Chapter Thirty

Aiden

“ S omeone’s confident. Bringing me to a hotel on the first date? Hoooooly shit…” Realization dawns on her as I grab Bec’s hand in mine and pull her through the lobby toward the bar where we first met.

“I was feeling nostalgic,” I say with a wink.

“Should we go straight upstairs and find that ice machine again?” Bec asks with a flirty smile playing at her perfect lips.

“I was thinking of a nightcap, but I like your idea better.” She laughs and playfully slaps my chest when I start backing her toward the elevator.

“All right, back it up, caveman. That’s on me. Let’s go get that drink.”

We get drinks from the bar before settling into a booth. Bec gives a thoughtful look around the place, taking in the surroundings, no doubt remembering the last time we were here together years ago. I honestly couldn’t tell you shit about what looks the same or different. I barely noticed anything about the space the last time I was here, and I don’t care about it now either. The woman across from me has my full attention, and I don’t see that changing regardless of where we are.

“I don’t know how you did it,” I say.

“Did what?” Bec asks.

“How you kept a straight face when I explained to you why I thought you were a dog person. I didn’t realize how spot on that guess was when I made it.”

Bec laughs, throwing her head back. God, this girl shines. I can’t take my eyes off her.

“You remembered.” She rests her chin in her hand, leaning on the table, her nearness allowing me to see the dimension of color in her bright eyes as they flicker between my own. The elated look on her face wakes up pieces of my soul I never knew existed.

“I remember every moment of that weekend. Every detail of the time I spent with you.” I allow the truth to spill out, unable to pull it back, leaving it hanging suspended in the air between us. I could get lost in her stare. She doesn’t respond, but everything about her thoughtful expression makes me feel like she remembers that weekend just as clearly as I do.

Who’s to say how things would have turned out if Bec and I tried to make things work before? We either robbed ourselves of time we could have spent together or saved ourselves from a difficult long-distance relationship that wouldn’t have lasted. I don’t care about any of that now. I hope with every part of my being that she’ll take everything I have to offer her this time. It’s hers already, whether she knows it or not.

“I was right about another thing too. The night I met you, I discovered I really do have a kink for flirting with a certain gorgeous brunette at this bar.”

“That game…it was a creative way to flirt. I’ll give you that.”

“I’d never played that game with another person before that night. Just something I do in my head when I’m alone. But I had to think of a reason to strike up a conversation with the beautiful woman next to me,” I say.

Bec leans back against the booth and tucks her hair behind her ear. “So do all the girls fall for that one or was it just me?”

“I haven’t played it since,” I respond.

“Oh, come on. Not even once?” she asks, disbelief heavy in her tone.

“I didn’t want to ruin it by sharing something that had become special with the wrong person.”