“But I need to know how you’re feeling, what your mood is, how the things that happen during your day affect you.” He tapped her chin firmly, and she brought her gaze back to his. “I don’t want to plan an abduction scene on a day when you don’t feel well, or you’ve unexpectedly gotten your period, or something shitty happened at work.”

Realization dawned in her pretty eyes. “Oh.”

“And since asking those questions out of the blue would tip you off to my dastardly plans, we’re just going to make that information you share with me every day. Understood?”

“Understood. Just two texts a day?”

“That’s just for this week, because I’m out of town, and to get you into the habit. But you can text me anything, at any time. If it’s significant for you, it’s significant for me.”

“I don’t want to blow up your phone while you’re working,” she began.

“I know how to turn the ringer off,” he informed her, and squeezed her hands. “Let’s do it this way. If it’s something that affects your mood or your plans, text me. Anything else can wait until we talk.”

She nodded. “I can do that.”

“Good.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “What time will the lasagna be ready?”

The change of topic made her blink, and she glanced over at the stove, and the timer that was counting down. “Seventeen minutes. But it’ll keep.”

“I need to run out for about an hour and a half,” he told her. “Can you hold dinner until I get back?”

“Sure. Do you want me to take care of that before you go?”

“Take care of what?”

“That,” she said, pointing at his crotch and the erection trying to forge a path through his shorts.

“I’m fine,” he said, and bit his cheek to keep from smiling at her look of disbelief. “I’m savoring the anticipation.”

“They’re your balls,” she muttered with a shrug. “If you want them blue, who am I to argue?”

“Don’t worry,” he chuckled. “You’ll get plenty of chances to take care of my balls. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”

He dropped another kiss on her forehead and left before he could cave and demand a blow job. In his truck, he took a moment to pull out his phone. He sent his sponsor a quick text asking him to meet for breakfast the next day, then started the truck and pulled out of the garage. He’d hit his usual Sunday afternoon meeting, and talk with Max tomorrow morning. He didn’t believe that starting a relationship with Olivia was a threat to his sobriety, but it paid to be vigilant. After all, significant life changes could wreak havoc in unexpected ways.

He was rather looking forward to the havoc.

Chapter Six

Chapter Six