Page 63 of Completely Captivated
The reaction I expected from Aaron didn’t happen.I waited for his muscles to tense and his temper to flare, but he was relaxed.Jared, on the other hand, appeared as if he could chew nails like gum.His gaze landed on my hand wrapped around Aaron’s arm then flew up to question me wordlessly.
Funny thing was, I didn’t have an answer.Not one I could verbalize anyway.Why was I dressed up and going out on a date with Aaron?Because right then, there was nowhere else I’d have rather been and no one else I’d have rather been with.
Aaron extended his hand toward Jared, who still hadn’t spoken.“Hi, Jared.How are you?”
“Fine.”
Jared’s response was terse, and he barely looked at Aaron when replying.His angry eyes were set on me.He’d never hurt me or even acted like he would, yet I found myself shrinking behind Aaron’s arm.
Sensing my discomfort, Aaron shifted his weight to widen his stance and shield me even more.“Do you have business to conduct with Christa?”
“No,” Jared replied to Aaron, then shifted his attention back to me.“I thought I’d drop by and ask if I could take you to dinner.”
“Thank you for the thought, but we already have plans tonight.”I waited uncomfortably as Jared processed my reply, but Aaron remained cool and collected.
“We’d better get going so we don’t miss our reservations.Nice to see you again, Jared.”Aaron tightened his arm against my hand and stepped around Jared to punch the elevator button.
Once inside, we turned to face the door, and Jared was still standing there.Not on the elevator with us, but in the hallway watching us.
“Going down?”Aaron asked calmly.
My heart was thumping wildly against my rib cage.
“I’ll wait.”
“Okay.Have a good night.”
The doors closed, and I expected Aaron to question me about Jared’s territorial behavior.But he didn’t.
“My buddy owns the place I’m taking you to eat tonight.It’s a little unorthodox, but I hope you enjoy it.”
“He owns it?Is he the chef?”
“No, though he used to be.He said being the owner is more fun since he doesn’t have the stress of cooking and managing the entire kitchen.He still walks around and talks to the customers about their experience, but any comments about the food aren’t a direct insult to him anymore.”
“What kind of restaurant is this?”
He smiled, and I felt my knees go weak and the butterflies flurry in my belly.His lips were perfect—not too thin, not too big.Perfect kisses.Perfect smiles.Perfect…naughty things I shouldn’t have been thinking while we were alone in the elevator.
The bell dinged for the lobby, and Aaron stepped out, still holding on to my hand with his muscular arm.
“It’s a murder mystery dinner theater.”
I looked up at him in surprise.“I’m so excited.I’ve always wanted to go to one, but I’ve never taken the time—or had anyone to go with me.”
“Well, now you have me, and I’m more than happy to go anywhere with you.”
The rest of the night was like a dream.We talked, we laughed, we touched—lightly, but I felt the electricity flow through me every time.He opened doors for me, pulled out my chair.Everything he said and did was perfect, even when it wasn’t.
Now he was walking me back to my apartment, and we were nearing my door.
I was in deep trouble.
“So, how was your date with your husband?”Allie waited all of two minutes after we opened the café before asking.
I’d been dying all night to talk about it with someone who understood my lunacy.“Allie, I think I may have made a mistake.”
“By filing for a divorce?Yes, you did.I’ve told you that many times.”
