All night long, Olivia tossed and turned, unable to get Fitz's handsome face out of her head. She relived his touch and wished she could smell the scent of him once again. By three thirty, when it became apparent that she wasn't going to get any sleep, she slipped out bed, grabbed her phone and went downstairs to get a drink of water. It was six-thirty in D.C., and unlike her sister, she would wait thirty minutes before she called the Lankford household. She needed to talk.

X

"Slow down, Lib. I don't understand a word you're saying."

Olivia inhaled deeply. Cecily was right. She had a habit of talking really fast when she was nervous. Pausing, she took a moment to breathe. Her nerves were shot to hell after seeing Fitz last night. She couldn't believe it. She. Could. Not. Believe. It.

"Now do you want to start over?" Cecily's calm voice brought her back to the present.

"Fitz is here, Cis."

"Here, where?"

Olivia rolled her eyes, "Here in L.A. He was at the same basketball game, in the same suite, as a guest of the same host, last night. I'm still in shock." Olivia screeched.

"I can tell. You're talking fast and doing that high pitch thing again. Calm down." She heard Olivia's deep sigh on the other end. "So you're saying that after almost six months of no contact, in a city of four million people, the man with whom you had an instant connection, and who made you the happiest you'd been in a very long time, just showed up three thousand miles away from home, in the same place as you?"

"Yes Cecily, that's exactly what I'm saying. What am I going to do?" She said impatiently.

"Make the most of it."

"Cecily!"

"What? Was that not a good answer?"

"No it wasn't," Olivia said walking over to the large window in the living room of the penthouse she'd called home for the past two weeks.

"Okay, but first I want to know what you two talked about."

"We didn't really talk. He sat with Brett and I, and they made small talk. He's here for a few months working on a condo project in downtown L.A. Of course he was still his charming self. Oh, and I met his brother as well. He could be Fitz's twin. Well, except for the eyes. This is all so eerie." She said absently.

"It's not as eerie as it is serendipitous. It's as if you were destined to meet again."

"I don't believe in serendipity."

"Well you can believe what you want, but the two of you have great chemistry. Stop trying to fight it, because that man likes the hell out of you."

"What?"

"I saw it in his eyes every time the two of you were in a room together. He took you sailing because he knew you were upset and he wanted to make you feel better, and he extended his stay on the island to make sure you were okay. So what's holding you back? You know you like him too."

"Huh?"

"You heard me, Libby. You like him. Otherwise you wouldn't be calling me at this godawful hour. If you hadn't called, I would've never known that you saw Mr. Sexy. But you wanted me to know, because you're interested and you want me to tell you what to do. He has you all sorts of discombobulated, little sister."

There was silence on the other end.

"Why don't you just call that man and at least accept his lunch or dinner invitation? You're no longer engaged, so it isn't that." She sighed heavily before speaking again. "Libby, we're almost two weeks into the new year. This is the time for you to cleanse all of the angst and regret from your soul and begin to live again. I'm only going to say that you need to stop running, because Fitzgerald Grant could be your soul mate."

Cecily heard the coughing and sputtering on the other end. Apparently her sister had been in the middle of drinking something when she'd made that last comment.

"You finished?"

Olivia's reply was profane and short, which only made Cecily laugh. "Overreacting much?" Then she laughed again.

"Cis, I'm serious. He gave me another business card and told me use it this time. The ball, as the saying goes, is definitely in my court…again."

"Look, for the last fourteen, almost fifteen years of your life, you gave up so much of yourself to one man and what he wanted that you lost what you wanted. Now it's your turn to get what you want and from the sounds of it, that's Fitzgerald Grant." She said.

"I'm scared, Cis." She said, barely above a whisper.

There it was. "I know you're scared, Libby, but no one's saying you have to begin a new relationship with this man. You're in a different city, far from home, with a man who has shown you that he's willing to let you be in charge, make the rules. Spend some time with him and have a little fun. Just be. You're wound so tight, I'm surprised you haven't snapped. He's available and interested in you. Make the most of it."

