“This your place?” Oliver asks when we stop at my apartment complex.

“Yeah, it is,” I say. “Thank you for the ride.”

“I’ll walk you in.”

My stomach flips, and before I can protest he’s out of his truck and walking around to the passenger door to open it. I climb out, murmuring a “thank you,” and then I dig around in my purse for my keys before walking toward my lower level apartment door. I unlock it, feeling Oliver’s presence behind me as he comes to a stop and waits. I should ask him inside, right? That’s the polite thing to do? What if he thinks that’s me asking him to sleep with me?

Dammit.

Um.

“Did you want to come in for a tea?” I ask, and then feel immediately stupid. Tea. I asked him inside for some tea.

“Sure,” he says, without hesitation.

Oh.

Okay then.

I push the door open and flick the light on, stepping into my small but comfortable apartment. Oliver looks around as I put my stuff down and walk into the kitchen to put the kettle on.

“Nice place you’ve got here,” he says, sitting at a stool by my counter.

“Thanks, I like it. It’s close to everything and easy to look after.”

“Where’s this hamster?”

I smile and nod toward the lounge, where Batty’s cage is. Oliver stands and walks over, staring into the cage. After a moment, he returns. “I’m buying you a puppy. That’s embarrassing.”

I laugh. “I don’t need a puppy. They’re so much work. Batty is easy.”

“Batty is creepy.”

I giggle. He does look a little creepy. And he is a bit of a weirdo. But I love him. “I can’t deny that,” I grin. “But he’s easy to take care of.”

“A kitten, then,” Oliver continues.

I laugh once more. “No way, they require far more attention.”

He gives me a half grin that’s so attractive I have to inwardly tell my knees to stop their damned shaking.

“What about you?” I ask, getting two mugs out. “Do you have a pet?”

“Got a dog. A shepherd.”

My eyes get big. “Wow, that is a big job.”

“Yeah, he’s a lot of work, but he’s loyal and he’s good.”

“I bet.”

After making tea, we go and sit on my old but cozy black sofa. I cross my legs, facing him, gripping my mug with both hands, and trying not to blush. I wish I wasn’t so damned shy and hesitant. That I could sit here without feeling a little nervous. It’s not that I don’t trust Oliver; I do, I can tell he’s a good guy. But I guess because of my past, I have forgotten how to feel normal, act normal, and, I guess, trust a little bit. I take a deep breath and do my best, though.

“What do you like doing for fun?” I ask Oliver, trying to make conversation, because really all I want to do is lean forward and kiss him.

So, so bad.

I haven’t felt that for such a long, long time.

“I ride motorbikes, obviously, since I work on them,” he says. “I also like fishing.”

I raise my brows. “I didn’t peg you as the outdoor type.”

“Why not?” he asks.

I shrug. “I’m not sure. Motorbikes, yes, but fishing . . . no. I guess that’s the beauty of people, though, you never really know until you ask.”

“No, that’s true,” he says, sipping his tea. “You like fishing?”

“I’ve never really been, but I think I’d like it, yes. I’ve always wanted to give it a try.”

“I’ll take you.”

He’ll.

Take.

Me.

My heart races and I want to scream with joy. If he wants to take me fishing, then he wants to get to know me. Inside, I’m both happy and scared. I have the chance to get to know this guy. Though I feel like I’m ready, even after what happened with Terry, I’m still a little nervous. Still, I think Oliver is worth taking the chance on. I smile and say, “That would be cool.”

“You like camping?”

I swallow. If he asks me to go camping with him, I’ll jump at the chance. The woods, a fire, and just us two alone . . . yes, please.

“Yes, I do.”

“We should go. I know this little spot. Kenai and Marlie have come with me before, maybe we can all go.”

“Sounds great.”

My heart swells with the kind of happiness and excitement I haven’t felt in a long time.

“I should get goin’,” he says, putting his tea on the coffee table and standing. “Going to be a big night tomorrow night.”

My heart drops. I was enjoying just having a conversation with him. Without any pressure. It was really nice to talk with someone of the opposite sex like that again. But still, slowly is how I want things to go, even though I wish I could talk to him some more. I know there’s plenty of time for that.

“Okay,” I say softly, standing and walking him to the front door. “Thanks for dropping me home.”

“Thanks for the tea,” he murmurs, staring down at me. “Jade?”

“Yes?” I ask, looking up at him.

“I don’t do this often, but do you want to go to dinner with me?”

Oh my Lord. Yes. Yes. Yes, I do.

I try to keep it together when I answer, “I’d really like that.”

He pulls out his phone, opening it and typing something, then he asks for my number. I give it to him.

“I’ll text you when I get home, so you’ll have mine. Goodnight, sweetheart.”

I swallow and look up at him. “Goodnight, Oliver.”

He leans down, pressing a kiss to my head.

And then he’s gone.

And my heart practically melts.

The second the door is closed and I hear his truck drive away, I let out a happy little squeal.

Yesterday, I was too nervous to even talk to him, but today, he asked me on a date.

How quickly things can change.