“Don’t be loveable then. Got it.” He gave her a quick kiss.
“You don’t be adorable.” She ran her hand down one of his pecs.
“Not a chance.”
“Or sexy.”
“Impossible.” He grinned, and turned to check on the salmon.
Fletcher could feel her smile on his back. Olivia was right. They were both at risk of feeling more for each other. Even he could admit to that. He knew spending this time with her was not going to dilute how he felt.
Unless she had some really horrible bad habit he’d never noticed.
He smirked to himself as Olivia wandered around the kitchen, finding some plates and cutlery for them.
He loved having her in his home.
Sure, she was sexy as hell, and possibly the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen with all that wild red hair and stunning blue eyes, but there was something comfortable about being with her. It wasn’t just that they knew each other. He liked her.
Like,reallyliked her.
Liked talking to her, listening to her, sharing ideas and thoughts with her.
They did it at work, and now that she was in his personal space, Fletcher realized he more than liked having her in it.
He served their meal and they sat at the ten-seater dining table, which he’d had flown in from Italy. They sat down one end, where Olivia lit the candles, and he lowered the main lights creating a moody romantic ambience.
“I love the floor-to-ceiling glass, so you can look out no matter where you are,” she said.
“It’s why I bought the place,” he replied. “We could have sat outside if you wanted.” He indicated the large outdoor area. “There are heaters out there.”
“No, this is nice.”
Her stockinged toes touched his as she dropped her utensils a few minutes later, and their eyes met. Heat rushed through him as he saw the need and hunger in them.
“You’re determined to get me into bed, aren’t you?” He teased.
“I’m not here to play chess.”
“We can.”
“I don’t know how,” she admitted.
“Really?” He was surprised. “Want me to teach you?”
She laughed. “No. Not in the slightest.”
“Where did you grow up?” he suddenly asked, realizing how little he knew about her life.
“New York. The Bronx. My dad died when I was twelve, after serving in Iraq, so then Mom had to work a couple of jobs.”
“No siblings?”
She shook her head. “No. Just me. Mom helped toward the costs of college for me, and I worked as I studied. We really weren’t that close. I mean, we were, but she was just so sad after Dad died and we hardly saw each other. Then I married Simon and a year after Sammy was born, she died of cancer. Brain tumor. It was very sudden.”
“I’m sorry.”
She gave him a sad smile. “I’m glad she got to meet Sammy. They had a few good months together. Mom and I spent more time together while I was on maternity leave and learning to be a mother than we had since I was a child. It was nice. Sammy was a very easy baby.”