Hey everybody, y'all all right? Wow! I wasn't expecting your reactions to this story, but I am so happy that you like it so far. I also wasn't sure how you'd react to Olivia because she's so different from my other stories. As someone said, "this Olivia is a fireball." That she is; Fitz has his hands full, but I think he's up to the challenge. She's still trying really hard not to fall for his good looks and charm, but...

As always, thank you so much for reading and leaving reviews, and for the kind PMs. You guys are the best!

Yes, three chapters in two days. Happy Juneteenth!

Enjoy,

TBOT

Sunday...

Early the next morning there was a light knock on Olivia's bedroom door. She ignored it, and turned over. After a minute the knocking became louder and more insistent, as if someone or something needed immediate attention. After tossing and turning most of the night, she'd finally fallen asleep at almost three o' clock that morning. Sitting up abruptly, she glanced at her phone on the night table. It was only seven-thirty. What the he...?

"Go away," she said, her voice still filled with sleep.

Joey opened the door and walked into the room, opening curtains and blinds.

"It's time to get up," she said in a singsong voice.

"No it isn't," Olivia said, pulling the duvet over her head. "It's Sunday and I only leave my bed when it's absolutely necessary."

Coming over and sitting on the edge of the bed, Joey ignored Olivia's groans and complaints. "I was going to leave you a note that I was headed home so I wouldn't have to awake you."

"Why didn't you?" Olivia asked, removing the cover from her face so Joey could see just how irritated she was at having her sleep interrupted.

"It's not my fault, Liv" she said, trying to sound apologetic.

"Oh, really?" Olivia asked, opening an eye. "Then who should I blame for waking me up?"

"I have a slight problem."

Olivia groaned again. She didn't like the sound of that. Over the years, every time that phrase came out Joey's mouth, "slight" was usually putting things mildly. What she usually had was a big problem.

"Why do I have a strange feeling that your problem will somehow become my problem?"

Joey sighed. "I need you to drive me back to Fitz's house."

Olivia's eyes opened widely in shock. All traces of sleep completely disappeared in less than two seconds.

"What?!"

"I need you to…"

"I told you last night I am not interested in that man. Why are you still trying to play matchmaker? Stop trying to make something happen between us. There's no way we would be good together. We are too different. He has…"

"Liv…"

"Didn't you see the way all those women were fawning all over him? And he was just eating it up."

"Liv," Joey said, waving her hands to get her attention.

"Giving private tours to some, and kissing others. His ego must be…"

"OLIVIA!" Joey yelled.

Coming down from her rant, Olivia focused her eyes on her friend.

"Why are you yelling at me?"

"Because you won't let me get a word in," Joey responded, curious about the tirade Olivia had gone into.

She sighed. "Fine. Talk."

"I lost my keys at the party yesterday." She held up a business card with the event company's information. "I called and spoke to someone who told me that they have crew onsite breaking down tents and if I want to search for them, I need to get to Great Falls ASAP."

Embarrassed by her outburst, Olivia tried to play off her reaction to hearing Fitz's name. "What does that have to do with me?"

"I can't drive my car without my keys. Nor can I get into my house."

"Don't you have a spare?" she asked, looking for any other solution to this situation. "Everyone should have a spare. Can't you call BMW service and have the car unlocked remotely?"

"I still can't get into my house."

"Well what happens if you don't find them?"

"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it," Joey said, standing and heading for the door. "With any luck though, it won't matter because I'll find them at Fitz's."

"Can't you call an Uber?" Olivia made one last ditch effort to avoid going back to that big house in Great Falls. "I'll pay for it," she added hopefully.

Joey stood in the doorway staring at her friend. Yes, she could've called BMW service, a friend or even an Uber, but she wanted Olivia to take her so her friend could see Fitz again. Alone. Without a crowd.

"Fine," Olivia said, not wanting Joey to read too much into her objections. What difference did it make whether she went back to his house? "I'll get dressed."

"We have to hurry. The crew will only be there until ten."

Olivia's mind wandered. Would he be there? Would they see each other again? Would he be there with one of the women from yesterday?

"Hey!" Joey said, snapping her fingers. Where were you just now? You just zoned out on me."