Olivia couldn't argue with her sister's assessment. She was attracted to Fitzgerald Grant. Had been since the first time she saw him all those months ago. Maybe it was time for her to stop being afraid. After all, every man wasn't her ex. Maybe she would step outside of her comfort zone, and call Mr. Grant.

"Look Cis, I'm getting sleepy. I need to go lie down."

"Sleepy?"

"Yes, sleepy. I was awake at four this morning so I could call you." She said while heading up the stairs to her bedroom.

"Okay, go to bed. But just think about how much more fun it would be if Mr. Sexy were there with you, to take the edge off. Aren't your inner muscles aching for a little sexual healing?"

"What?!"

"Okay, okay. Use that business card, call him. Ask him what he likes to eat and if he says pus…"

"Cecily Marie Pope, don't you dare say it!"

"Say what, Olivia Carolyn Pope?" she asked innocently. "If he says…well, you know…tell him to come on over."

"I don't believe you."

"Yes you do."

"Yes I do." Olivia said, shaking her head at her crazy sister.

"Goodbye, Lib. Love you.

"Bye Cis. Love you too. But there are days I wished you weren't my sister."

Even after Olivia had ended the call, she could still hear Cecily laughing.

X

By 7:00 A.M. in L.A., Olivia was still wide awake. Finally tossing the duvet and sheet aside, she sat on the side of the bed for a few minutes. Sighing deeply she made her way to the bathroom to complete her morning ablution. After going downstairs to the kitchen to have her morning tea and an English muffin, she went back upstairs to her bedroom to change into a black swimsuit, along with a pair of sweatpants, t-shirt and aquatic shoes. She slipped her phone, two card keys and ID into a side pocket on the sweatpants and zipped it before leaving.

Olivia took a deep breath before plunging into the empty pool. After an hour, she'd lost count of the number of times she swam the length of the Olympic-size swimming pool on the lower level of 12 Wilshire. If she thought she could swim Fitzgerald Grant out of her system, she was clearly mistaken.

The cool water stimulated her and gave her a chance to think. She'd used her schedule in L.A. as an excuse not to get out and see the city, or do anything else for that matter. She knew that wasn't the real reason; the last few months had soured her on men for quite a while. She wasn't in a hurry to meet anyone. Or so she thought. The one time she accepted an invitation for a night out, she got the surprise of her life. Seeing Fitz again had her rethinking her position. Why should she deprive herself? She was a perfectly normal woman with normal needs and desires. She wanted all of the things that any woman wanted. Things like an understanding man, a good lover and plenty of mind blowing, good sex. Maybe he was her Mr. Right Now.

Olivia swam for a little while longer, enjoying the feel of the water against her body. After doing about twenty more laps, she turned over and floated on her back. She'd been swimming since she was about two years old and her love for it never waned. Looking up at the clock on the wall, she decided to stay in five more minutes.

Her mind drifted back to how seeing Fitz again had made her feel. She was almost six months out of an engagement with a man she thought, well if she was being honest, she hoped she would love and be with forever. Nope. There was no way she was ready for a new relationship, no matter how handsome the man, or how charming. Before her thoughts could get the best of her, Olivia stopped her lazy floating, turned over and started stroking again, swimming ten more laps before getting out of the pool.

X

Olivia walked across the marble floor of the fairly deserted lobby toward the bank of elevators. She was preoccupied thinking about whether to order breakfast from room service, eat in the hotel's restaurant or go out when out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement. She turned and saw Fitzgerald Grant casually walking toward her.

Her step faltered. Her heart hammered in her chest and a small gasp of surprise escaped her lips, as she locked eyes with the man with the crooked, sexy smile that did funny things to her. She tried to compose herself as he came closer.

Olivia stood rooted to her spot near the elevators, watching him. Earlier, she had been thinking about seeing him again.

Now here he was.

