The wine buzz had waned by the time they were back at Gabe’s apartment, leaving Olivia a bit in shock over what had just happened. They hadn’t exactly reached the level of closeness where she could explain how out of character it was to lose herself like that. With Trevor, climaxing hadn’t been an impossible task, but it had never happened even close to so easily.

Just the thought of Gabe’s easy, understated confidence warmed her blood as she ascended the wooden steps leading to his top-floor apartment. It wasn’t just what he’d proven he could do with his hands; it was what he’d said afterward about how affected he’d been too.

Her mind kept trying to downplay it, but her heart told her this was the real thing. Realer than anything she’d experienced before. How was it that exactly this time last week, she’d had no idea Gabe Wentworth even existed? And now, thoughts of him filled her chest like a giant hot-air balloon, threatening to sweep her away on winds she had no idea how to navigate.

He was sexy and kind and caring, and if there was any doubt about his character, it had been washed away by how he was with Samson and with Yun. And she wanted him. Olivia’s thoughts flashed back to the park. Along with a fresh wash of desire, insecurity swept in. He’d grown up in the city and had a blossoming career and a life that was chock-full of friends and family. She grew up in the sticks and didn’t even have confidence in her ability to keep employment here in the city. What if she gave her heart to him and nothing worked out?

Oblivious to her thoughts, Gabe unlocked the door to his apartment and swung it open. Samson was waiting there, wagging his tail so hard his whole body rode along with it in a dance.

“You still good with coming in? Because if you’ve changed your mind, we can take him for a little walk, then I’ll see you to your car.”

Somehow Olivia’s hands had found their way to her back pockets; they were shoved deep inside and facing palms out. “I’m good.”

He opened the door wider and flipped on a light in the main room. “Make yourself at home. I’ll run Samson outside. I’m not sure how much you saw earlier when we dropped him off, but have a look around. Let me warn you now. My housekeeping skills leave a lot to be desired, and I know it.”

In a flash, Gabe and Samson were gone and Olivia was alone. Her body was humming with unspent energy. She did a slow circle of the living room, doing her best to calm down.