Sylasand I talked and talked and talked some more. Before we knew it, the server came to tell us the restaurant was closing. I looked at the time on my phone, and it was indeed ten o’clock. I couldn’t believe how quickly the past three hours had passed.
We talked about everything under the sun and learned quite a bit about each other. His love for flying was palpable, and I could’ve listened to him talk about it all day. As he talked about his first time in the air, his eyes were bright, and his smile was wide. It was the purest thing I’d seen in years.
His family dynamic reminded me so much of my own. He was an overprotective big brother and a mama’s boy, just like Blaine. His sister was spoiled and a daddy’s girl, just like me.Our upbringings were similar, and we valued the same things. I’d never had such a refreshing conversation with a man.
“TheSky Loungeis open until midnight if you’re not ready to call it a night,” Sylas said, taking my hand.
I didn’t need to think about my response, because I definitely wasn’t ready to call it a night.
“Let’s go.”
A few minutes later, we entered theSky Loungeand sat at the bar. After telling the bartender our drink orders, I turned my seat toward him.
“Have you heard anything about us flying out tomorrow?”
He nodded toward the windows.
“I haven’t heard anything, but from the looks of it, we’ll be here at least one more night.”
I looked toward the windows and sighed. It was a flurry, white mess, and the snow was coming down hard as hell. I’d experienced a lot of snowstorms in my life, being from the Midwest, but nothing ever looked this bad.
“This looks a lot worse than any snowstorm we’ve had at home,” I said.
“There’s a big difference between snow from the lake and snow from the mountains, but they’re equally brutal.”
“I’m glad we landed before it got this bad. I’m sure you are too.”
“Definitely.”
“This is the only outfit I packed, so if you see me in this tomorrow, please know that I’ve bathed, and my underwear are clean.”
He chuckled. “I won’t judge you, but the shops in the airport are accessible if needed.”
The bartender brought our drinks, and we took our first sip at the same time.
“I can’t wait to mention you to my brother. His reaction will tell me all I need to know.”
“I’ve given you my whole life story. Blaine can’t tell you anything about me that you don’t already know.”
“He’s an overprotective big brother, just like you. If you’re really an asshole, he’ll tell me to stay as far away from you as possible.”
“You know I’m not an asshole, beautiful. Have I been anything less than a gentleman tonight?”
“You’ve been very much a gentleman, but how do I know this isn’t a front just to get me to have sex?”
“Is that what you think?” he asked, seemingly offended.
“Isn’t that what this is?”
“Sex would be an added bonus to getting to know you, but it’s not the reason I invited you to dinner.”
The look in his eyes matched the sincerity in his tone, and I believed he was genuine.
“I’m not sure why, but I believe you.”
“You believe me because you’re as drawn to me as I am to you, and you know as well as I do that what’s happening here is more than sexual attraction.”
He looked at me the same way he did when our eyes locked for the first time on the elevator. The intensity of his gaze made my body temperature rise.
