn’t possible.
She licked her lips. “Yes.”
“I have a problem that requires your kind of special attention. You were highly recommended.” He cleared his throat. “I would like to arrange a meeting as soon as possible.”
Olivia blinked, glanced around the neighborhood to ensure she hadn’t attracted any unnecessary attention. It wasn’t dark yet
