Save the Date (Modern Arrangements, #1)

"Why not?"

"Why wouldn’t we be married? Well, we would probably just be getting to know one…" He paused for a moment, "Okay, point made."

"Okay, well now that you understand." I took a breath. "You don’t have to know every detail about me, that’s not what I am asking. I would, however, prefer not being a stranger in your bed." Standing, I left him to think about our discussion. I also needed some alone time.

Wandering, I found myself in the pool room. I changed into a bathing suit and dove in. Swimming laps, I let my brain take the backseat for a while. When my muscles and lungs started to protest, I got out and went to take another shower.

Entering the bedroom, Aidan was standing at his closet going through his things. He turned to look at me, taking in my wet appearance, and smiled. I smiled back before going to the shower. Maybe things wouldn't be so awkward.

~

Aidan

I made the arrangements for the night and did some work from my office for a couple hours before I set off to find Lilli. It felt like she was hiding, again. Finding her in the library wasn’t a surprise.

After telling her a little about our arrangements for the evening, I couldn’t help but feel aroused. She’d left me hanging this morning and now just the smell of her skin was causing a reaction. I didn’t know about her, but it was becoming more and more difficult to keep my hands to myself.

My desire was brought to a halt when she began the conversation I was trying to avoid. I knew we needed to talk about it, but I just wanted her naked and screaming my name.

When she left me alone in the library I wanted to go after her, but I could tell she wanted some space. Pacing around the room, I thought about what she’d said.

I knew Lilli, but what I knew of her was very limited. As I turned that over in my mind, I formed a plan. I went to the bedroom and got showered. Tonight would be different for us. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel like a stranger in our bed.

While getting my clothing together, Lilli entered the room. She was in a bikini, damp from the pool. She was making it terribly difficult for me to stick with my plan. I smiled and she returned the smile before disappearing into the bathroom.

For the next hour, I preoccupied myself by making some necessary work calls and going over documents. Once everything was handled I got dressed.

Having been interrupted by a phone call, I paced the floor in my unbuttoned dress pants. Lilli emerged from the bathroom and I did a double take.

Her hair flowed in large curls down her back, her makeup simple, yet perfect, and she was wrapped in only a towel. Swallowing hard, I watched her stroll from the bathroom to her closet. I ran my hand through my hair and took a deep breath before finishing up my call. In my own closet, I leaned against the dresser, trying to calm my desire.

"How much longer?" Eventually, I stepped from the closet, fully dressed, my jacket over my shoulder.

"Maybe fifteen minutes. Is that okay?" Her voice carried out of her closet.

"That's fine. Meet me downstairs?"

"Okay."

In my study I’d planned on shutting down my laptop, but got caught up in a large email chain regarding a client. I hadn't realized the time until I heard the creak of the door. My head snapped up.

"You coming or did you change your mind about going out?" Lilli walked into the room smirking at me and standing in front of my desk, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Sorry. I got sidetracked, I guess." I closed my laptop and stood.

"Yeah, I guess," she teased. "If you have things to do, I can go to the library. It's not a big –"

"It is a big deal."

"Well, then let's get going." She smiled and walked out the door.

As she left the room, I took the time to check out her outfit. Lilli was wearing a shimmering chocolate brown dress. It barely made it to the top of her knees and looked like second skin, in a good way. The dress seemed designed specifically for her curves. I had to stifle a laugh when I saw it was a turtleneck.

Apparently I hadn't hidden it too well.

"What?" She looked over her shoulder.

"Nothing," I fought my grin.

She stopped walking.

"What? Is there something wrong?" She started looking over herself. I felt guilty for making her feel like she looked anything less than gorgeous.

"Lilli, you look beautiful. It's just that...well...it's a turtleneck..." I pressed my lips together trying not to laugh.

"Oh..." then she started laughing too. "Well, that's your fault!" She stepped to the door, slipping on her coat as she walked.

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