His gaze sharpened.“That’s a lie.You’re worried I’m going to go blabbing around town that we slept together.I just told you I’ve had sex with other women often—have you ever heard any rumors?”
She froze.She hadn’t.He was considered one of the town hotties, and she might have heard about the odd date he’d had over the years, but she certainly couldn’t recall any rumors about who he’d slept with.
“Well?”
“No, I guess I haven’t.”She smoothed strands of hair away from the side of her face.Her body temperature rose a degree or two under his intense stare.
“Look,” he said, placing his hands far apart on the counter.“You’re a business owner and maybe already up against some wary people given the unusual nature of your business, correct?”
She raised an eyebrow.His words had good intentions behind them but irked her nonetheless.“I don’t believe anything that I do is ‘unusual.’Maybe it’s beyond what some people consider ‘normal,’ but to me there’s nothing more normal than connecting with one’s higher self and spiritual path.”
“Okay,” he said, lifting a hand as if to slow her down.“I just meant maybe some people misunderstand your products.”
“Yeah, I guess that would be accurate.”
“And you’re worried that the people who frequent your store will think less of you if they hear about us.Because I’m such a terrible catch.”
She wrinkled her nose.“You’re putting words in my mouth.”
He huffed a breath and stared at the ceiling.“I feel like I’m going in circles.Look, I liked spending Saturday night with you.Yeah, I mean in bed, but also at the bar.I enjoyed talking to you and learning about the universe and crystals and all that kooky stuff.It was fun.I’ve never had conversations like that before.”
She screwed her lips to the side.“Kooky?You think I’m weird?”
He snorted and one side of his face scrunched.“Not a fucking chance.I think you’re smart and funny, and you built a business because it’s something you love and believe in and to me, there’s nothing more admirable than that.By kooky I just mean unusual—in a good way.”
Her cheeks tingled and she bit her bottom lip.Maybe she’d been wrong about Aiden.Part of her was tempted to throw caution to the wind.He’d been brought into her life for a reason, after all.There was a purpose behind everything, especially when two people’s paths crossed.
Had he been placed in her life simply to keep her safe from whoever was after her?Was that the reason?
Had he not checked on her shop Monday night or stayed at her house after, she could have been killed.
She opened her mouth to speak, but he continued.
“I’m not trying to convince you of anything.I just want you to know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, or anyone for that matter.Except maybe Ray and the SOB who’s harassing you.Other than that, I don’t have beef with anyone.”He extended his arms.“Consider sex off the table, okay?Let’s just eat and enjoy each other’s company.”
Although sex hadn’t really been on the table, she couldn’t say that it hadn’t been in the back of her mind from the moment he suggested she stay with him.His proclamation didn’t offer any comfort, though.Instead, a pool of disappointment formed inside her.“In that case, do you have any wine?”
He chuckled.“I’m sure I can find a bottle.”
“Great.”
“I’m going to change out of my uniform and then I’ll get dinner fired up,” he said, making his way down the hall that was embossed in her memory.Not that she’d tell him that.
As she finished putting away the groceries, the little pool of disappointment expanded.
Her hesitancy had made him take sex ‘off the table,’ and damn him to hell and back for making her admit to herself that sex was what she wanted.
Who was she kidding?She’d packed sexy pajamas with exactly that in mind.Aiden exited the bedroom, picked up the meat and some utensils, then went outside to start the barbeque.She took out the cutting board and chopped zucchini.Now she was in a pickle.She wanted Aiden, but she’d given him the vibe that she didn’t.Actually, he assumed she thought he was a ‘terrible catch.’
Her head throbbed.Now wasn’t the time to obsess over a guy, or even sex.
She watched him through the sliding glass door as he cracked open the grill and tossed the meat on.Moisture heated the apex between her legs.Her folds ached for the glorious attention he’d showered on her the other night.
His large, bronze muscles bulged through the tight sleeves of his T-shirt.You’re wrong about one thing, Aiden—you’re a damn good catch.
***
“You sellwhat?”Aiden lowered the wineglass to the tile tabletop of his outdoor patio set.The sound of the materials clinking rang through the night.Their supper dishes had long since been moved aside, and neither one of them had broken the conversation to clean up.
