Page 57 of Make You Stay

“Please tell me we aren’t hunting. I can’t shoot Bambi.”

Aidan laughs, his gravelly voice rolling over me like honey. “Definitely not. But bring a change of clothes. Nothing fancy or extravagant. Laidback, like us.”

“Not a problem.”

Part of me now wonders if we’ll be camping in the woods.

In the winter.

In several inches of snow.

“I’ll see you in an hour, Chloe.”

Disconnecting the call, I shove my dresses back into the closet, glimpsing my reflection in the mirror. Clad in leggings and a sweatshirt, it’s my typical home gear, an outfit Aidan has seen me in countless times.

Yes, he told me to dress comfortably, but I refuse to dressthiscomfortably. It’s still a date, and I want to look pretty for him.

Sixty minutes later, Aidan is on my doorstep, looking much like he does when he comes to work. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still sexy with his day-old stubble, flannel, and jeans, but I assumed he might dress up a bit more.

Apparently, he wasn’t kidding about the whole casual concept.

“You look beautiful, Chloe,” he states, taking my duffel bag from me.

I’m still casual in a sweater and jeans, but I dolled myself up a bit with some makeup and jewelry. Let’s not forget the killer lingerie I picked up the day before.

That was coming with me regardless of whether we sleep in a hotel or an igloo.

“Thanks. You always look handsome.”

He smirks, glancing at his outfit. “I didn’t have any time to get ready. I can run and shave if you’d like.”

Pressing my hand to his cheek, I shake my head, offering him a chaste kiss. “No, you’re perfect as is.”

He is, too, at least as far as I’m concerned.

Aidan helps me into his truck, and we head toward the highway… and away from town.

That’s interesting.

“I have something to admit,” Aidan says, drumming the steering wheel.

“What’s that?”

“I originally planned to take you to dinner, but something came up, so I had to cancel it.”

“Okay, no problem.” Actually, itmightbe a problem at some point. I’ve barely eaten today. Between nerves and my deadline, I subsisted on coffee.

“A buddy of mine asked me to check on his place. It’s out of the way, deep in the woods, but how could I say no?”

“Out of the way and deep in the woods? Are you taking me there to kill me?” I’m kidding—kind of.

Aidan laughs, shaking his head. “Wasn’t planning on it. I figure we’ll get there in about thirty minutes, and then I have a few repairs to take care of for him.”

“Repairs?” My head spins with the onslaught of information.

“He’s having some issues with his storm doors, and with the weather being what it is, he didn’t want to wait. It won’t take more than a couple of hours. Is that okay?”

I manage a nod. “Of course. I can help, or at least I can try.”

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