Page 56 of Winning the Nightcap

Ellie:His excitement is devolving into panic. My marriage is at stake here.

Bec:Tell Dom he needs to get a hobby.

Abby:Proof of life received. But that’s not what we asked for…we need DETAILS. What happened? Did you get to see his baseballs?

Dee:She *strikes* again.

Ellie:You know Dom already has a hobby. There are four unfinished puzzles lying around my house. He’s working on one right now and it hasn’t helped. Answer the question, Miller.

Bec:No comment. I plead the fifth. Please direct all media inquiries to my agent. (picture attached)

Carissa:Bec…is that Hopper?

Dee:Holy shit, are you at his place? Are you playing with his baseballs right now? How big is his bat?!

Bec:I hate that I’m even playing into this, but ladies…home fucking run.

Dee:THAT’S MY GIRL!

Abby:Uh…we’re going to need a lot more information.

Ellie:I can’t even explain the shriek Dom just let out. Dom wants to host the next book club at our house. Fair warning—he’s going to eavesdrop when we talk about your date. He said he promises he won’t tell Aiden anything.

Carissa:I’m so happy for you, Bec. Aiden seems like a really nice guy.

Dee:I repeat—how big is his bat?? Bec?!

* * *

“Uh-oh, I’ve seen that look before. No good comes from a look like that. You causing trouble in here?” Aiden is leaning on the door frame of his bedroom, his arms crossed against his chest, watching me with a smirk on his face.

I smile and raise my hands up in surrender, dropping my phone in my lap onto Aiden’s soft comforter. Comfy as fuck bedding. Green flag.

“Busted. The girls are begging for an update on our date. I’d like tosay you’re off the hook and I’ll handle it, but apparently Dom is nosey as fuck, too, so you should prepare yourself for that.”

Aiden walks over casually, palming the back of my head and pressing a soft kiss to my forehead before sitting on the edge of his bed, facing me. The simple act sends my heart tumbling, but I ignore it, trying to appear unrattled. “I should have known this was coming,” he says. “Dom wouldn’t stop texting me before we met up last night. He keeps sending me datingtips, which are embarrassing enough it’s made me question Ellie’s judgment for giving him a second date at all, let alone marrying the guy.”

“Trust me, I’ve heardallabout their first date. I make Ellie retell the story all the time. Dom always takes over because he is so damn proud of hismoves,he can’t help but try to defend them. It never gets old. But I have to admit, it was a good call to completely ignore his suggestions.”

“Does that mean I did okay without them? Do I get to hear your review of our date or is that only for the girls, and Dom, to know and for me to guess?”

“I’m waking up in your clothes, in your bed, with an obnoxious smile on my face. Obviously, it was terrible. Swing and a miss, big guy. I thought you played baseball or something.”

“Yep,” he says, attempting to hide his smirk and nodding his head. “I had a feeling you were trouble. And now, I find out you’re a liar too. I see you, Miller.” His hand finds mine and he lightly runs his calloused fingers over the pulse point at my wrist while he stares at the point of contact. “What are your plans for today?”

“I’ve just got a few things to catch up on for work. A couple errands.”

His eyes light up and I’m stuck staring, unable to look away. That inexplicable pull I feel toward him grows stronger every moment we’re together. My insides twist, my heart warring with my head—one telling me to slow down, the other telling me to let go, give in,and enjoy whatever this is between us.

“What if I proposed a…first date extension?” Aiden asks.

“Hm…what would that look like?”

“Well, there’s breakfast and coffee in the kitchen.” He lifts my wrist to his lips and presses a soft kiss there.

“Can’t say no to free breakfast from a man in boxer briefs.”

“You missed the cooking show, I’m afraid, but you’re invited anytime.” He continues kissing up my forearm and up to my shoulder, speaking into the crook of my neck. “And after breakfast, I can take you home so you can get what you need from your place for today and tonight.”

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