“Are you hungry?” he asks, his voice raspy.
“Huh?” I blink, trying to get my faculties back. I swear, I left my damn body the moment he kissed me.
Me. Not Prince Charming. He kissedme.
“Food,” he says with a laugh. “It’s almost noon, and I don’t know about you, but I’m fucking starving.”
“Right. Food.” Good lord, how am I going to get through this week when just kissing this man makes me forget how to speak like a human?
He nods for me to follow him, and I do. Once we leave the confines of Aaron’s room, the sounds of the house are evident. We get to the kitchen to find Betsy and Shannon at the island chopping fruit and veggies, and the island is a mess of packages and utensils.
There’s a teenager that keeps looking at her phone and making faces, taking selfies. I hear the music from her phone and I assume she’s making a TikTok.
“Where’s Chris, Dad, and Uncle Trav?” Aaron asks.
“Out on the deck.” Shannon says. “Soaking up that salty sea air.”
Betsy looks at me with a grin. “Aaron, can you do me a huge favor?”
I don’t miss the way he tenses beside me. “What?”
“Can you run down to the store and grab me a few things?”
He looks between me and his mother, pursing his lips.
“I’ll be fine,” I say, knowing exactly what she’s doing, and I know it’s better we get it out of the way. At least with him gone, I can set the tone, the narrative. Fill him in later, and I’ll be less anxious if he’s not here. Because let’s face it, Aaron being nearby makes my brain glitch.
And if I am going to pull this off for him—and myself—I need to have my wits about me.
“Are you sure?” he asks, taking one arm and snaking it around my waist. He pulls me closer, and I let him, not bothering to fight him.
His hand settles at the small of my back again, his thumb drawing circles through my shirt. He implores my gaze.
“I’m sure,” I say, my voice shakier than it should be as my gaze falls on his mouth again.
“We just got here and you’re already trying to get rid of me,” he says humorously. Betsy giggles as the music from Lola’s phone plays, some sped up version of a song I don’t recognize.
“No,” I say, reaching out to grasp his jaw, running my fingers over his stubble. I implore his gaze with mine, tapping into my inner Prince Charming.
“I’d never want to get rid of you, baby,” I say, giving him a perfect, charming smile.
He smirks, leans in and kisses me. Chastely, of course, but I’m still shocked, though I know it’s probably better this way so we can lay the groundwork for all the PDA and it won’t feel weird.
He pulls away too quickly for my liking, but I know it’s just for show. It’s an act, nothing more.
Except, I’m not sure what happened in his bedroom moments ago was a complete act, and I’m not entirely sure this is either, but I tell myself it is because I don’t need to have a breakdown in front of him and his family , and I know I need to stop questioning things and just… go with the flow. Follow his lead.
“Fine,” he says, pushing away from me as he slips his hands into his pocket. “What do you need?” He shoots a look at his mother.
“Stuff for the grill mostly. Salmon, steak, potatoes, veggies… your father wants a cookout tonight.”
Aaron raises an eyebrow. “Really?”
Betsy huffs out an exasperated sigh. “Yes, really. Is that so hard to believe?”
Aaron shakes his head. “Yeah, fine, whatever. I’ll pick up some stuff.” His tone is dry, but not mean. He turns to look at me.
“I’ll be back soon, baby,” he whispers as he kisses me quickly once more and then heads for the door, leaving me alone with the ladies. I swallow harshly as he makes it to the door, and then I remember my request.
