"Come on. One of those ledges in the shower will make a good bench."

"No." She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder.

"You can lean on it. Sit on it, whatever you like."

"Sleep."

"You don't have to do anything. Just sit there."

She began to laugh again. "You just came. What do you even want with me?"

"Mmm. It involves soap. And nudity."

"Jamie-"

He shoved off the bed and scooped her up. "Come on."

"You're crazy!"

"I'm a young man, Ms. Bishop. I bounce back. Isn't that why you seduced me in the first place?" Her outraged shriek of laughter echoed against the bathroom tiles until Jamie stopped it with a kiss. And water. And soapy, soapy hands.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN a bounce in Olivia's step the last time she'd set foot on campus, but now she was practically flying. She didn't care who found out. She didn't care who knew. Let them all see she was getting great sex and lots of it. Compared to being invisible, it was a nice way to walk through the world.

And it wasn't just Jamie making her glow. She'd made a decision this morning. She was only thirty-five. Not even halfway through her working years. She couldn't just give up and decide to do something she hated for the rest of her life.

To be fair, she didn't actually hate it. Teaching was simply...nothing to her. Nothing good or fulfilling or happy. She'd taught because Victor had arranged a position for her. It was as simple as that. And every year she taught kids who moved on and graduated and went out into the world to do what she wanted to do. That was the awful part of it. That was the part that made her stomach churn and clench.

Walking across the grass-or maybe floating over it-Olivia headed straight for her office. She wasn't foolish enough to think she could simply quit her job and make her dreams come true. This was real life, not a Hollywood production. But she could work toward it every day. She could start crunching numbers and making plans and sketching out logos. In a year or two, maybe she'd be ready to start up her business part-time. The college would- "Olivia!" The voice was distant enough that she had no idea who to expect when she turned around. Jamie or Victor or one of her colleagues. She tried not to let hope bubble up inside her as she scanned the lawn. A man raised his hand then, jogging toward her, and she bit back a smile at the sight of Paul. Did he have some sort of sixth sense for satisfied women?

"Hey," he panted when he drew near.

"Good morning."

"Just one second," he said, holding up a finger as she drew in a few deep breaths. "Haven't had my coffee yet."

"No stamina?"

He frowned at that, and Olivia wished she could pull the words back. Probably not what a man liked to hear.

"So, I wondered if it was another time yet."

"Another time?" she asked.

"You said I should ask you another time, and I do need coffee."

She grinned at him, still thrilled with this new attention. And he was cute. He seemed to have spent the weekend outside as his skin had lost a little of its academic pallor. His pale gray eyes were now a striking contrast to his skin.

He raised a hopeful eyebrow at her study.

"I'm actually seeing someone right now," Olivia said. His face fell. "But would you consider another blind date?"

"Oh." A look of mild terror flashed in his eyes.

"I promise I've got good taste. She not only has a great personality, but she's got a smokin' bod."

"A smokin' bod?" he laughed.

"Yep."

"Okay," he admitted. "I'm intrigued."

"Her name is Gwen. She works here at the university. But before this goes any further, let me be clear. Gwen's in administration. She doesn't have a degree, but she's smart and determined. If you have a problem with that, tell me now."

He looked genuinely confused. "What do you mean?"

"Tenured professor? Rising star? I need you to ask yourself whether you're an arrogant ass."

"An arrogant..." Paul burst into deep, rich laughter, and she had her answer. An arrogant ass would never laugh like that at himself. "I don't think I am," he said. "Do you want me to ask around?"

She grinned and shook her head. "No, you seem all right. So, what do you think? Are you interested?" Olivia leaned a little closer. "She already looked up your picture. She thinks you're cute."

His cheeks went slightly pink. "Oh, yeah? Well, I can hardly walk away from that, can I?"

Olivia suppressed the urge to clap her hands and bounce. "Okay. I'll talk to Gwen." She drew a business card from her purse and wrote Gwen's phone number on the back. "Will you call her?"

He handed over one of his cards. "I'm putting my life in your hands. Can you live with that responsibility?"

"I'll try."

"Okay. I'll trust you then. If you're sure you're already taken."

"Not taken," she corrected. "But definitely occupied."

Olivia waved goodbye and continued on her path, but she detoured toward the hallway that led to Gwen's office. Gwen was on the phone, so Olivia tossed the card on her desk and smiled.

