My Love at Last by Donna Hill Page A

door closed with his free hand. “Ready?”
    All she could manage was a slight nod. Connor wrapped his fingers around hers, enveloping them, and led her to the entrance of Misty’s.
    The club was abuzz with activity. Many of the circular tables were full. The couple was quickly greeted by a hostess.
    “Welcome to Misty’s. Do you have a reservation?”
    “Yes. Lawson,” Connor said.
    The young woman checked the computer screen then looked up at them with a bright smile. “Your table is ready and waiting.” She signaled to one of the waitstaff, who led them around the tables to one that was close to the stage.
    “Can I get you something to drink before you order?” the waitress asked while placing menus in front of each of them.
    “Bourbon. Neat.” Connor turned to Olivia.
    “I’ll have an apple martini.”
    “Very good. I’ll be right back with your drinks.”
    Olivia settled in her seat and took a look around. “Very nice,” she said, taking in the intimate decor that was reminiscent of The Blue Note in the West Village in New York.
    “I’ve only been here once before but it was a good experience — that I wanted to share with you.” The flame flickering in the glass centerpiece lit his eyes and made them sparkle.
    Before Olivia could respond the waitress returned with their drinks. “Can I get you something to start?” She looked from one to the other.
    “Maybe you could give us a few minutes.”
    “Of course.” She spun away.
    “Prompt service,” Olivia said with a chuckle.
    “All the signs of a good evening.” He lifted his glass.
    Olivia did the same.
    “To forming new habits.”
    Olivia’s glossed lips quirked with a smile. She touched her glass to his.
    Connor took a swallow of his drink. “So… tell me, what do I need to know about Olivia Gray that isn’t on your very impressive résumé?” He studied the way her gaze slipped away for a moment and a brief shadow passed quickly across her face.
    Olivia set her glass down and met his stare with one of her own. “My résumé? You’ve been checking up on me?” She wrapped her fingers around her glass.
    He gave a dismissive shrug. “I always want to know who I’m dealing with… in business and pleasure.”
    She blinked against his directness. She would not let him rattle her, she silently swore. Clearing her throat, she replied, “Pretty much what you see on paper is who I am.” That was as close to the truth as even she knew it. There was so much about her life that was a dark hole, a hole that she’d dug herself out of, and Olivia had no intention of taking that journey again.
    “I find it hard to believe that a woman like you is no more than data and degrees. What do you enjoy… when you’re not working?”
    She tugged in a breath and dropped the armor back into place. “Good food.” She grinned. “I think if I’d chosen another profession it would have been a chef.”
    Connor grinned. “Really? Favorite dish.”
    “Hmm, smoked salmon with my
very
special sauce, asparagus spears and risotto.”
    “You think it can top my jambalaya, Cajun-style?”
    She tipped her head to the right. “Is that some kind of challenge?”
    “Ready when you are.” His brow arched.
    “You’re on.”
    “My place or yours?”
    The conversation was clearly taking a swift turn in a dangerous direction, but Olivia repeated her mantra. She would not be rattled. “Mine.”
    “Say when and I’m there.”
    The waitress returned. “Ready to order appetizers?”
    They both picked up their menus and simultaneously ordered the wine-cooked mussels. Over the tops of their menus their gazes connected.
    “I think one will be sufficient,” Connor said. He lowered his menu and got a smile of confirmation from Olivia.
    The waitress hustled away.
    “Great minds think alike,” he said in response to their order. “Now, you were in the middle of divulging some intimate secret.”
    Olivia sputtered a laugh. “Oh, I was, was I? And here I thought