Olivia didn't hear the door open at first, though she heard the dogs barking and then whining as Josh closed the door. It had been seven months since they'd last seen him.

Seven months since he almost died, Olivia thought, listening as the dogs' whines of excitement mingled with the deep tones of Josh's voice, talking to them, appeasing them. She was standing by Bella's crib, watching her belly rise and fall with her breath. Watching Bella sleep was the only way for Olivia to calm herself down. She was too nervous.

The realization that Josh was finally back in the South Bay–in her house, no less–made Olivia tremble with excitement. She was dressed for bed in a tank top that hugged her torso, and loose short shorts. It was how she always went to bed since coming back to Manhattan Beach a widow, and nothing, not even Josh coming home to her house would have made her wear whatever it was Sam and Anna, Sam's mom, had gotten for her tonight. It was a lacy black number that accentuated her body, and just trying it on had made Olivia feel like a a stripper. All she needed would have been a pole to wrap her legs around. It had to have been Anna's idea, Olivia thought now, for Sam's face had turned as red as a tomato when Olivia pulled it out of the box.

Although both women wanted to see the outfit on her, she shooed both women back to Erik's house, waiting till they were gone before she tried it on.

Holy cow. That was all Olivia could say when she finally saw her reflection in the mirror. No way in hell she was going to wear this tonight, no matter how sexy it made her look. She already felt sexy. It didn't hurt that Josh finally told her how he felt about her. He'd already made her feel things since she became a widow, denying her own feelings and telling herself that Josh was like a brother to her. But not anymore. This time, Olivia wasn't about to do that again. Life was too short as it was, and already, she had almost lost him.

She was waiting for Josh at the top of the stairs when he came up, his flip-flops left by the door. He was wearing jeans and a tight t-shirt that only emphasized his broad chest and slim hips.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he whispered, glancing toward Bella's door. "Is she asleep?"

Olivia nodded. "Have you eaten?"

Josh nodded. "I hope you didn't have to wait up for me."

"I was never an early sleeper. Besides, you're my guest," she said, walking down the corridor as he followed her. Guest, indeed, she scoffed to herself. Josh had spent many nights either next door at Erik's, or here in her house since she returned from Italy a year ago, after Sebastian, her husband, was killed during a qualifying race for the Italian Grand Prix. Bella had only been three months old then, and Olivia had been in the midst of a major bout of post-natal depression even before Sebastian died.

Olivia could never forget the sight of Josh picking them up from the airport, the lengths he went through to getting everything ready for her and Bella at Erik's house as he house-sat and took care of everything. It was as if Bella had two fathers, Erik and Josh. She remembered the many days both men rocked Bella to sleep in the nursery or out on Erik's deck, a move which garnered them more female admirers than they had probably expected–or being both single men then, did expect.

A month later, Erik's next door neighbor offered to sell him his house after he decided to move out of state. Erik and Olivia snapped at the chance and soon, converted the house next door into Olivia's home, creating a garden between both houses where they often enjoyed brunches and late afternoon dinners whenever the Strand proved too hectic with revelers, especially during the holidays. It was also perfect for their two dogs, Thelma and Louise although some nights, they would let the dogs frolic on the beach.

"I've prepared your room for you," she said, leading him into his room which was right across from hers and he set down his duffel bag on the bed. She was babbling, and she knew it. But Olivia couldn't help herself. She was nervous. "I know you could have stayed over at Erik's but I hope you don't mind–"

"Livvy."

Suddenly Josh was right there, in front of her, stopping her by the door to the guest room. Olivia found herself unable to speak. The feel of his body so close to hers left her trembling and when he finally bent down to kiss her, all coherent thought left her.

Everything from the moment he came up the stairs and followed her to the room, the words she spoke, had almost been rehearsed, for Olivia no longer knew what to do in his presence. To have Josh so close, in a place where they'd spent so many lighthearted moments together, everything hidden beneath the layers of friendship now gone, her love for him laid bare.

Josh cradled her face in his hands, his eyes studying her face, greedily taking her in. When he bent his head down to kiss her, Olivia felt lost, the only thoughts in her mind were of how soft his lips felt, how warm they were against her own, and how his strong arms held her to him. She could feel the beating of his heart.

