Olivia searched the massive Grant estate for a bathroom where she could touch up her appearance. When she finally found one, and it took some time, she laughed softly at the way she looked. Her hair was mussed, her lipstick smudged and there was the beginning of a grouping of small hickeys on her neck.

What about him makes me lose my head, she wondered. She wasn't the girl who cheated on her boyfriend with random strangers. She wasn't the girl who cheated at all. What would she have done if those pans didn't crash? Would she have stopped him? Did she want him to stop? I obviously would have stopped him, she thought. There is no way I would have let that go further.

Olivia leaned forward in the mirror and expertly covered the hickeys with concealer and reapplied her lipstick. She ran a hand through her hair and checked herself one more time in the mirror. Her mother had a keen eye and she didn't want the lecture that would surely come if she spotted even a hair out of place. When she was satisfied with her appearance she left to rejoin the party.

She approached the large french doors to the backyard and there was Fitz, looking impossibly sexy as he leaned against the wall waiting for her. He had fixed his hair and rubbed the lipstick off his lips but the way he was looking at her made her shudder. The way his gaze swept over her, lingered on her lips, and then swept over her again made her weak.

"I figured I would escort you out. Say I was showing you around," he said. It was then she noticed the baritone of his voice. Smooth and deep and capable of turning women to mush.

"Good call," she replied and let him lead her out.

Shit. I would have let him take me right there. I am in so much trouble.

Olivia stood at the buffet table and surveyed the food choices before her. There was more burgers and hot dogs than she had ever laid eyes on and she had so far counted eight different types of salad. No, nine. And this was just for lunch. There was apparently a whole round of barbequed meats for dinner and dessert was after the fireworks. She picked up a plate and started to load food on as her dad suddenly appeared beside her.

"So," he said expectantly. "What do you think?"

She smiled sweetly at him and then turned her attention back to the potato salad options, pretending to be deep in thought.

"Nine different kinds of salad. Including three different kinds of potato salad and two macaroni. Impressive," she replied as she spooned potato salad onto the plate.

"I meant about Fitzgerald, Olivia. "

"Oh. He's nice."

"Nice," he said, disbelief and a hint of anger in his voice. "Nice!? That boy is a Grant, Olivia. A Grant! And a Navy man for God's sake! Nice? Please tell me you didn't embarrass this family, young lady."

Olivia leaned forward and plucked a hot dog from the stack before turning briefly to face her father.

"Relax, daddy. We are going on a date on Friday." She smiled sweetly again and then turned to head for the drink table, taking a bite of the hot dog as she left.

Fitz leaned against the large tree in the backyard and watched Olivia talking to her dad. His father's most recent failed set up, Mellie, was chattering in his ear incessantly. She had been the hardest to get rid of out of all the women. Despite the fact that Big Gerry had moved on to the next potential wife, she still hadn't quite gotten the hint that they would never be.

Fitz tore his eyes away from Olivia momentarily to look Mellie up and down. She was very pretty, they always were, but trying just a little too hard to get his attention. The short dress and overdone hair were proof of that. Olivia was dressed tastefully in a simple sundress but he still found her incredibly sexy. She was effortlessly beautiful. He started to turn his gaze back to her but instead saw his father approaching him.

"Mellie," Big Gerry said with a grin. "You look lovely today."

Mellie blushed sweetly and murmured her thanks. It was all so fake, a charade, a game and that was what he hated most. Most everything in his life was about acting, not reality. For a moment Fitz thought he might be sick, like a moment more of this was more than he could possibly take.

"Listen, sweetheart," his dad continued, "I need to talk to my son for a minute. Would you be so kind as to give us a moment alone?"

"Of course, Mr. Grant," she purred and Fitz couldn't suppress his eye roll as she walked away.

"What is it, dad," he said.

"How did it go with the lovely Ms. Pope? Pretty little thing, isn't she?"

Fitz turned his gaze back to Olivia just in time to watch her plump lips wrap around her hot dog to have a bite. He gulped audibly when her tongue peeked out to collect the bit of ketchup on her lip. He was under a spell when it came to her it seemed.

"She sure is," he replied hoarsely, "but I told you. I don't want your arranged marriage. "

"And I told you I don't care what you want," Gerry whispered harshly. "Now get your ass over there and make that girl fall in love with you. Because I swear Fitzgerald if you screw this up..."

"Yeah yeah, I know," Fitz replied over his shoulder as he headed towards Olivia. "You'll cut me off. You're all talk, Gerry."

"Hi," he said as he came up behind her at the drink table.

Olivia sucked in a breath as she felt his against her neck. "Hi," she replied softly. "What are you doing over here?"

