Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
And I want to know more about him like I want my next breath. I want to know everything in fact.
“You still got your V card?” Janey asks in a whispered hiss, and I shoot her a glare.
“You know fine well I do,” I grumble back, shaking my head. I love her, but she can be so nosey sometimes. Truth is, I’ve never felt enough connection to anyone to go all the way with them. “And it’s not like that. We’re going out for dinner.”
Janey squeals with excitement. The elevator stops at her floor, and she curses, catching my gaze before she leaves.
“Tell me everything tomorrow,” she demands as she rushes out with the others, leaving me to ride down to the first floor alone.
When the elevator lets me out at the reception, I make quick work of collecting my things from my desk, tugging on my jacket and hooking my bag over my shoulder. As I’m readjusting my hair, tugging it free of my bag strap, Aidan appears in my peripheral. Butterflies erupt in my stomach at his nearness, and I spin with a huge smile on my face.
He’s changed into normal clothes—jeans and a nice, well-fitting jumper that draws my attention to his pecs—and leans against the side of my desk with a grin on his stupidly handsome face.
“How did you make it here so fast?” I ask with a breathless laugh. “You weren’t in the elevator.”
Aidan’s gaze sweeps over me as he answers, “I took the stairs.”
I make a face. “You’re not even out of breath!” There’s a hell of a lot of stairs between the floor we were on and here, and if I tried to walk up them at a normal pace, I would probably feel like dying after three flights. But to get here this quickly, Aidan must’ve practically run down the things.
He chuckles, lifting his shoulder in a shrug. “Fireman, remember? Running up the stairs is just a normal Friday for me.”
I laugh at that, shaking my head. “You’re insane to do it willingly.”
Aidan’s gaze heats as his expression turns serious. “Wasn’t willing to wait a second longer than necessary to be in your company again,” he says, and dammit I’m blushing from head to toe.
His compliments muddle my brain, and he dishes them out so easily. This man…
“Tell me, sweetheart, what’s your favorite food?” he asks as I round the desk to join him on the other side.
I consider the question while we head out the front door, the warm breeze outside making my hair fly around my shoulders. “I should say salad or something,” I joke, then gasp as Aidan’s heated stare hardens.
He steps closer to me, and I let him, welcoming his closeness without a thought. His hand brushes mine, my skin tingling at the contact.
“Why do you say that?”
“Isn’t that what guys expect girls to eat on dates?” I ask with another breathy laugh.
“I don’t give a shit what other guys expect,” he grumbles. “They’re all wrong. You’re damn perfect, Autumn and nobody’s favorite food is salad. Answer me properly this time, sweetheart.”
There’s a knee-weakening gravel to his words that makes my breath shudder. I have to restrain myself from stepping closer and getting rid of the inches of distance between us. I want him in every way, and that should terrify me, considering I’ve never felt remotely like this before. But with Aidan, I feel…safe.
“Ice cream,” I blurt, pushing my hair out my face.
Aidan’s grin is wide and warm. This time, when our hands brush, he slides his palm against mine, twining our fingers together. I swear my heart melts in my chest. He’s holding my hand, but I feel his touch everywhere.
“I know just the place,” he says, and I follow his lead as he starts walking down the street.
He takes me to a little diner two blocks away—a place I didn’t even know existed. It’s cute and warm inside, the air smelling sweet from all the baked goods and cakes on display in the glass cabinet at the front. The walls are painted a sunny yellow and red leather booths line the wall.
Aidan greets the woman at the counter cheerily, and we take a corner booth. I slide into the comfy seat, and though the booth and table are a good size, the second Aidan sits across from me, it feels as though there’s no distance between us at all. He consumes all my senses.
The waitress comes over with a beaming smile and an order pad in hand. “Aidan! Good to see you,” she greets, “and who’s this pretty girl?”
I can’t help my smile.
“Hi, Amanda. This is Autumn,” Aidan says, my name sounding sweet on his tongue. “Her favorite food is ice cream, so obviously I had to bring her here.”
The waitress slides her notepad into the front of her apron and claps her hands together. “You’ve got a good one here,” she tells me with a wink that makes me laugh, “if only because he knows we have the best ice cream sundaes in the city. I’ll be back in two minutes.”