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 man she could 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?
A step-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 for us.”
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 is this?” 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.
He gave her a fond look. “Fuck, Livvy, it’s going to be a struggle to keep my hands off you.”
“Then don’t.” God, she was almost pouting.
“Damn it, no tempting me.” He snuck another kiss, then let out a deep groan as he pushed away from her. “I promised myself
I’d feed you before I devoured you, so we’re both going to have to suck this up.”
He’d only wanted to get her alone. Relieved, unbearably aroused, she began to wriggle off the countertop.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” In a flash he was back, hands on her shoulders, holding her in place. “I said I’d try and keep my hands
off you, but my eyes, they’re going to appreciate the hell out of seeing your naked tits in my kitchen.”
She expected to feel silly, watching, half naked, while he peeled and diced, fried and stirred, gliding between the workstations
with sure, confident movements, as if it were choregraphed. Instead, as his gaze constantly drifted to her, appreciative,
lustful, at times adoring, she felt worshipped.
“So, the big interviews are next week.” He dipped a spoon into the pan and tasted whatever was simmering. “Feeling confident?”
“Yes.” It could still go either way, but . . . “I told you, if it hadn’t been for you, Stuart would have gotten away with
claiming he put together the presentation on Monday when all he’d done was talk about my slides. Correcting him wasn’t just
satisfying, it made him seem dishonest, which isn’t a good look.” She grinned. “The only way I don’t get the job now is if
I really blow the interviews, and that isn’t going to happen.”
Connor smiled, something that looked an awful lot like pride flaring in his eyes. “That’s my girlfriend. Fucking fearless.”
Except when it comes to you. She watched him plate up the contents of the frying pan into two large shells. “Wow, what are we eating?”
“To start, scallops with a picada made with nuts and chorizo.” He threw the tea towel he’d been holding over his shoulder
and lifted the shells. “Main course is slow-roasted pork with a celeriac and pear mash.”
It was hard to look at him and not see Ideal Husband Material flashing in neon lights above his head. “I hope you’ve taken a photo for your Instagram.”
He blinked at her. “How do you know about that?”
“You mentioned it in Nantucket. Plus you have a very chatty daughter,” she added as she tugged her blouse on—she wasn’t going
to eat topless.
He gave her a wry grin as he watched her do up the buttons. “One of the mums at school said I should go on Instagram and become
one of those social media stars. Reckoned I should call myself Hot Chef.” He gave an embarrassed laugh as they both sat down
at the table. “I went with Connor Cooks. Seemed safer.”
She experienced a mean, unwanted spike of jealousy. “This mum, is she single?”
He raised his eyes to the ceiling like the question was ridiculous. “I’m not interested.”
Maybe, but she’d bet a considerable number of mums at Ellie’s school were very interested in the hot young single dad. “How
many followers have you got?”
He shrugged. “Last time I looked, it was enough that I can start earning some money from it.”
“God, Connor, that’s amazing.” She huffed. “We spend a lot of time talking about my work, but here you are, quietly making
huge strides in your own field. Which reminds me, did Aaron get back to you about your menu ideas?”
His gaze shifted down to his plate. “Said he’d talk to me about it on Monday.”
“Connor.” She reached across and pressed a hand to his cheek, forcing him to face her. “You don’t need to be afraid of what
Aaron thinks. He wouldn’t employ you, wouldn’t have got you the job with Felix, if he didn’t think highly of you. And Felix
wouldn’t have used your menu ideas if they weren’t five-star-hotel-worthy.” She smiled. “The only person who doesn’t think
you’re incredible is you. And that needs to change.”
He blinked, his Adam’s apple sliding up and down his throat. When he looked back at her, his eyes glistened. “You’re the fucking
incredible one.” He swallowed again, nodded to the plates. “Now let’s eat. I’ve got plans for you tonight, and they require
you to be full of energy.”
He was going to be her undoing, she thought as she tucked into a meal fit for fine dining in a setting—the camping table with
pansies and candles and purple stars—so sweet it made her heart ache. She was already leaving the office early to see him,
had given up any thought of working this weekend, was even questioning her life choices.
It terrified her what else he might unwittingly make her do.
He could cross off making love to her on the sofa, he thought smugly as he settled her against him beneath the blanket, his
heart still thumping from its workout, his mind already darting forward to later and the promise he’d made. They’d had quiet,