The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

“And I have what you need, don’t I? The research funds.
The lab space. The time and ability to mentor you properly.”
“Yes. You do. I . . .”
All of a sudden, she could pick out the gray rim of his
cornea. Had he gotten closer? He was tall, but not that much
taller than her. He didn’t usually feel this imposing.
“I’m grateful. So grateful. I’m sure that—”
She felt his unfamiliar smell in her nostrils, and his breath,
hot and unpleasant against the corner of her mouth, and—
fingers, a vise-tight grip around her upper arm, and why was
he—what was he—
“What—” Heart in her throat, Olive freed her arm and took
several steps back. “What are you doing?” Her hand came up
to her biceps and—it hurt, where he’d clasped her.
God—had he really done that? Tried to kiss her? No, she
must have imagined it. She must be going crazy, because Tom
would never—
“A preview, I think.”
She just stared at him, too stunned and numb to react, until
he moved closer and bent once more toward her. Then it was
happening all over again.
She pushed him away. As forcefully as she could, she
pushed him away with both her hands on his chest, until he
stumbled back with a cruel, condescending laugh. Abruptly,
her lungs seized and she couldn’t breathe.
“A preview of—what? Are you out of your mind?”
“Come on.”
Why was he smiling? Why was that oily, hateful
expression on his face? Why was he looking at her like—