Back from vacation!

Poor Olivia, her emotions are all over the place.

Fitz cursed himself for not controlling the way his body reacted to the closeness of Olivia. He had tried to focus on anything to take his mind off the way her petite body fit perfectly against his, but it was impossible. He had been having a hard time all day, hell since the first time he saw her last night. When she snuggled closer to him while watching the fireworks, her forearm grazed the evidence of what she was doing to him. He wanted to apologize. The last thing he wanted was for her to think that he was behaving like some horny teenager or pervert who couldn't control himself, especially after he'd earned her trust. Fitz couldn't help himself, and his lack of control was due to the tiny woman currently standing port side of the boat with her eyes closed, the late evening wind caressing her flawless face.

Fitz observed the way she'd shut down. Being out here on the water seemed to set her free. She appeared transformed, laughing, head thrown back, no inhibitions. Now, her smile was gone and the sparkle she'd had in her eyes most of the day had disappeared. She looked so resigned. He didn't like the change in her.

X

Olivia had innocently pressed her body tightly against Fitz to generate a little heat against the night air, when she felt it. Her heart skidded to a complete stop. All the air left her lungs. She gasped in surprise and stood to put some space between them. She walked toward the opposite side of the boat and attempted to get her erratic and erotic thoughts in check. What had just happened? She wasn't shocked by Fitz's body's reaction, she was shocked by hers! As hard as she tried, she couldn't get her body to relax. She had wanted to run her hands through his wavy hair, play with that errant curl on his forehead, and kiss him all day. Standing here, knees quivering, her skin felt tight and clammy, her nipples hard and aching, and between her legs, her panties were damp just thinking about him. She uttered a tiny moan, startled by her arousal. Olivia was a little shocked at how her body (and her heart) was responding to him. She might not know what or who she wanted, but her body certainly did.

Fitz walked up behind her and placed both hands on her shoulders. Olivia closed her eyes. She savored his nearness and couldn't stop herself from imagining a different future with the man standing behind her in it. Turning her around to face him, she was surprised by expression on his face. So kind. So tender. He'd make a lucky woman a perfect husband someday. But that woman couldn't be her. Someone would snatch him up. Her gut clenched at that thought. Why should she be jealous? Falling in love with another man was not an option for her. No. She definitely could not.

"I'm sorry Liv, okay? I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable or awkward. Will you please accept my apology?" he pleaded. Olivia looked into his eyes, noting their sincerity, before saying she did. She attempted to turn her head before he could see the expression on her face but he was too quick. She couldn't hide the emotion welling up inside her. She wasn't ready to return to reality yet, because that meant dealing with Garrett and the issues in their relationship. "Sorry I freaked about Garrett," she said. "We've had some disagreements and I'm just trying to figure things out." He nodded and responded, "as I said before, I did ask."

"I need to apologize too." At her confused look, he explained. "I asked about what happened this morning partially because I was digging for dirt on the guy to convince myself that I'm the better man for you. That was wrong. To be honest, I'm jealous of you fiancé, but then, I would be jealous no matter who he was." He shook his head in disbelief. Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III had it all: looks, smarts and money. Women chased him, not the other way around. So why was he standing here trying to convince this beautiful and engaged woman that he was who she needed? "It's not like me to be petty. If you agreed to marry Garrett, you must love him…a lot."

Jealous? Of Garrett? Fitzgerald Grant's humility astonished her.

Olivia leaned back against the side of the boat and looked up into his face. "There's nothing to be jealous of Fitz," she said quietly. Truth is, you are the better man." He was speechless.

Fitz wished the evening didn't have to end, and as much as he would like to keep Olivia out here all night, he knew he couldn't. Standing and looking in her face, he was again struck by how tantalizing and beautiful she was. He moved closer. The urge to kiss her was strong. All day. This woman filled him with more conflicting emotions than he'd ever experienced before, and after spending the better part of the day with her he could no longer deny what he knew to be true. He wanted Olivia Pope. It wasn't just her body that he wanted either. He wanted her admiration, her respect and her devotion, but she belonged to someone else. For now. That was a boundary he never crossed. He had never made a move on another man's woman and he wouldn't start today.

Fitz placed a kiss on forehead and with a grin on his face, said, "Come on. Let me take you home." Taking his hand, Olivia allowed Fitz to lead her back to the house, where he dropped off the picnic basket, and then to his truck. Fitz helped Olivia into the passenger seat and again placed her bag near her feet.

X

Climbing behind the wheel, Fitz started the truck but before driving off he looked at Olivia and pointed a finger at her. "You shouldn't say things like that, Olivia Pope, you might accidentally give me hope." Looking directly at him, she didn't need to ask what he meant. She knew. He was the better man. With considerable effort, Fitz looked away, breaking their connection.

They rode in comfortable silence for a few minutes before she spoke. "I saw them together last night." She said is so quietly, Fitz had to make sure he heard her correctly.

"You saw who?' he asked.

