“There are our girls,” a man’s voice booms from my right, and Mom and I both look over. But whereas she jumps out of her seat, exclaiming what a great surprise this is, my blood runs cold because Aidan is standing next to Max. I don’t understand what the hell is happening right now.
HeknewI was going to dinner with my mom, so showing up here can’t be an accident. Was he roped into this by Max? Or did he suggest it?
Max takes the open seat next to my mom, and Aidan pulls out the chair next to me.Shit, Danny. I need to remember to call him Danny.Am I supposed to pretend I haven’t seen him since Bermuda? That we don’t work together? Or are we going to tell them?
My mind is reeling with questions and trying to figure out how we’ve found ourselves here together, when my mom says, “To what do we owe this surprise?”
I lift my water glass and take a sip, hoping it’ll help my suddenly dry mouth and throat.
“It was Danny’s idea,” Max says. “He wanted to get to know his stepmom and stepsister better.”
My throat contracts as I swallow, pushing some of the water into my lungs. I cough into my napkin, then barely manage to excuse myself before getting up from the table.
I slip into the women’s room, and with one hand on the side of the sink and the other holding my hair back, I cough so hard I nearly throw up. I manage to clear my lungs, but when I’m done and glance up into the mirror, I look like some sort of Halloween doll meant to scare children. My nose and cheeks are bright pink, and there’s mascara smudged under my eyes.
Grabbing a couple squares of toilet paper from one of the stalls, I set about cleaning my face, and then my phone buzzes in my pocket.
The first text came in about two minutes ago, and I probably didn’t notice because I was too busy hacking up a lung and wondering if I was going to pass out in the process.
Unknown Number
Are you okay?
Morgan, do I need to come in there and make sure you’re alive?
I glance at the heavy wooden door.What the hell?
Morgan
How did you get my number?
Unknown Number
It’s your contact number on your company website.
Morgan
Why were you on my website?
Unknown Number
I was curious.
I save his contact, take one last look in the mirror to ensure I look presentable-ish, and pull open the door. He’s standing there in dress pants and a button-down shirt, and the way the top two buttons are open and his sleeves are rolled up, showcasing his bronze skin and muscular forearms, has my mouth watering.
I run through the laundry list of reasons I need to stay away from him, the same as I do each time I think of him.
“Are you okay? That was quite the choking incident back there.”
My bark of laughter is sharp. “You said you wanted toget to know your stepsister better?”
“Maybe I do.” His smirk just about does me in. Half the time I can’t decide if I want to kill him or kiss him.
We’re close in this narrow hallway, and I’m surrounded by his scent. I swear this man wears pheromones as cologne. “You’ve known me in the biblical sense.”
“There’s stillplentyof ways I’d like to know you.” His voice is husky and rough as his breath meets my face and he brings his hands to my shoulders like he’s trying to keep me close to him.
“Aidan, why are you here? I thought we were keeping our distance.”
