What the Heart Knows

He pulled away to look down on her and grinned.

“I think we both need a shower.” He stroked her hair away from her face and she leaned into his touch.

“That’s because someone got me very sticky.”

He eased out of her and stood, delivering a wink.

“It won’t be the last time.”

“Promise?” she asked.

She accepted the hand he offered and allowed him to pull her to her feet. She followed him to the bathroom in a daze. The information that flooded her brain made it hard to remember she was an imposter in another woman’s body.

Chapter Sixteen

Oliver glanced down at the woman who lay asleep beside him and fought down the urge to get in the shower and scrub his skin raw. He knew the moment she’d called him Oli, just after he’d come, that she was Hannah. It made him feel dirty and betrayed. He wanted to pull away and demand she tell him what she did with Juni, but that would tip his hand and drag things out. Madeline said she had to remain ignorant to their plans. This might be the only chance he had to get rid of her. It was a gamble he needed to take, even if Juni would hate him for it later.

She’d grown damn good at acting like Juniper. He couldn’t risk the havoc she had the potential to wreak on her life. Even now he worried that she’d set events into motion he and Juniper were nowhere near ready for. He slipped out of bed, and walked over to his closet. What did one wear to put on the performance of a lifetime?

He was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt when Juni surfaced.

“What smells so good, Oli?”

He tensed as he forced a smile.

“Since I was up early I thought I’d make some French toast. It’s always been my specialty.”

He saw recognition flash in her eyes. Careful, don’t lay it on too thick. You want to seem like you still long for her, not like a lovesick puppy.

“It’s been some time since I made it.” Oliver glanced away with what he hoped was a pensive look on his face.

“Now you’re making me feel special.”

“Good, that was my intention.”

French toast and fresh fruit had always been her favorite. Their playful banter continued throughout breakfast, and he continued to drop bits and pieces of information he knew would remind her of their past. It was like navigating through a damned mine field. He was grateful when ten o’clock came around and she left the house to go to work. The moment she was gon

e he called his client to reschedule their appointment, claiming a family emergency, and left to head to Madeline’s.

Oliver shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he stood on the front porch and waited for Madeline to answer the door. He glanced up as she opened the door.

“Where’s Juni?” she asked.

“Technically she’s working.”

Madeline raised her eyebrows.

“Your wife has made her move.”

He nodded. Her face turned grim as she ushered him in. She placed a hand on his arm and led him to the room in the back. They sat down at the teak table and he slumped down in his chair. It wasn’t even noon, and he was exhausted.

“We need to do the ceremony tonight. I haven’t gotten a glimpse of the real Juni in close to twenty-four hours, and she’s doing a damn good job of wearing her skin.”

“It might already be too late.”

“I don’t believe that.” Oliver balled his hands into fists.

“Good.” She gave him a smile and nodded her approval.