"My dad instructed me to talk to you. So here I am."

"Pussy."

"I'm not," he growled, "but I can't stop thinking about yours."

Olivia choked on the sip of soda she had taken, nearly spitting it out in an incredibly unladylike manner. "Wh-what?"

"I can't stop thinking about those lacy panties and how wet you were underneath. Are you still wet, Olivia?"

His voice had dropped at least an octave lower and his breath was hot against her skin. He danced his fingers along her hip and she shuddered a bit just at the memory.

"This is completely inappropriate," she said shakily.

"Let's be inappropriate."

This was out of control. How did this man have so much control over her? How was she going to make it through three dates with him? No, this was ridiculous. She could control herself. She breathed in deeply through her nose in an attempt to steady herself but all it did was fill her nostrils with his manly overwhelming scent.

"I have a boyfriend. "

Fitz smirked and ran his fingertip along the hem of her dress. He knew he wasn't playing fair but something about Olivia Pope intrigued him. She was beautiful and feisty and he couldn't stop looking at her. And he only had three dates to figure out what made her so distracting. What made her so intriguing. What made him want her so bad. Somehow he knew this wasn't just physical, it had to be more.

"I know," he breathed into her ear as he slipped his other hand to her hip and pulled her back against him. She could feel his erection against her ass and a soft gasp left her lips. "But I still can't stop thinking about it."

Olivia licked her lips in another attempt to calm her breathing. He was overwhelming her with his voice and his touch and the way he smelled. His hand slipped under her dress next and she felt her breath hitch. Oh god. She needed to get away from him. She put her plate and drink down on the table. The motion of her leaning forward just the slightest bit caused her ass to back up into him and she heard him bite back a groan.

"I...I have to...uhm...I have to go," she stammered out before stepping out of his arms and scurrying away.

Fitz grinned to himself and turned his head to watch her run away. She wanted him just as bad as he wanted her. Boyfriend be damned, he would have Olivia Pope panting his name.

"Eli," Maya said softly. "Do you know what you're doing here?"

"What do you mean, Maya?"

Maya shrugged her shoulders and adjusted her dress. Like her daughter she was a beautiful petite woman with large expressive eyes. She was fiercely loyal and not afraid to speak her mind, qualities she had tried to instill in her daughter.

"Setting Olivia up with that boy..."

Eli smiled and hugged his wife. "Don't you worry. I have it under control."

She stepped back from his arms and sighed, shaking her head. She loved her husband but he was an incredibly frustrating man. An incredibly stubborn man who always thought he was right. Traits her daughter had received. Despite his flaws she loved him very much and had learned long ago it was easier for everyone if she just him be.

"The Grants are a powerful family, Eli. Just be careful," she said as she gave him a peck on the cheek and turned to walk away.

Eli watched his wife walk away and nodded his head. Yes, the Grants were a powerful family for sure. "But I have plenty of power myself," he mumbled.

She was avoiding him. It was immature and probably unnecessary but she couldn't think around him. She could barely breathe around him. Yes, she was avoiding him and they both knew it. She had spent hours so far trying not to be alone in an attempt to keep him away. So when the conversation with another Senator's wife got boring and she saw her best friend go by, Olivia seized the opportunity with glee. She excused herself from the conversation and then grabbed her friend by the arm, pulling her to a seating area.

"Olivia, what are you doing," her friend squealed as they sat.

"You have to save me, Abby," she whispered.

"Save you from who?"

"From my dad and his political hook ups. From him," she replied as she looked over at Fitz to find him watching her.

Abby turned her head and then looked back at Olivia.

"Who is that? He is gorgeous. "

"That is Senator Grant's son."

"Ew. A Republican? Why do you need saving from him?"

Olivia sighed and ran her fingers through her hair absentmindedly. She peeked up at Fitz again through her lashes and found him still watching her. It was unnerving. She felt like he could see through her. Or maybe instead it was just that he saw her.

"He is my dad's latest hook up and he is everywhere and he keeps looking at me. And he smells so good. Abby, we almost had sex in the kitchen!"

Olivia slapped her hand over her mouth when she realized she had practically been yelling. She peeked at Fitz one more time but he had moved from his prior spot. She found herself unconsciously scanning the yard to find him.

"But you're dating Edison."

"I know. And I love him. This is just because I haven't seen him in a month right? Or had sex in three."

"You haven't... in three months?"

"I'm in undergrad and he is working at the firm. We are always busy," she said with a frustrated sigh.

"Yeah but three months? You don't think he..."

"No, he would never. Why would you even go there?"

Abby shrugged and threw her friend an apologetic smile. "Sorry three months is just a really long time.

"Tell me about it," she sighed.

