By the time Olivia pulled into the parking lot, she was having doubts that the location she had arrived at was correct. She parked and doubled checked her GPS just to make she was in the right place.
Focused on the GPS she was startled when she heard gentle tapping on her car window. A sharp intake of breath could not be helped but her pulse slowed down only to pick up when she was met with Fitz's lopsided grin.
Fitz took a step back and strove to put an apologetic look on his face. He was probably failing miserably since he could not seem to wipe the smile off of his face that came from seeing her again.
He had not meant to scare her but when he saw her pull in he had begun walking towards her cute light blue Prius. The car seemed to be a reflection of the owner-compact, efficient and caring in ways he could not way to discover.
Noticing that she seemed to be doubting the location and readying herself to take off, the urge to reach her and reassure her had taken over. He began sprinting towards the car, tapping her window to draw her attention and was happy when she turned to meet his gaze.
He couldn't believe his luck. She had agreed to meet him and didn't seem put off by his behavior although he knew he would need to make up for scaring her. Whatever was required to stay in her good graces he would do it, no hesitation, no questions asked.
Fitz tried to rationalize his reaction to her as nothing more than deep admiration for her talents and beauty paired with his curious nature. She was intriguing-on screen she came across as this dynamite spitfire that commanded a viewer's attention whenever she was on camera. In real life she was just as dynamic; it was an understated depth she projected while maintaining an air of calm and warmth that just drew people, including himself, in. He wanted to see more and break underneath the surface to discover just what other secrets she held.
Olivia turned off her car and began taking deep breaths to calm herself down. As her breathing slowed her hands became steady enough to take her keys and turn her car off. She was still a bit shaken but keeping her gaze focused on Fitz seemed to be helping. He definitely owed her ice cream after scaring years off of her life.
Holding his hands up in apology, he flashed her a sheepish grin. "I want to apologize for scaring you; it wasn't my intention, Liv."
She paused in front of him and tilted her head up at him. "Apology accepted, but you definitely owe me ice cream and maybe another favor for scaring years off of my life."
"Whatever you want, it's yours. Just name it, I feel really bad about that. I just saw you and you looked like you were getting ready to leave."
"Well, I wasn't ready to leave yet. I just wanted to check the GPS. I was going to text you but I'm glad this is the right place. So, what's so great about this place? Are you sure they sure ice cream here?"
He offered her a bent arm and she looped hers through it. "This place definitely serves ice cream...and more. Just wait and see. You'll love it. I happen to know the owners."
Olivia shelved the doubts she held that said the nondescript building probably did not house anything or anyone that produced ice cream or any extra goodies. It was located next to a gym that sat on the corner directly across from a nice and surprisingly secluded beach.
If Fitz said there was ice cream then there would be ice cream. She believed in him and the gleeful look he was currently sporting.
Fitz watched as Olivia marveled at the interior of the ice cream and dessert parlor that was much more inviting once you stepped in and found yourself in a sweet induced sensory overload. He followed her gaze and shadowed her steps, seeing the place through her eyes.
The walls were different colors with large wooden letters complimenting the dessert selections found. Near the mocha colored wall also known as "cool creamery" sat the ice cream and gelato section with plenty of toppings and the options to mix to one heart's content. A deep berry red wall called "baker's dozen" provided the backdrop to the cupcake, cake and cookie selection. Cool lime green set the scene for what the owners and locals affectionately referred to as the "candy corner" even though there wasn't much candy there. It was where they put desserts that didn't belong with the cakes or ice cream/gelato and most of the treats were customer requests or seasonal experiments to test if they should earn a permanent spot on the menu. Signatures adorned all the walls and behind them at the entrance was clear dry erase board embedded into the wall for customers who wanted to doodle with space listing the shop's current lined the wall and there was a counter with stools near cool creamery in case you wanted to cool off from being outside for too long.
Fitz grabbed her hand. "C'mon, you have to meet the owners."