Olivia laughed off the moment and pushed back the duvet.

"Give me thirty minutes."

X

Fitz sat at the island in his kitchen scrolling through news stories on his tablet, while ESPN played on the mounted the television. During the off-season he did a lot of catching up on what was going on in other sports. He had friends in the NBA, NHL, MLB and WTA, and they were all currently in season. ESPN kept him abreast of what was going on in their worlds. As he attempted to read a story on the tablet, he could barely concentrate. The words were there but he just couldn't process them, because a set of pretty brown doe eyes had him preoccupied.

As the previous evening progressed, he'd had the opportunity to meet and spend a little time with several other women. Most were smart, engaging and offered decent conversations, but each time he looked at one, he wondered what she was doing. Each time he responded to a question, he wondered who she was talking to. The idea that his mind could be completely taken over with thoughts of a woman he didn't know fascinated him.

Taking a bite of the omelet he'd prepared, he was relieved that the mystery woman hadn't affected his appetite. His housekeeper Roberta, or Bert as she liked to be called, had weekends off and he was left to fend for himself. He didn't get to cook often during the season, but he made up for it during the off-season, and enjoyed it.

"Good morning, big brother."

Fitz checked the time on his tablet and then looked up. "It's not quite nine o'clock and you're up and dressed. I'm surprised."

Wearing skinny jeans and a white tank, T.C. walked over to a cabinet and grabbed a glass. Sitting at the island, next to Fitz, she poured a small amount of orange juice and took a sip.

"I need to be back in the city by noon. My shift begins at one and I need a ride to work."

About to take another bite of his omelet, his fork stopped in midair. "You need a ride to work?"

She nodded.

"Where's your car?" he asked.

"Jesse has it," she said just above a whisper.

Did he hear her correctly? "Back up. Who is Jesse and why does she have your car?"

T.C. took another sip of orange juice. "She works at the bar with me."

Setting his fork on his plate, Fitz turned to look at his sister. "Let me make sure I understand. You allowed a co-worked to borrow your car, then took an Uber to Great Falls, showed up on my doorstep unannounced and tried to crash my party. Why is a stranger driving your car, T.C.?"

The young woman looked away from her brother's penetrating stare.

"I asked you a question."

T.C. sighed and looked at Fitz. "She needed to run some errands and she doesn't have a car, so I let her borrow mine. That was over a week ago."

"What?!" Fitz tried to remain calm, but his sister's revelation had him counting to ten before he could respond. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm down. "So this Jesse person has been driving around in your car for over a week and you've been unable to reach her?"

T.C. nodded, as she watched her brother. His expression was unreadable.

"Have you reported the car stolen?" he calmly asked.

She shook her head. "No. It's registered to GNA and if I report it, Mom and Dad will find out and then I'll have to hear about how irresponsible I am…again. I didn't think she would keep my car for over a week without at least letting me know where she was. Fitz, please don't tell Mom and Dad."

Fitz sighed. "What you did was irresponsible, T.C. You know you're not supposed to allow anyone to drive that car. We have no idea where it is, whether it's been stolen or involved in an accident."

"I'm sorry, Fitz."

"I know you are," he said, rubbing her back. "When you decided to decline the summer internship in New York, and remain in D.C. to attend summer classes, I supported your decision. Even when you got that job at the bar waiting tables, I understood that you needed us to step back and allow you to make your own decisions about your life. Up until now, you've been doing a good job. But this, T.C., is very irresponsible."

"I know that now, Fitz. She hasn't shown up for work either. Tori, Ashley and I have been riding around everyday looking for her."

Fitz was furious. Someone had taken advantage of his little sister's kindness. He reached for his phone, and scrolled through his contacts. After a few seconds, he tapped the screen and waited for someone to answer.

"Corey, good morning. Fitz Grant here. Yeah, I'm good."

Fitz laughed at something the young man on the other end said.

"We're certainly going to try. I'd like a ring before I retire."

He laughed again. "Listen, I need you to track a vehicle that appears to have been stolen," he said, glancing at his sister. "It's from the sales fleet, and the driver should be listed as Theodora Grant."

Fitz waited while the man searched for the vehicle in the database.

