My usual confidence has deserted me while I wait for Michael McKenzie and his wife to join me for dinner. I’m hoping Michael will bring Olivia with him, which I’d hinted at during our conversation. As I watch the couple being led toward me without Olivia, I know that I’ve made a mistake in not asking her myself.

She’d wanted a no strings affair and that’s what I’d thought I’d wanted too—until I’d spent time with Olivia. I couldn’t think about anything or anyone else now, which is why I’d volunteered to travel to Lexington when Derek got sick with the flu. I’d wanted an excuse to spend time with Olivia again. I’ve spent enough time with her in my mind that enough is enough.

“Geary,” Michael greets, “I’d like you to meet my wife, Brooke.”

“It’s good to see you again, Michael, and it’s lovely to finally meet you, Brooke.”

Michael clears his throat. “I’m not going to keep you waiting.” He glances at his wife and then holds my gaze. “Olivia isn’t here because she’s under the impression you don’t really want to see her.”

I blink in surprise. “How?” I’m confused.

“I may have slipped up and told her you’d been in town a few days. She got it into her head that if you’d wanted to see her, you would have done so before tonight.” Michael shrugs. “I’m sorry, but she’s stubborn.”

Brooke reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Why don’t you surprise her?”

“I’m not sure—”

“She’ll like this surprise,” Brooke adds when Michael tries to discourage her. “I think she’s hurt that you didn’t get in touch with her directly.” She smiles. “I’m not going to say anymore, but if you want to take dinner to her tonight, then Michael and I are okay eating alone.”

I laugh and glance at Michael. “You have a good woman.” On instinct, I lean forward and kiss Brooke on the cheek, whispering, “Thank you,” while I do. I shake Michael’s hand and then I’m outside the restaurant and hailing a cab.

I’m not used to having to think ahead where a woman is concerned, but Olivia won’t leave me alone. Part of me is irritated that I’m thinking about her most of the day, every day, and the other half, wonders what the hell I’m doing. Going after a woman isn’t something I’m used to. She’s been in my thoughts since the moment I saw her, and one taste was never enough. She’s like a drug I crave.

I toss money to the cab driver and quickly exit, only to find the woman in question leaving her apartment building with a man. The sight stops me in my tracks as I watch her smile up at him, linking her arm through his. Blood rushes through my head and disappointment is like a knife through my heart.

Brooke and Michael are wrong—she’s moved on.

It’s been months since we’ve been together or spoken, so I should have expected it because she’s a beautiful woman. I thought of her as mine, and seeing her with someone else hurts. It hurts a lot.

My eyes caress over her with hunger, which is what Olivia and her friend see when they stop a few feet away, Olivia frozen in place. Her companion looks between us, his lips twitching before he clears his throat with a slight cough.

Olivia narrows her eyes on the guy, and after a quick inhale, faces me. “Geary, I thought you were having dinner with Michael and Brooke.”

“I was, until you didn’t show up.”

“You didn’t invite me.”

The guy chuckles and whispers something into her ear, a blush appears high on her cheekbones.

“Can we talk? Please.” I may be asking Olivia, but it’s the guy I’m watching.

He grins and holds out his hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met, I’m Joshua…McKenzie.”

Lightening strikes. “Olivia’s cousin?”

“One of them.”

I sigh in relief and narrow my gaze at Olivia. She clears her throat. “I was going out to dinner with Joshua when you so rudely interrupted.”

Raising a brow, I grin, which is part amusement and part relief. “I didn’t interrupt anything. You stopped in front of me.”

“Now children. I will go and eat at my sister’s place. You two need to talk.” He smirks. “I don’t need a badge to tell me that.” He kisses Olivia on the cheek, and pauses in front of me. “Look after her, or I will hunt you down.”

Olivia snickers. “Joshua is a good guy. Like a brother.”

“It’s a relief to know you’re related. I didn’t like seeing you with another man.” I frown, wondering what the hell made me admit that. Stepping toward Olivia, I take her arm and turn her around. “Let’s go back to your apartment and order in. I don’t want an audience for our conversation.”

Olivia surprises me and is rather subdued as we walk into her building and use the elevator. She opens her apartment door and reengages the lock before she leads me through to her open-plan living room. She’s quiet and that bothers me because the Olivia who spent time with me, wasn’t quiet, and she always had a ready smile.

Needing to get things off my chest, I admit, “Michael told me he let slip about me being in town.”

“He did. That’s why I refused to come to dinner.” She shrugs pretending it’s no big deal when I can see it is.

I toss my jacket to the sofa and move to stand in front of the beautiful woman. Even though she looks elegant and unapproachable, my body reacts to her. “We haven’t spoken or seen each other for months Olivia. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to see me. It took me three days to get business sorted, and as soon as I had, I asked Michael to bring you to dinner. I was actually worried you’d turn me down, so yeah, I took what I thought would be the easier route. Turns out I was wrong.” I back away and run my hands through my hair.

“You really did want to see me?” she whispers.

Watching her from under my brows, I realize she’s just as unsure as me. “I’ve thought about you for months, Olivia,” I admit, softly. “I guess I didn’t want you thinking I was using you for a booty call.” I smile wryly. “It’s Christmas and although Derek has invited me to spend it with him and Madison, I don’t want to intrude on their first Christmas together. I thought maybe—” I leave the sentence hanging and hope she’ll fill in what I haven’t said..

“You want to spend it with me?” Her mouth starts curving into a beautiful smile.

“The last time I thought something was going my way, and I wanted it badly, it didn’t work out so well for me.” I cough with nerves not wanting to go back into the past. “With everything in my life I’m confident, but for a long time I haven’t been in my personal life.” I smile and take one of her hands into mine. “I want to spend Christmas with you Olivia, if you’ll have me.”

Olivia rapidly blinks, but she isn’t quick enough to prevent a tear from slipping down her face. Reaching up, I wipe it away with my thumb. “Am I forgiven for being a jerk and not getting in touch with you sooner?”

“Yeah.” She smiles. “You are.”