“Hello, beautiful Livia," Blake answered. "How did you know it was me?" Livia saw her wide smile in the rear view mirror. "The phone looked sexier when it rang.”

“She held her breath as it stopped ringing and connected.“Hello, beautiful Livia,” Blake answered.“How did you know it was me?” Livia saw her wide smile in the rear view mirror.“The phone looked sexier when it rang.”She could hear a matching smile in his voice and sighed. Livia hugged herself with her free arm. Just the sound of him made her skin beg to be touched.”

“You’re beautiful.” Blake said hello as he’d said goodbye.“You said that already,” Livia mouthed over the banging music.Blake just shrugged. He flashed Livia a shy smile and held out the pink napkin to her. He’d turned it into a beautiful, perfect rose bud with a single leaf. Livia took the rose from his hand and turned it over carefully. He’d pinched tiny thorns into the paper stem. Livia put it to her nose as if to smell it. She realized he was waiting.“You’re beautiful,” Livia mouthed. She would have hugged the rose if it weren’t so delicate. She hugged him instead.With her ear so close, Blake was able to murmur into it. “May I have this dance?”

“Me? I want you to be sure." he said."You," Livia whispered. "Me." His eyes were full of intent. "Always you." Livia gave him her biggest, heartfelt smile. "Five hundred." Blake touched her face as if she might be a mirage and smiled back only when she didn't disappear.”

“When she saw Blake staring at her over Beckett’s shoulder, Livia stumbled a bit. His gaze was so intense. So Blake. Beckett kept her steady. She could feel his whole body smiling.”

“Blake?” Livia closed one eye while she waited.“Livia.” He was still there.“You waited,” Livia whispered.“Of course. I’ll always wait.”Livia smiled wider than she thought possible.”