AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I mean... it’s never too late, though, right?” I try for an encouraging smile. “She’s still so young. You’ll figure it out.”
Aiden gives me a similarly soft smile. “I hope you’re right.”
The big room seems smaller now that I’m just standing there like an idiot, smiling at the pretty man in my doorway, and I finally have to pull the old distracted look around the room, pretending to admire the painting of... oh. Is that smoke? Abstract smoke? I really have to sneak some color into this house.
“Okay.” Aiden must sense my awkward energy, since he chooses right now to push away from the doorframe. “Well. I’ll... let you unpack then.”
“I don’t have much,” I admit. “The rest is coming tomorrow.”
“Right. Well. I can finish showing you around when you’re done. The living area is all on the second floor. Mine and Sophie’s rooms are on the third.”
“Cool,” I say.
Why is that cool? Why did I say that it was? Do people even say cool anymore?
“I’ll leave you to it then,” Aiden says.
I don’t breathe until he’s out of sight, cursing under my breath at my veryuncool behavior, acting like I’ve never seen a hot guy before. But then again, I actually haven’t everlivedwith a hot guy before. Especially not one who attempts (and fails, but it’s sort of cute) at pancakes and worries about how to connect with his kid.
It’s a job,I remind myself.It’s just a job.
I bet Aiden’s bedding is black too.
Not that I’m thinking about it.
It’s the first gift anyone’s ever sent me.
The packaging is sleek, but it’s what’s inside that really grabs my attention.
The toy is bigger than anything I’ve used before, and I gulp just pulling it out of the box. Can I even take something this big? I pick up the note that came with it, a strange thrill coursing through me as I consider the fact that one man out there wants to watch me use this. That he’s out there imagining it right now.
I can’t wait to watch you use this. —A
CHAPTER 3
Cassie
I finish putting my stuff away and head back upstairs after the pancake debacle, finding Aiden sitting in the living room and reading a newspaper, with Sophie nowhere to be found. I assume she’s up in the room I’m not allowed in. He’s changed his shirt to a clean one (still black, but a different shade of black, if that’s possible, so I guess points to him), but I am not complaining about the monochromatic tone of his gray sweats with the way they fit him. His hair is less styled than it was the night I met him, mussed and curling at his temples like he simply toweled it dry after showering off all the batter from earlier. It makes him look even younger than he normally does.
He looks up from the paper when he notices me awkwardly lingering at the top of the stairs, folding the pages and giving me a little smile. “All settled?”
“Yeah.” I cross my arms, feeling strange. The idea that Iactually live here now is sort of crashing down on me all at once. “The room is great.”
“I’m glad. Make sure to tell me if you need anything. I can take care of whatever you need.”
Oh boy.
In lieu of answering, I move to the armchair across from the couch he’s sitting on, pulling my legs up to tuck them beneath me. I’m actually grateful for his casual attire, making me feel better about my leggings and long tee. I mean, I know he didn’t mention a uniform or anything, but still.
But damn if those sweatpants aren’t distracting.
I nod toward the paper he’s still perusing. “Anything interesting in there?”
“Not really,” he says with a shrug. “I mainly get them for the crosswords.”
Why is that cute?
“Did you know that someone good at crosswords is called a cruciverbalist?”
