“Okay, okay.” He took a deep breath. “The real story is that … shit, I only had three minutes and it’s probably closer to two now so I’m going to rush through this, but the short version is I really like you. That’s why I want to get to know you better. I like you so much that … oh God, it’s so embarrassing to tell you this, but I should have figured out something else to say in advance and I didn’t and I’m wasting my minutes, and I think you probably won’t believe anything but the truth right now so I just have to say it: I told a friend of mine—a congressman, he’s my roommate in DC, anyway that’s not important—I told him about you, and he made me promise not to sleep with you yet.”

Olivia dropped back down on the couch.

“He what?”

That was definitely not the bullshit answer she’d thought she was going to get.

“I know, I know.” Max sighed and sat next to her. “We’ve been friends for a long time, he knows me well, and when I told him that I really liked you and I thought we might be able to have something real, he said …”

Olivia held up a hand to stop him. This was … not what she’d expected to hear. It was not what she’d expected of Max at all, as a matter of fact.

“You really like me? You told him we might … I didn’t think … We met at a bar! I thought this whole thing was just a prelude to get me into bed! Are you looking for a girlfriend?”

He looked down, his cheeks pink.

“Yeah, actually. I mean, I wasn’t exactly actively looking—I wasn’t scouting the bar that night for girlfriend material, if that’s what you mean. But yeah, that’s something I want to have in my life.”

She’d been sure he just wanted a fling. One night, maybe a few more, nothing serious.

“Anyway, when I met you, I was immediately interested. I went back to the bar the next day to look for you, but Krystal said you were gone.”

“You did?”

The timer went off. Olivia picked up her phone and silenced it.

“I did,” he said. “That’s one reason why I was so happy to see you at the luncheon. I don’t just send cakes to anyone, you know!”

All Olivia could do was stare at him. This night was not going the way she’d expected. On so many fronts.

“As I think I’ve mentioned, I have a tendency to be kind of impulsive sometimes,” he said. “And so I thought—Wes thought—I shouldn’t get in too deep, too fast. But if that’s not what you’re looking for, if you’re not interested in me like that, I get it.”