Page 30 of Hunt for the Roses
I take my beer off the bar counter, and head over in the mystery blonde’s direction as she’s standing against the wall on her phone, seemingly messaging someone. I don’t see a drink in her hand yet, so I go for a generic introduction.
“Hey, can I buy you a drink?” I ask as I walk up closer to her.
When she looks up at me, I can tell she’s pleased with what she sees. I know I’m a decent looking guy, and I dress pretty well if I do say so myself. My hair is gelled a little on top just enough to clean it up, but it’s still a little messy. I shine my pearly whites at her in case she needs more convincing, and luckily she shines a wide, pretty smile back at me.
“Sure. I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
I extend my hand out to her to bring her to the bar with me, and I order her a drink. We’re both leaning over the bar as I take a sip of my beer, and then turn to her. “So what’s your name?”
“Tara. You?”
“Dane. You meeting friends here?”
“I was supposed to, but it seems like plans have fallen through.”
The bartender hands me Tara’s beer, and I hand it to her as I say, “Sorry to hear that.”
As she puts the cup up to her lips, she throws me a seductive grin. “I’m not.”
Score.
* * *
Tara and I get out of my Mustang at the same time, and my arm is draped over her shoulders as we make our way up the pathway to my front door. Just as we reach the top of my porch steps, I notice a sleeping figure on Aria’s porch in my peripherals, and I do a double take. When I squint my eyes to focus in, I realize the sleeping form is Aria.
What?
She’s cocooned herself in a navy plaid blanket, and is fast asleep on the wooden bench on her porch. I decide to unlock my front door, and push the door open just enough to let Tara in. “Hey listen, I’m going to check on my friend next door. I’ll be back in a few minutes, but make yourself comfortable.” I gesture to the living room couch.
Tara smiles as she kisses my lips. “Mmm, don’t take too long.”
When Tara walks inside my foyer, she starts untying her sandals so she can relax on my couch, and I lick my lips as I resist the urge to pounce on her right then and there. But I know the right thing to do is check on Aria first. Maybe karma will be good to me, and tonight will be the best sex of my life.
Who knows?
When I close my front door, I walk down my porch steps to cross my lawn over to Aria’s, and then step carefully up Aria’s porch.
“Aria,” I whisper, but she just stirs in her position on the bench. “Aria,” I whisper louder.
Aria’s eyes pop open this time, and she seems disoriented for a second until she looks up at me, and then jolts up to a sitting position. “Shit, Dane!” she gasps as she puts a hand over her chest to get her mental bearings.
I put a hand out in front of me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” When I notice her breathing starts to regulate, I shove my outstretched hand back into my jeans pocket, and furrow my brows. “What are you doing out here?”
Aria rubs her temples and eyes for a few seconds to wake herself up, and then she shrugs. “I don’t know. Sometimes, I like to be out under the stars at night.”
Not really knowing how to respond to that, I just say what comes to mind. “Oh.”
I know, I’m really deep sometimes.
Feeling like she has to give an explanation, Aria continues on as she hugs the blanket tighter around her body. “I feel closer to him when I do.”
Fuck.
I crouch down in front of Aria as I touch her shoulder, and I stroke my thumb across the fabric of the blanket that’s over her body. “If you ever want company, I’m here,” I offer with a small smile.
She’s looking down in her lap as she smiles and shakes her head. “No, that’s alright,” she says before looking back at me. “I’ve come a long way since last year, and I’m able to handle most of these moments on my own.” I give her an understanding nod, and then Aria looks at me questioningly. “Besides, if you have nothing better to do than sit under the stars with me, we need to go over your event calendar immediately.”
She’s making a joke. She’s making light of the unfortunate situation she’s in, and it inspires me. Aria’s kindness and strength radiate off of her so effortlessly that it’s almost crazy to me that I never noticed these qualities about her before.