"Okay, I'm not planning on going anywhere," Liv joked.
"Michelle!Tom! There's someone I want you two to meet!" He tugged on the hand he was holding and tucked her into his side, waiting for the owners to appear. "It'll be great, I promise. They'll love you and you'll get to sample a bigger selection since you came in with me."
He lowered his voice to a whisper and she felt his lips against her ear as he said,"They might even let us get some good deals on dessert before we leave so you can sate that appetite for sweets, Liv."
Olivia was finding it hard to contain her excitement at the prospect of sampling the wide selection of sweets all around her, particularly the man at her side. He was positively delicious to look at but what really drew her was how aware and sensitive to her he seemed to be. He had caught her brief apprehension at meeting the owners and reassured her through his words and the distraction of his lips against her ear.
Where she was pressed against him she felt his heat beginning to seep into her and blend in a way that made her feel like a snow cone left to melt on a sunny day. The ice cream seemed like much safer option rather than climbing Fitz as if he were a tree and slating another growing appetite.
Looking down at their linked hands she noticed that he had interlaced their fingers and was stroking the back of her hand absently with his thumb. Each caress sent frissons of awareness through her, causing her breath to escape on a large exhalation. To balance herself out she inhaled deeply and found his scent wrapping around her. It was aftershave, soap and something distinctly him. She seemed to be fighting a losing battle trying to deny the connection between them that seemed to be growing with each minute that passed in each other's presence. Laying her head on his chest, she relaxed into him, feeling him adjust so that she was now in front of him completely, using him as a comfortable resting post.
A small dark haired, middle aged woman came out of the back area first with a smile on her face as she opened her arms to hug Fitz."Fitz! It's been too long! How have you been? And who is this beautiful woman?"
"Mia Giovanni, this is Olivia Pope, the gorgeous enchanting creature who agreed to join me for ice cream. When she told me she was craving some I knew I had to bring her here. It's a hidden gem like the female owner," he said charmingly. He pulled back from the hug, wrapping an arm around Liv to keep her close.
"Pleasure to meet you Mia, this is a lovely place and if the dessert is half as good as it looks I may be in serious trouble," Olivia joked.
"The pleasure is mine, my dear. You're the first person that Fitz has brought here and he's been a customer for years-" She was interrupted when her husband's voice announced his entrance.
"Mia, who is that I hear charming you? I only know of one fool brave enough to flirt with you, beautiful flower that you are," this came from a tall dark haired middle-aged man who Olivia guessed was Mia's husband.
"Come on, Sal, you know I cannot possibly make an appearance without paying my compliments to your lovely wife. How else would I get my sweet fix? Besides, your wife is taken and I have brought my own beautiful woman to take part in the ice cream goodness while trying to hold off on slipping into a sugar coma." Fitz pressed a light kiss to the side of her head.
"Liv, this is Salvatore, the man Mia has chosen to remain married to despite my best advances to get her to take me as a potential suitor. Sal, by my side is the wonderfully kind and intelligent Olivia Pope. She also seems to have a sweet tooth so we're looking to take care of that here," Fitz said with a smile.
"It's nice to meet you, Salvatore. I can honestly say I'm pleasantly surprised at Fitz's choice but I'm glad I agreed to try it," Olivia admitted.
"Lovely meeting you, Miss Pope, welcome to Gio's Confections & Cakes! How nice to finally someone close to Fitz. He's been a customer for years, but we've never seen him bring anyone here, isn't that right, cara?" Salvatore asked his wife.
"I was just saying that before you interrupted me you big lout! Now shoo, before you scare off the lovely woman. Come my dears, you said you were in the mood for ice cream?" Mia walked behind the glass as Fitz and Olivia followed her to the ice cream section and began perusing the selection.
Fitz already knew what his choice would be but he enjoyed watching the emotions fly across Olivia's face as she agonized over her decision. After nearly five minutes of trying to decide she spoke up.
