Page 44 of Curvy Girl Summer

“Aaliyah, it’s nice to finally meet you.” He extended his hand. “I’m Brayden.”

I shook his hand. “I’m glad you could make it, Brayden.”

“I wouldn’t have missed the chance to meet you for the world.”

A smile played on my lips. “Well, I’ve been looking forward to this all week.” I gestured to the stool next to me. “Have a seat.”

“What are you drinking? I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”

“I haven’t been here that long,” I lied. “I haven’t ordered anything.”

“What do you like?”

“I mostly like fruity drinks. I don’t like to actually taste the alcohol.”

“Hmm. I know just the thing.” He lifted his hand and caught Ahmad’s attention. “Yeah, man, can we start a tab?”

“Yeah, I got you,” Ahmad replied, taking Brayden’s card. “What can I get you?”

“Can we get two Amaretto sours? And add a couple of extra cherries for my beautiful date.”

Ahmad glanced at me before he nodded. “Coming right up.”

“This place is pretty cool,” Brayden acknowledged, looking around. “I’ve never been here.”

“Do you ever hang out in Richland? I know you live forty-five minutes away.”

“No, never.” He licked his lips. “But for you, I’m willing to make the trip.”

Ahmad returned, sliding two glasses in front of us.

“Thanks, man,” Brayden replied, picking up his drink. “A toast?”

I gave Ahmad a small smile before turning my attention back to my date. “What are we toasting?”

“The beginning of something special.”

I cocked my head to the side. It felt like game was being run on me, so I was hesitant as I lifted my glass. “The beginning of something special,” I repeated skeptically.

We tapped glasses and then took a sip.

I searched his face, looking for a tell. But his eyes didn’t leave mine as he swallowed the tart drink.

Our first conversation started in the evening and carried on into the wee hours of the morning. After that, he talked to me on everylunch break he had since we exchanged numbers. After hours, we talked while he was finishing up things in the office. And a couple of nights, we spoke on his entire drive home. And with each conversation, he was attentive and charming. I enjoyed him, but I couldn’t help the little nagging feeling in the back of my mind. I couldn’t put my finger on why, but there was a bit of hesitation with him.

“I knew there was something special about you after our first conversation,” he admitted.

“That was a really good conversation,” I agreed. “Even though you seemed distracted by the end of it.”

He shook his head. “I was working late, and my secretary had messed up some forms for me. I had to send it out before Wednesday’s meeting, and because I didn’t catch the error until after hours, I had to stay even later and work on it myself. But up until I noticed that, you had my undivided attention. Just like every night this week.”

I stirred the straw in my cocktail. “I think I like having your undivided attention.”

His smile grew. “Good. Because I like giving it to you.”

Like he had all week, the man charmed me.

We sat on those barstools nursing our drinks and talking for an hour.

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