“Now put your game face on and make sure Stuart doesn’t steal all your thunder.”
She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you. And just in case there’s any doubt, I will miss you too.”
Chapter 32
Olivia felt a teeny bit giddy as she walked toward Connor’s house on Friday evening. She’d not seen him since the beginning of the week, when he’d come to help her with Mia. They’d spoken on the phone, but the calls had been hurried because he had to work two late shifts. Payback for the time he’d taken off to help her out, he’d finally admitted after rigorous questioning.
The man was... selfless. A man a woman could really count on. A manshecould count on. But that meant letting go of her long-held beliefs about what she wanted from life.
It meant giving up her independence, compromising her career. All to become—what exactly? A girlfriend, a partner? A wife? Astep-mum?
The door opened and all her jumbled thoughts faded into the background. In a vibrant blue Henley T-shirt that outlined his muscular chest and soft denim jeans that clung to his hips, his thighs, Connor looked like the poster boy for everything women found attractive in a man. Like dirty sex and comforting cuddles. A man at home on a surfboard, up a mountain, by a log fire with a Labrador by his side.
Kicking a ball in the back garden surrounded by kids.
Inhaling a steadying breath, she raised the bottle of wine she was clutching. “I didn’t know whether to bring white or red—you didn’t say what you were making...”
She trailed off as he took the bottle from her with one hand and her case with the other. He set them on the floor, tugged her inside, closed the door behind her with his foot, and pushed her back against it.
Then kissed her like he’d not seen her for months. She lost track of time, of everything as he owned her with slow, possessive strokes of his tongue, his hips pinning hers to the door.
When he eased back, his hands cupped her face. “Hi.”
She licked her lips, still tasting him. “Hi back.”
“What were you saying about the wine?”
She let out a bark of laughter. “Doesn’t matter. I think my brain exploded when you opened the door.”
“I like that I can unbalance you.” He ducked down for another kiss. “You unbalance me all the time.”
He took her hand and led her inside. When she saw what he’d done in the living area, she gasped. The sofa was pushed back against the wall and in the middle of the room was a table covered with a white cloth and draped with twinkly fairy lights. Purple serviettes were folded on white plates and in the center of the table was a small vase filled with purple pansies.
“Sorry about the camping chairs. Couldn’t hide them with a cloth like I did the table.”
“It’s beautiful.” A beautiful romantic gesture from a beautiful romantic man. She ignored the quickening of her pulse telling her that the setting might have a purpose. If so, she wasn’t ready.
“Yeah?” Broad shoulders she hadn’t realized were tense edged downward. “Ellie had the idea of the purple and silver stars. Said it made it look more special.”
She pushed away her bubbling fears and walked to the table. When she saw the scattered stars and noticed the floating purple tea lights in a small bowl next to the pansies, she couldn’t seem to stop her eyes from welling with tears. “Ellie’s right.” She turned to look at Connor. “Where is she?”
“Staying with her grandparents tonight.” He strolled to her, eyes unblinkingly on hers. “I’ll pick her up tomorrow just before lunch.”
They were alone. Her heart gave a jump of anticipation. “If that’s for my sake, you know I adore her. I don’t need you to push her out on my account.”
He came to stand in front of her, eyes sparkling with intent. “It’s not for you, it’s for me,” he murmured before angling his head and pressing a series of soft kisses down her neck, making her dizzy. “To be more accurate,” he added quietly, his brilliant blue eyes momentarily lifting to hers, “I’m hoping it’s forus.”
Suddenly he picked her up in his arms, carried her into the kitchen, and placed her carefully on the work surface, his large frame wedged between her open thighs.
“I wanted to be able to do this,” he said huskily, mouth once again busy, this time skating lower, his fingers deftly undoing the buttons of her blouse so he could kiss the tops of her breasts.
“Um, and what isthis?” She arched her back so he could get easier access.
“This,” he said, his breath hot against her skin, “is me being able to do all the things I’ve dreamed of doing to you in this house but haven’t been able to while Ellie is with us.” The soft press of his lips contrasted with the rasp of his tongue and sent arousal burning down her spine. “To be clear, it includes touching you whenever I want,” he continued in that same gravelly tone. “Making love to you on the sofa, followed by loud, uninhibited sex in the bed. Cuddling you tomorrow morning. Fucking you in the shower.”
“Oh.” It was all she could manage as he slid off her blouse, unclasped her bra, and buried his face between her breasts, tasting, licking at her nipples, his hips thrust forward, letting her feel the press of his erection against her aching core.
Just as she began to lose her head, to grind back, he was gone, leaving her dazed, breathless, and naked on top.
