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tupid event had been a bore and ended up costing hi he really cared about

His little butterfly was still gone and he was losing his grip on everything else

Ethan swiped his hand down over his face in exhaustion He couldn’t eat; he couldn’t sleep His business holdings were being neglected How could she possibly evade hi? Didn’t she realize how much she needed him? She couldn’t even dress herself properly without his help Yet she was saured out soht He couldn’t even find her with his careful system searches There were no obvious patterns in what towns she chose She didn’t use her naed her appearance every time she uises across his desk Sometimes red hair, usually shades of brown Never blonde He picked up one of the pictures and studied her face So ethereal So defiant He would have to teach her to subht made him excited, but the excite ache

“Soon, Olivia, soon you will come home and you will fill this terrible eether forever and you’ll never leave ain”

Olivia felt like she was playing house in Paul’s condo She and Paul tiptoed around each other with extreme politeness The rouest Once he du on her bed upstairs, he hadn’t touched her since Maybe he felt nervous about having her underfoot and disrupting his bachelor ho there, and not because of Ethan She wanted to please Paul yet she needed to remain self-sufficient He was so deterh she wasn’t helpless What did he expect of her? Her room was only a few steps away from his How could she live so close to the et her mind off him? She wanted more from him but she didn’t knohat exactly thather freedo him too much of herself He seemed just as confused by their new situation – thus the tiptoeing

Regardless of hoard they felt, they still needed to eat so Olivia did the cooking That evening she put together a tasty chicken parmesan and side salad while Paul worked in his office She liked to cook Her mom was a chef with her own restaurant and she passed on all her secrets to her and Marissa Cooking was the one thing she used as therapy when dancing wasn’t available, or consu her every hour

“So you for a roommate,” Paul said as Olivia pulled the hot dish from the oven “Tell me how I can help” He didn’t co

She threw a look over her shoulder and saw his intense look “You only want ? Huh”

She expected Paul to tease her or grab her and kiss her as he had in the past but his look was serious She couldn’t decipher his expression but even she couldn’t ignore the heat in his gaze She sed and forced her thoughts to more practical“You could grab a plate and so to drink”

He nodded and the spell was broken – for the ested as he pulled a bottle of wine frolasses

She accepted the glass of wine he offered “Sounds like a wonderful evening to s

They settled on the couch At first, she was on one end with Paul at the other He flipped through the channels until he found one playing a movie marathon from the nineties They ate their fill then Paul reached for her plate and set it aside She eyed him warily as he slowly and carefully drew her into his arms

“This okay?” he asked

Olivia sighed “Yes I felt like you were avoiding me I like it when you touch me”

“I didn’t want you to think I was forcingyou tihtly down her cheek, ainst him