"Yes. The 2019 White Mercedes GLE SUV. That's it. I need you to remotely disable it, then locate it and have it towed to this address." Fitz gave him the address to his condo in D.C.

"I'll handle it from there. And this stays between us. Thanks, Corey." He ended the call.

"She's going to be so angry with me," T.C. said softly.

Fitz frowned. "I don't care. She took advantage of you. If she were to cause an accident and hurt someone, who do you think the injured party's going to sue?"

T.C. didn't reply but she understood her brother's point.

Fitz pulled her up from the chair and into a tight hug. He wanted to protect his little sister from all harm but knew he couldn't. She was living in an apartment for the summer with her roommates Tori and Ashley. The three of them were attending classes at GW and working at the bar. T.C. wanted to live off-campus in the fall, but he wasn't sure if she was ready for that. She tried to come across as a confident young woman but there were still some traces of an insecure teenager.

"It's going to be okay, T. The fleet management team will locate the vehicle. We'll have it checked out, and if it's okay, you'll get it back. It not, we'll get you another car." He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

She looked up at her big brother and smiled. "In the meantime, can I drive one of yours?"

"No."

T.C. stared at him. "No?" Her eyes widened at his use of the word. Fitz rarely used it when it came to his little sister and they both knew it. It was hard to deprive her of anything.

"No. You're not getting the keys to any of my vehicles. I will drive you back to your apartment, and then to work, or you can take an Uber. The choice is yours. He stared at her, waiting for her to decide.

"Okay, you can take me."

Fitz smiled. "I thought that's what you'd say."

She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Thanks, big brother."

"Anytime, T."

X

Olivia drove her black Audi A7 down the long private drive that led to Fitz's home. She nervously bit down on her bottom lip the closer the car got to the iron gates. The gesture wasn't something she did often and she forced herself to stop. Seeing Fitzgerald Grant was nothing to get nervous about. Besides that handsome face, rock hard body and successful career, what else did he have to offer? She had to remind herself that he didn't fit the mold of the type of men she usually dated, or preferred. After witnessing him with several women yesterday, she wasn't sure if he knew anything about being in a committed relationship.

Pulling up to the security gate, Olivia tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach. The man probably wasn't home, and if he was, the chances of seeing him were slim. They would meet the planner, search for the keys and leave. In and out.

She wiped her sweaty palm on her jeans and lowered the window. Reaching out to the call box, her finger froze.

"Liv?"

Turning her head, she forgot that she had a passenger in the car.

What?"

The word came out harsher than she intended. If Joey had any idea of the thoughts going through her mind, she'd never hear the end of it. She hoped her friend didn't notice her strange behavior.

"Are you okay?"

Olivia nodded. "Yes…why do you ask?"

Joey didn't believe her for a minute. They'd known each other too long for her to be fooled.

"Well, you were unusually quiet the entire ride, and you have a confused look on your face."

"I guess I'm just a little tired," she said, yawning to try and sell the lie. "It's no big deal."

"Tired?" Joey said. "This wouldn't have anything to do with the man who owns this estate, would it?"

Olivia stared at her friend. Sometimes she forgot that Joey had actually graduated from law school. She asked more questions than her colleagues, who actually were lawyers.

"For the last time, Jo, please give that topic a rest. Better yet, bury it. There's no need to force something that isn't going to happen."

"Then why have you been staring at the call box for several seconds without touching the screen?"

Joey laughed as Olivia reached out the window and did just that.

"Yes, who is it?"

She hadn't expected to hear his voice and the smooth base sent shivers down her spine. She wondered if he could see her from the camera that she knew he was looking at. Damn. Where was security? The housekeeper? Anybody. People like him didn't answer their own doors. She wasn't supposed to see him today. Talk to him today, or be anywhere near him today.

Joey nudged her shoulder. Pulling herself together, she answered his question.

"Um…yes, Joey de Matteo lost her keys yesterday. She called the event planner this morning and we're here to meet her to try and find them."

There was no response, but the black iron gates began to open. Olivia drove down the long driveway to the house, and parked in the circular drive. Opening the door she moved to exit the vehicle but Joey reached for her arm, stopping her.

"It's okay to like him, Liv."

Olivia frowned. "Who?"

