Love In Moments (Love Distilled #2) - Scarlett Cole Page 0,25

someone I thought was a friend. I’m not as trusting as you are. And I really do need to focus. I become so single-minded that I don’t let anything get in my way. So, none of that adds up to good relationship material.”

“Are you trying to make up or scare me off? Because it’s positively charming to know you noticed more than my body the night we met. Yet I feel as though I’m not meant to be charmed.”

For a moment, Anders swirled his wine glass, watching as the red liquid made patterns up the side of his glass. “I’m not sure. A part of me thinks I should just go and leave you alone. But there’s a part of me that’s desperate to know . . .”

“To know what?”

He took her hand and kissed the back of it. If she wanted charming, he was sure he could figure out how to live up to it. He’d research it if he needed to. “To know how good we could be.”

Olivia blushed as she ate more of her dinner. “I think we know how good we can be,” she muttered.

Unable to resist, he ran his knuckle down her cheek and along her jaw. “I meant how good we could be out of bed, Liv. We know how good we are in it.”

She looked away, seemingly unable to meet his eyes. “I’d like that too.”

Shit. That was where he’d gone wrong. “We did this backwards.”

“What do you mean?”

“Most relationships start with meeting somehow. Bumping into someone in a bar. Being introduced by a friend. A dating app. Whatever. You go out, get to know someone. You like them enough, you sleep with them and hope you are as compatible in bed with them as you are out of it. We went straight to bed. To sex.”

Olivia’s fork clattered against her plate. “Sorry.” Her cheeks took on the pale flush of embarrassment.

He reached for both of her hands and, buoyed by his idea, he pulled her onto his lap. He loved the feel of her ass against his thighs. And the way she fit into his arms. “It’s okay. Don’t you see? We need to back up. We need to date, get to know each other.”

“You want to date me? I thought you needed to focus. To be intense. To get a mega-contract or whatever it is.”

“I do. I did. I still will. But let’s try it. Let’s see what happens if we date. You said it had been a while for you, that last year had been a hellish year. And I need to prove myself, to the Rush, and to you. I want to be that guy that can do both. Let’s figure this out together.”

Olivia’s features were filled with confusion.

“Just say yes, Liv. Take the first step with me.” He ran his hand along her waist, his thumbs brushing the underside of her breast, and he had to shake the image of how they’d filled his hands when she’d been naked.

She placed her hand on his cheek and he leaned into it. “Okay. But I have rules.”

Anders nodded. “Sure. I probably do too. What are yours?”

“It’s new, I know. Like we’ve barely spent a dozen hours together. It’s not even a relationship. And you are . . .you.”

“Wait, what does that mean?”

Olivia looked at him as if he were dumb. “Oh, I don’t know, Mr. Millionaire Good-Looking Hockey Player.”

“You think I’m good-looking?” He kissed her palm and tried to ignore the way his dick had currently joined the party. Olivia had a way of waking up that side of him with just her smile.

“You know you are good-looking. You don’t need me to inflate your ego.”

He grinned at her. “Fair point. Continue.”

“You are you. And I know you have options. Hell, I’ve seen you with redheaded options who’d look good in a paper bag.”

“After I lost you at the club, I walked outside and took a cab home. Alone.” Anders ran a hand along his jaw. “If this is your roundabout way of asking if I’m dating or interested in anybody else, I’m not.”

“Good.”

“I have a rule. No sex for at least five dates.”

Olivia wiggled against him, making it crystal clear that she could feel what was going on in his jeans. “Does that really need to be a rule?” She leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his lips. Fuck, it would be so easy to turn his face a fraction and savor the taste