Fitz smoothed his hand down the front of the cashmere pullover sweater in an aqua-blue color that set off his eyes. He took her in from the curly ponytail to her feet with the hot pink toenails visible in the aquatic shoes she was wearing. She had obviously been in the pool. He was nervous and anxious after taking the chance of just showing up at her hotel, hoping to see her. He wasn't letting her get away this time.

She couldn't hide her emotions. They showed in her eyes. Confusion. Surprise. Resignation.

He smiled at that.

She broke their gaze to look around the lobby as a few people walked by to begin their day.

His smile faded when she looked back at him.

"Why are you here, Fitz? You can't be here."

He ignored her question. "Well, good morning to you too," he greeted. "This is a good look for you." There was that grin again.

She looked at him cautiously.

At that moment, Fitz began to second-guess his plan to see her again. He wasn't sure she wasn't going to run away or worse, call security and have him removed from the premises for being a stalker.

"I stopped by to ask if I could take you to breakfast or brunch or lunch or dinner. I was going to give you a few days to call, but then I knew that you would probably talk yourself out of it. So here I am!"

Olivia gave him a look of disbelief. Was he serious? "Really?" She asked.

Fitz fought hard not to smile. "Really," he said as he moved closer. She stepped back.

Their eyes met again.

"You're full of it Fitzgerald Grant," she said through clenched teeth, in a low voice in order not to attract attention.

"Am I?" he asked.

"You can't take 'no' for an answer. To you, 'no' just means try harder."

"I don't remember being told no specifically," he responded. "Just an 'I'm sorry."

She smiled a little. "Just as good as a no. "Right?"

"I gave you an opportunity to say no a few moments ago," he said.

She looked confused. "And the question was?"

"I asked if I could take you to breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner" he responded smoothly.

She looked him full in the face and narrowed her eyes. "You have no idea how wrong it was for you to just show up at my hotel, unannounced and then invade my space, just to try and get with me."

"Olivia…"

"No listen," she said holding up her hand.

Fitz nodded his head and remained silent.

"This isn't cute, and it doesn't work like that. Not with me anyway. Maybe this performance of yours has worked in the past but it's not going to work here," she said in a fit of anger. "You're not only disgustingly arrogant, you must be deaf too! I've already told you that I don't want to go anywhere with you."

He was silent for a few seconds, before speaking. "My hearing is perfect, Olivia. You told me that you were sorry. You never actually said that you didn't want to have breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner with me. As for the arrogance, I guess it was a little presumptuous showing up here and approaching you. I'm sorry. I deserved all of that," he said, seemingly unfazed by her little tirade. "I just don't know what came over me," he tried to sound innocent. "But most of all," he took a step closer to her, "I just couldn't seem to get you out of my head."

"Why?" She asked, even though she already knew. She just liked hearing him say it.

Her question shocked him. Was she still doubting herself? Didn't she know that she was beautiful, inside and out?

"Because I want to pick up where we left off on that Saturday night, on that sailboat, Olivia."

She looked away from him for just a second.

His pulse raced.

Her shoulders slumped and she let out the breath she'd been holding. She shook her head, but she refused to give in to the smile that was tugging at the corners of her mouth. Olivia crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head to the side. "Mr. Grant, I hope your pockets are deep, because I'm starved." She turned and headed toward the elevator before stopping midstride. "Wait down here," she said over her shoulder. "I'll be back in thirty minutes, or less."

"I love it when you talk to me like that," he said, laughing.

Olivia allowed herself to give in to the joy she was feeling inside. She laughed all the way to the penthouse and didn't stop until she'd showered and washed the chlorine from her hair, finished dressing in a pair of black skinny jeans, black silk tee and four inch black leather booties. To break up the black color scheme, she grabbed her gray leather Moto jacket from the closet. She allowed her hair air dry while she applied a light cover of make-up to her flawless complexion. As she stood in the mirror giving herself a final once over, she decided that for today, she would put aside her distrust, insecurities and old hurts, and enjoy this time with a very sexy man who was making it so easy to forget.