"Yeah right," Joey said, laughing. "If you've resorted to playing dumb, the attraction is more serious than I thought."

Olivia didn't respond, deciding to let Joey think whatever she wanted. Instead, she stepped out her car. May as well get this over with, she thought.

Joey ignored her refusal to talk about Fitz, and continued. "What's the problem? The man is handsome, rich, famous, not married and from what I heard last night, has no drama."

Olivia stopped walking. Hearing it put that way, it would be hard to convince someone that when it came to Fitzgerald Grant, she wasn't interested. Then she remembered in her line of work, she had an up-close and personal view of what privilege could do to a person. She resumed walking.

"Let it go, Jo. There's nothing there."

She knew it was a lie before the words left her lips. The attraction was definitely there. He had all the outward characteristics and traits of someone she would like to get to know. Maybe she worried too much about nothing and had put her hang-ups about athletes on him undeservedly. Maybe her job had taken its toll, making her more cynical. If he continued to show an interest in her, maybe she would…"

Joey rang the doorbell and after a minute, the front door was answered by a young woman, immediately squashing any ideas that Olivia had begun to entertain about Fitzgerald Grant.

Olivia recognized her instantly as the young woman that Fitz had greeted intimately at the party yesterday. She was still here this morning which could only mean one thing, they were probably more than friends. Fitz should be ashamed of himself. This young woman was barely legal.

"We called earlier about lost keys in the backyard," Joey said. "The planner said to come over this morning to look for them."

Shrugging as if she had no idea what they were talking about, the woman stepped aside and motioned for them to enter. Closing the door, she walked farther into the foyer and yelled.

"Fitz, someone's here to see you!"

Olivia and Joey glanced at each other. The yelling reminded them of their high school and college days. It also confirmed that she was as young as Olivia thought she was.

"He'll be right with you," she said. "Just make yourselves comfortable.

Without another word, she walked over to the staircase on the left side of the foyer, and bounded up the stairs. Olivia watched her as she disappeared from sight. Answering the door, yelling for him, the bare feet, and going upstairs on her own demonstrated the level of comfort she had in his house. Were they a couple? What difference does it make? Then it hit her. There was a reason why it made a difference, she was jealous.

"You okay?" Joey asked.

"Yes, why?" Olivia responded.

"You have a frown on your face."

"I'm fine."

Joey sighed. "Don't jump to conclusions. We have no idea who she is."

Olivia was surprised that Joey had picked up on her jealousy. Turning, she looked around and then up.

"That chandelier is beautiful. Don't you think?"

Joey chuckled, shaking her head at Olivia's change of subject. "It must be hard to live in that much denial bec..."

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Fitz said, appearing from a door on the right. "I was just…" He stopped abruptly, and his focus landed on the woman to his left. Doe eyes?! He'd seen the driver of the car at the gate but her hair was partially blocking her face and she was wearing dark sunglasses. He had no idea that it was his mystery woman.

She was dressed casually in a pair of slim boyfriend jeans, a crisp white cotton shirt and a pair of four-inch, toe loop leather mules. The outfit covered up much more than her bathing suit, but it complemented her body just the same. Her hair was hanging straight past her shoulders and framed a face devoid of make-up. Again, he was the struck by the power of her natural beauty.

Remembering meeting Joey yesterday, he'd planned to find her and see how he could go about tracking down his mystery woman. But things were turning out way better that he could've ever wished for. Now he could get all the information he wanted from the woman herself.

Watching her watch him, he noticed her nervously fiddling with the strap of her leather cross body bag and looking away before looking back at him. Fitz smiled and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Do you have a sudden urge to use the restroom again?"

Olivia glared at him. "If I did, this would be the last place I would come."

Joey had no idea what they were talking about, but it looked like her best friend had met her match. Olivia was a leader, and always had to be in charge and in control, but that role was about to be challenged. Fitz was going to have a hard time getting Olivia to let down her guard long enough so that a relationship would have a chance to develop.

Smiling to herself, she decided this was a perfect time to leave them alone.

"Uh, I'm going to go out to the backyard and look for my keys."

Neither noticed as she walked away down the hallway Fitz had appeared from, hoping it would lead her to the back of the house.

