While I wait, I pull up my e-book copy ofIce Breakerand start reading, hoping reading about two men who obviously can’t stand each other will be a suitable escape.
I swear, I smell him before I see him. I look up from my phone and have to remember to breathe. I saw him earlier, of course, when I woke up naked next to the man covered in dried spend, but now he’s more put together in his slacks and a printed shirt with blue pinstripes, rolled up to the elbows. The style draws attention to his forearms.
Which somehow look even hotter with that tight cuff and those veins running through his muscle.
His hair shines, catching the light and even with that five o clock shadow gracing his perfect jaw, he looks sexy. When I don’t shave, I look like Charlie from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, going off on a tangent that the gang reluctantly goes along with.
But Aaron? He looks like a damnRalph Laurenad.
He takes a seat, glancing at my phone, and I know he sees my screen.
“What are you reading?” he asks, the tone of his voice smooth, familiar. Content.
“Gay contemporary romance,” I say, much too plainly, considering our banter last night.
He nods. “Sounds interesting.”
I set my phone down, folding my hands in my lap. “So…”
His expression shifts to an unreadable one, his shoulders straightening.
“You said you had an offer for me.” I cut to the chase because the longer I stay here, small talking, staring, the more I’ll start to break.
Aaron sits back in his chair. I notice he doesn’t have a coffee. Interesting. Considering he wanted to meet for coffee…
“I do, it’s a.., little last minute, I know, but…”I roll my eyes. “You know, I’m starting to think this is a thing with you.” I lick my lips. “Last minute plans.” My voice is steady, but I can’t help the edge of humor in it.
Aaron smirks, nodding. “Yeah, I’m starting to think it is, too.”
His smirk soothes something inside of me, and I relax a little bit.
“So… let’s hear it then.”
He twists his lips as he holds my gaze. “Well, there’s no easy way to say it, so I’m just going to say it.” His tone is serious, and instantly, the humor disappears between us, and I feel the anxiety starting to fester. Oh, shit.
“My parents liked you,” he says the words delicately.
I blink as he tenses. “Okay. And that’s…”
“I mean, theyreallyliked you.”
I nod as relief floods me. “Oh. Well, that’s good, right? I mean, technically they likedPrince Charming,” I say as I sip my macchiato. “But that’s what you wanted…”
Aaron runs a hand through his hair and the motion draws attention to those gorgeous forearms. I clear my throat as I take a sip of my coffee, if only to distract myself for a moment.
“I mean, that’s why you hired me.”
“I know,” he says, letting out a breath, his amber eyes meeting my gaze with interest. “And I’m more than pleased with the job you did. I mean, you were fucking amazing with my parents, and—”
I can’t help the smile that forms on my face, because it’s always nice to be told you’re doing a good job no matter what it is you do.
And maybe I’m a sucker for a little praise. Who isn’t?
“I’ll take the compliment for a job well done. But um… what does that have to do with the offer you asked me here about?”
Aaron shifts in his seat.
“My dad wants to go up to the beach house for the week and he wants his prospective candidates for the position I’m vying for to stay on the property so he can… get to know them better. Before he makes a decision.”
