Heaven Inside You(8)

They started talking about their experiences in the Big Apple and laughed at each other’s quips. They spoke about their childhood and discovered that they had a lot of things in common. They both liked reading, going to jazz concerts, had dreams of one day leaving the city and moving to a warmer climate. Anywhere would be great as long as they could live somewhere by the water, a point on which they agreed. They were also both somewhat homebodies, preferring a cozy evening at home by the fire with a good glass of red wine and a nice meal to braving the crowds in smoke-filled bars and trendy nightspots.

It was the most eye-opening conversation she had ever had with a man, and she couldn’t believe how comfortable she felt in his company. She couldn’t help entertaining the thought that, if she were to fall in love with anyone in her life, she wanted that man to be just like Cole. He was so easy to like—too easy to like. For a while now, whenever she’d heard someone mention him, she had been intrigued. She felt drawn to him like a moth to a flame and was finding it increasingly hard to resist fantasizing about him, what it would feel like to be loved in all ways by a man such as him. She recognized that she was treading dangerous ground and chided herself for being so easily bowled over. It occurred to her that after Fiona and Chad’s wedding in two days, she wouldn’t have an excuse to see him anymore. They’d both return to the city and go on with their separate lives. She ruthlessly killed the depressing thought and immersed herself in their conversation. Time passed.

There were a few moments of comfortable silence.

Suddenly, he fixed his eyes on her and said, “So are you seeing anybody?”

She froze. “Well, no. I work most of the time. My job is very demanding.”

“Does your job keep you warm at night, I wonder?” he murmured.

“Wh—What did you just say?”

Shit. Now she was hearing things.

“I was just thinking out loud, that’s all. It seems as though you don’t have much time to date.”

“N-Not really.”

She was turning into a blabbering idiot. He chose right that moment to stretch out his legs and slide even closer to her, molding his thigh to hers. His eyes never strayed from her face, boring into her, talking to her.

“Olivia, have you ever wondered why I called you three weeks ago?”

“Because you wanted us to go to the wedding together?”

“Yes and no,” he said. “It’s mostly because I wanted to spend time with you.”

“Spend time with me?”

“Yes. Do you mind that?

“Of course not. Although…I know we’re going to be family and all, but you don’t have to go out of your way, you know.”

“The last thing I think of when I have thoughts of you is getting you out of my way, Olivia.”

Now she was really confused. And she was blushing! And hot, definitely hot.

She couldn’t possibly look very attractive sporting a red face and a bemused expression. She wished she could look into a mirror right about now.

“Why do you say that?” was all she managed to muster.

“Do you remember the engagement party six months ago?”

“Yes, of course I do. You had made it there, but you had to leave soon after because of an emergency at work.”

“I did leave, but not before I got a good look at you.”

“You saw me?”

She had to stop this annoying habit of repeating everything he said.

“Yes, I did.” He leaned into her and brought his lips close to her ear. “And I wanted you, Olivia. I still do. That’s why I called you. I want to get to know you better.”

She swallowed hard, her head a complete jumble. “You couldn’t possibly…” Her voice faltered.

He pulled back and laid his head on the headrest, but she wasn’t fooled. From the intense way he looked at her, there wasn’t a laid back bone in his body right then.

“Yes, I can. And so can you. I know there’s something between us, and I know it’s happening way too fast. Perhaps I sound crazed by saying this but I want to do something about it. See where it may lead.”

That did it. She had lost her voice again. She looked around furtively, hoping that nobody was listening to their conversation. Luckily, the plane wasn’t very crowded, and no one seemed to be paying any attention. She felt like a trapped rabbit.

There he was, closing in again, playing havoc with her senses. “Olivia, just answer one question for me. Are you attracted to me?”

She stared at him, nonplussed.

“Please be honest. I don’t bite. At least not unless you want me to.” He grinned.

Her heart stopped beating—that’s what it felt like.