My Love at Last Read Free

If it wasn’t related to her work, she didn’t invest in anything that would involve her commitment. Long ago she’d had the rude awakening that feelings were only temporary — that relationships were only temporary, and to want more than that was foolish. So she’d built her emotional fortress, moved from place to place, relationship to relationship, job to job. Roots were things that she searched for, but never experienced in her own life. That was fine with her. She’d come to accept that this disconnect was her life. So as far as Connor Lawson was concerned, he was a hot, sexy man who could stir her pot, and when her project was over she would move on and so would he. That was just the way it was.
    She put her laptop and camera in the trunk of her car, then drove the short distance from her cottage to the main building on the off chance that Layla had an opening in her schedule. When Olivia arrived, one of the first people that she ran into was Desiree, who was heading to the parking lot on her way into town.
    “Hey, Olivia.” She pulled her shades from her eyes. “You’re up early.”
    “Wanted to get a jump on the day. And thanks again for inviting me to the party. I had a great time.”
    “Not a problem. Glad you could come. So—” she lifted a brow “—how did it go with Connor?” She gave her a cheeky grin.
    Damn. The mere mention of his name did things to her. For an instant Olivia’s thoughts scrambled, then settled. “Um, fine.”
    “Just fine?”
    She adjusted her tote bag on her shoulder. “Well, we are getting together for drinks and dinner on Tuesday.”
    Desiree clapped her hands in delight. “Go ’head, girl. Women have been sniffing around that man from the instant he set foot in town and he has yet to give them anything more than that sexy smile and conversation.”
    Olivia’s heart tumbled in her chest. “Really,” she said casually.
    “Yep. So you must have produced a spark. Anyway, I’ve got to run.”
    “Sure, go, go. I wanted to drop in at the spa and see if there were any openings for a quick massage.”
    Desiree gave her a knowing look. “Oh, you mean with Connor’s cousin Layla.”
    “They’re cousins?” she asked with feigned surprise.
    Desiree chuckled. “I’m sure Layla would be happy to tell you anything you wanted to know about her bachelor cousin, except that she and Maurice are in New York for the next two weeks working on Maurice’s foundation for wounded soldiers. That’s why they weren’t at the party last night.”
    Olivia’s shoulders drooped.
    “But if you can’t wait to find out on your own, Melanie Harte knows all. And she would love to think that once again she was involved in a
love
connection.” Desiree grinned and patted Olivia’s arm.
    “Thanks. I think I’ll wait.”
    “Good move. Anyway, gotta go. See you soon. Okay?”
    “Sure thing. And thanks.”
    Desiree hurried away and Olivia returned to where she’d parked her car. So much for that brilliant idea. But it was just as well. She didn’t want to come across as one of “those women” that did recon work on a man. That wasn’t her style. Mostly, she had a short list of criteria for the attributes of the men she allowed in her life: good looks and intelligence, and not looking for or expecting a commitment. So far, Connor Lawson fit the bill to a T, not to mention that they both had plenty in common from their chosen fields of work. She slid behind the wheel of her car and turned the key. In truth, what else did she need to know? Whatever might happen between them would last only as long as her assignment anyway. It was best that her knowledge remained superficial. The less you knew, the less you could be drawn into the life and wants and dreams and desires of someone else. She didn’t need that, didn’t want it and couldn’t give it. She reserved those energies for her work and that was it.
    * * *
    Connor had been up before sunrise. Since moving to Sag Harbor he’d