Olivia's eyes continued roaming the yard until she caught sight of Fitz again. He was off in a corner talking to a young blonde woman. The girl was tall and her shiny blonde hair went halfway down her back. Olivia watched as he draped his arm around her shoulders and whispered something in her ear. The girl giggled and Olivia felt for a moment that she might be sick. She shook her head and turned her attention back to Abby. It was probably the hot dog, she thought.

"Just, stay with me for awhile. Maybe if I'm not alone he will leave me be."

"Uh, too late," Abby laughed. "He's headed this way."

Olivia whipped her head around and saw Fitz sauntering towards her. He had this almost predatory look in his blue eyes, like he wanted to devour her. It caused a to shiver to run down her spine and goosebumps to appear on her skin.

"Hello, ladies," he said as he sat beside Olivia. "Hi."

"Hi," she said. Why was he so close to her? And why did he smell so good? Abby was clearing her throat. Oh right, Abby.

"Fitzgerald, this is my friend Abigail Whelan. Abby, this is Fitzgerald Grant."

"Nice to meet you, Fitzgerald," Abby said, sticking her hand out for a shake.

Fitz smiled his best charming smile and kissed Abby's hand, causing the other girl to blush. "Pleasure is all mine. Please call me Fitz."

Fitz looked over at Olivia just in time to see her rolling her eyes at her friend and he couldn't help but chuckle. He liked that she was near immune to his charm. It was just the kind of challenge he enjoyed. Nothing like a bit of cat-and-mouse to get the blood pumping.

"Ladies, I just came over because dinner was ready and I was going to escort Olivia here over, but I'd much prefer two lovely ladies on my arm. Shall we?"

Olivia rolled her eyes again, but this time it was directed at him, and turned to face him. "What is this, the 1800s," she said sarcastically. "I can walk myself to dinner."

"Of course you can," he chuckled as he stood up. "Just walk with me."

Olivia and Abby both stood and he walked with them toward the buffet table full of dinner food. As they approached the smell of barbecued chicken, steak and ribs filled the air. The table was piled high with plates of meats and side dishes. It was truly a feast.

"Wow," Abby said. "I can't believe all this food."

"Incredible," Olivia agreed. "I just don't even know what I want to eat."

Fitz smirked devilishly and took this opportunity for a bit of fun. He grabbed two plates and stepped aside so Olivia could go first. Once she had moved in front of him, he moved up behind her and wrapped his arm around her to hand her the plate. Olivia took the plate and was about to reply when she felt his breath tickling her ear.

"I know what I want to eat," he said.

Olivia swallowed and gripped the plate tightly. "What," she said with as calm of a voice as she could muster.

"You."

He smirked again at her shocked reaction and stepped back, starting to load his plate with food.

"Olivia," Eli said as he came up beside her later in the evening. "Your mother and I are leaving."

"I'll come with you," she said.

She was standing with a bunch of young women and men discussing their college classes when her father appeared by her side. Olivia had been relieved to find Fitz left her alone after dinner. Although she did catch him staring at her as she ate an ice cream cone after the fireworks. Still, she was glad for an opportunity to leave. She had to get away from him before she did something stupid. She quickly said goodbye and followed her father. She realized just a second too late that they were headed towards her mother and Big Gerry.

"Thank you so much for a wonderful evening, Gerry," Maya said.

"Yes," Eli interjected. "We had a wonderful time."

"I'm glad you two enjoyed it." Big Gerry smiled brightly and then turned his attention to Olivia. "Olivia, it was lovely to meet you. Let me get Fitzgerald. I am sure he will want to say goodbye.'

"Oh, no, Mr. Grant," she said. "That isn't necessary. "

"Nonsense. Fitzgerald! Come here," he yelled out.

Fitz turned his head and saw Olivia talking to his dad. He grinned and walked over to them.

"Fitzgerald, the Pope's are leaving," Gerry said as Fitz approached.

Fitz smiled broadly and said his goodbyes to both Eli and Maya and then turned his attention to Olivia. He stepped forward and enveloped her into a hug. Instinctually she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him back. Once again she felt his scent envelope here and noticed that he seemed to inhale her as well. After a moment he released and smiled at her. She smelled amazing and felt so soft pressed against him.

"It was lovely to meet you, Olivia. I will see you Friday," he said. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, letting his lips linger.

"I still can't stop thinking about it, " he whispered.

A/N: I just want to say WOW. I was so overwhelmed by all the reviews, follows and favorites this story got for the first chapter. Thank you all so much. It made me smile every time I got the e-mail.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Fitz is playing games and Olivia is trying to control herself. We'll see how long that lasts. Next chapter it's first date time.

Let me know what you thought. :)