I returned home and made sure there was fresh water and food for Luna before pulling some leftovers from the fridge. As I heated them up, I opened my copy ofInsatiableand started reading. I was hooked from the first page, and I admired the way the main character was brazen and bold. She was the type of woman I wanted to be—unabashed about what she wanted both in and out of the bedroom. And I understood why Alyssa had recommended the book. Not only was the writing superb, but the characters were so…inspiring. Empowering.
I got up to refill my glass of wine and rinse my plate, eager to return to the story. I typically didn’t read many romance novels, but this book was making me rethink that.
My phone buzzed on the counter, and I answered without looking, figuring it was my dad calling to say hi.
“Hey.” I cradled the phone between my shoulder and my ear as I carried my wine and Kindle over to the couch.
“Hello?” There was a deep voice on the other end, one I didn’t recognize, though it vibrated through me like a tuning rod. “Olivia?”
I stilled. “Yes?”
“Hey.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “This is Connor. Connor James.”
My eyes went wide.Oh my god.
Chapter Six
Connor
“Connor?” Olivia’s voice was sweet, cute even, and she sounded young. For a brief moment, I wondered if she was even eighteen, but then I realized she’d have to be to sign up for the program.
“Yeah. You know, from the Spines for Soldiers program.”
How many guys did she know named Connor? I shook my head. I didn’t want to think about it. Didn’t want to think about there being any other men in her life.
“Hey. I, um, wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon. Did you already finish the book?”
I chuckled. “No. I’m a fast reader, but I’m not that fast. Besides, I spent most of the day at work and rehab.”
“How was it?” she asked, and I was surprised by how comfortable I already felt talking to her. How seamlessly we were able to switch from emailing to talking on the phone. And it made me wonder what it would be like to meet her.
I shook my head.Meet her?Where had that thought come from? Besides, what would be the point?
“Which one?” I asked.
“Both. Either.” She laughed but it sounded nervous, and it only endeared her to me.
“Work is fine, though it’s frustrating to be a desk monkey. Rehab—” I blew out a breath. How much was I willing to share with her? I settled on a version of the truth. “Rehab isn’t going as well as I’d like.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Sincerity rang throughout her tone, and I felt myself relax.
“Thanks. I just—I don’t want to be stuck doing a desk job. I’d much rather be in the field.”
“Well, hopefully you’ll be able to get back out there before too long.” Her voice conveyed a sense of hopefulness I didn’t feel.
This was more about my injury. This was about trust, respect. Those two were the foundation of our work at Cole Security. If the guys couldn’t trust me, if I couldn’t trust myself, I was useless.
“I hope so.” I blew out a breath. “My injury is…has made things uncertain.” Though, really, it was the circumstances surrounding it. My “reckless” behavior, as Mark had called it.
“It can be difficult to give up something you’re passionate about. Something you were born to do. But it can also create new opportunities that you never expected. It might not seem like it now, but it could be a positive thing.”
If someone like Mark or Decker had said something like that to me, I would’ve blown them off. I might’ve even gotten angry. But for some reason, it felt like Olivia truly understood.
“Are you speaking from experience?” I asked, wanting to know more about her.
“Um…” she hedged. “Sort of.”
I frowned. What the hell did that mean? Was she referring to a boyfriend? Husband? I wanted to ask but was afraid to hear the answer. I almost preferred to live in the dark, to be able to pretend she was single.
