Aria nods her head emphatically. “Yes, that’s right. It was very recent. So new in fact, we haven’t told anyone yet.”
“We were planning on telling Brandon tonight at dinner. Isn’t that right, ladybug?”
She sucks in a surprised breath when I palm her pert ass and kiss the top of her head.
Aria smiles sweetly up at me, and I wince when she pinches me for a third time. Hard. I retaliate by pinching her ass cheek, and she jumps with a startled yelp, then scowls at me through her fake smile that’s still cemented in place.
“I’m a lucky man. Not many guys get a second chance with the girl of their dreams.”
Michael fidgets in place, looking uncomfortable as the silence between us lingers when no one says anything more. Eventually, he’s the first to crack.
“I guess congratulations are in order. I’m really happy for the both of you.” He peers behind him where his truck is parked like he’s trying to figure out the best way to escape without being rude. “I should get going.”
“It was nice to see you, Michael. Thank you again for a lovely dinner last night.”
“Uh, yeah. You’re welcome.” His eyes briefly flit to me, sweat starting to bead along his forehead that has nothing to do with the early sweltering summer evening. “Nothing happened. I mean, nothing happened last night. I swear. Just friends, like she said,” he hastily stammers.
I take pity on him.
“I know. We’re good, man.”
He blows out a relieved breath. “Okay, then.”
Michael seems like a nice guy. If it were any other woman other than Aria, I’d feel sorry for the brush off she’s giving him.
Since Aria is still clinging to me, I hold out a fist for him to bump to avoid another exuberant, long-winded handshake.
“I’ll see you next Wednesday at the school meeting.”
He taps my fist, then gives Aria a polite nod. “Yep. Looking forward to it. Have a good evening.”
“You too,” Aria replies and gives him a wave goodbye.
We watch from the porch as he gets into his truck and backs out of her driveway. As soon as he drives off, Aria removes her arm from mine and tries to slip away.
“I don’t think so, sweetheart.”
I grab her hips and back her up to the front door, caging her in with my body.
A hot breeze whips across the porch, bringing with it the teasing scent of wild honeysuckle.
“Mason, what are you doing?” she breathily asks, her cheeks flushing a pretty pink as she looks anywhere but directly at me.
“You started it,” I inform her.
I shift closer until I can feel the pounding of her heart against my chest.
“You know full well I only said that to—”
She gasps, then bites her bottom lip with a moan when I lean in and caress my lips up the column of her neck only to find that the sweet honeysuckle fragrance is coming from her.
“So, dinner, huh?” I ask, taking the fleshy lobe of her ear and gently biting it.
“Mason, stop it,” she weakly admonishes, then tilts her head to give me better access to explore, which I happily do.
I trace the shell of her ear with my lips and lightly blow, enjoying the way she shivers.
“What’s for dinner?” I ask for her benefit because what I’m hungry for is standing right in front of me.
