“I know I would be thrilled to win any of these in a raffle,” I say.
Aiden checks his watch. I notice it’s a large stainless-steel piece with a Tiffany-blue dial.
He has a Tiffany & Co. watch. Why is that so freaking hot?
“I love your watch,” I say.
“Thank you,” he says. Then a mischievous smile forms at the corners of his mouth. “I might beobsessedwith it.”
I chuckle at that, and he rewards me with a brilliant smile.
Some more fans approach Aiden, and I step aside so he can pose for pictures and make small talk with them. We have about five minutes before Aiden is due to report to the blackjack table, and all of that time is going to be spent on the fans who came tonight to support the foundation.
As it should.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel a little pang from it. After all, I know once we go to the table, I’ll be sitting there, either assisting Aiden or playing a game, and then that will eventually end. The players will go to their private area—a section of the dealership that is blocked off just for them—and then he’ll leave.
Our evening will be over.
I know this can’t go anywhere, so I’m being an idiot, but I’m not ready to give up my time with Aiden yet. I feel as if there is so much more to learn about him. I’m enjoying our conversation.
I don’t want it to end.
Finally, the last fan leaves and Aiden turns. He stares down at me and pauses for a moment, as if he’s weighing out whether he’s going to say something or not.
My breath catches as I wait for him to speak.
“Scarlett,” he says softly, “I’m going to be pretty tied up for the rest of the night after I deal at the blackjack table.”
Oh. My heart deflates. “Of course. I understand.”
“No, I don’t think you do.”
My heart resurrects itself. “Oh?”
“I would like to keep talking to you. But I don’t feel like this is the appropriate place to do it. Not that I feel like we need to be sneaky—we’re just talking—but people will notice and get the wrong idea.”
The wrong idea being that Aiden would ever make a move on the coach’s daughter,I think.Because he wouldn’t.
Yet I don’t care. There’s something about Aiden that has drawn me in even though I know the danger involved here, being attracted to a man I can never ever go out with. I want more.
I want this time.
And the only person I want it with is Aiden.
“But do you think … do you want … would you like to meet me for coffee afterward?” he asks. “Just to talk. Nothing more.”
I’m elated and disappointed at the same time.
Elated because he’s obviously feeling the chemistry between us.
Disappointed because it’s chemistry that can never go anywhere more than where it is now.
I should walk away before I get in way over my head. Store away the memory of the conversation we’ve had so far tonight and leave it at that.
Should.
But as I look up and see the hope in his eyes, I know exactly what I’m going to do.
