Twenty

TWENTY

Aria

"Were you as excited about having dinner tonight that this whole day felt like it was dragging for you, or was that just me?"

Paxton's question caught me by surprise, but that didn't mean I wasn't grateful for it. With all the nerves I felt about our dinner tonight, it was a relief that Paxton was able to lead the conversation and give me the opportunity to settle in.

I'd been attempting to do that since we arrived at the restaurant and had been seated, but it wasn't coming easily. Initially, I'd focused on the menu, thankful to have something to occupy both of us. But once our server returned to take our orders, I found myself feeling unsure.

I liked Paxton, and he hadn't done anything to make me feel uncomfortable. I just didn't want to screw this up with him.

For the next several minutes after we'd made our dinner selections, I'd focused my attention on anything and everything in the restaurant besides Paxton. I didn't think it was terribly awkward, either, because he happily conversed with me about the place.

But now that our dinner salads had arrived, it seemed Paxton wasn't holding anything back. And it meant everything to me that he wanted to not only take charge but also make me relax.

Best of all, along with taking the pressure off me to come up with something to discuss, he was content to come right out with how he was feeling. The admission in his question only served to put me at further ease.

I hadn't expected he had been feeling the same as I had been all day long. It was reassuring to know I wasn't alone. With a shy smile, I confessed, "I might have checked the clock a handful of times more than usual today."

"Yeah? I was doing anything and everything I could to keep myself occupied."

"That makes two of us," I murmured. "And it started almost immediately this morning for me."

When the corners of Paxton's mouth tipped up with a smile, it became clear he had been experiencing a lot of the same nerves that I had been about this date. That wasn't to say that Paxton was nervous around me—it was obvious he was comfortable being in my presence. But like me, he had questions lingering in his mind about where I was from an emotional standpoint. Paxton was curious if I was as invested in what was happening between us as he was.

It hit me that Paxton and I were a lot alike when it came to how we handled our emotions. Back when I'd been living in Birch Creek with my family, I'd been the one to remain calm and collected, even if my insides were screaming at me about whatever was happening. I was the one who tried to set everyone at ease.

Paxton was being that person for me right now. Sure, I wasn't outwardly panicking like my mom or sister might in just about any situation, but I had a feeling Paxton could sense I was feeling a bit flustered. Recognizing that made it even easier for me to just let go of the worries and focus on what was happening in front of me.

"If my dogs hadn't needed to go out first thing this morning, I might have stayed in bed a little later just thinking about last night," he confessed.

"I actually did do that," I admitted, tucking my lips into my mouth and feigning innocence.

Laughter spilled out of him. "I'm beginning to think we should have just decided to spend the entire day together and saved ourselves the trouble."

It wouldn't have been a bad idea. Although, I wondered if we would have ever made it to dinner if we'd done that. He'd had his mouth on mine almost the exact second I opened the door to him tonight. We only left to make our dinner reservations on time. Had we gotten together earlier in the day without a plan to do something specific, it was likely that kissing might have turned into something else much sooner.

Suddenly, visions of Paxton and me being in the throes of passion flashed through my mind. I squirmed in my seat, pressing my thighs together to relieve the dull ache between them. My eyes met Paxton's. He raised a brow suspiciously, as though he knew precisely what I was thinking about. And when he smirked at me, I had to wonder if he was having some of the same naughty thoughts.

Figuring it was best not to focus on that and risk getting myself all hot and bothered just minutes after I'd relaxed, I reasoned, "You seemed to be occupied earlier this morning. After I had breakfast, I noticed you outside with a handful of kids."

"Yeah, I wound up taking the dogs for a walk, and a bunch of the kids in the neighborhood spotted me and asked to come along. They wound up sticking with me until I was back at the house, but they were having so much fun with the dogs, they didn't leave right away."

"They seemed comfortable with you. Has this happened before?"

"A couple of times," he replied the moment our server returned to check on us.

"How is everything so far?"

"Great," Paxton answered, as I offered a nod of approval.

With a smile, she returned, "Perfect. Your meals should be out shortly."

"Thank you," I said.

Once she'd walked off, I declared, "I'm surprised by how comfortable things seemed between you and those kids, but I'd also be lying if I said I didn't expect it to be that way."

Paxton's fork had been on its way toward his mouth, but my words made the movement of his hand stop in midair. "What do you mean?"

