Yet here I was doing exactly that.
Walking side by side with Hayden, stealing glances of his square jaw as we passed under street lights, felt comfortable. Up ahead the hotel came into view, complete with the doorman in his perfectly pressed suit and I felt my steps shortening.
Coming to a halt just before the entrance, Hayden faltered and turned to look at me. I was hugging his jacket around me, not ready to let it go. Not really ready to let him go.
“Well, this is me.”
“Okay then,” Hayden grumbled, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
Hayden had completely intrigued me. He was serious and silent and hadn’t fawned over me once. Everything he said, seemed to be genuine.
“So, this might sound weird, but what are you doing at the same time tomorrow?” I asked nervously.
Hayden chuckled, his deep rumbling laugh echoing causing people to look at us and had me ducking my head. “I should be sleeping. But then again, so should you.”
“Should be, but we both know I won’t be.”
“Yeah. Unfortunately you’re probably right.”
“Well, since we’re both still going to be awake, feel like another slice of pie? My shout this time,” I threw in trying to sweeten the deal.
I was nervous. Like palms sweating, butterflies raging nervous. It would’ve been funny if it was happening to anyone else. Every night this week, I stood on a stage in front of thousands of strangers and sang my heart out, only to wake up the next morning to read in the media how the world judged my performance.
“I could be persuaded.”
“You could be persuaded.”
“On one condition.”
Folding my arms over my chest, I didn’t miss the way Hayden’s eyes widened. “Name your condition.”
“You’re not paying.”
Not what I was expecting, but I was quickly learning that when it comes to Hayden, I needed to expect the unexpected. Arguing with Hayden, being sassy and free, was turning out to be the most fun I’d had in a long time. I wasn't ready to give it up yet. There weren't many people I could just be me around and I was starting to like it.
Hayden took a step towards me, invading my personal space, completely surprising me, and stealing any objections. “Cassidy. When I take a woman out on a date, I’m paying. Every. Single. Time.”
He practically growled and my heart pounded.
I might not know Hayden but I knew him much better now. He was a guys’ guy. A manly man. A man who opened doors and pulled out chairs. A guy who killed spiders and paid the check. I was definitely interested. But he didn’t need to know that.
“Who said anything about a date?” I sassed, not wanting to make it too easy for him.
Hayden’s hands found my hips and he shifted even closer. I could just imagine what we looked like to passersby but I didn’t care. I couldn’t. I was so consumed by the man in front of me, too caught up to back away and put space between us.
“Cassidy, I don't know who you are or where you came from, and you don’t know me from a bar of soap but there’s a few things you need to know. When a beautiful woman asks me to join her for a slice of pie in the middle of the night, then it’s a date and I’m treating it as one.” I felt my cheeks burn. I still can’t believe I had big enough balls to ask him out and I had a feeling it was something he wouldn’t let slide anytime soon. “So if you want to meet me for a slice of pie, there’s only one way it’s going to happen.”
Lifting my arms up, I dropped them over his broad shoulders. “Well, then, tell me, wise one. What do I have to do to get a slice of pie?”
“The only way this is going to happen is like this. You’re going to give me your number—”
“Oh I am, am I?”
“Yes you are. Then you’re going to call or text me, I don't care which and I’m going to pick you up right here. Then, we're going to walk together to the diner and share a slice of pie, which I’m paying for. We’re going to talk, laugh, and get to know each other. Then sometime before dawn I’m going to walk you back to the hotel and if I’m lucky, you’re going to give me a kiss good night.”
I shivered and this time it wasn’t because of the temperature. “What if I give you a kiss good morning instead?”
“Woman, you’re going to be the death of me.”
