Page 27 of The Vow We Made
“Not really. She smelled funny.” His beautiful mouth breathes a beaming smile and his reply has caught my funny bone. This guy is trying so hard to do the right thing and I’m blocking him at every turn. I can’t help it. There will always be some caution when it comes to men and me, although I feel differently when it comes to Aiden, so maybe now is the time to let my guard down and let him in.
AIDEN
“She what?” Victoria giggles, covering her perfect pink lips with the palm of her hand.
I shrug and repeat. “She smelled funny.” I smile. “You know that flowery, powdery smell all babies have when they're a few days old.”
“You idiot.” She laughs. “You mean she wasactuallya baby.”
“Sorry, didn't I say?” I smirk. “I was six at the time and her family asked mine over for tea to soften the blow for my best friend, Luke. Apparently, he'd asked for a brother, and when he didn't get one, he wasnothappy.”
“And the first thing you remember is the smell?” She continues to cover her mouth, while still recovering from her giggling fit.
“I think she filled her nappy as well.” Victoria giggles harder and touches my knee. Maybe she doesn’t realise she’s doing it, but I’m not complaining and it adds to the more relaxed atmosphere between us. Despite that, I can’t be too cocky. She hasn’t agreed to go out with me yet so I'm not taking my eyes from the prize. I'll continue to reassure her as much as she needs me to.
“There was never anything romantic between us and there never will be. She's family and means a lot to me, but there's nothing more to it. I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea.”
Her eyes crinkle at the corners. “No, I’m sorry. Faith was at the point of unconsciousness and hanging off me for half an hour or more. All I wanted to do was get her home, but I also wanted to let you know what was happening; otherwise, you’d probably think I’d fed you a line and ran off. I dragged Faith up the stairs so I could say goodbye and maybe give you my number, except when I got there—”
She doesn’t say any more to confirm what I know. “You saw me with my arms around another woman.”
“I feel a bit of an idiot.”
“Don't. I’m the idiot. I’m pretty sure I’d feel the same if the tables were turned.” I retake her hand and give it a squeeze. Her response is to stroke her thumb over my palm and her honey eyes sparkle again. “I've obviously misunderstood.”
“I'm sorry there was a misunderstanding in the first place, but are you happier now you know everything?”
“I am.”
Thank fuck I said something otherwise the date I've planned could have been over very quickly. I wouldn't want it to be the first and last in one night.
“So, we're on for our date?”
“We’re on.” A slow smile forms over her soft pink lips which triggers my own. Her cheeks flush for a moment. Maybe embarrassed by the speed things are going or more likely, the question she is about to ask. “There’s just one thing I’d like to know.”
I straighten up. “Anything.”
“How did you know where to find me? As you can imagine, I was a little surprised to see you this morning.”
“That’s an easy one. That was Will again.”
Her eyes narrow, “But how—”
“When he helped you get a cab, he took a mental note of your address while you were telling the driver.”
“Clever old Will,” she says, looking down to our held hands. “He was a real help, but it didn't cross my mind he'd tell you about it. I thought men didn't talk about those sorts of things.”
I grin. “We don't unless we need to be told what idiots we are, and let me tell you, he took great pleasure in hammering that one home.” Her giggle is beautiful. Thank God I've managed to save our potential date.
“Look Aiden, you can say no,” she rolls her lips together, “and please don’t feel obliged, but if you're not busy now, I was about to eat. Steph made an army sized spaghetti Bolognese earlier so I’m wondering if you’d like to join me? Of course, if you have other plans—”
“Victoria, you don’t have to ask me twice. I’d love to.”
I'm happy I can finish the day on a high. It's been a shit day with little time for breaks, and it's only now that I realise, I'm absolutely starving.
