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“I’m here,” Grace murmured. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. But I did miss you. A lot.”

Dammit.Olivia had promised herself on the way over here to lay off the mush. She knew instinctively that being too candid,too quickly, might put Grace off. Yes, they’d grown very close in the past few weeks. Grace had flown over to Red Falls frequently to spend time with Charlie and see to business at the resort. She insisted on keeping a room at the hotel, though Olivia had spent all but one of the nights with her there.Might as well stay at my house…But she understood her lover’s need for independence, so she did not offer. It was that control thing again. Once or twice when they were together, and intimate, she had felt her hesitation. A touch of reluctance. It seemed that her inner battle was still going on. Strength vs vulnerability… Intimacy vs freedom. Of course, she could have both. Olivia did not want to push too hard and make her think otherwise. She was aware that she could be intense in matters of relationship. Committed. All in. The U-Haul lesbian of her ex-partner’s nightmares.

“It’s alright.” Grace kept her close with one arm around her waist. With her free hand, she brushed her fingers through her hair and caressed her cheek. “We can be honest with each other. I told you I appreciate this in you.”

“Yes, but I don’t want to be too much.”

“Nonsense.” Grace flashed that cocky grin again. “Who said that to you? That you’re too much?”

“Um… My ex,” Olivia admitted.

“Well, you’re with me now. I can take it.”

Can you really? Olivia stared, feeling her own heart about to burst. Did Grace mean the other part?You’re with me now…Did she mean it the way Olivia understood it?Wary of breaking her promise not to make things heavy for the second time, she did not push for specifics. The woman had just told her again; she appreciated her honesty. And Grace did not lie or fake it either. So, Olivia accepted another kiss, meant to soothe and reassure. She smiled in return and hugged her tight.

“Are you very busy?”

“I’ve cleared this weekend for us,” Grace announced. “Just thought if you came to the office first, I could show you my holographic design program.”

“Oh, I would love that!” Olivia exclaimed.

She had been dying to experience the tool since Grace had first mentioned it to her. And what a treat it was to stand in the middle of the room, call out any features, styles, or textures she wanted to see, and have them materialize right in front of her eyes!

“This is great!” she declared eventually.

“Well, yeah.” Grace shrugged. “I created it.”

Olivia could sense her amusement, the smug, playful smile under the arrogance on show. She felt her softer side, bubbling humor, qualities people must often miss. Grace seemed to intentionally hide these endearing traits.

“I hope this is patented?” she prompted.

“Of course.”

“Are you going to commercialize it?”

“I might. Little busy with other ventures at the moment.”

“You’d make millions,” Olivia observed and watched that smug, attractive smile flash once more on Grace’s lips.

“Already have plenty. So.” She wrapped her arms around her and kissed her on the lips. “What would you like to do here this weekend?”

“Spend time with you. I haven’t thought about much else.”

“That’s it? You’re easily pleased,” Grace commented when Olivia nodded.

“Areyoupleased?”

That look again was deep and thoughtful, with just a touch of wonder, as if Grace had analyzed her own thoughts carefullybefore speaking and might have been a little surprised at what she discovered. But her answer came quickly, all the same, and with a beautiful smile.

“Yes, I’m very happy you took the time. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Grace grabbed her phone and keys off her desk. Then, after a brief hesitation, took her hand in hers and led her out across the main office. No one dared to gawk and stare at them directly, but Olivia noted more than a few curious furtive glances aimed in their direction.

“Libby,” Grace said, prompting her assistant to rush to her side.

“Yes, Ms. Michaels.”