Harlequin Holiday Collection - Four Classic Seasonal Novellas

table and stood. “I’m feeling calmer now. I should go.”
    He looked surprised, but pushed to his feet as well. “What about Callie?”
    “I’ll call when I get home. I shouldn’t have bothered you.”
    She made it as far as the door before he stopped her. He took her by the arm and pulled her around to face him. Another of those full body shivers rippled through her, but this time it had nothing to do with being cold.
    “Olivia.” He searched her eyes, seemed to struggle with what to say. “This is real. You were frightened. You can’t just leave like this. Let’s call Callie and then I’ll follow you home.”
    Every word he said made perfect sense. “I…” It was time to be totally honest here. “I feel bad about last night.” She forced her gaze to meet his, as hard as that was. He had to think she was a fool. “I shouldn’t have…kissed you. It was unconscionable of me. I apologize.”
    He was staring at her mouth again. She couldn’t say another word. Couldn’t breathe. Please don’t look at me that way, her mind begged.
    “You didn’t do anything wrong,” he finally said softly. “I…”
    He was still looking at her mouth. Her heart fluttered like a butterfly trapped in her chest.
    And then he kissed her. Softly, so very softly. His lips felt so good against hers. When he stopped, which was all too soon, he pressed his forehead to hers.
    “We really have to figure this part out. That’s why I’m so careful at work.”
    Her lips stretched into a smile. “I thought you were avoiding me.”
    “Hardly.”
    And then he kissed her again.

Chapter Fifteen
    Two days ’til Christmas
    Olivia could scarcely contain herself at the lab that morning. Jacob had smiled at her when she’d arrived. Not the usual manufactured smile that he tossed at whoever spoke to him, but a real smile that reached his eyes. Whatever was happening between them she wanted it to continue.
    Callie had filed the incident report with Kenner City’s chief of police. Both the chief and Callie had insisted that Olivia had been right to report the activity. Callie also agreed that none of Olivia’s cases were the kind that would prompt such a reaction. Still, one could never be certain.
    Olivia had decided not to go to Boston after work today. She was hoping against hope that she and Jacob would spend Christmas together. But she was getting ahead of herself. He’d kissed her. Twice. That was true. And he’d followed her home. He’d even come into her apartment and checked that all was clear. Then he’d called her before he went to bed just to be sure she was really okay.
    That was a beginning. Wasn’t it? They hadn’t discussed where this was going. But one thing was certain—no one could know. Callie wouldn’t be happy. And they could not allow their personal feelings to interfere with their job.
    Those were the rules. Simple enough.
    Olivia took a breath. Anything but simple.
    Now, if she could just get through the day without any incidents. Callie had gotten the hard copies of her data from yesterday. So all was well on that front. Olivia would do the same today. Better safe than sorry. The last thing she wanted to do was be here alone the day before Christmas Eve—or worse, on Christmas Eve. The lab was supposed to shut down for the weekend.
    Of course, if any high-priority requests came in someone would have to work. Depending on the nature of the analysis needed, that would likely be Olivia since she was lowest in seniority.
    “Olivia, do you mind working at my station for the rest of the day?” Flemming leaned on her table and rested his head in his hand. “Callie wants me to go through your computer. When I ran a routine check this morning of all the systems, there appeared to be some discrepancies in your access. Some appeared to be remote, as if you’d worked from home.”
    “I don’t work from home,” she said. Her suspicions about him rose again even though she’d thought she had put her worries aside where Flemming was concerned. “I usually stay here until I’m finished or come in early the next day.”
    “Yeah, that’s what I thought, but something isn’t right.” He straightened. “We all remote-access the system when we’re out of the lab on a case, but you haven’t traveled on one yet. Maybe it’s nothing, but I should look into it.”
    “All right.” She considered asking him if he thought the problem could be related to her stalker, but she wasn’t sure if Callie