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Emily: Hey, doll. Lamont and I are planning a game night beatdown with some friends Saturday night at my place. Join us? Gonna be killer but even more fun if you come!
I stared at the text. Was she really inviting me to a get together with her friends and her boyfriend? A surge of warmth went through my chest.
But I couldn’t.
Billy would be pissed.
I had already typed out an excuse why I couldn’t and was about to hit send when I realized what I was doing. I glanced at the kitchen. Hadn’t I just spent the past hour breaking all of Billy’s rules because I could?
Because I was allowed to?
Because Billy and I were fucking over?
Before I could even consider what I was doing, I deleted my message and typed a new one and hit send.
Ashton: Sure. I’d love to. Just let me know where and when. Thanks for the invite!
A mix of nerves and excitement went through me as I waited for a response. When she sent me back the details and said she was looking forward to having me there, I hugged my phone to my chest like an idiot.
I had plans.
With friends.
I fell into bed that night feeling overwhelmed with relief and hope— feelings I hadn’t had in quite some time.
The next day was Friday. I saw Aiden come into the cafe for lunch, even though he’d been there for his morning coffee only a few hours before.
I was in the back on a break when he ordered, but when I came out, I noticed him sitting at a table eating a sandwich and talking on his cell phone. He caught my eye and shot me a wink. Since there wasn’t a line, I grabbed a wet towel and began wiping down the tables, my eyes straying to Aiden every minute or two. I couldn’t help but fixate on the muscles of his throat as he talked. I really wanted to taste him there.
Hell, who was I kidding?
I wanted to taste him everywhere.
I could feel my cheeks heating at even the thought, and I forced myself to focus on the task at hand. When I reached the table next to his, a huge smile appeared on his lips and he whooped into the phone before ending his call. He jumped up from his chair and suddenly wrapped his arms around me and lifted me off my feet.
“Yes!” he growled in my ear. I knew the comment was aimed at whatever had happened with his phone call, but I still couldn’t help but wonder if he got all throaty and growly like that in bed.
Good god, I needed to get a grip.
Aiden settled me on my feet, though he didn’t immediately drop his arms.
I ended up pulling free of his hold because the close proximity to his hard body was starting to mess with my head… and other places.
“Good news?” I asked with a smirk as I took a step back.
“The best! I just signed a massive new PR client I’ve been trying to get for weeks.”
“That’s fantastic,” I said, laughing at how happy he was. He reminded me of a kid who’d just discovered Santa Claus had come. “Congratulations.”
“Come celebrate with me,” he said suddenly, eyes lighting up with excitement. “Let me take you to dinner tomorrow night.”
“I can’t. I already told Emily I’d go to her place for game night,” I explained.
“Tonight, then. Please say yes. Pretty please.” I couldn’t stifle my laugh when he attempted to lay puppy dog eyes on me. His smile was so sweet, I couldn’t say no. Moreover, I didn’t really want to say no.
“Okay. Tonight.”
He pumped his fist in the air. “This day just keeps getting better and better. Where do you live?” His expectant grin almost had me reciting my address without thinking, but I stopped myself at the last minute. I couldn’t afford for him to come anywhere near my place.
“How about you tell me where to go and I’ll meet you there?”
I could tell it was on the tip his tongue to argue with me, but thankfully he let it go.
“What kind of food do you like?” he asked instead. “Anything you’re in the mood for these days in particular? My treat, obviously, so make it good.”
“Mmm, Italian for sure. I mean, is that okay with you?”
“Italian it is.” He rattled off the name of a place I knew near the park. It was the kind of place Billy had brought me takeout from in the past when he was in a particularly good mood, but I’d never been in person because Billy had always been afraid we’d be seen together by someone from his work. I couldn’t wait to try it out.
“Okay,” I said with a smile. “Finish your lunch, Mr. Bigshot. Sounds like you have lots of work to do when you get back to the office. Congratulations. See you tonight.”