Olivia was the first to break the standoff. Walking past him, she thought it best to avoid eye contact.

"Excuse me, I'm going to go and help my friend."

As she walked past him, Fitz reached out and gently touched her arm. She wanted to run but she couldn't get her feet to move, so she stood frozen in place.

"I won't," he said, his voice low and sexy.

"Won't what?" she asked, trying to control her breathing.

"Excuse you."

She turned to face him and realized he was standing very close. In that moment, Olivia felt the full power of this man surround her. At six-foot four and two-hundred and twenty-five pounds, he was the prototypical quarterback. The track pants and t-shirt that he wore may have covered most of his muscles, but she remembered the well toned body that was hiding underneath his clothes.

Fitz stood staring at her intently with those blue eyes, and her palms began to sweat. She swallowed hard in an attempt to calm her nerves. What is going on with me? She'd argued serious cases in front of juries, gone up against highly skilled defense attorneys and faced some of the toughest criminals. So how was this man making her nervous? His intense stare held curiosity and patience. It gave her an uneasy feeling, and almost made her knees buckle. Everything in her said that he wanted something from her. She wasn't sure what it was, and she definitely wasn't going to hang around and find out.

She stepped back and looked up at him again. "Then I'll rephrase the question."

He made a face. "Rephrase the question?" Nodding he smiled. "I'll take that as a clue. Are you a lawyer?"

When he mentioned her profession, it was as if her mind snapped and she was back in control. She was a lawyer. That meant she dealt in facts and didn't get caught up in the emotions of a situation. Everything she'd witnessed from him gave her all the clarity she needed when it came to this superstar quarterback. He wasn't for her.

Squaring her shoulders, she stepped around him and gave a polite smile.

"Have a good day, Mr. Grant."

Before she could walk away, Fitz quickly moved to block exit. He stood just inches from her. Their bodies weren't touching, but the attraction couldn't be denied. He tilted his head and took all of her in. Serious. Uptight. On edge. Uneasy. Judgmental. Who in their right mind would be attracted to that? Yet she'd been on his mind all night, was on his mind when woke that morning, and who he'd thought of when he thought of settling down. This was his chance to find out what was going on in that beautiful head of hers. He couldn't let this opportunity slip away.

"Why don't you like me?"

His question caught her off guard. Not just the words, but the sound of his voice. There was no arrogance and no teasing. The sincerity of the question meant he wanted an honest answer. Olivia didn't really have an answer.

"I don't know you, so how could I not like you?"

"Ahh...," he said, taking a step closer to her.

She responded by taking a step back, but there was nowhere to go and her back bumped against the wall.

"But you don't."

"What makes you say that?" she asked, trying to remain calm. Why did he have to stand so close?

"When I met you yesterday, you wouldn't tell me your name, you practically slammed the bathroom door in my face, and you jumped all over me when I tried to intervene, on your behalf, with Malcolm. You disapproved of me from the beginning. What would cause such a negative reaction to a man you don't know?"

Olivia tried to concentrate on what he was saying, but the closeness of his body was interrupting her ability to think straight. She fought the urge to reach out and touch him. It was becoming too easy to get lost with the way he was looking at her. His nearness was having an impact on her. Turning away from him, she remembered the young woman who'd answered the door.

What if she came downstairs and caught them in this compromising position? Would it matter to him? Is that how he treats all of his girlfriends?

Regaining her senses, she also found her voice. "I'm surprised you're so concerned about me. You were more than occupied yesterday, and also this morning."

Fitz moved closer, placing his hands on the wall on each side of her head. His cocky, lopsided grin grew wider and he leaned his face down close to hers.

"Words like that usually mean someone's jealous."

The comment pissed her off. How dare he disrespect her and the woman who was staying in his home. Obviously he had no problem coming on to one woman while dating another.

"I'm only going to ask you once to move out of my way."

Complying with her request, Fitz dropped his arms, but didn't step back. Just because he was attracted to her didn't give him permission to hold her captive. Instead of running, she stood in place. Fitz took that as a sign and decided to put all of his cards on the table.

"Have dinner with me this week."

Olivia actually thought about saying yes, but she'd heard too many war stories about the drama that happened with the rich and famous. She knew that relationships with athletes and celebrities rarely lasted.

