“Look, we haven’t really been together since high school. She’s been having some boyfriend problems and asked if we could talk, so when you canceled lunch, I went over there.” He shrugged. “She works at an elementary school nearby. She teaches kindergarten,” he added, unnecessarily, in Olivia’s mind.
“I see.” She bit down on her lower lip, worrying it with her teeth.
“I can tell by your tone of voice that you don’t see. At all.”
She folded her arms across her chest, using any defensive mechanism she could to keep him out. Because he’d gotten to her with that kiss. He’d slid his tongue into her mouth, and she’d forgotten all about that heavy floral fragrance she’d noticed when he’d leaned in—before overwhelming her completely.
“How much of an ex is she?” she asked. “I mean, while you’re trying to pursue me and convince me to give you a chance, just how good a friend is this woman you went to see?”
He held her gaze, telling her either he was a pro at lying or he had nothing to hide.
He rubbed at his goatee. “Like I said, we’ve known each other since high school. We went out back then, split up for college, and when we both moved back here, we thought about getting back together, but it just … wasn’t there anymore. So we’re friends. And that’s it.”
She blew out a long breath. “Right.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It means I’ve heard that ‘we’re just friends’ line before.”
“Hell, Olivia, do you really think I could kiss you that way and still want someone else?”
She blinked and shook her head, forcing herse
lf to be in the present and not the past. She really gave his words thought and blew out a long breath.
“I try not to be the kind of woman who jumps to conclusions.” Although her life experience had given her good reason to do just that.
“Then don’t.” He stepped forward, more hesitantly than he’d done earlier.
She nodded, knowing he was right. But that didn’t mean she liked what had just happened. Or how it made her feel. She had no right to be jealous about Dylan or anyone in his life, but the fact remained, she had been. And that meant what she felt for him, or could feel, was more than just casual. The very reason she’d been ignoring his push for more between them. Because the potential for getting serious about him was there. And that heightened the possibility of being hurt.
“So … dinner tonight?” he asked.
She shook her head slowly. “I’m busy,” she lied, forcing the rejection out of the same mouth that wanted to kiss him again.
He eyed her through a narrowed, knowing gaze. “Yeah, right. I’ll be over around seven. I’ll bring the food. See you then.” He turned and headed for the door.
“Dylan!”
“Yes?” He turned and leaned against the doorframe, looking too damned sexy and appealing, making it hard for her to resist him.
She could still feel the scruff from his goatee on the sensitive skin around her mouth. She lifted her fingers to touch her lips, caught herself, and dropped her hand.
“You can’t just tell me what you’re going to do and expect me to do it.”
He cocked his head to one side. “No, under ordinary circumstances, I couldn’t. But you want me. You wouldn’t respond to me so beautifully otherwise. True?”
She opened her mouth, then shut it again.
He nodded, seeming pleased with her non-answer. “See? One of us has to be brave in this situation, and it’s obviously not going to be you. Someone has to push. And that someone is me. I’ll see you tonight.”
And then he was gone.
Chapter Three
Olivia rushed home from work and hurried to shower and get ready before Dylan arrived. She loosely braided her hair, letting it fall over one shoulder, added minimal but necessary makeup, and changed into the fifth outfit she’d tried on.
She hadn’t planned on putting so much angst into getting ready for Dylan, but she couldn’t decide on what was appropriate. The jeans showed she didn’t care, which just wasn’t true. Same for her cute, favorite pair of sweats. A skirt was too much like what she wore in the office, and she couldn’t feel flirty and sexy in one. She finally chose an easy sundress with thin straps and a floaty feel to the body and where it hit her mid-calf. Casual but pretty. She liked it.