She turned tolooked at him before responding. "I saw Garrett and his ex Raquel last night. They were standing in a dark corner behind the tent, and he had his arms around her."

"How could he do that to you? In front of your family and friends. If you saw them, I'm sure there were others who did too." Fitz was furious.

"I don't know." She shrugged. "He's always different when she's around. It's like he's more interested in her than me."

Her troubled expression pulled at Fitz's heart. Why would Garrett make his fiancée feel insecure? "Liv, you're beautiful. Extraordinarily so. Not only that, you're also the sweetest, most genuine and pure person that I've ever met. I'm sure Garrett feels that way too or he would have put that huge ring on her finger instead of yours." Why am I defending that idiot? I should tell her to dump him. But he hated how unsure of herself she looked. He wanted to make her forget about how seeing them together made her feel, but he wasn't sure he could.

She smiled at Fitz's words. "You know there's a woman out there for you Fitz. Someone who will capture your interest and your heart, and you'll fall in love with her and forget all about little ol'me," she said with a pout.

Was that a pout? Was she jealous? Yes! Thank God. Maybe there was hope. "And that bothers you because…?

Olivia covered her face with her hands. "I don't know. It shouldn't." Fitz suppressed his grin and attempted to look solemn. "Is it because you're falling hopelessly in love with me, Olivia?" he said before laughing.

Olivia dropped her hands and turned towards the window. After a few minutes she sighed and whispered, "I can't."

Fitz didn't like her response. Why couldn't she fall in love with him? Her fiancé didn't deserve her. He clearly didn't know how to treat this perfect woman sitting next to him or value her as she should be valued. No matter how much the guy had, he could never be worthy of Olivia Pope.

Olivia bit her lip. Then she took a long breath, and a new resolve seemed to come over her. "Just because he's made some mistakes isn't a good reason to throw it all away. He's not perfect. So what? I'm not the kind of girl who throws in the towel just because someone has a bad side. I don't easily give up on people, and I don't expect them to be perfect."

Fitz's heart dropped a little even though his admiration for her grew. He admired her character. It drew him in more than her beauty. Yet those same qualities threatened to trap Olivia, keeping her from true love.

Olivia twisted her ring before speaking again. "I really love this new friendship, Fitz."

Friendship? Hardly. "Is that the whole truth?" He caught her eye for a second. "Is that all you feel for me? Friendship?"

Lowering her head, Olivia toyed with her ring.

Why wouldn't she admit it? Keeping one eye on the road, Fitz reached over, brushed the hair off her shoulder and trailed his finger down her arm. Goose bumps broke out all over her. He broke into a grin. She clearly felt it too.

Suddenly, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around herself, and moaned. "This is so wrong. I'm not supposed to feel this way. I'm getting married."

Fitz glanced at her. "How does that make you feel, Olivia? Do you feel the same way with him as you do with me?" From the look and sound of it, Garrett made her feel rotten. Unloved. Surely, Fitz offered more to her heart than a guy who leered at other women. She deserved better.

"Do you love him?"

No answer.

He looked at her facial expression. He'd seen that face before. She wasn't in love with her fiancé, he was certain of that.

X

When they pulled into the parking lot of the Inn, Olivia clinched her jaw. Where did all of this anxiety come from? The accusing voice in her head screamed. Stop this nonsense now! Fitzgerald Grant must remain in the "friend zone." Period. Nothing more. Come hell or high water, it's Garrett Edison Davis. You made a commitment.

Fitz didn't move to exit the vehicle. Instead he turned towards Olivia. He ran his palm down her cheek and to her hand, squeezing it before bringing it to his lips and kissing it tenderly. "I'm very glad we got to know each other on another level today. I hope we'll remain friends."

"Yes, of course. I agree. You are a great guy, Fitz. I'm glad we got to know each other, as well." She finally looked at him.

"Perhaps another time…" he began.

Olivia cut him off, "there can't be another time." She sounded so dejected, sad.

"It's just that you were so happy out there on the water."

She didn't respond.

Fitz wasn't going to let her get away this easy. While she may have thought that what they had would remain on Martha's Vineyard, she was sadly mistaken. When it became clear that she wasn't going to respond, Fitz hopped out of the truck and headed to the passenger side. Olivia was removing her keys from her purse when he opened the door. Taking her hand, he helped her down and then grabbed her bag.

They walked in silence to her cottage. When she unlocked the door he placed her bag inside near the entrance and then turned back to her. He was just about to reach for her when she held up her hands to stop him.

"I can't. I can't do this," she said. "This thing, whatever it is we're doing. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lead you on. I don't know what got into me. I've got to go. I'm sorry…for everything." She turned and entered the room, closing the door behind her. Fitz stood in front of the closed door until he heard the lock click.

Strolling back to his truck, Fitz thought about what had just happened. He knew his resentment toward Garrett Davis was irrational, but he didn't care. Garrett had Olivia's heart, and he envied that. He wanted to respect their relationship, but he was finding that increasingly difficult to do.

"Sweet dreams, Olivia Pope," he whispered, before driving off.