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Chapter 30
Why do North Koreans hate jazz music? They don't have Seoul. ~ Text from Hailey to Suzie
Wear comfortable shoes
My brow wrinkles as I read Aiden’s text. When don’t I wear comfortable shoes? Although…I look at the wedges I had planned on wearing. Cute? Yes. Comfortable? About as comfortable as a sandal with a heel can get. Spoiler alert – Nothing with a heel is classed as comfortable in my book.
Why? Where are we going?
Aiden asked me out on a date tonight, but when I wanted to know where we’re going, he refused to tell me. I’ve been bugging him ever since with no luck.
Wouldn’t you like to know
Duh. I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.
Be there in thirty minutes
Thirty minutes? What kind of date starts at 4:30 in the afternoon? And why won’t he tell me already? I throw the wedges in my closet and search for a pair of comfortable but cute sandals. Snort. Who am I kidding? I don’t own comfortable but cute shoes. Phoebe the fashion model would. Hailey the PI, daughter of a bar owner? She owns shitkicker boats and some shoes Suzie forced her to buy.
When Aiden arrives twenty-five minutes later, I’m wearing a pair of tan crop pants, a summery blouse, and sandals. My clothes don’t scream romantic date with a sexy cop, but he’s the one who told me to wear comfortable shoes.
Aiden’s wearing jeans that fit him like a glove and a Henley shirt stretched across his muscles. I lick my lips. “Maybe we can stay in tonight?”
“Nope.” He chuckles and grabs my hand to pull me close. He brushes his mouth against mine. I pout. His lips barely touched mine for the briefest hint of a kiss. “Where’s Lola?”
“She’s with Suzie. I didn’t want to leave her alone when I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.” I wink.
“Good. I’ve been meaning to show you my place.” My female bits wake up and scream Yippee!
“We’re going to your place?” Please, please, say yes.
He shakes his head. “Impatient, aren’t you?”
Dying of curiosity is more like it. Notice he doesn’t answer my question. My pulse returns to normal and my female bits go back to sleep grumbling about what a tease Aiden is.
Once we’re seated in his vehicle, I try again. “Where are we going?”
To my surprise, he gives me a clue. “Look in the back seat.”
I glance back and see an old-fashioned wicker picnic basket. “You’re taking me on a picnic?”
“Kind of.”
I shrug and try to play it cool. “As long as you feed me.”
He snorts. “I wouldn’t dare not feed you. You’re like a reverse Gizmo. Always feed it before midnight or it will spawn Gremlins.”
“At least Gizmo was cute.”
Aiden parks and grabs the picnic basket. When I step out of the SUV, I see where we are and finally catch on. “Jazz in the Park?” At his nod, I smile. “Not bad, Barnes. Not bad.”
“Come on. Let’s get some drinks and then we’ll go find a place to have our picnic.”
He grabs my hand and we walk to the beverage tents. “What do you feel like drinking?”
Does he need to ask? I drag him toward the tent of a local brewery I know has an excellent APA. It’s happy hour, so we end up ordering four beers. Then, we walk to the park and look for a good spot to listen to the music from.
Aiden opens the basket and pulls out a red and white checkered picnic blanket.
