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“Thanks.”

Hand in hand, we go to the stairs, then I gesture for her to go first. I wish I could see her reaction, but I want her to be the first to see what I set up.

“Oh my god,” she gasps when she reaches the top stair. Whirling around, she’s absolutely beaming as she places her hands on my cheeks. “Griffin.”

“Do you like it?” I ask, even though her answer is plain.

“I love it.” She leans in and kisses me, then turns back around. I move beside her and take a look myself. Yeah, Mel exceeded even my expectations.

Electric candles are everywhere. Off to one side is a cabinet with a pitcher of water and two glasses, and in the center of the space is a small card table with two chairs set up, side by side. And on the table is a stack of puzzles. Small ones, most of them under five hundred pieces. Something we can do together, right now.

It’s that stack of puzzles that Olivia heads straight for, lifting them up, one by one, to examine the pictures. I went online yesterday to choose which ones I wanted to offer, and I can tell she likes all of them when she takes her time with each one.

“Whichever one you choose, we’ll build it here tonight. Then you get to take it home after.” I stuff my hands in my pockets as I explain the plan. She lifts shining eyes to me. “This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me.”

My chest fills with pride. And a deep-seated desire to raise her standards. “Then that means I’ll have to work even harder next time to beat your expectations. Because you deserve it, Liv.” I run my fingers through her soft hair. “And I’ll do anything to put that smile on your face.”

We kiss again, softer at first, but soon, I’m pressing her to me as if she’s the air I need to breathe. How did I ever think I could survive not knowing what this feels like? I know that even if it all falls apart some day, I will never regret a second of being with her.

34

OLIVIA

“Will you come in?” I ask when we reach my door.

In response, Griffin simply lowers his head the small distance needed to kiss me.

I push open my door blindly, pulling him inside after me. Trip is barking and circling our legs, but he’s not my focus right now. No, it’s the gorgeous, kind, thoughtful man who makes my head spin with pleasure.

Then he goes and reminds me exactly why I think he’s so kind and thoughtful.

“I’ll take Trip out to pee while you get naked,” he says in a ragged voice, his eyes dark.

All I manage is a squeaky “Okay.”

He swiftly turns and clips on Trip’s leash, and then he’s gone. Taking care of my dog, when I’m already half out of my mind with need.

I don’t know what makes me pick up my phone when his instructions were clear: get naked. But I do. And there’s a message from Denver.

DENVER: Hey Pixie girl. Hope you’re having a great time with Griff. Thinking of you, beautiful.

I don’t realize how much time has passed with me still staring at my phone until the front door opens again, and my head shoots up to see Griffin and Trip walk back in.

His eyebrows raise when he sees me looking at my phone. Without saying a word, he unclips Trip’s leash and walks over to me. A glance down at the screen reveals Denver’s message. Then his gentle hand is lifting my chin, and mossy green eyes are staring into mine.

I bite my lip, unsure what to say. Griffin lowers his head and kisses me softly, forcing me to free my lip.

“He should be here, Liv.”

“No, tonight is about you,” I protest weakly. It makes me a terrible person, greedy and selfish, to not be satisfied with just one man in my bed.

“Tonight and every night is about you, baby. If it doesn’t feel right without him here as well, then that’s all that matters to me.”

He says it so simply, so calmly, it goes a long way to settle those awful feelings inside of me.

“Are you sure?” I whisper.

“Yes.” He takes my phone from my hand and quickly thumbs out a text to Denver, I assume. He sets my phone back down and cups my face in both hands. “He’s on his way. Do you feel comfortable if we leave the door unlocked for him?”