Harlequin Holiday Collection - Four Classic Seasonal Novellas

were adequate. Judging by her experience, he had to agree she was being followed.
    “Have you received any strange phone calls? Hang ups? Heavy breathers? Anything like that?”
    She shook her head.
    “You haven’t seen any strange cars hanging out around your apartment complex?”
    Another shake of her dark head.
    Disturbing. “Have you reported this to Callie or the police?”
    “No. I…I thought…I wasn’t sure.” She hugged her arms around herself. “But now I’m certain. The man is definitely following me.”
    “He wears sunglasses and a baseball cap, you think?”
    She inhaled a long, shaky breath. “I’m not positive about the cap but I’m absolutely positive about the sunglasses.”
    This needed to be brought to Callie’s attention, as well as to that of the chief of police. “Tell me about the cases you’ve worked recently.” Though the work they did was not anything like what one saw on television, their analysis helped law enforcement bring criminals to justice. Those criminals, at times, targeted the ones they felt were ultimately responsible for their arrests. The forensic analysts.
    She listed the cases she’d performed various tests to support. None struck him as particularly high profile or intense investigations. “Are you certain you haven’t made any enemies since moving here? A jilted boyfriend? Or an admirer you’ve offended somehow?” The idea of Olivia with another man burned deep in his belly.
    She shook her head. “I’ve been busy with the lab. I really haven’t made any social connections.”
    Which meant she was like him. Alone. His chest tightened at the thought.
    “Let’s get you calmed down.” That was the first priority. “Then we’ll call Callie and discuss the situation with her.”
    Olivia nodded. “Okay.”
    He remembered how much they’d enjoyed the hot cocoa last night and he amended his plan. “Let’s have some more of that hot cocoa first.”
    The hint of a smile touched her lips. “That would be great.”
    “I’ll put the water on.”
    Jacob went into the kitchen and filled the kettle. His logic warred with his emotions. He shouldn’t be encouraging this thing between them.
    But…
    But nothing.
    He was tired of being alone.
    Taking a risk on Olivia would be worth the potential pain.

Chapter Fourteen
    Olivia cradled the hot mug of cocoa in both hands. Logically she knew she was warm now, but somehow her brain failed to deliver that message to the rest of her. She couldn’t stop shivering. Couldn’t stop wondering why anyone would be following her.
    Or why everything was going wrong for her at work.
    She lifted her gaze to Jacob’s. He’d been watching her closely since her arrival. He was probably afraid to look away for fear of being attacked. She closed her eyes and pushed away the embarrassing memory of kissing him the way she had.
    Poor man. She was like some crazed fan.
    Callie would likely regret hiring her when she heard about this latest drama. What was going on with her life? Had she ticked off some god or spirit?
    Drink the cocoa . Calm down .
    Until then she hadn’t noticed that the lights on his Christmas tree were twinkling. He’d bothered to turn them on. A genuine smile slid across her lips. Maybe she’d done one thing right in all this.
    Evidently he’d followed her gaze. “I turned the tree on when I got home. It was the least I could do after all the trouble you’d gone to.”
    “It looks nice. Homey.” It was true. The evergreen scent and the classic lights made the place feel more like a home.
    “I don’t do much to promote that, I’m afraid.”
    Had she made him feel guilty for his lack of a festive spirit? “I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant—”
    He nodded. “I know what you meant.” He glanced around the room. “I’ve lived here for more than a year and I haven’t really made it my own.”
    Was that because he was single? Was he missing someone from the past? The idea twisted her already knotted stomach. “It takes a while sometimes.” The chitchat was awkward. She knew the reason why. That stupid kiss was dangling between them like a black cloud. “Maybe you can give me some pointers on the market when I start house shopping.”
    “Gladly.”
    Their gazes held long enough to make her pulse react. She should leave. She didn’t need Jacob to call Callie for her. Olivia was fine now. The last thing she wanted to do was make him think she was incapable. She set her cup on the coffee