Page 49 - The Love Hypothesis

looking; he was built. Yeah, he was a moody dick, but some women

wouldn’t mind it. Some women might even like it.
He shrugged. “My wife and the twins won’t mind.”
Oh, shit.

Olive felt a wave of heat wash over her. She blushed crimson and then
almost died of shame, because— God, she had forced a married man, a

father, to kiss her. Now people thought that he was having an affair. His
wife was probably crying into her pillow. His kids would grow up with

horrible daddy issues and become serial killers.
“I . . . Oh my God, I didn’t— I am so sorry—”

“Just kidding.”
“I really had no idea that you—”
“Olive. I was joking. I’m not married. No kids.”

A wave of relief crashed into her. Followed by just as much anger. “Dr.
Carlsen, this is not something you should joke—”

“You really need to start calling me Adam. Since we’ve reportedly been
dating for a while.”

Olive exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Why would you
even— What would you even get out of this?”

“Out of what?”
“Pretending to date me. Why do you care? What’s in it for you?”
Dr. Carlsen—Adam—opened his mouth, and for a moment Olive had

the impression that he was going to say something important. But then he
averted his gaze, and all that came out was “It would help you out.” He

hesitated for a moment. “And I have my own reasons.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What reasons?”

“Reasons.”
“If it’s criminal, I’d rather not be involved.”

He smiled a bit. “It’s not.”
“If you don’t tell me, I have no choice but to assume that it entails
kidnapping. Or arson. Or embezzlement.”

He seemed preoccupied for a moment, fingertips drumming against a
large biceps. It considerably strained his shirt. “If I tell you, it cannot leave