It was Saturday night and Oliver had invited Shane over to his house for dinner. As they started dating Oliver usually picked Shane up at her house and they went out to a restaurant finishing up with coffee at her house. Depending on the weather they'd spend the rest of the evening on the swing he gave her or on the couch by her fire. Ringing the doorbell, Shane thought suddenly that she'd never been past his front porch and entryway.

"Evening M… Uh Shane." Oliver answered.

Shane smiled entertained that he still occasionally slipped and called her Ms. McInerney when they were together on a date. "Evening Oliver." Entering she handed him a bottle of wine she knew he preferred. "As your girlfriend, I'm finally getting to see your inner sanctum," Shane said teasingly.

"What do you mean?" Oliver asked taking her jacket and kissing her on the cheek.

"Oliver I've never been past your entryway." She said turning around looking down the hallway curiously.

"Really?" He replied like he didn't already know.

"Really," Shane said smiling at him expectantly.

"Let me check on dinner and then I'll give you the tour."

"It smells wonderful. I didn't realize you cooked." Shane followed him into the kitchen checking out the living area along the way. "I love the island in the middle you've got great counter space."

"I redid the kitchen after H…" Oliver stopped wondering if it was not the thing to mention your ex-wife when having an evening with your new girlfriend.

"It's fine Oliver. I happened to be aware that you've been married before." Shane smiled wryly.

Oliver picked up a lid stirring and checked on the oven before opening the bottle of wine to breath. "How about the tour?" He held out his hand. Taking his hand, she followed him while he showed her the utility room, dining room and moved on to his home office. She noticed the antiques sprinkled through his home were well preserved.

"I knew you liked books, but this is impressive Oliver." Moving into the room she ran her hands over the spines surprised at the diverse array of genres and topics. Everything from what she would have expected from classics and autobiographies, but then she stopped when she found several art history and history of hacking books. Turning she looked at him curiously as he leaned against the door.

"I may have gotten slightly curious when a new employee was misdirected to the DLO." Oliver said smiling faintly. Not wanting to embarrass him she let it go internally thrilled that even back then she was in his thoughts.

Moving back into the hallway he showed her the guest bedrooms and then paused before his bedroom. He turned slightly red as she stopped at the door not entering. The furniture was classically masculine but homey. Not wanting to tarry for a variety of reasons she moved back towards the kitchen. "Your house is beautiful Oliver."

"Thank you." He poured her a glass of wine handing it to her. "To a quiet evening together." Shane smiled clinking glasses. He sat the food on the table before pulling her chair out for her. "The other night. You asked me what me being your boyfriend meant."

"Yes." She agreed while sitting down and putting a napkin on her lap.

"You must be influencing me more than I realized but I found myself overwhelmingly curious about something." Oliver said sitting across from her.

"Regarding?" She took her first bite. "This is really good."

"You say that with surprise." Oliver said mockingly before continuing. "When you were on the phone with Alex, you mentioned I was everything you never knew you wanted in a boyfriend."

"Did I say that?" Shane said teasingly pretending to forget before relenting. She was surprised he was being so forthright. "I never knew I wanted someone who enjoys a Yoo-hoo with the same relish as a nice Brunello." Oliver smiled starting to eat himself.

"Someone that has an affinity for words and the English language."

"I've always liked the word affinity." Oliver said musingly.

"I thought you might." Shane said smiling wryly.

"Someone that knows exactly what they like but is occasionally open to trying new things." Shane said teasingly.

"Someone with an old-world charm from another time." Shane said thinking about his antiquated ways.

Turning serious, "Someone that appreciates things of the past but has learned how to forgive enabling them to not get trapped in the past." Oliver thought about the years that he found solace in the things of the past before being drawn into the present by the golden-haired beauty sitting across from him. He stopped eating looking at her tenderly.

"Someone who's willing to patiently teach others life isn't about the finish line but the journey along the way." Oliver reached across the table taking her hand.

Shane took a drink with her free hand before continuing, "Someone who brings hope, the confidence in miracles, and things unseen to those around him."

Closing her eyes briefly and taking a deep breath before stepping out on the limb looking at him with her heart on full display. "Someone who has faith that there are things in the future that are worth the wait."

Oliver brought her hand up placing a kiss gently on the back of her fingers.

"Shane some things, some people are always worth the wait." Between the kiss and the words, Shane fell in love with him all over again.