"Absolutely," Gwen said, picking up the card with a frown. "Monday at the latest. Yes. Uh-huh. Listen, a student just walked in, so I'll have to talk to you next week. Thanks, again." She set the phone in the cradle and pointed the card at Olivia. "What's this about?"

"Paul is interested in a date. With you. He's going to call."

"What?"

"You're welcome." Olivia spun to walk away, but Gwen snagged her shirt.

"What do you mean he's interested?"

"I told him about you and he's going to call to ask you out."

"Sight unseen?" she scoffed.

"Kind of. I told him you had a smokin' bod."

Gwen gasped. "You did not!"

"I did, too."

"I haven't done a sit-up in weeks!"

Olivia rolled her eyes. "I was talking about your boobs and you know it. Your taut abs didn't enter into the equation."

"Olivia..." she started, puffing up in outrage, but a smile escaped her control. Then a laugh. "Oh, all right. I suppose.... Do you think he'll call?"

"Definitely. I told him you thought his picture was cute and he blushed."

Her eyebrows flew up. "He blushed? Really? That's kind of adorable."

"You should see it in person."

"Maybe I will."

Olivia left Gwen staring down at the card. It felt good to spread the joy around. And if Gwen started getting lucky they could go out and gloat together. That would be way more fun than a book club.

She floated through three hours of work in her office, using most of her time to begin a plan. By lunch she hadn't actually built anything yet, but she'd assembled some pieces, she'd made some lists. She was just opening her online bank statement for the fourth time when the phone rang. She reached for it, her eyes touching on the numbers on the computer screen, hoping they'd ticked up since the last time she'd looked. She hadn't been vicious enough with Victor over the settlement. She hadn't wanted the fight.

"Olivia Bishop," she said into the phone.

"Olivia," her mother said. She always sounded vaguely disapproving. Always. Olivia had learned not to take it personally.

"Hello, Mom."

"I was just calling to tell you that your father and I are off to Vancouver for two weeks. We're leaving tomorrow evening."

"Oh, I'm glad you called. I'd totally forgotten. Have a great time."

"We will. Or at least your father will. You know how much he loves being on the water." Her voice suggested that there was something indefinably distasteful about that. Olivia had gotten through her teenage years by pretending her mom had a speech impediment that made her sound critical no matter the place or situation.

"Well," she said brightly, hoping to cut her mom off. "Call me when you-"

"What are you up to this summer? Dating anyone?"

Good Lord. Not this again. "Mom-"

"It's time to get back in the game, darling. Nobody likes a quitter."

"Thanks," she muttered. "I'll keep that in mind."

"I'm not trying to be cruel, but you're thirty-five. You don't have the luxury of nursing your wounds for years. You-"

"Mom, I'm a little busy for dating."

"Doing what? Working? You university people don't work nearly as hard as your father and I did, and we always had time to socialize."

Yes, they certainly had. Half their weeknights had been spent at dinners with VIPs. "I'm busy. I'm supporting myself. And...I'm working on a side project, too." She thought immediately of Jamie and pushed that thought away. "I'm thinking of starting my own business." For a split second, she wondered if her mom might perk up at that. Maybe she wouldn't reach approval, but she might possibly crest neutral. Her mother admired nothing more than entrepreneurs.

"Your own business?" she asked. Her voice crackled with doubt, sinking Olivia's expectations. "What kind of business?"

"Do you remember what my plans were when I went to school? What I wanted to do?"

"Oh, darling. Not that again. That's not the life for you."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're not a shark, are you?"

Olivia leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. "Mom...what are you talking about?"

"You're not a predator, Olivia. You need someone."

"Someone for what?" she snapped.

"Someone to take care of you. Your father and I felt Victor was a little old for a girl your age, but at least we knew he'd support you."

Olivia felt the hair rise on the back of her neck. The chill spread from there, easing down her back and along her arms. This was what her mom had been trying to tell her for the past year. All the hints. All the disapproving comments and worried warnings. She'd never said it outright before, but this had been the crux of it all. You're weak.

"Why would you say that to me?"

"Oh, sweetheart, don't take it the wrong way. There's nothing wrong with that. You've always been serious and quiet and smart. You always did what we asked you to."

"I was trying to be a good daughter."

"And you were! That's what I mean. You've always been a lovely girl. Always."

"I'm not a girl anymore. I'm a grown woman."

"Of course you are, sweetheart."

The condescension in her mother's voice made Olivia's hands tremble. "I have to go. I'll talk to you in a few weeks." She hung up before her mom could object. If Olivia stayed on one more moment, she'd start screaming.

Unbelievable.