“Any reason why?”
Shrugging, I tried to be casual, but lying to Aaron felt obscene. “My family isn’t the kind of people who work in offices. They’re all waitresses, fast food workers, or janitors. Low pay, low skill workers. I want to be different.”
“Isn’t your stepdad that guy with the car dealership?”
“Yeah, but he’s not really family. He’s just my mom’s husband.”
Aaron nodded. “Understood.”
“Are your parents together?”
“Yeah. Nearly fifty years.”
“Wow,” I said, doing the math in my head.
Aaron grinned. “They adopted me when they were nearly fifty. Dad had retired and they wanted to try the family deal again.”
“Do you have any siblings?”
“A sister who’s forty. Anna’s a high powered tax attorney in Miami. She works for a huge corporation and is like my dad on heels.”
Smiling, I hadn’t realized Aaron’s family was well to do. I just assumed because of his tattoos and friendship with Cooper that he came from a rougher background.
“What are your parents like?” I asked.
“They’re two of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. My dad is always laughing this booming laugh. My mom is soft spoken, but tough as nails. They raised me with a crap full of love and I never wanted for anything. I wasn’t spoiled though. It’s hard to explain, but they were retired and focused all of their attention on me.”
“They did a great job.”
Aaron smiled then startled me by standing up and walking to my side of the booth. Leaning down, he smelled of barbecue, Coke, and a hint of cologne. My lips opened for him without me even thinking. Instinctually, I wanted to be closer to him. Hell, I wanted everything from him. My mind was already imagining him against me in bed. I planned to explore with my lips every tattoo on his hard body.
When Aaron removed his lips, he licked them and I shivered. He returned to his side of the booth and acted normal. However, I could almost feel his heart beating and I knew what he felt.
“I wish I could go home with you right now,” I said, losing my filter.
Aaron’s blue eyes held my gaze and I saw such warmth. Yet, for a second, I spotted another harder emotion and felt him pulling away emotionally. The coldness in his eyes lasted only long enough for him to blink, but it cut deep into me.
I realized Aaron didn’t trust me.
“My family is low class, but I’m a loyal person,” I said. “Like I don’t steal or lie or anything.”
Aaron frowned at me. “Why did you just tell me that?”
“You looked like I might run off with your wallet.”
Smiling slightly, he leaned back and studied me. “More worried about you running off with my heart.” When I didn’t say anything, he laughed. “Yeah, sounded corny, but I can see how you’d do a number on me. Good thing you’re the loyal type, huh?”
Nodding, I felt uneasy like I needed to prove my worth or he might never kiss me again. A lifetime of insecurities rose up and I panicked a little.
“When I like something, I like it forever. I love the same foods I loved when I was kid. I love the same music. The same everything. I’m loyal.”
Aaron leaned forward and exhaled softly. “You’re so beautiful and I can’t get your face out of my mind.”
“Really?” I asked like a dope. “No one’s ever said that before. Well, no one who wasn’t trying to con me into sleeping with them.”
“I don’t want to con you into anything.”
“You don’t need to.”
Aaron’s smile widened. “I’d take you home this very second except I sense you’re supposed to return home in an hour or so. No way would I be able to let you go that quickly.” Leaning back in the booth, he sighed loudly. “I guess we’ll just have to pick another time for you to visit my place. I can show you my dogs and…”
Aaron didn’t finish. I saw him conflicted over finishing then he shook his head. “I’ll just show you everything.”
“I want that.”
Aaron studied my face and I felt so alive with his gaze focused on me.
“I should be taking this slow. Playing it cool like I don’t really care,” Aaron said. “I know how to play the dating game. Act interested, but not too interested. Make the girl work for it. I know that shit, but I don’t want to play anything with you. It needs to be real and the reality is I want you.”
Smiling wider, I sighed. “I’ve never been good at dating. If I was good at it though, I still wouldn’t pretend with you.”
“I came into Denny’s three times trying to talk to you. Each time, I came in when you were on break or it was another server’s turn. I wanted to ask for you, but what if it seemed creepy or like I was stalking you. Games haven’t worked, so I’m all in with the truth from now on.”
Laughing like an idiot, I could barely control myself. “I told myself you came in to see me, but felt stupid thinking that. I was right though.”