Fitz was standing with his back to the elevators when Olivia emerged. He was speaking with someone, and didn't hear the doors open. This gave her a chance to observe how nice his dark denim jeans fit his waist and hips. He'd removed the perfectly tailored navy blazer that Olivia knew hadn't come off a rack. The stark white shirt that he wore underneath the sweater that was the same color as his eyes, with the monogram on the left French cuff, was also custom-made. He looks good coming and going, she mused.

Fitz finished his call and turned in time to see Olivia walking toward him. A bright smile spread across his face when he saw her. She looked spectacular and he was having a hard time taking his eyes off of her. He met her halfway and when she was standing in front of him, he reached out and wrapped her in his embrace. She went willingly and he wasn't disappointed. He had wanted to do this since he saw her strolling across the lobby earlier.

He pulled back and she smiled up at him. He looked down at his watch, "Thirty-five minutes," he said. "You said thirty or less. I was beginning to get worried."

"Right." She rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed. "Let's go before I change my mind."

She started to walk away, but he took her hand in his and pulled her back to him.

"What are you doing, Fitzgerald Grant?" she whispered.

Fitz stared at Olivia's pouty lips, feeling her moist breath on his mouth. "I'm going to kiss you, Olivia Pope.

She needed him to kiss her because it reminded her that she was still a woman, with strong urges she'd been trying to keep in check. One of the things she'd missed about living with her ex was the intimacy. The sex between them ran the gamut from hot to cold depending on their interaction, yet there had never been a time when they got into bed together that they didn't cuddle. Waking up, legs entangled, was the perfect way to begin the day.

He lowered his head and kissed her with all of the pent up passion he was feeling. With a moan, Olivia parted her lips, allowing his tongue access to her mouth. He deepened the kiss before reluctantly tearing his mouth away from hers. She stood looking up at him, eyes wild. "We'd better leave now," he said, looking down into her gorgeous brown eyes.

Olivia nodded, dazed. She didn't trust herself to speak because if she did she probably would've asked Fitz to take her back upstairs, to her bed. It was a good thing they were going out, because he was making it more and more difficult to hide her feelings for him. Her sister was right, she wanted Fitzgerald Grant.

He took her hand in his and led her toward the exit, where the Porsche was parked. The valet attendant had both doors opened when they walked out of the sliding doors. Fitz waited until Olivia was seated before closing the door. He rounded the car and slipped in beside her.

Fitz put on his aviator sunglasses, started up the car, shifted into gear and pulled away from the curb in a smooth burst of speed. They didn't exchange a word for several minutes. He feared that he'd gone too far with just showing up at her hotel, and moved too fast when he kissed her. Olivia was different from the other women he'd known.

They continued to ride in silence, the music from the radio the only sound. Occasionally he'd glance at her while she nervously fiddled with the strap on her purse. Finally, Fitz's voice interrupted the silence.

"So how long are you staying in L.A.?" He looked at her from the corner of his eye.

Olivia glanced at Fitz before answering his question. "Three months. The merger is moving along smoothly, we've passed the halfway mark. We should be finished by the end of March."

"How long have you been here?"

"Almost two weeks?"

"And you're almost finished?"

"The project began in July of last year. There was an associate leading the team but she's been placed on bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy. I volunteered to take her place."

"So you spent New Year's here instead of back in D.C. with your fiancé?"

Shifting to her left, Olivia looked at Fitz's profile.

"Fitz, I feel great today and I want to enjoy spending time with you. Can we please not talk about Garrett today?" Or ever. She turned in her seat and looked straight ahead.

He'd noticed she wasn't her engagement ring again today but he didn't say anything. He wanted to ask if everything was okay, but decided he'd wait until she brought it up.

"Okay. But I thought you'd be knee deep in wedding preparations by now. If you'd rather not talk about it, then we won't."