I'd just taken a bite of my salad, so as I chewed, I set my fork down on the edge of my plate and lifted my napkin from my lap to wipe at the corners of my mouth. Once I'd chewed, swallowed, draped the napkin over my lap again, and picked up my fork, I explained, "Well, it's you. If I was a kid and I saw a guy like you walking down the street with his dogs, especially as many as you have, I'd take one look at you and be too terrified to approach. You're slightly intimidating. And I certainly wouldn't have ever approached you if you were out in your driveway shooting arrows at a target. Of course, if I ever worked up the courage to actually do it, I'd quickly learn that you're the nicest guy in the world. And if I was in a group, I figure it'd be much easier to approach you."

Paxton smiled. "Do you really think that?"

My brows shot up, questioning him. "That you're the nicest guy in the world?"

He nodded.

"Without a doubt," I confirmed. "That's why it doesn't surprise me that the neighborhood kids like you so much."

"I think they like my dogs, Aria," Paxton joked.

Shaking my head, I insisted, "I saw you with them, Paxton. They were laughing at things you said. They might like your dogs, but to those boys, you're like a real-life superhero. And to be honest, I can't say I don't get that part of it, either."

Intrigued by my declaration, he asked, "What is that supposed to mean?"

I took a moment to consider the best way to explain it to him. After all that Paxton had done and been for me, I wanted him to have an accurate understanding of how others, especially me, viewed him. "Up until a few days ago, I never would have imagined you were a man who experienced conflict. I mean, I knew what you did for a living, and I guess I knew there had to be some level of it there, but I never believed you experienced it in your personal life. Like I said, you're the nicest guy. You rescue hurt or abandoned animals. All they have to do is ring your doorbell, and you're willing to take them in. I'm not sure it gets much nicer than that."

"Are you saying that your impression of me changed a few days ago, when that guy followed you home and attacked you?"

A hint of uneasiness lingered in his tone, and I felt compelled to quell his fears. "Not the way you might think. It's why I mentioned the kids thinking of you like a superhero."

"I don't look at what I did as me trying to save the day."

I finished the last bite of my salad, took a sip of my drink, and explained, "I know. That's what makes you even better. All I'm saying is that I had mistakenly assumed you were always so easygoing, and I saw something different that night. I saw a man who wasn't afraid to always do the right thing, regardless of the situation."

Some understanding dawned on his features, his expression softening. "Well, if I have my choice, I prefer to be laidback and kind to others, but I'm also the kind of guy who won't stand by while someone needs my help, especially someone I care about."

And there it was.

I wasn't just somebody who needed his help. I was someone he cared about who needed his help.

Something warm hit the center of my chest and spread out from there as my thoughts ran wild. What did he see in me? Sure, I could understand physical attraction. But didn't it need to go deeper than that when it came to caring about someone the way Paxton had just insinuated?

When it came to the way I felt about him, I thought it was easy to see why I had an attraction that went beyond the physical.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I didn't hold back what was on my mind. "So, you care about me?"

Shocked, he countered, "You have to ask?"

Before I could respond, our server returned with our meals. As she set the plates down, removed what we no longer needed, and confirmed we didn't need anything else, I kept my gaze on Paxton. There was a tightness in my throat, something I knew was a direct result of feeling like I'd gotten something I'd lost a long time ago.

The moment we were alone again, I spoke quietly. "What was it that made you go from interested enough in me to caring about me?"

There was still a look of utter confusion on Paxton's face. "Do you really not know?"

I didn't.

Truthfully, I didn't.

I couldn't think of anything I'd done that would have led him to this place, and I was genuinely curious to know.

So, I answered honestly. "I don't, Paxton. I'm not outwardly empathetic like you. I don't rescue animals or step in to defend people when they're in trouble. I don't always make the right decisions, and I am nowhere near as laidback as you."

"Not only are you insanely beautiful, but you have got to be the bravest woman I've ever met," Paxton shared.

"What?"

Shaking his head slowly, Paxton explained, "Aria, I don't know all the specific details regarding the reason you decided to move. But what I do know is what you've shared, and what's staring me in the face. Something wasn't right for you where you were, and you picked up your whole life, moving away from everything familiar, to start over again in a new place where you didn't know a single soul. How could I not be attracted to a woman like that? A woman who isn't afraid to find something new, something better, and give herself what she deserves."

My lungs had stopped functioning, and it was everything I could do not to burst into a fit of tears.

I stared at Paxton, feeling stunned and spellbound by him. Was he even real?

My mouth opened and closed several times in failed attempts to respond, to say something. Not a single word came out.

Paxton took advantage of having rendered me speechless and added, "That alone is enough for me to be interested, Aria. But when I add in the fact that you're hardworking, resilient, super friendly, have a cat of your own, you look great in roller skates or all dressed up like tonight, and you have that dimple, I'd say there's a lot to like about you."

This man was everything I didn't think I deserved, but desperately wanted in my life. So, as was not uncommon whenever it came to him, I didn't hold back. "I think it would be rude for us to leave here without finishing our entrees."

