“Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ‘don’t shit where you eat’?” she admonished as they walked toward her car, rather than admitting she definitely wanted to lean closer and snuggle into him a little. Olivia hadn’t forgotten the way he’d cuddled up to her during aftercare. Something he hadn’t done with Lisa.

Coming to a halt in front of the driver’s side door, she turned toward him, facing him. Looking up at him and waiting for an answer.

His expression was serious now, blue eyes almost somber rather than mischievous or teasing, and she felt her chest tighten a little in response.

“I don’t think of it that way,” he said solemnly, his head bowing down slightly to look her directly in the eye, so she could see his sincerity. “I’m at Marquis because I want to be, not because I need to be for business. You and Michael could probably run the whole place without me or Patrick. I’m never going to intervene in your job, no matter what happens between us, even if I keep flirting and you keep putting me off forever. That’s not who I am.”

She stared up at him, into his earnest eyes, her heart thumping oddly loudly in her chest.

“I think I’m starting to see that,” she said softly. They stared at each other for another long moment. Ah, fuck it. Olivia pulled her right hand out of her pocket and reached up to grasp the front of his coat, just underneath his chin. Those blue eyes started to dance as he looked down at her, a slow grin beginning to spread on his lips. “Just so we’re clear, I still think this is a potentially shitastic idea.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he murmured as she pulled him down for a kiss.

Damn the man knew how to kiss.

Their lips were cold but heated up quickly as she leaned back against the door of her car, pulling him against her. Her lips parted, her tongue seeking his, and he gave as good as he got, letting out a slight moan as she took control over the kiss. A passerby might see a woman pressed up against her car and assume the man had control, but with her hand grasping his jacket, his in his pockets, and Olivia’s natural inclinations she led every taste, every glide of their tongues, every nip of his lower lip. And when he pressed against her a little more, she smiled against his lips, enjoying the need she felt in his body.

When she ended the kiss he was breathing hard, practically panting... and she wasn’t far behind.

As first kisses went, it had been a damn good one.