October 15, 10:16 PM
I think you’re perfect the way you are.
Olivia Lincoln
Re: Yeah?
October 15, 10:17 PM
Tell me more. My ego needs stroking.
Danny Ellis
Re: Yeah
October 15, 10:18 PM
You’re smart, funny, kind, the best friend a guy could ask for, and you’re beautiful. Inside and out.
Olivia Lincoln
Re: Aw, shucks
October 15, 10:20 PM
I kind of want to kiss you right now.
Danny Ellis
Re: Careful
October 15, 10:20 PM
What kind of kiss are we talking?
Oliva Lincoln
Re: Fishing
October 15, 10:21 PM
Are you angling for the 4-1-1 on what I like to give or receive, Mr. Ellis?
Curiosity killed the cat, you know.
Danny Ellis
Re: Work with me
October 15, 10:22 PM
What’s the harm when walls and a hallway separate us, Miss Lincoln?
Give it to me.
Olivia Lincoln
Re: Fine
October 15, 10:24 PM
IF I were to thank you for the nice things you said with a kiss, I’d put my arms around your neck and slowly bring my mouth to yours. Our lips would barely touch at first, a feather-light caress until I pressed closer. Then I’d kiss the fullness of your bottom lip before I gradually included your top lip. Once the gentle glide wasn’t enough and I needed to taste inside your mouth, I’d slip my tongue between your soft, but firm lips and continue my thanks by sucking your tongue and nibbling on your bottom lip until I’d memorized everything I wanted to know about kissing you. In thanks, of course.
Danny Ellis
Re: Fair game
October 15, 10:26 PM
You’re assuming I’d let you control the kiss, which by your description sounds better than fine by the way, but you forgot two important things.
Olivia Lincoln
Re: Do tell
October 15, 10:27 PM
I’m all ears.
Danny Ellis
Re: I beg to differ
October 15, 10:30 PM
Haven’t noticed your ears lately.
I’m not a statue, Liv. I’d want my hands on you. As soon as your arms wrapped around my neck, my hands would be on your waist. I’d slide them down to cup the sweet curve of your ass before I lifted them to stroke the skin where your jaw meets your neck with my thumbs. I’d take your face in my hands, holding you still so I could taste you back. But because I’m dying to know how soft your new blond hair is, I’d have to run one hand through the strands. Then I’d cradle the back of your head and make sure you knew which one of us was really controlling the kiss.
Olivia Lincoln
Re: Cherry
October 15, 10:31 PM
Can you still tie a knot in a stem inside your mouth?
Danny Ellis
Re: Cherry x 2
October 15, 10:31 PM
I can tie two stems at the same time, Maybug.
Olivia Lincoln
Re: Okay, then
October 15, 10:32 PM
You win. I guess some tongues are better than others.
Danny Ellis
Re: Master Tongue
October 15, 10:32 PM
So I’ve been told.
Olivia Lincoln
Re: OMG
October 15, 10:33 PM
I did not need to know that. Now I’m thinking about your tongue even more, thank you very much. Suuuuper inconvenient.
Danny Ellis
Re: We’re even, then
October 15, 10:33 PM
But it got your mind off your mom, right?
Olivia Lincoln
Re: Right
October 15, 10:34 PM
Good night. And thanks. I think.
Danny Ellis
Re: My pleasure
October 15, 10:34 PM
Night, Liv.
Chapter Six
Give it to me.
For two damn weeks, those four words kept playing in Danny’s head on repeat no matter what he did to extract them from his memory. Work ten hours days. Check. Run five miles every night. Check. Keep dinners with Olivia short before falling into bed—without logging into his email. Check.
The time apart hadn’t dismantled the unwelcome thoughts about her like he’d hoped. If anything, he found himself thinking about her more, curious about what she was doing and unable to get the idea of kissing her out of his head. He never should have baited her like that, but he hadn’t been able to stop himself.
He pulled his shirt over his head, shucked his jeans, and pulled on running shorts. Glancing in the small bathroom mirror, he wasn’t sure he recognized the guy staring back. How much longer could he keep his hands off Olivia? How much longer did he want to?
Getting physical upped the stakes between them considerably. Sex always screwed with friendship and meant no going back if things didn’t work out. He’d lose the person who understood him and his medical future better than anyone, the one person who had seen him at his worst and best and liked all of it. From her standpoint, she’d not only lose him, but Bryce and Zane, too, her new home, most likely her parents.
Talk about pressure.
“Hello?” the woman in question called out.
Surprised to have her in his shop, Danny turned and almost smacked his forehead into the edge of the door. “Be right there,” he called in return. It took him two damn tries to tie his shoes before he walked through the back room crowded with furniture pieces in various stages of completion. Every new project took him a step better than the last and filled him with greater pride. He paused to take it all in. Starting his own business was the best decision he’d ever made.