She scanned through a list of places in here where they’d have a bit more privacy. She gave a second or two of serious thought to the couch in the break room but changed her mind and pulled him toward the staff bathroom instead. The fact was, she wasn’t in the space for quiet and contemplative lovemaking. She wanted him standing, and she wanted it hard enough there’d be hope of washing her thoughts and insecurities away.

He was going into business with his best friend right next to this wonderful place. How very close to perfect. If only she had a job to keep herself up here in this new and exciting city. If only there was a way to remain a part of it.

The bathroom was small but clean and cozy enough to serve her needs. He trailed inside after her, and she did her best to ignore the blend of skepticism and intrigue written on his face. She locked the door, shutting out Trina and Chance, who’d just gotten up from his bed, too, and anyone who might swing back by for some unknown reason.

Olivia didn’t check, but she was willing to bet the look of skepticism fell away as soon as she sank onto her heels, making deliberate, exaggerated work of unbuttoning his jeans and then savoring him long enough to bring him to the edge of climax. When she knew he was almost there by the saltiness washing over her tongue, she pulled away and tugged out of one leg of her jeans, leaving the other hooked around her ankle.

He wrapped his hands around the backs of her thighs and lifted her, and she locked her legs around his hips. She was thankful when he was able to ride it out long enough to enable her to find a release that matched his. He pressed her against the door, drawing it out through rhythm as the first unexpected tears slid down her face.

Before she knew it, she’d wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and was sobbing into the crook of it even while he was still inside her.

Freeing one hand, he swept back her hair and brushed his lips over her wet tears. “Whatever it is, we’ve got this. Whatever it is. You’ll never be able to convince me otherwise, because I love you, Olivia Graham. More than I ever thought I could love anyone. And I’m damn sure that’s all that matters.”

She wanted to say it back, wanted to tell him she’d felt the same way for a while now. Almost from the very beginning. But the fears and sorrow swelling inside her locked her throat too tight for words. Instead, her tears colored his shirt like drops of wet paint. So many that she feared the release of them might sweep her away.

* * *