“Connor?”
“How many other guys are you’re expecting tonight?” he remarked dryly as she buzzed him up.
When he got out of the lift, she was standing in her doorway. Dressed in her black jersey loungewear, hair scraped back, face makeup-free, she looked tired, pale. He realized in that moment that he was hopelessly in love with every angular, understated, cool, controlled inch of her. “I wasn’t expectingyou,” she said as soon as she spotted him.
“You should have been.” He walked up to her, heart somersaulting at the sight of her red-rimmed hazel eyes. “I want to know when you’re upset, Livvy. I want to be there for you.”
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“Sure you are.” He took her hand, led her into her flat, and drew her into his arms.
His feisty, independent girlfriend resisted a few seconds but then relented, wrapping her arms around his waist. There wasn’t much that beat the feeling of her melting against him.
“Just because I’m letting you hug me doesn’t mean I need it,” she mumbled into his chest.
He kissed the top of her head. “I know.”
“I just like it when you hold me.”
“Then how about I hold you for a while longer.” He moved his hand up and down her back, felt her body tremble. A moment later, the tears started. She cried quietly, a dignified weep rather than a noisy sob.
“I’m not crying.” She wiped at her eyes with her sleeve. “I don’t cry.”
“Everyone cries at some point, Livvy.” He looked down at her, emotions on such high alert, he felt the prick of tears in his own eyes. “There’s no shame in it.” He gave her a gentle nudge. “I bet Stuart cries into his pillow most nights when he admits to himself he’s not as good as you.”
She sniffed. “I like that image.”
“You’re exhausted,” he said as he slowly eased her away so he could look at her. “Let me take care of you.”
She took a step back, her eyes puffy, cheeks glistening with tears. “How do you propose doing that?”
He smiled, planted a kiss on her temple. “First, I run you a bath. While you’re relaxing in that, I’ll make you something to eat.”
“I guess I could get on board with that.”
“While you’re eating, I’ll give you a foot rub.”
Her eyes met his. “You’d do that?”
“I’d do anything if it put a smile on your face.”
Her lips twitched. “I suppose you could start at my feet. Work your way up until you hit the jackpot.”
“I suppose I could.” Feeling like he’d already hit the damn jackpot now that he’d seen the light return to her eyes, he set off toward the bathroom.
“Oh, and Connor,” she said. He turned, saw her expression go soft. “I didn’t need you to come round. But I’m really glad you did.”
Chapter 28
The next day, Olivia sipped her coffee and took a bite of cookie—in between running the bath, giving her a foot rub, and making delicious seafood pasta, Connor had whipped up another batch—while she listened to Stuart ramble on about his returns.
Finally, their two-person catch-up meeting came to an end.
“What’s that you were eating?” Stuart asked as they made their way out of the room. He bent to sniff her. “Cookiesagain?”
“And none of them for you.”
“You’re going to want to take your hand off her.”