"I don't think so, Mr. Grant."

Fitz had watched the myriad of expressions cross her face. "You hesitated, which means you probably wanted to say yes. I suggest you go with your gut, it usually doesn't stir you wrong."

She smirked at him. "You assume that my gut instinct would give a different response," she said. "That's very presumptuous of you."

Fitz sighed. "Will you at least tell me your name?"

Before she could respond, T.C. came down the stairs. "I need to be in D.C. by noon. If you're not ready, why don't you just let me take one of your cars?"

Fitz and Olivia turned to face T.C. and she stopped short. The look on Olivia's face was relief, while her brother looked upset that she'd interrupted them. It was apparent that she had bad timing.

Olivia looked from one Grant to the other before speaking. "This time I'm not asking to be excused."

Stepping completely around him, she started walking toward the door that Joey had walked through earlier.

"I'll let you attend to your guest."

The contempt in her voice and the disgusted look on her face told Fitz that she'd misinterpreted the relationship between him and T.C. Catching up with her, he blocked her path again and leaned in close to her ear.

"That jealousy is going to get you in trouble one day. Assumptions are never good," he whispered so only she could hear.

Stepping back, he motioned for T.C. to join him. "I'd like you meet my baby sister, Theodora Grant."

T.C. scowled at her brother, not believing he'd used her given name. He knew the rule.

"What he means is 'younger sister,' and it's T.C.," she said, extending her hand.

"And T.C., I'd like you meet…"

If there ever was a time when she wanted to fall into a hole and disappear, this was it. She had grossly misjudged their relationship, and Fitz was enjoying every moment of her embarrassment.

"It's nice to meet you, T.C. I'm…" Fitz encouraged with a nod and a triumphant smile on his handsome face.

"I'm Olivia," she said, shaking T.C.'s hand.

"Olivia!" Fitz exclaimed in victory, raising his hands as if a referee signaling a touchdown. "Isn't that a beautiful name?"

By the look on his face, Olivia could tell that he was enjoying this moment of watching her eat crow.

It was now clear to Fitz what had upset her earlier. She thought he had a girlfriend staying with him while he was asking her out.

Releasing Olivia's hand, T.C. gave her brother a knowing look.

"You must be a real friend of my brother's."

Confused, Olivia looked from one to the other. "Really? Why?"

"Whenever we're out together, there are always women trying to get his attention. He's always polite, but some women just can't get the hint that he's not interested in them. He's never taken the time to introduce me to anyone. Needless to say, I haven't met any woman with him in years."

Olivia was honored by that bit of information.

"Like last night," T.C. continued. "The women were fawning all over him. He was polite and charming as usual, and gave them each his attention when he was talking. But he wasn't interested in any of them. How do I know?"

"Because he didn't introduce any of them to you," Olivia answered, following the young woman's logic.

"Bingo," she said. "As a matter of fact, it's been a while since he's dated anyone."

Nudging Fitz in the arm, she laughed. "You must really like Olivia if just hearing her name gets such an intense reaction from you."

"Shouldn't you be getting your things together so I can take you home?" Fitz asked, thinking his sister had said quite enough. Did she have to tell Olivia that it had been a while since he'd been involved with anyone?

"Yes," she said, "but I can drive myself." She held out her hand for the keys.

"I'll drive you as soon as my guests leave," he said, playfully slapping away her hand.

"Come on, Fitz. I can drive myself."

"I know you can, but not in my car."

T.C. stared at him for a few seconds before turning, and pouting and mumbling under her breath. As she walked away, her steps turned into a stomp.

Olivia watched T.C. as she stomped up the stairs. She thought about growing up and wanting to assert her independence from her family. During her high school and college years, her parents and older brother insisted on treating her like a child. Always trying to make decisions for her as if she were a little girl. There were many times when conversations with them ended like the one Fitz and his sister had just had, which only proved that she wasn't as mature as she thought she was. Just thinking about how she must have looked to her parents made her laugh out loud.

Fitz's head snapped around and there was a look of shock on his face when he heard her voice. "I don't believe it."

"What?" she asked, smiling up at him.

"You not only smiled, you actually laughed.

"And?"

