Presentation was good, thank you for asking, hot chef.
She was about to put her phone on silent when a notification popped up on the screen.
You nailing it was never in doubt.
PS: Does this mean you still think I’m hot?
She shouldn’t encourage him.
You know you are.
His reply was instantaneous.
The only opinion I’m interested in is yours.
Closing her eyes, she leaned back against the headboard. She was tired; her defenses were too weak for her to do the sensible thing and push him away.
Yes, I still think you’re hot.
Suddenly Connor’s name flashed on the caller ID.
Her heart let out an almighty thump and her thumb hovered over the screen. Accept the call or let it go into voicemail?
Connor had no fucking clue what he was doing, phoning Olivia at eleven o’clock at night. He’d wanted to talk to her all day, tell her he wasn’t prepared to give up on them so easily, ask her how her meeting had gone, reassure himself that her spending Sunday with him and Ellie hadn’t mucked up the presentation she’d been so concerned about. Instead, he’d played by her rules and kept it distant by messaging.
But then she’d admitted she still found him attractive, and common sense had flown out the window.
The phone kept ringing. Any minute now, it was going to go to voicemail, and he hadn’t even planned what to say to her if she picked up, never mind in a blasted voicemail.
“Hi, Connor.”
His heart rattled against his ribs. “You answered.”
“Was I not supposed to?”
“Figured there was a high chance you’d ignore me, maybe even block me.”
“Probably should have done both.” She sighed. “I thought we said goodbye yesterday.”
“I wanted to hear how your presentation went.”
“You already found out via text.”
“Maybe I also wanted to hear your voice.”
“You heard it yesterday.”
She had an answer for everything. “Fine. I phoned to tell you I’m lying on my bed wishing you were with me.” He lowered his voice: “I’m thinking of all the things I’d like to do to you, with you.”
Silence; just the rustle of sheets, the sound of her breathing. “This isn’t a good idea.”
“I miss being with you, Livvy. Miss talking to you.”
“I... don’t know what else to say. We’ve been through this. You know my concerns.”
“You’re scared of hurting me, but I’m a big boy. I don’t need you to protect me. As for resenting you because your work will always come first, being second best isn’t new for me.” He paused and regrouped, determined not to sound as desperate as he felt. “You have your work, Livvy. I have Ellie. We both have commitments and responsibilities that mean we’re not free like we were in Nantucket. But we can still talk on the phone.”
“What are you saying?”
