“You first,” I say breathlessly.
“No, Cupcake.” His voice scrapes like sandpaper now. “You go.”
I glance from the open restroom door to him, my heart jackhammering against my ribs. I don’t know what happens next, except that I lose all ability to think rationally. Today has been the worst day on record, but this handsome man appeared and made me smile. Listened to me. Made me feel better.
And I don’t want that to end.
Dropping the box of cupcakes, I grab Aidan’s tie and yank him into the restroom.
3
AIDAN
The moment her lips meet mine, I know I’m doomed.
She’s a little young, sure, but she’s exactly my type, and kisses me like I’m her last breath, her tongue sweeping hungrily over mine, sweet with the taste of cupcakes and gin. Her hands find the lapels of my jacket and tug me into the heat of her. I’m so taken aback that I’m powerless to do anything other than let her kiss me, and before I know it, I’m kissing her too.
Just like I’ve imagined doing since she sat down beside me.
It takes a good ten seconds for my brain to come back online and remind me what a terrible idea this is. I don’t mind a casual hookup—in fact, I prefer them—but in my experience, the worse a woman’s emotional state, the better it is to stay away.
I knew talking to the woman at the bar was a mistake. I should have left her alone with her cupcakes and gin, like every rational instinct told me to.
But, hell, she just looked so fucking miserable, I had to say something.
Miserable andpretty. So pretty.
I peel myself from her as delicately as I can and take a step back, catching my breath. Her face morphs with horrorat the rejection, and she turns to go, but I grab her arm. Her embarrassment is palpable, and I can’t help but feel bad.
“Wait.”
“I can’t believe I just—” She gathers herself, pressing her hand to her forehead. “I’m so sorry.”
I sigh, closing the restroom door and flipping the lid down on the toilet, motioning for her to take a seat. I don’t need to use it. I came in here so I wouldn’t be tempted to follow her onto the street and ask for her number.
I’m not the type of guy to ask a woman for her number, and the urge set off an alarm bell in my head. But I felt compelled to talk to this woman. When her sad, cornflower-blue eyes met mine, something clenched in my chest. There was pain there I recognized.
And despite myself, I wanted to comfort her.
“Don’t be sorry,” I say. If anything, I’m flattered. I can’t remember the last time a woman her age made a move on me. Probably when I was in my early thirties myself.
She drags a hand through her long, caramel-colored hair, her cheeks pink as she sinks onto the toilet lid. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
I hesitate, then decide to be honest. To put the poor woman out of her misery. “I do. You’re not imagining the spark between us.”
Her gaze lifts to mine. “I’m not?”
“No, Cupcake. You’re not.”
I don’t know what I’m thinking, calling her this cute little nickname as if we’re lovers, but it suits her. She’s sweet, delicious enough to sink my teeth into, but also a little fragile, like she might crumble if I’m not careful.
Her mouth tilts into a pleased smile at my words. God, she’s beautiful. Those eyes are breathtakingly blue, and her hair falls to her waist, long enough for me to wrap in my fist and tug.Then there’s the indigo knitted dress she’s wearing that hugs her luscious curves, the heeled, knee-high leather boots that cling to her long calves. What man in his right mind wouldn’t be attracted to her?
Today’s the first time I’ve eaten lunch away from the office in months. Usually, my assistant, Mandy, brings me whatever I ask for, but she left last week and I’m lost without her. She’s been invaluable over the past few years, and I dread the process of finding someone else and training them, so I thought I’d treat myself to lunch and a drink while I work out how I’m going to replace her. The last thing I expected was to have a young woman sit beside me and offer me a cupcake. Make me feel like I know a thing or two about life. Compliment my beard.
So, yeah. I flirted, figuring we would both feel a little better. I didn’t expect her to pull me into the restroom and want more.
Even if part of me wants to give it to her.
