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Swallowing hard against the knot in her chest, Olivia nodded. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry.”
“I’ll see you at the house.” James yanked her in for a quick, scorching kiss. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” As soon as he left, she focused on getting her makeup done as quickly as possible without looking like a clown. It took her nearly all of the twenty minutes she’d allotted herself, thanks to whatever law of the universe stated only one eye could have perfect eyeliner at any given moment.
She was slipping into her heels at the twenty-five-minute mark when her phone rang. “Olivia Monroe,” she answered, praying she didn’t sound as breathless as she felt.
“Olivia? It’s MaryAnn.”
“Uh, hi, MaryAnn. What’s up?” Shoes on, she raced for the kitchen, then swore under her breath when she didn’t see her purse on the island where sheknewshe’d left it the night before. Which, if she had, her daddy had probably put it in the coat closet where he was always telling her it belonged. Letting out a silent scream of frustration, she headed for the front hall.
“I just had a couple call about the Petersons’ house. They’re really interested in taking a look.”
Reaching for her purse, which was indeed in the coat closet, Olivia froze. “The Petersons? Seriously?” It was one of her most expensive properties and she’d been trying to move it for two months. “Wait.” Pulling the phone away from her ear, she frowned at the number on the screen. “Are you at the office?”
“Um, I-I came in to catch up on some paperwork.”
“Why are you calling me on your cell?”
“I have them on the office line. They’re sitting in the driveway, waiting on someone.”
“Fuck! Seriously? I have an open house; I can’t meet them now.” Who the hell called on a Sunday, anyway?
“I’m sorry, but they said it has to be today,” MaryAnn squeaked out.
“Okay. Okay.” Closing her eyes, Olivia focused on the problem at hand. “It’s definitely a couple? Did you speak to the wife?”
“Um, yes?”
“Good. Let them know I’m ten minutes away. Then, call James and let him know where I’m headed and see if he can’t find someone to meet me there.” James was going to have her ass, but this was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
“O-okay.”
“Thanks, MaryAnn. I appreciate all the hard work you do for us.”
She ended the call, cutting off MaryAnn’s stuttering and grabbed her purse. The Petersons’ place was just a few neighborhoods over, so she was there under the ten-minute mark. A somewhat battered SUV was parked in the driveway, and a tall man climbed out when she pulled up beside it.
Unease pooled in her belly, but she chided herself for passing judgement based on the fact that they drove an older car.Lots of people keep the same car for years, Liv. Don’t be a snob.
Putting on her best realtor smile, she hopped out of her car. “Good afternoon! I’m Olivia Monroe.”
The man smiled, and while it was perfectly charming with no hint of malice, she couldn’t seem to shake that uneasy feeling as he shook her hand. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. “Nathaniel Cooke. Everyone calls me Nate.”
“Well, Nate, it’s nice to meet you.” Leaning around him, she searched the interior of the car. “Is your wife with you?”
“Oh, no, it’s just me.” Again with the perfect, charming smile that made Olivia’s stomach turn.
“I see. Will she be joining us?”
“No, she’s out of town on business. I’m actually leaving in an hour to meet her, which is why I wanted to go ahead and see the house. I really think it’s perfect for us.”
What the hell, MaryAnn?“Well, it might be better to wait until your wife can tour the house as well, don’t you think?”
The charming smile cranked up a notch, but Olivia couldn’t help but think it made him look a little crazy. “My wife trusts my opinion, Mrs. Monroe. I would like to see the house now.”
Taking a step backward, Olivia froze when he shifted and the sunlight bounced off the barrel of the gun he’d stashed beneath his long coat. Ice skittered up her spine. The smile he wore now had lost all of its fake charm, revealing the deranged killer underneath.
“We should go inside, Olivia. People will start to talk if we linger.”
