Page 28 of Stood Up
Chapter 13
Aiden
“So you’relike dating this guy now?” Lila asks me as we sit down to lunch at a local coffee/sandwich shop. I nod. “I’m not sure if I should be excited for you or nervous.”
“Why nervous? This is what you wanted, for me to find a man—is it not?” I challenge.
“I don’t know. It just seems so fast.”
“I won’t lie to you, Lila. It is, but we’re getting to know one another, and everything I’ve seen in him only makes me like him more. It’s new and fun. I’m riding it out.”
“And you’re happy?” Lila asks.
“Yes. It’s been a while, but yes. I’m happy.”
To that, she smiles as only best friends do. “Then I’m happy for you. Now tell me about Drake. What happened there. Brad says he was fired and he’s moving out of state to be close to his parents. Do you know anything about that?”
Being the shit friend I guess I am, I forgot to tell her that tidbit of information. Unloading everything that is Drake Hamilton on my best friend is like a weight coming off of my shoulders and floating into the sky. Just that small act releases me from some of the binds I feel holding me down with it comes to that man.
“Holy shit! He grabbed you and called you a whore!” She practically shrieks and I look around the crowded coffee shop we met at. Many eyes come my way and I smile it off.
“Keep your voice down.” I chastise. “Yes, Mason tells me not to worry about him. That he’ll take care of it.”
She stirs her coffee with the spoon around and around like she needs something occupy her hands.
“You believe him?”
“I have no reason not to.”
“I hope you’re right. Drake just wasn’t the guy Brad and I thought he was. I’m so sorry Aiden. I didn’t mean to set you up with a creep.”
“Oh, babe. You didn’t know and if you would have you wouldn’t have even thought to set me up. I love you and nothing is going to change that.”
She taps the spoon and pulls it out of her mug. “Tell me about dinner the other night.” I like this change of topic.
I’m just finishing the story as the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Searching the quaint coffee shop, Mason stands by the front door his gaze instantly coming to me. It’s like he felt the same thing as I did. That pull is so damn strong.
“What are you…” Lila’s words stop as she tilts her head and sees what I do. “Holy shit,” she whispers. She’s not wrong. The entire room electrifies with his presence, and several women’s heads turn to him, but he pays them no attention and comes directly for me.
His tailored navy suit fits him like a glove and still is as perfect as he left in it this morning. The brush of his beard is perfect, and memories of it between my legs dampen my panties.
“Hey,” I say rising, not exactly sure what I should do. We haven’t really done the public thing, but I roll with the first thing that comes to mind. I wrap my arms around him, embracing him tightly.
“Hey,” he says back then plants his lips on mine, searing me in the middle of a coffee shop, taking my breaths and thoughts away. Heat rises and the place becomes a sauna. Mason pulls away, and my lips feel as if they’ve been stung by bees. “Having lunch?” he asks.
It takes me a moment until my mind clears. “Yeah.” I step away slightly. “Mason, this is Lila, Lila—Mason.”
Mason puts his hand out, and Lila takes it. “Nice to see you again, Lila.”
“Yeah.” Lila looks at me and mouths the word ‘damn.’ I smile because damn isn’t even the half of it. It’s funny though because he said see her again, but it’s like this is the first time she’s actually seeing him.
“What’s got you coming all the way over here?” I ask.
“I had a meeting and needed some coffee. Best is here, so here I am.” He smiles and dazzles me as the flitter in my chest grows. “You?”
“Lunch.”
He kisses the top of my head. “I’d love to join ya, but I have a meeting in forty-five minutes at the office and need to get my coffee and go.”
