His jaw flexed and he squinted as he mulled it over. “You can’t say that. You’ve known him, what? All of two weeks?”
“Yep. Funny enough, most of that time, he didn’t even want to give me the time of day. But I am telling you, there is something about him I can’t shake. It’s something big. Huge, even.”
He winced, lifting a hand to stop me, probably assuming I was headed back to the topic of sex, but this thing between me and Bowen was so much more than that.
“You know, I’ve never said this before, and if things fizzle out, I will eat every single one of these words. But I really think I could fall in love with him.”
“Christ,” he whispered, scrubbing his thumb and forefinger over his eyes. “You’re serious about this?”
“I am.”
“And it doesn’t concern you that he’s a survivor who is going to come with his own load of baggage?”
“Oh, come on, Aaron. You and I have enough issues to fill this coffee shop ten times over. Are we really judging people because of them now?”
He stared at me for several silent beats, something I couldn’t quite figure out passing through his features. “I just want things to be easy for you for once.”
“I don’t want easy. I want passion and fire, spontaneity and security. So what if he’s a survivor? There are exactly twenty-six other people who truly understand the situation we’ve been through. And considering I don’t even have a vagina as far as you’re concerned, my dating pool is down to twenty-five. But honestly, it could be ten thousand and I’d still want him.”
He blew out a controlled breath. “All right.”
“Really?”
“Don’t act so surprised. I don’t care who he is as long as he makes you happy. Though you should hold off on telling Mark for a while. He and that bartender just broke up.” He took a sip of coffee.
My head snapped back. “What bartender?”
“It seems I’m the only one without a secret lover these days.”
“Wait, wait, wait. He’s been seeing someone and didn’t tell me? What the hell?”
Aaron scowled. “Oh, look, it’s little Miss Hypocrisy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Who is she? And how did you find out before me? What did he even wear when they went out? I’ve dressed him for every date he’s been on since high school.”
Using the back of his fingers, he brushed off the shoulder of the tan slim-fit sweater Mark would have rather thrown himself off a bridge than put on. “Curious, isn’t it? He’s been single all this time.”
“Oh, hush. Spill the deets.”
“No.” He laughed. “What kind of friend would that make me? And you just give this thing with Bowen some time and see where it goes. If it fizzles, then there’s nothing to tell Mark anyway. If it turns into something more permanent, Mark will be happy for you too. But maybe figure it out before you pour salt in his wound.”
I pursed my lips. Omission because I hadn’t seen him recently was one thing, but I hated the idea of flat-out lying to him long term. But then again, the few times Mark had been in a relationship, they’d always ended with him being shredded. He was a big guy with a big heart; when it was ripped out, the gaping hole left behind was massive.
“Hold up. Was it one of his bartenders? He has to know better than to date someone who works for him. Right?”
Aaron shook his head. “Just leave it alone.”
“You suck.”
He smirked. “I can live with…” The bell over the door rang, and Aaron’s words trailed off as his eyes grew wide.
I didn’t have to look to know who’d walked in. He’d called me as I’d pulled into the parking lot to see if I wanted to join him for an early lunch. I had. Absolutely. I also wanted to introduce him to my best friend. So I’d told him to meet me at the café five minutes before Aaron had to leave.
“Be nice,” I whispered to Aaron before turning in my chair. The minute Bowen’s eyes found mine, a devastating smile curled his lips.
I walked over to meet him, and he did not delay in pulling me in for a hug. The scruff on his jaw brushed my cheek, sending a chill down my spine as I remembered what it felt like on the inside of my thighs.
He put his lips to my ear and whispered, “Why do I feel like I just crashed a party?”
“It’s fine. You’re just early.” I tilted my head back, puckering my lips, ready and waiting for his signature greeting, but his mouth never made it to mine. He was too busy staring at Aaron over my shoulder.
“You told me you wanted me to meet your friend, so I came right away.”
