Page 24 of The Vow We Made
It only takes the slight rise to his prominent cheekbones and the beam on his beautiful face to confirm I'm done for.
“Excellent.” He thrusts his phone in my hand. “Can you type your number in for me?” He's blinding me with speed and initially, I stare at the screen. It's too early in the morning for all this. “Please?” he asks with a tone so husky and deep, I'm unsure any woman could deny him. After I've tapped in the numbers, I hand his phone back. He immediately starts typing, “I've sent you a message. You can add my number from there.”
“Okay.” I consider telling him I still have his number from the first time he gave it to me, but then think better of it.
He leans forward, his lips not quite touching my cheek. It's unexpected but not unwelcome. The air around me fills with his clean, fresh scent and when his mouth brushes my ear, I'm thoroughly intoxicated by his close proximity. “Nice PJ's,” he whispers. It wasn't exactly what I hoped for but I enjoyed the build-up. I catch his slight smile when he pulls back and I cover my flushed, smiling face with my fingertips.
“Sorry I’ve got to run, but we’ll speak soon.” He rushes down the street while I rest against the door frame and watch him all the way to the end of the road. He turns his head a couple of times and raises his hand, which I bashfully return.
Now I’ve got to get back to reality because in my dreams, I’m the girl for him and we’ve laughed, danced by the light of the moon and kissed under the stars. I’m begging reality measures up to the dream otherwise my status as a hopeless romantic will be null and void.
I’ve had more fantasies about this man in the past week than is probably healthy. From a lack of concentration on my part to him pressing his number into my hand, I’d already built him up to be the epitome of perfection. Then came the night when we met again and he saved me from some giant jerk; our dance, our conversation and now… now there’s adate. Okay, so there's other stuff too, but he said the blonde was just a friend which I have to believe otherwise, why go to so much trouble?
I take the stairs two at a time and jump on Steph’s bed. “Wake up you lazy cow!”
Her nose is the only thing sticking out from under the duvet and her reply comes in the form of a tuneless moan and giant grunt.
“Steph? Come on.” Another groan but no movement this time. I flop myself on top of her. That's when she finally finds her voice and her strength.
“Get off you bloody lump.”
“Shove over.” I push her weight to the other side of the double bed while tucking my legs underneath her duvet.
“This better be good,” she groans while her disgruntled face appears from hiding.
“Oh it is, I promise. Guess who's been knocking on our door this morning,” I ask, smiling like a sappy animal.
“Thrill me, why don’t you,” is her sarcastic reply but she won’t ruin my good mood.
“Only Aiden James.” I wait for her response, but all I get back is a blank stare. “TheAiden?” Still nothing. “The guy who saved me last night and the same guy I ran into at Billy’s last week.”
She sits up. “Nooo,” and finally computes.
I know I’m grinning like a loony but I can’t help it. “Yes.”
She nudges my arm. “And?”
“He asked me out.”
“Nooo!” She drones once again, then stops. “Why didn’t he just ask last night instead of waking you up at the crack of dawn to do it?”
I wave my hand dismissively. “Long story, another time.” I know she won’t argue with me. She’s too hungover.
“So when are you seeing him next?”
“We didn’t quite get to that, but he has my number now.”
“That's something, although—”
“What?” I jump in.
“I didn't realise address swapping was involved. All we saw was raw heat although I thought there was a kiss at one point.” She growls and claws at my side in a tigress fashion.
I pull my knees up to my chin and wrap my arms around them. “We didn’t,” I tell her thoughtfully. “We didn’t swap anything on the night. I gave him my number just now.”
“But I’m sure—” Steph scrunches her nose.
“No. We didn’t exchange addressesorbodily fluids. How in the hell did he know where to find me?” I ask more to myself. “Hmm. Unless he found out by other means?” I home in on her innocent looking face while she holds her hands up in protest.
