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Jax rubbed his forehead. He truly didn’t have the time, nor did he want to get into this conversation in front of Olivia, who clearly had a chip on her shoulder where men in general were concerned.

“Honey—”

“I’ll go on a date with your dad if he wants.”

Jax jumped to his feet. What the hell was she saying? He stared down at her and she merely glanced up to him and winked. Winked. What kind of game was she playing?

“But,” she went on, focusing back to Piper, “we’re just friends. I don’t want you to get any other ideas.”

Piper threw her arms around Olivia’s neck. For a moment, Jax wondered if Olivia would return the innocent gesture, but she enveloped Piper and patted her back.

“I can’t wait to tell Bella,” Piper exclaimed as she pulled back and started sipping her juice.

Olivia stood and straightened her clothes. “Looks like we’ll get to have that talk after all,” she told him with a wide smile.

She’d cornered him and now he was looking at a date with the very last person he wanted to be alone with. Damn it.

* * *

“This shade makes me look like I have jaundice.”

Olivia stared across the table at Melanie’s nude polish. “No, it doesn’t. You’re just

used to that pink you always wear. We were hoping you’d be a little more daring.”

Melanie held her hands out, examining her glossy nails. “This is daring.”

Jade rolled her eyes and stroked her mint green across her pinkie. “It’s nude. You might as well wear nothing. It’s a waste of product. Wear red or navy or even black. For pity’s sake, mix it up.”

Olivia still hadn’t decided her shade. She stared at the variety from reds to pinks to bright summer colors. Nothing was hitting her; then again, perhaps she couldn’t concentrate because she’d been set up on a date by a four-year-old. That little tot should grow up to be a politician or lawyer. She was a sneaky one and had them agreeing within seconds. Their piddly excuses to deny her had fallen on deaf ears.

“What’s up with you?” Jade asked suddenly. “You’ve been frowning since you came back from the airport. Did he refuse to get your suit clean or did he feel you up again?”

Olivia reached for the bright red, deciding on something fierce. “He never felt me up to begin with, let alone again.”

“That palm print on your ass says otherwise,” Melanie murmured.

“Good one,” Jade praised. “I’m so proud of the snark that’s been coming out of you lately.”

“I’m learning,” Melanie beamed.

Melanie had been in a terribly abusive relationship. She was just coming out of the hellish marriage when she’d met Olivia and Jade. Melanie had been stifled for too long, beaten down—literally and figuratively—but she was starting to get her sense of freedom again. And Olivia was thrilled to see her friend grow and find herself.

Jade never had any issues with being sarcastic and speaking her mind. No, her issues stemmed from work, and so here they all were hiding from their problems back in Atlanta.

“So are you ready to spill about your second visit to see Jackson?” Jade asked as she resumed her polishing.

Olivia shook her bottle before uncapping it. “I met his daughter. She’s so adorable and has lopsided blond pigtails.”

“Oh, no. Do not let the cuteness deter you,” Jade scolded. “You have a mission.”

Olivia kept her gaze on her nails, not wanting to see either of her friends’ reactions to her embarrassing turn of events. There was no way to hide the next bit of information, so she might as well just let them in on everything.

“I’m going on a date with Jackson.”

She didn’t have to look up to know both of her friends stilled. Silence settled so heavy between them, Olivia was almost afraid to say anything else for fear of her friends thinking she’d gotten sidetracked . . . even though that’s exactly what had happened.

“If you think we don’t want the backstory, you’re crazy,” Melanie finally stated. “He asked you out and you agreed? Is this part of the plan to get him to sell?”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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