Page 16 of Token

“I’ll make some calls, see if I can pull a few strings.”

He looked so hopeful, she felt it imperative to remind him, “You know he may not sign with you.” Win or fail, her services were going to cost him.

“Of that, I’m quite aware.”

They studied each other for another moment more before she rose and extended her hand. “Good. Then we have a deal.”

Being late was an inescapable fact of life. Everyone fell victim to it. Kennedy hated being late, and despite how many times she’d asked the ultimate power-that-be to gift her with the power of time control, there still remained only so many seconds in a minute and minutes in an hour, et cetera, et cetera.

She’d returned to the office after her meeting with Peter—which had run an hour longer than scheduled—apprised Aurora of the outcome, and called their contract lawyer, Julie Hwang, and requested she draw up a contract for Moves to have ready by the end of the day. Kennedy would go over it after she got home—but first, dinner with Aidan.

“Hi, my name is Cammie and I’ll be your hostess for the evening. You must be Ms. Mitchell.” A smiling brunette greeted Kennedy when she entered the restaurant. It was as if she’d been waiting for her to arrive.

“Don’t tell me my boyfriend put you on lookout duty,” Kennedy joked, checking her phone again. Okay, she was officially fifteen minutes late, but on a scale of one to ten of her shortcomings, the rare case of tardiness shouldn’t even register.

Cammie, who didn’t look much older than her, gave a tinkling laugh. “He told me you’d be the most beautiful woman to come in tonight, and he was right.”

Yep, that sounded like Aidan. Always with the flattery. She just wished he thought as highly of her ambition as he did her looks. But no man was perfect, and she was determined not to throw in the towel prematurely—she’d been told she had a habit of doing that. Their relationship was solid. She had nomajorcomplaints.

“If you’ll follow me. Your table is right over here.” She motioned toward the area in the back near the windows. “Mr. Anderson specifically asked for somewhere quiet.”

The restaurant as a whole was quiet, with the tables spaced maneuverable distances apart. Candles and fresh flowers graced white linen–covered tables, and the chairs were upholstered in a deep burgundy cloth. Aidan had never taken her here before, but based on appearances, she’d bet her next paycheck the prices weren’t listed on the menus.

And it was only Wednesday. She couldn’t imagine what he had in store for her this weekend.

A smile curved her mouth when she spotted him sitting alone at the table, head down and fingers tapping away on his cell phone. As if sensing her gaze, he looked up and their eyes met. He quickly pocketed his phone and pushed to his feet, pleasure lighting his eyes and a wide smile on his face.

Brown skinned, and dark hair cropped short, Aidan Anderson stood six feet three inches and sported a neatly trimmed goatee. People frequently told them they made a beautiful couple, as if it mattered that they looked good together. She knew they meant it as a compliment, but for some inexplicable reason, it rankled. On the other hand, Aidan appeared to wear it as a badge of honor, and that rankled too.

Tonight, he looked dapper in a blue pin-striped suit and had her wishing she’d first gone home and changed into something less businesslike. Power-broker pantsuits were fine for meetings with clients like Peter Carter but looked out of place here, where elegant dresses and skirts appeared to be the order of the day.

“I’ll give you a couple minutes to look over the menu before I send over your waitress,” Cammie chirped when they arrived at the table, before turning on her heel and departing.

“You look beautiful. As usual,” Aidan said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. One inhalation and Kennedy could immediately tell he’d been more liberal than usual in the application of his cologne. It was a good thing she was the one who’d selected it.

“You look pretty good yourself.” She eyed him appreciatively and then added in hushed tones, “And this place lookstrèsexpensive.”

Aidan played the gentleman to a tee, pulling out her chair and whispering in her ear, “Only the best for my woman.”

My woman.Something about that term struck a discordant chord with her. It made her think of big wooden clubs and women being dragged by their hair across rocky terrain. When Aidan used the term, he was usually trying to be romantic and she didn’t have the heart to tell him that she wasn’t into cavemen, not those in the past, present, or future.

She pushed that tiny grievance aside as he resumed his seat. “Sorry I’m late. Work was...hectic.”

“Sooo...” He quirked an eyebrow. “I shouldn’t ask about your day?”

Kennedy huffed a laugh. “I just told you about it. It was hectic.”

Aidan simply smiled in response. He could be so romantic. The way he couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off her. But as the silence lengthened and he continued to watch her, his lids drifting to half-mast and his gaze unwavering, she began to feel self-conscious.

Did she have something on her face?

Hmm, doubtful since she determined the look was closer to one of adoration thanyou have spinach between your teeth.

“What’s that look all about?” she teased, trying for a bit of levity. “If you’re thinking about asking me for a kidney, my sister already called dibs. And with her being family and all...” She trailed off into a delicate shrug.

Aidan’s shoulders shook in silent laughter. “You got me.” He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Your sister gets your kidney. You won’t get any argument from me.”

“Good. I’ll be sure to tell her.”

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