Passing His Guard

“You don’t want to hear about this . . .”

She cast her gaze to the floor and tried to back away, but he wouldn’t let her go that easily. “I do. I’m really curious to know what kind of an idiot would be stupid enough to fuck up a four-year relationship with you.”

She laughed, the soft and melodic sound hitting him right in the gut. “I’m warning you, it’s a pretty ugly story.”

“Can’t be any uglier than some of mine.”

“Oh, trust me, this one’s going to win.”

“I tell you what, let’s get out of here and we’ll swap stories on the way to the restaurant. We’ll see who has the worst one.”

Her delicate brow arched in question. “What will I win?” she asked, her voice dropping a soft, husky octave.

“What do you want?”

She laid her palm against his chest, sending a current of energy straight into his dick. How was it possible that such an i

“Surprise me.” Without giving him a backward glance, she dropped her hand and turned away. Grabbing her purse off the chair, she sauntered out the door.

“No way.”

“Yep, true story.”

“I’ll kill him. Do you want me to kill him? Cuz I’ll do it.”

Rya

Her tale had taken longer than the car ride to Suzie’s Steak and Seafood House. Apparently “fancy restaurant” was a relative term in Portage but, hey, at least she wasn’t underdressed. The place was cozy and rustic with knotty pine walls and a large stone fireplace in the center of the restaurant. Aiden had gotten them a table near the roaring fire and it was actually very quaint and, dare she think it . . . romantic. Her glass of Lambrusco was nearly gone, and she was feeling warm and tingly all over by the time she finished her story.

Aiden was three-quarters of the way through a dark brew from the tap, his attention fixed solely on her. If he noticed the attention he attracted, he paid no mind to it. Then again, he was probably used to that sort of thing. As for her, someone who preferred the shadow to the limelight, it was a bit unsettling. But the wine seemed to take the edge off, and she enthusiastically agreed to another glass when their waiter came by.

Aiden chuckled. “You seem nervous.”

“Do I? Well, I suppose that’s to be expected after sharing a story like that. To tell you the truth, I’m not really used to all the attention.”

His pierced brow quirked in question. “What do you mean?”

“Look around—half the women here are staring at you.”

His amber gaze broke away from hers long enough to take a quick glance around the room, before locking back on her, looking entirely unimpressed. “It’s not me they’re interested in, it’s Disco.”

“Oh, they’re interested.”

“Does it bother you? We can leave if you’d like.” Aiden drained his glass, set it on the table and scooted his chair back. Before he could rise, Rya

“No. That’s all right. I don’t want to leave. I was just making an observation, though I can’t promise after I finish this next glass of wine that I won’t give them something to talk about.”

Aiden laughed, a husky, masculine rumble that sent shivers into all her feminine places, sparking a slow burning fire of need deep in her core—a fire she knew from experience only Aiden could quench.

“Be my guest, sweetheart, though you’ve got nothing to worry about. Those women have nothing on you.”

“How would you know?” she scoffed. “You haven’t even looked at them.”

“I don’t have to. I’m looking at you.”

If he kept that up, Rya

Gone was that arrogant, cocky fighter that oozed superficial charms. No, this was the man she’d sensed all along and briefly glimpsed now and then when his mask of indifference slipped. He was easy to talk to—maybe too easy, for she’d found herself revealing more about herself than she’d intended. The last thing she wanted from this man was his pity. Was all this flattery his misguided attempt to balm the hurt she’d endured over Tyler’s betrayal? God, she hoped not. But just to be sure, she decided to lay the question to rest.

“Aiden, I didn’t tell you that story so you’d feel sorry for me. Sure, it sucked and I went through a bad time, but it was a long time ago. Nine months feels like nine years after burying my father. It wasn’t easy to lose my fiancé or my best friend, but looking back on it now, I know it was for the best. In a crazy way I’m kinda glad it happened.”

“You are?”

“Yeah . . . If Tyler wouldn’t have done what he did, I’d be stuck in a loveless, passionless marriage. I mean, not once in four years did he ever come close to making me feel—”

Abruptly, she cut herself off. Her cheeks flushed hotly when she realized what she’d almost said. Holy shit, this wine must really be getting to her. But he wasn’t letting her off the hook so easily. Just then, the waiter came by and asked Aiden if he wanted another beer. He barely cast the guy the briefest glance while nodding, because Aiden’s whole attention was solely focused on her. It was a heady feeling, having the full weight of those amber-flecked eyes locked on her.

“Feel what, Rya

Picking up her glass, she took another sip of liquid courage and swallowed it down before she said, “The way you do.”

His exhale told her he’d been holding his breath as he anxiously waited for her answer. Leaning back in his seat, he scrubbed his hand over the back of his neck and muttered a curse. The waiter came back just then with another beer and took Aiden’s empty. He snatched up at the brew and downed a healthy amount of it. When he sat the glass down, there was something in his eyes that lit up every last one of her nerve endings.

“This is a bad idea, Rya

What was? Did she miss something here? “What’s a bad idea?”

“What I’m thinking about doing to you right now.” His rich, smooth voice turned rough and husky.

She shifted in her seat, trying to get comfortable, but the ache was too deep, her flesh too sensitive, and her wiggling only seemed to make it worse. “It doesn’t have to be,” she found herself rationalizing. “We both know this can’t go anywhere, and that in two days it’s going to be over. Why not enjoy it while we can? Otherwise, we’re both going to be miserable, and what’s the point in that?”

Oh, Lord, was she really suggesting what she thought she was suggesting? This was insane. This wasn’t her—or was it? Rya