She clung to him as he caught her lower lip and nibbled so that it made her stomach clench. Olivia sighed, pulling away so she could catch her breath. Her own knees had grown weak.

"Is something wrong?" Josh asked, frowning.

"I just... I can't believe you're back," Olivia stammered. She wanted to kick herself for being so flustered, wondering what had come over her when she'd never been like this in front of Josh. She was the one who usually called the shots when they were together, who was always in control–or seemed to be in control at least.

"I don't know why I waited so long to come back," Josh said. "I could have recuperated down here. With you."

Olivia giggled. "You mean not with any of your girlfriends?"

Josh shook his head, chuckling. "My heart's belonged to you for a long time, Livvy. I didn't want to admit it. But after what happened... after I woke up, I realized just how short life is, and how, in a blink of an eye, you can lose everything."

"I know." Olivia brought her hand to caress his face, her fingers stroking his beard. "I thought I lost you seven months ago, Josh. I never realized how much time I wasted not telling you exactly how I felt about you."

"You tried, Livvy," he said. "God knows, in your own little way, you tried so hard. And in my own twisted way, I tried, too. Only we both did the opposite of what we wanted to do. Pushing someone you love away to let them know how much you actually love them isn't exactly how it works."

"Then show me what does," Olivia whispered.

The time for talking was over. They'd done enough of it when they should have been showing each other the truth. Show, not tell. Wasn't that how the saying went?

As he kissed her again, it didn't matter what Olivia wore, whether she looked sexy or not. She felt it and that was enough. What mattered to her was how Josh showed her how much he wanted her, despite how boyish she looked in her shirt and short shorts, too nervous to pretty herself up with even a dash of makeup. When Josh, still kissing her, lifted her in his arms, he at first took a step into the room but Olivia grabbed hold of the door frame, stopping him.

"I was hoping this room was just for show," Olivia said sheepishly.

"Me, too." Josh grinned as he carried her toward the master bedroom, leaning against the door to shut it before laying her down on the bed. Olivia pulled him to her, no longer able to wait one minute longer before she could finally have him for herself. The world outside was now forgotten, all the worries about the day's development nothing but a shadow that lingered outside the world that mattered to her now.

She felt Josh's hands moving down her body, squeezing her breasts and pinching her nipples as he continued to kiss her deeply now, his tongue slipping between her lips, one hand tugging at the band that kept her long hair in a ponytail free. She tugged at his shirt, pulling it over his head, wanting to see him bare before her. When he bent down to kiss her again, Olivia gasped as she felt his hand slip beneath her shirt, warm against her skin. Josh's beard graced her neck, sending goosebumps across her skin as he found the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder blade. When he caught a hard nipple through the fabric of her shirt, Olivia dug her fingernails into his shoulder blade, the sensation of his tongue and his teeth on her skin almost too much to bear.

God, it had been so long, she thought then. When her gasp turned into a sob, Josh lifted his head to look at her, his brow furrowing.

"Are you okay?"

Olivia bit the side of her finger, nodding. "Don't mind me. It's been awhile, that's all. Do you have... um, protection? I don't make it a habit to carry them with me."

"Given my current state since the shooting, I don't, but I did make a stop," he said, grinning before his expression turned serious. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"If you stop now, Josh Morin, I'll never forgive you. I am serious."

"Good. Because I am, too." Josh's face broke into a grin as he tugged at the shorts that she wore and pulled them down her hips. She caught the look of surprise on his face when he discovered she wore nothing underneath.

He pushed her back down toward the pillows and lay on top of her, his hands capturing hers on either side of her as he kissed her again, gently this time, teasing her with soft light kisses that made her yearn for more. She could felt his erection straining through the jeans he wore, pressing against her.

"Stop teasing me," Olivia whispered, her voice serious. As he studied her, she could feel his eyes boring straight through her, making her burn with need for him.

"Now why would I do such a thing?" he murmured, a serious look in his eyes. "All these years, I've always loved you. Even when I had to do it from afar."

"I'm here now... so show me," she said, feeling his fingers interlace with hers as he lowered his head to silence her with a kiss that, along with everything else he did to her that night, showed Olivia that this time, whatever it was that had kept them apart for so long, was gone.