"Then I guess we won't."

"Fine. What would you like to talk about?"

She hesitated a few seconds. "I'd like to talk about why you're so hellbent on squeezing your way into my life, (and my heart), for starters."

His eyebrows shot up. "I can't believe you're asking me why. Isn't it obvious? I like you, Liv. A lot."

She was quiet for what seemed liked hours but in reality was a minute or two. Her features softened and she looked at him again before saying, "I like you too."

Neither of them said another word.

X

Fitz maneuvered the Porsche through the streets of downtown L.A. before merging on the 10 Freeway and picking up speed. Since the top was down, conversation meant screaming, and neither of them was up for that. After a few minutes, he glanced over at Olivia, who'd put on a pair of oversized aviator gradient sunglasses and rested her head against the headrest. She appeared to be sleeping, but he knew she wasn't. Just resting. She looked peaceful. The most content she'd appeared all day.

"You okay?" he asked.

A motorcycle sped past their car a little too close, startling them both.

"Keep your eyes on the road," she said.

He kept his left hand on the wheel of the Porsche and reached for her with the right, linking his fingers with hers. He held her hand until he had to downshift and exit onto the Pacific Coast Highway. Olivia anxiously watched him expertly shift between fourth and third gears as they climbed the mountain. She let the wind whip around her face, glad that she'd worn her curls, so she didn't have to worry about her hair staying in place.

A few minutes later, they turned into a parking lot where a valet greeted Fitz by name. He escorted her into a building that looked like a 1930s hotel. A host greeted them and led them to a room that opened up onto the edge of a cliff and overlooked the ocean. There was one table on the balcony, and it was reserved for them.

The view was breathtaking as the sun shone down on the tranquil Pacific Ocean below.

"Come here often?"

At his raised eyebrow, she continued. "The valet knew your name."

"I came here for the first time a few years ago. The food is excellent and it's off the beaten path so it's never too crowded. There's always a live band as well. I wanted to bring you here since you love the water.

"How thoughtful."

"I was hoping you'd say that." Unable to resist kissing her again, he pulled her into an alcove where they wouldn't be seen and leaned down to capture her lips in a hot kiss. He hesitated before he released her. "I'm just a thoughtful guy." He lowered his voice and looked directly into her eyes. "If you give me half a chance, Olivia Pope, I can show you just how thoughtful I can be."

She didn't know what had gotten into him, but she was all in. Her heart began to race then slowed back down to its normal rhythm. "You're off to a flying start," she said softly.

"Good. Let's take our seats." They moved out of the hidden alcove and walked hand in hand to the table that had been set up for them.

Olivia thought for a few moments about how sudden her actions were whenever she was with Fitzgerald Grant. First, on the Vineyard, and now in L.A. What was it about him? Why was she allowing him to get so close, so fast? She quickly shook her head. She wasn't going to think about that now. She felt carefree and young again, and she never wanted that feeling to end.

Once they were seated, Olivia was treated to an afternoon of pure magic. There was the exquisite cuisine and mimosas, the calming sounds of the band, and most of all, she enjoyed the comfort of being in Fitz's company again. She'd missed it. He was every bit the gentleman. He saw to her every need. He made her laugh with his sharp wit. Above all, he made her feel special, truly important.

By degrees her guard came down and she found herself talking about things, personal things that she had kept buried for years.

"I know you've noticed that I'm no longer wearing my engagement ring," she said as they strolled hand in hand along the boardwalk.

So Cecily had been right, things had changed. He didn't react or say a word as they continued to walk. She looked up at him and appeared so delicate, and vulnerable, and he wondered if Garrett Davis' actions had ruined her for any man who'd express an interest in her. He certainly hoped that wasn't the case.

Fitz wasn't exactly a romantic and he'd derided friends who claimed they'd fallen in love at first sight, but now he knew what they were talking about. The moment he saw Olivia Pope walk into her cousin's rehearsal dinner, he knew she was the one he had been searching for.