"I'll have the birthday cake with mixed with hazelnut gelato, please."
"What size would you like? Do you want a cone or a cup?"
"I'll take a small cup for now, thank you, Mia." Olivia turned to him, waiting to hear his choice.
"Mia, you know my usual," Fitz said with an easy grin.
"Of course I do. Espresso gelato with almonds. Simple and savory."
Fitz pulled Olivia back into his arms."That preference goes beyond sweets just in case you were wondering, Liv," his baritone rumbled against the pulse in her neck before grazing her pulse lightly with his teeth.
When the cups were ready, Fitz paid and they thanked the Giovannis before walking toward the beach hand in hand.
"I love near the beach-especially if it isn't crowded. How about you, Fitz?"
"Being near the beach brings me a sense of peace and helps me clear my head. I thought it was the only thing that could do that until I met you, Liv," he confessed, his cerulean gaze as penetrating.
"Hang on a sec, I'll be right back. Don't move. I keep a blanket in my car for the days I end up out on a beach." He handed her his cup of gelato and sprinted towards the parking lot.
She watched him until he disappeared from her view and leaned against the railing staring out at the ocean. The breeze was cooling as she watched the waves crash against the shore. The sun was hanging in the sky, painting it in different streaks of pink, orange and red.
Before Fitz returned she wanted to sample some of his gelato. She looekd around her and dipped his spoon into the gelato, adding a couple of almonds to her scoop. The flavors burst upon her tongue with the espresso being smooth without overpowering her senses. The crunch of the almonds balanced out the slightly bitter taste but she appreciated the bite that the espresso flavor held.
As she sucked on the spoon savoring the taste, she felt a tap on her shoulder and found Fitz with a folded blanket tossed over one shoulder and his eyebrow raised. She was caught. Unsure of how to proceed she quickly replaced his spoon into his cup and handed them off to him.
"Now, Liv, that wasn't fair. You got to first scoop of my treat. I think you should let me recoup it." His tone was slow and seductive as he stepped closer, invading her space.
Olivia opened her mouth to apologize and Fitz took that opportunity to crash his lips onto hers. His tongue swept into her mouth and tangled with her own, gathering his own first taste of his gelato via her mouth.
This would be his most ideal way to taste things from now on. They would need to touch Olivia's lips, rest on her tongue, or graze her skin before he would be satisfied. They nipped, licked and soon the falvor of the gelato disappeared leaving only their own flavors for each other to take in.
It would not be enough. He was becoming aware that he was losing footing in a silent battle with himself. How much longer could he deny how he craved her? Was it possible to become addicted to being near someone? Addicted to having them available for you to physically touch?
Fitz wanted her. He wanted her to want him just as much as he wanted her. He wanted her to want whatever this was fast becoming, just as much as he did. He didn't need a label to tell him what his body knew. His body knew that on some elemental level they were a match and that they would be together. Fighting it was energy wasted when it could be better spent continuing to kiss her...
He pulled back slowly, groaning as her teeth caught his bottom lip and tugged lightly. Resting his forehead against hers, they both gazed into each other's eyes-a clash of warm chocolate and turbulent ocean blue-until their breathing began to even out, returning to normal.
"Come on, Livvie, let's enjoy our cold treats and watch the sun go down."
Wrapping his free arm around her Fitz felt her arm slide around his waist as they chose a spot near the water. He laid out the blanket and sat down, surprised when Olivia sat between his open legs pressing her back into his chest.
They ate, enjoying easy flowing conversation and comfortable silence when they finished their treats. Sensing that she was beginning to get chilled, Fitz enfolded his arms around her until his warmth began to bleed into her. He rested his head, beside hers as they watched the sunset.
Caught up in the serenity of it all-the ocean, the sunset and Olivia-Fitz almost missed her whisper.
"Let's get out of here, Fitz."
I just missed the Monday update, but if you're not in EST, then I'm in the clear! Thanks again for all the views, faves, follows and the reviews! OX