Shane nestled in closer, resting her head on his shoulder, amazed at just how right this felt. Oliver released her hand and placed his arm around her drawing her in even closer. She closed her eyes, thinking about how long she'd wanted this, how long she'd waited for him. On some level, she felt this had all started the very day she'd been sent to the DLO, but she knew that if they'd just jumped right in then, it would have ended in disaster.
Fall hard, fall fast, fall apart, right? She'd lived that before, and it just didn't work. This certainly hadn't happened quickly. And they'd spent a lot of time dancing around the topic of their relationship, but during that dance, they had gotten to know each other. She hoped that things were about to change for the better.
Shane lifted her head and turned sideways in her seat, facing Oliver. She smiled at him, took a breath, reached for his hand. Was it odd that she wanted to feel connected to him as she took the leap to move the conversation-the relationship-forward?
"You look like you're getting ready to confront me, Shane". He teased.
She smiled, sheepishly. "We finally made it to our first date. She averted her eyes, but managed to meet his again. "It started out a little rocky, but I had a wonderful time, Oliver." She took a deep breath and continued. "Do you remember what you said in the chapel, about not wanting our first date to be our last?" He nodded his head and chuckled.
"Yes, Shane. I recall that quite clearly." He paused, looking at her intently, suddenly very serious. "I would very much like to have a second date with you. " He paused again, searching for the right words.
"A second, a third, a fourth," he began. "But before that second date, there's something I need you to know, Shane." He held her eyes with his own, saw her swallow, and noted the worried look he'd seen several times that evening, crossed her face again.
"I cannot date casually, Shane. I cannot take this—us—lightly." He took her hand in his. "The last time I approached a relationship casually, I ended up in a marriage that wasn't right or either of us, and it ended up causing me to put my life on hold. It caused hurt and pain in my other relationships. I intend to take our dating—our relationship—very seriously. If we are going to date, I need this to be two adults who care about each other, working to figure out if this relationship can be something long-term. I need to know if that's what you want too."
Shane looked at him, and felt those darned butterflies in her stomach returning in full force. She held his hand as she looked at him and responded. I've done casual dating, too. And it ended up in a lot of compromise on my part, with a man who seemed more interested in a relationship than in me. I want this to be about what we want…together. I want something …serious…too."
He let out a breath, and she did too, suddenly feeling more relaxed. He smiled, and she returned the smile. Their thoughts were aligned, and the chapter in their lives with them dancing—figuratively—around their relationship was about to end, and another was about to begin if he'd just take the next step. He remembered what Bobby had said at the flower shop earlier that evening. "If you think this is something special, don't think, just jump in. It's worth it. Love is worth it."
Oliver reached out briefly touching Shane's cheek before pulling his hand away. He held her gaze, then dropped his eyes to her lips, and she flushed. "Shane, I'd very much like to kiss you. May I kiss you?" He asked, his voice sounding different, gravelly to his own ears.
She looked taken aback by the question.
