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Olivia laughed and wanted to reach out to run her fingers through his hair, but she held her hands between her thighs. They didn’t have any kind of relationship, so she didn’t understand why she was thinking about it. Maybe her brain was just sleep addled. “Do you have more to judge?”

One arm was draped casually over his forehead, and her gaze was drawn to the glimpse of skin revealed just above his waistband. Now, that was a tempting sight, the ridges of his abs exposed, a tiny line of dark hair disappearing beneath his belt. She’d been with muscular men before, but Connor was completely different. His was borne of hard, physical labor, not just gym time.

“See anything you like?”

Olivia startled and her gaze jerked to his face. “I’m so sorry,” she gasped, her face flaming. She jerked her head around and started to get up, but Connor stilled her with a hand on her arm. She glanced back at him, reluctantly, her entire body tense.

“I love that you like what you see, Olivia. I must admit. I love what I see when I look at you, as well.”

She shook her head. “We’re crazy. I’m just here for a day or two more.”

He gave her a broad smile as he rolled up onto one elbow, putting him even closer to her. “Then we’d better get a move on. Kiss me, Olivia.”

She blinked, wondering if she dared listen to his deep voice. This was so wrong. She was just here for a minute in time. Why bother getting involved? Then her argumentative side reared its head. Why shouldn’t she kiss him? She wasn’t going to be here long enough to get seriously attached. What the hell. Leaning down, she pressed her mouth to his.

Lightning seared her nerve endings and her world shifted… It should have been an easy, light-hearted thing. Instead, she felt like she’d just been gut-punched. He tasted salty and sweet, and she wanted more. Her ribs twinged with pain, but she couldn’t draw herself away from his mouth. Then his hand cupped her head, and he was very carefully laying her down in the grass. He drew back for just a moment.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

She shook her head, her eyes blinded by the light around him. “Not at all.”

“Good,” he said, then kissed her again.

Olivia really tried to keep herself reserved, but there was just something about this man that addled her brain. He was damned sexy, but she’d been with good-looking men before. Was it her mind’s way of letting her know he was safe to be with, this appeal? He’d rescued her at the crash site, but she didn’t think that had anything to do with it.

Connor kissed her like a man with experience, and she was content to let him be in charge. Maybe that was the appeal. He didn’t mind, preferred actually, taking charge. And he was taking charge of them. Competently. Oh, so, competently.

When he eventually drew back and looked down at her, there was a rattled look in his eyes.

“What’s wrong,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “I didn’t plan on this, Olivia, but I find myself unable to change my path.”

“Okay,” she whispered. “I didn’t expect this either.”

One side of his mouth tipped up. “So, let’s see where it goes. Let’s just have fun. I know you might get a rental car and leave at any time, but I want to maximize my time with you. If you don’t mind tagging along with me as I do my official duties, it will give us that much more time.”

That was what she’d been doing, anyway. “I’m good with that. And if I’m honest, I’m hoping that the rental car doesn’t come available for a while.”

Connor grinned and leaned down to kiss her again. Olivia let herself go, feeling freer than she had in a long time. No one knew her here, so there was no recrimination. And they didn’t know what her life was like or her history.

One of Connor’s big hands settled on her hip, pulling her closer to him, and a thrill went through her. Yes, they were in a public park, but there was a bubble of intimacy around them beneath the shade of the tree. Connor wore the same outfit as every other fire fighter at the festival, so there was some anonymity in that.

“Chief Kelly,” his radio crackled.

Connor groaned but reached down to key the mic. “Go ahead, dispatch.”

“Courtney Michaels is looking for you. She requests you meet her at the judging tent as soon as possible.”

“Roger that,” Connor said, and looked down at her, sighing. “This woman is going to drive me batty, and I’m not kidding. It’s her first year running the festival and she second-guesses every decision she makes. Plus, I think she expects the position to come with perks, if you know what I mean. Just because they put up the prize money…” He raised his eyebrows theatrically. “Maybe you can come with me?”

“Of course,” she said, no hesitation.

She expected him to move away immediately, but he didn’t. Looking down at her, he gave her a lingering kiss. “I don’t want to move.”

Olivia grinned, loving this side of him. “It’s your fault you’re the chief and in demand.”

Looking aggrieved, his mouth quirked. “I know.”