She held her breath, fresh nerves leaping in her stomach.
“Sometimes we fail to appreciate the simple things in life,” he said softly. “A stroll through the park. The view from a bridge. A pretty girl to share the evening with.” His free hand came up to caress her cheek, his expression serious. “You are so amazing, Olivia. Beautiful inside and out. I’m not sure how it happened, but I think I might be falling in love with you.”
Her heart gave a hard thump in her chest, and she blinked, not sure how to respond to his sudden declaration.
“Now that I’ve come to this realization,” he said, “I have no idea what to do about it. Except maybe this.” His lips came down on hers, brushing them gently at first, and when she didn’t object, he pulled her more firmly against him to deepen the kiss.
Olivia held on to him as the world around her fell away, narrowing down to the sensations coursing through her system. His mouth, firm yet gentle, giving and taking. The warmth of his fingers on her face. The scent of his cologne surrounding them.
She tightened her arms around him and surrendered to the pure pleasure coursing through her.
After a couple of minutes, he pulled back to look at her, his expression dazed. “Wow,” he breathed. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything quite like that.”
The air fairly pulsed with the electricity winding through them, binding them together.
Her heart still thumped too fast in her chest. “Neither have I,” she whispered. “And to be honest, it scares me to death.”
Olivia’s admission thrilled him and at the same time stirred his protective instincts. He tucked her against his chest, keeping his arms around her. “It scares me too. I guess all we can do is entrust our relationship to God.”
She nodded. “Sounds like a good place to start.”
He bent to give her another kiss, this one more chaste. “Shall we head back to the car?” he asked reluctantly. “It will be getting dark soon.”
“I suppose so.” When she smiled at him, he had to use all his willpower not to kiss her again or they might never get off the bridge.
The walk back to the car and the drive home passed in a golden haze of bliss. With Olivia at his side, he felt he could take on the entire world. The more he learned about her, the more she surprised him with the depths of her courage and intelligence, her compassion and caring.
When they reached the maternity home, he parked the car and came around to help her out, then walked her to the door, wishing the night didn’t have to end.
On the doorstep, she turned to him, her brown eyes glowing under the porch light. “Thank you for tonight, Darius. I had a wonderful time.”
“My pleasure.” He wanted to ask if he could come over tomorrow, or the next day, not sure how long he could go without seeing her. Instead, he said, “I’ll pick you up for Sofia’s party next Saturday. Unless I can think of another excuse to see you before then.” He gave her a slow grin.
“Do you need an excuse?” She peered up at him through her lashes.
“Actually, I have a very good one,” he said huskily. Then he captured her mouth in another lingering kiss that left his brain buzzing. “Good night, Olivia.”
“Good night.” She opened the door and went in, then turned around to wave.
Walking backward down the flagstones, he gave her a salute, then almost crashed into the gate. With a self-conscious laugh, he let himself out and got into his car.
No doubt about it, he was in way over his head here. But with this powerful feeling of euphoria rushing through his system, making him feel more alive than ever, he wouldn’t change a thing.
35
Olivia hummed as she dusted the furniture in the office. It had been two days since her date with Darius, and she was having a hard time keeping the smile from her face every time she remembered being held in his arms. Arms that made her feel safe and protected, sheltered from reality. And those wonderful kisses—the kind that drugged a girl’s senses and almost made her forget her own name.
Fortunately, she trusted Darius not to take things too far, unlike Rory, who had used her fear of losing him to compromise her morals. Darius knew what Olivia had been through and had seen the dire consequences—not only with Olivia, but with Meredith as well. Plus, he’d been married before, so he understood the sacredness of a physical union. She had no doubt that he would never put her in that position.
“I believe that’s the fourth time you’ve dusted that row of books.” Ruth’s amused voice came from the door of the office.
Olivia startled and turned to face her, heat climbing into her cheeks. “Sorry. I guess I was daydreaming.”
Ruth took a seat at the desk. “I don’t have to ask what—or should I say whom—you were dreaming about.”
That same smile bloomed on Olivia’s face again.
“I take it your date was a success?” Ruth pulled out a pencil and opened the ledger.
A tug of guilt pinched Olivia’s conscience. She hadn’t seen Ruth much since Saturday. The poor woman always seemed to be working or attending meetings in town. Olivia had been too wrapped up first in her grief over Abigail and then in her romantic haze to pay attention to her friend.
“The date went very well. But I want to hear what’s going on with you. What are all these mysterious outings you’ve been going to?”
Ruth rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I’ve been meeting with my solicitor.”
“Your solicitor?” Olivia set the duster on the desktop. “Is there a problem I should know about?”
“I suppose I might as well tell you.” Ruth laid down her pen and removed her glasses, her gaze steady. “I’m having him rewrite my will. I’ve decided to leave the house and