In an instant, Paxton threw his head back and burst out laughing. He didn't seem to care at all that we were in this upscale restaurant with people all around. And if I was honest, I was too awestruck by watching him laughing that I didn't care about us being in the restaurant surrounded by people who could see us, either.

When he finally settled and brought his shining eyes to mine, he said, "You make me laugh, too. That's just one more thing I like about you."

I smiled at him, feeling overwhelmed with such happiness. Paxton appreciated me, something I hadn't had in a very long time. "I like you, too," I confessed. "I like you for all the reasons I just mentioned and more. I like the way you listen and your spontaneity. Your compassion and empathy are simply unmatched. But most of all, I like the way you always do the right thing. I'm not sure I can express to you how incredibly important that is to me."

Paxton studied me for a moment, and I had a feeling he was trying to work out what led to me sharing what was most important to me. It was obvious he understood there was a story behind it, and it was a relief he didn't ask me to expand upon it.

"I get the distinct feeling that's something I'm going to have to wait to get more of an explanation on," he said.

I hated that's the way it was, but I didn't want to risk having him walk away from me. Maybe if we developed an even deeper bond between us, I might stand a chance at holding on to him when he learned the truth.

Sending a sympathetic look his way, I replied quietly. "I appreciate your willingness to be patient with it."

He shrugged. "I won't say I'm not curious, because I am. But I'm also content to wait until you're ready to share it with me. It's not like I don't have plenty of other things to enjoy about you in the meantime."

God, he really was the best man I'd ever met in my life .

The rest of our dinner together went off without a hitch. We had a wonderful time together—the food was fantastic; the company was even better. All throughout, there were lingering looks, knowing smiles, and occasional soft touches. But even in all of those little things we'd experienced, it was the laughs we'd shared that meant the most to me.

Because where the looks and touches indicated there was a strong physical attraction between us, it was the laughter that indicated we shared something much deeper between us.

So, it was no surprise that by the time we'd finished our shared dessert, I was feeling a mix of both contentment and anticipation. As much as I enjoyed my time out to dinner with Paxton, I was eager for the rest of our night to commence.

But it seemed Paxton's plans for the evening were different than mine. When he stared at me with a questioning look, I asked, "What's that look for?"

One half of his mouth quirked. "I was just trying to figure out where to take you."

My brows shot up. "What?"

He jerked his chin in my direction, his gaze dropping toward my body. "You look so stunning, Aria. How can I not want to take you out dancing somewhere?"

"Dancing?" To say I was confused would have been an understatement.

"Dancing," he repeated with a slight nod.

I was shocked. Part of that was because I didn't suspect Paxton was the kind of guy who went dancing—though, I shouldn't have doubted it for one second after seeing his skills in a skating rink—but the other part of my disbelief came from not understanding how dancing was even on his list of things to do next.

Didn't he want to take me home?

Didn't he feel the buildup of tension and chemistry between us ever since last night?

Didn't the table between us feel like a massive obstacle? If I could have crawled across it—or under it—just to get to him, I might have done it.

How could he not feel the same?

When I spent too long attempting to figure it out, he asked, "Do you like to dance?"

"I like dancing."

"You don't seem excited about it," he noted.

I swallowed hard, ultimately deciding it was best to be honest. "I'm surprised by it," I admitted. "I… well, first, I guess I didn't expect that you were the dancing type. I'm happy to be wrong about that, but I think the bigger challenge for me is that I expected you were going to take me home after dinner."

His brows pulled together. "You're ready for this date to be over?"

Oh God.

He thought I wasn't having a good time. That I wanted him to take me home so we could part ways for the night.

Horrified, needing to reassure him, I reached across the table, curled my fingers around his arm, and said, "Paxton, I feel like I've been burning up for you since you kissed me last night. I had a momentary reprieve earlier today, but by the time I opened my front door and you kissed me again, I haven't been able to focus on much else. I'd love to go dancing with you sometime, but tonight, I'd really like it if you'd take me home. Not so we can end this date, but so we can continue it in my bed."

His stare darkened, the muscle in his jaw flexing. After he took a deep swallow, forcing my gaze to drop to his throat, he stood, held out his hand to me, and urged me out of my seat.

The moment I was steady on my feet, our bodies mere inches apart, I tipped my chin slightly to look at him. His eyes roamed over my face, the hold he had on my hand growing firmer.

With his voice a deep rumble, Paxton said, "Looks like we're heading home."

He waited just long enough to catch the shiver that ran down my spine, and with a glint in his eyes, he took me by the hand and led me out of the restaurant.