Page 53 of Trust

He led her toward the door, knowing that most people will get you all wrong, and someone getting you right was as good a thing as there was in the world. Why God decided that Olivia was going to be the person, he couldn’t say.

Zane thanked the waitress and then watched Olivia unfold a napkin. “You’re thinking pretty loud there, babe. Do you have anything to share?”

“I think we’ve moved to the second stage.”

“Of what?” Zane asked as he pushed the plate of onion rings in her direction.

“There are four stages of attraction, and I think we’re progressing to the next one.”

“Can I assume that means you’ve given up the idea of a tryst and have decided to join me on the ledge?”

“Let’s just say I’m considering the idea strongly.” She dunked an onion ring in the ranch dressing and popped it into her mouth. “But don’t get too excited because I have a pile of reservations despite the initial mad rush I made you endure.”

“I assumed as much.” He took her hand and ignored the slice of frustration in his chest, knowing his freak-out had put doubt in Olivia’s mind. “So, what is the next stage anyway?”

“Mutual admiration. It’s when two people have chemistry and have decided to do something with it.” She covered his hand. “The first stage is attraction. Either physical or emotional. The third stage is when people decide to make a go of it. See if they can flourish.”

“And the fourth?”

“Compatibility. When a couple discovers they function well together.” She tilted her head. “I don’t think many people make it to the final stage.”

“Did you get there with Thad?” He watched her brows drop and knew it was a shit question. It wasn’t any of his business. “You don’t have to answer.”

“My goodness, a question like that makes me think you mean all the lovely things you’ve said and really do intend to get to know me.” She pursed her lips. “I must be way better at sex than I thought. Maybe I can become a vixen after all.”

“You already are, woman.” He watched her bat her eyelashes and found a rusty chuckle escaping.

“If you want to tell me what you enjoyed most, I wouldn’t mind.”

“Why?” he asked sharply.

“Because knowing one’s strengths and building on them is never a bad idea.”

A picture of her honing those skills for someone else made a knife of jealousy slide through his gut. How the hell had he become possessive? “I’ll get right on it.”

Olivia picked up her sandwich. “No, you won’t.”

“You never answered my question.”

She set her sandwich down. “Yes, Zane. I was connected to Thad in all ways. He was my first love and the man I thought I would spend my life with.” Her shoulders sagged. “But that’s not how things worked out.”

“I’ve never been tempted to give into chemistry or anything else with a woman. Being deployed made it all but impossible, and truth be told, it was a great excuse never to put myself out there.”

“Is there a but coming?”

He snorted. “I’m not a complete asshole.” He watched her beautiful eyebrow arch. “You are changing my SOP.”

“Standard Operating Procedure?”

“I see someone has been on Google.”

“Are you impressed?” she asked with a wide smile.

“Always. And yeah, you have changed my SOP, and I don’t have a clue what to do about it.”

“Might as well give in.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “If only for a little while. I don’t think we’ll last the month, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make the most of it.”

“You sure love to put a time stamp on things.”

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