Page 5 of Into The Light

“This is Aiden McKay.” Mark stood beside him now. “I’m so sorry but I didn’t catch your name.”

“Emilia. Emilia Charles.”

Mark nodded and turned back to Aiden. “Aiden, please meet Emilia Charles.”

What the hell? Why is he introducing us instead of this guy just telling me his name? This is so weird.

“Pleased to meet you, Emilia.” His jaw ticked and then tightened, inhibiting any chance of a smile. It almost seemed like he was clenching his teeth.

We sat in silence for a few moments as Mark’s eyes darted between us. I waited for Aiden to speak, but he only clenched his jaw tighter, causing the muscles in his neck to twitch.

Enough of this cryptic nonsense. I wanted to know what this hottie wanted with me. “Why did you want to see me?”

After taking a deep breath, he cleared his throat. “Can I offer you a drink?” His gaze drifted to my cleavage before lifting to meet mine. That ten pounds I’d put on may have given me a few dimples in my ass, but it had done wonders for my tits.

“No, thank you. I’m working. I’m not allowed to drink.”

“Very well.” He gestured for Mark to sit. Mark didn’t hesitate and slid into the booth beside him. As I sat across from them, I shrank under their penetrating stares. The last time I had felt this uncomfortable in a chair was sitting in Principal Smith’s office back in tenth grade when I got caught cheating on my math test.

“Tell me about yourself,” Aiden said.

“Like what?”

“Do you have any family?”

What kind of question is that? “No. My parents died and I’m an only child.”

Something resembling approval flashed through his eyes. “Husband? Boyfriend?” he continued.

“No and no. I’m sure you, like the rest of the bar, heard my husband walked out on me six months ago.”

“Yes, I recall that.”

Okay, he may be gorgeous but he’s fucking weird. What is with these inappropriate personal questions?

“Would you say you have an active social life?”

“I’m not even sure what you mean by that. If you’re asking if I have friends, the answer is no. I work over eighty hours a week between two jobs. I don’t have time for friends.”

Wow. No boyfriend, no family, no friends... I’m starting to sound pretty pathetic.

But as pathetic as that admission felt, his eyes flashed more of that approving look.

“I also overheard you are having financial difficulties?”

Pathetic and broke. This conversation stole my already shredded self-confidence.

I nodded. Ordinarily I would have told him it’s none of his business, but I had already announced it to the whole bar.

He glanced over to Mark. The two exchanged a look, and then turned their attention back to me.

“I have a proposition for you, Emilia,” Aiden said. “A very lucrative one.”

Whoa. What is this, “Indecent Proposal”?

“I’m not a hooker!” I shouted, the nearest heads all snapping to look at me. I leaned forward and quieted my voice. “I’m not a prostitute! I can’t believe you think I would take money for sex!”

It appeared again. A flicker of mirth inside those frozen eyes.