Page 19 of Forfeits

“I haven’t gone on a date in a long time—like, a really long time.”

“Well, thank you for agreeing to this. I’m honored.”

He opened the door and beckoned me in after him.

“I’m starved! I hope you’re hungry.”

Famished, I thought, staring at his ass as he moved forward.

I shook my head, trying to keep it clear, when I was one huge horny mess, a second away from making a fool of myself.

“I wasn’t expecting Lucy’s supply teacher to be so…” I hesitated. “Never mind.”

Aiden gave our name to the hostess and turned back to me.

“Incredibly sexy? Astoundingly attractive?”

I smiled, amused. “Wow.”

“I know. My ego’s as big as my—”

I almost choked as the hostess interrupted him with a wide smile.

“This way, gentlemen.”

I met Aiden’s gaze with a stern one, but that just made him laugh. He was delightful. I was already having a good time.

The hostess guided us to a table for two in a corner spot that was somewhat private.

“Thank you,” Aiden said, gesturing for me to sit down.

I took the chair he referred to and picked up the menu. “I haven’t been here in a while.”

Daniel and I had come once, at some point near the beginning of our relationship, but he hadn’t been a fan of fancy eateries. He preferred the pub-type environment, of which there were plenty in Ottawa.

“It’s one of my favorite places. The pasta dishes are out of this world.”

I didn’t want to think about Daniel and what he had liked or not liked.

“Where are you supplying this week?”

Aiden glanced at the menu, his gaze scanning the offerings. “Fuck, all the way out in the west end. D. Roy Kennedy School. It’s so far.”

“That’s a pain,” I said. I tried to think about what I wanted to eat, but all I could see in my mind was Aiden’s ass in those killer jeans.

“The kids are great, though,” he said.

“Really? Being in a room with that many kids for even a couple of hours would probably drive me to drink,” I admitted. “Lucy says you’re…strict.”

I hoped that didn’t sound to him the way it sounded to me. I’d heard the sound of a riding crop slicing the air as I’d said it. I swallowed and hoped I wasn’t blushing too much.

“Did she say that?” he asked, looking more amused than surprised. “As a supply teacher, you have to be if you want to survive and keep your sanity.”

A very handsome male server approached our table.

“How are we doing tonight? My name is David, and I’ll be your server this evening.”

“Fantastic,” Aiden said, greeting David with a smile.

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