"I just thought that scowl on your face was permanent. He took her hand in his and squeezed. "If you were beautiful with the scowl, you are breathtaking now."

Caught up Fitz's compliment, Olivia ignored the fact that he was everything she didn't want in a man, or a relationship.

She cleared her throat. "I remember what it was like to be that age, thinking I knew everything. My older brother, Julian, tried to keep me in line but I didn't want to hear anything he had to say. I wanted to do things my way and prove them all wrong." Olivia chuckled. "But it does get better. I'm proof of that."

Fitz looked at the beautiful woman standing before him. "I just want to help her make smart choices."

"Why do you think she won't?"

Was that genuine concern he heard in her voice?

Fitz began to explain the situation with his sister's car.

As Olivia listened to him, his voice softened with the love and affection he obviously felt for his sister. She honestly wasn't prepared to see this side of him. Men like him were more comfortable talking about themselves. The barriers that she'd built around herself were beginning to come down when it came to Fitzgerald Grant.

"I can see that you really love and care about her."

Fitz wondered if Olivia was aware of the transformation that had occurred since she'd arrived. She had been completely unapproachable but their conversation and the time with T.C. had softened her. She also seemed to be slowly getting over whatever dislike she had for him. He decided to take advantage of the situation.

"I do care about her. If you'll have dinner with me next week, I'll continue to show you what a nice guy I am."

She shook her head. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"It's just dinner Olivia. That's all I want."

"No it isn't."

Fitz couldn't help the sheepish grin that spread over his face. "Okay, so it's not the only thing I want, but it's all I'm asking for. A couple of hours of conversation and a good meal. That's not too much to ask, is it?"

Say yes, Fitz silently pleaded. He could see the indecision in her big beautiful brown eyes. She wanted to say yes, he felt it in his bones. But something was holding her back.

"I don't date athletes."

"Forget I'm an athlete. That's my job, but it's not who I am." He squeezed her hand again. "It isn't number seven of the Football Team who wants to have dinner with you. It's just me. Fitz."

Olivia stared at their joined hands, then back up at his face, and sighed. "I can't," she finally answered. Although there was nothing more she wanted than to accept his invitation to dinner.

"Come on, Olivia. It's just dinner."

"I'm sorry, Fitz, but I…"

"Found them!"

Joey walked into the foyer jingling her keys in her hand. "Can you believe they were underneath the DJ table? They must have fallen out when I dropped my bag last night."

Seeing both of them standing so close to each other, she nodded her head in approval.

"Looks like the two of you are getting along better."

The interruption gave Olivia the chance to get her bearings back. One touching moment with his sister didn't change who he was: a professional athlete with celebrity status.

"If you found your keys, then it appears we've gotten what we came for."

Fitz could pinpoint the exact moment the barriers that he'd spent the last half hour trying to break down went back up.

"Don't," he whispered.

"Don't what?"

"Ignore what just happened between us."

Refusing to make eye contact, she stepped around him and started walking toward the front door.

Watching her walk away from him, he called out to her. "Won't you reconsider?"

"Reconsider what?" Joey asked.

"I asked Olivia to have dinner with me next week and she turned me down," he said, feeling as if he had an ally in Joey. "She's obviously too busy."

"Please," Joey said, sucking her teeth. "I'm sure she's available. The only thing this woman does is work, work, work. I swear all she does is sit behind that desk and…"

"That's enough, Jo," Olivia said, not wanting him to know how non-existent her social life had become lately.

"I was just saying that…"

"You don't have to say anything." She turned to Fitz. "Thank you for the invitation, but contrary to what others might think, I have a lot going on right now. I think it's best if we leave it at that."

"I have a better idea," he said as he walked over and stood before her. "Do you have your phone with you?"

What kind of question was that, she thought. "Yes, of course."

"May I hold it for a sec?"

Olivia stood staring at him for almost a full minute before she reluctantly reached into her bag, retrieved the device and handed it to him.

Fitz went through the process of adding ALL of his information into her Contacts. When he finished, he handed the device back to her.

"All of my contact information is right there. Why don't you give me a call when you don't have a lot going on?"

Olivia took her phone and dropped it back into her bag. Without another word, she walked out of the front door, and possibly out of his life.