AN: This is a really short update, but with everything going on right now and the holidays, I wanted to make sure I got another update done! I hope you're enjoying this story. Thanks for reading.

EOEOEO

Olivia pulled her cardigan more tightly around her, folding her arms around herself as another gust of wind swept over the waves and on to the beach. She had underestimated the temperature drop once again, and another shiver rippled through her body. It was tempting to suggest that they head back to the car, but now that she'd dragged Elliot down here, she felt bad wimping out. Besides, the night sky was beautiful, with the stars starting to dot the nighttime sky as the last of the fading light disappeared over the horizon.

She could get used to this quiet kind of life.

That very thought surprised her. She'd told Elliot earlier that she'd always be a city girl, and she'd meant it at the time, but all of that felt so very far away now. The thought of going back to the noise and grime of the city sounded horrible right now, and she was surprised that just a couple of days away had shifted her perspective. It made her wonder if it was just reflective of how much she had needed a break, the fact that she was finally on a real vacation, or if it was something specific to this place. Maybe it was a combination of all three.

Or maybe it was the fact that she was here with Elliot.

It made her wonder if she would have felt the same if Casey had made the trip.

"A penny for your thoughts."

Olivia startled at the sound of Elliot's voice. She turned her head and saw him standing just slightly behind her, staring back at her. She hadn't realized just how deep in thought she'd been, and she gave him a smile. "I'm not really thinking anything." She said. "Just taking it all in."

"Are you cold?"

Olivia realized Elliot just had a lightweight shirt on, and maybe he was anxious to get back to the warmth of the car and the cabin. "A little."

Elliot closed the small gap between them and wrapped his arms around her, snugging her back against his body. He felt a slight resistance.

"What are you doing?" She asked quietly.

"Sharing my body heat." He felt her body relax and she allowed herself to be folded into his embrace. "You told me I have a lot to spare."

Olivia didn't bite on the comment. She could already feel his heat seeping into her body, a welcome reprieve from the cold.

They stood like that, in silence, just staring out at the ocean. The wind didn't seem as strong, and the stars were getting brighter, and Olivia both felt and heard a long sigh escape Elliot's lips.

"I love sharing this with you." He whispered in her ear.

Olivia lay her head back a little more until it was resting against his shoulder, letting out a sigh of her own. "This is just about perfect."

A myriad of thoughts trailed through Elliot's head…a laundry list of things that would, indeed, make this a perfect night.

A memorable night.

Olivia's silence, along with a renewed tension in her body, made him think that she had similar ideas, but that she wasn't ready to share…or to hear the things that were on his mind. He held his tongue and squeezed her slightly, letting her know that he wasn't going to push her. He felt her relax again, but a shiver ran through her body.

"Maybe it's time to head back to the cottage." He said. They'd had a great day and had many more ahead of them. They didn't need to push it.

"Mmmm." Olivia's head lolled against his shoulder. "Probably."

"I was thinking…"

"Uh-oh." Olivia teased, lifting her arms from beneath his and resting them on top of them as he held her around the waist. She pressed them more tightly against her and she felt his hands slip beneath the hem of her sweater.

Elliot pressed his fingers lightly against her waist and pressed his brow against hers, letting the jab pass. "I was thinking that maybe, since we're having kind of an early night tonight, we could get up early and watch the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain. If the weather cooperates."

"I thought the whole point of vacation was that you didn't have to get up early." Olivia thought getting up and watching the sunrise with Elliot sounded incredibly wonderful and slightly romantic, which is why she couldn't give in easily.

"Don't you have any sense of adventure or romance?"

Olivia almost startled at his use of the word romance, wondering if he really could read her mind in some way. Her natural tendency was to deflect quickly, but there seemed to be something hanging in the balance here, like they were involved in some game, and each decision…each response…determined the path they would take until they got to the next decision point. "You trying to sweep me off my feet with romantic gestures?" Olivia asked, feeling brave in the gathering nightfall.

"Would you let me if I tried?" Elliot whispered, feeling his heart thrum.

Olivia lifted her head and pulled herself from his embrace, turning her body so she was facing him. Elliot's hands fell to her hips and she rested her hands on her shoulders. They were mere inches from each other. If she leaned in, her lips would brush his. She heard his breath catch and knew that he was wondering if she was going to do just that. Her eyes flicked from his mouth up to his eyes and she gave him a small, shy smile. "It seems like you've been trying since we left New York."

Olivia's tone was breathy…she was flirting with him, and he wished to God she'd lean in. "Is it working?" He asked, moving his face a fraction closer to hers.

Olivia moved her mouth so close to his that she couldn't believe her lips didn't brush his. "That depends on what you want to happen." She whispered. She felt his fingers dig into her skin and she marveled at his control. She wanted to close that gap, but she lost her bravado at the last second. She couldn't be responsible for making that decision for them, and she wasn't sure she was ready for the aftermath. She had images of clothes shed…of sex in a very public place…of uncertainty and awkwardness after they'd just given in with wild abandon and with no regard for the future.

She turned back towards the water and felt Elliot's hands drop, but she could feel the imprint still against her skin. She couldn't see his face right now, and somehow, she felt she owed him an apology. She wasn't a tease, never had been. But she felt like one now. The feeling confused her, but she knew it shouldn't. With other men she got what she wanted from them, and so did they. Relationships, if you could call them that, were short-lived. More about sex than anything else, and she was fine with that. She lived in the superficial.

But Elliot.

He scared her to death. Every step could mean the end of what they were, and she couldn't bear the thought of losing him. So sometimes the status quo was more comfortable. At least she knew where she stood. But when he'd started pushing the envelope a little on this trip, she had been pleasantly surprised, but cautious.

She felt like she'd gone too far tonight. An apology was on her lips as she turned back to face him, but Elliot simply held out his hand to her.

Elliot couldn't say he wasn't disappointed that she hadn't kissed him, but he understood. He had been determined to take things slowly, and while everything seemed to be moving them in this direction, he hadn't expected them to even reach this level of honesty and intimacy so early on in the trip. He had been hoping that Olivia would just open up to him a little; he hadn't honestly expected anything close to this. So, yes, a kiss would have been amazing. But seeing the uncertainty on Olivia's face right now, he was glad she hadn't kissed him. "It's getting really cold." He said. "Let's head back."

Olivia took his hand and caught up to him and then they both headed towards the car. "El…I…"

"It's okay Liv." Elliot said. He found he really meant it. He felt like he should say something else, but she seemed to accept that. He held open the door of the Jeep for her and as they drove back, he felt the tension between them dissipate.

"I think I'm going to take that hot bath I was going to take earlier and crawl into bed." She had a chill from the beach, one that worked its way into your bones. That, along with the late meal and a few beers, meant she was ready to call it a night.

"Hopefully your little friend won't be paying you another visit in the bathroom." Elliot chuckled.

"I swear…" Olivia had images of getting up in the middle of the night and stepping on a mouse. "I hope those traps you set worked." She glanced over at Elliot. "Otherwise, you may have to save me again."

"I've always got you Liv."