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The town car stops in front of Aiden’s apartment, and the driver hops out. Aiden steps out of his building. I feel the beating of my heart increase. He comes down the stairs, his steps light, almost skipping down them but with authority. His dark jeans contrast his white button-up shirt. When he smiles, my insides sizzle. I sit back in the seat, taking a few breaths to calm my erratic heart, then scoot over to make room for him.
When the door opens, I expect him to get in. Instead, he leans in and holds his hand out for me to grab.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he says as his eyes rake down my body. That is not helping calm me. Goosebumps erupt all over.
I smile, grab his hand, and he helps me get out of the car. He shuts the door behind me and pulls me into his chest. He links our fingers, moving them behind my back. The bustling city around us fades to silence as we lose ourselves in each other’s gaze.
“I missed you this week,” he says quietly.
“I missed us,” I reply.
“You can’t blame me for not trying,” he says, flashing his sexy half smile. I laugh, thinking about the string of texts I receive nightly.
“If I’m basing how much you missed me by those texts, then I know exactly what you’re missing,” I say.
He shrugs. “What can I say? I’m a man. We’re physical beasts,” he explains, standing taller. I bite my lip trying not to laugh out loud. “But don’t mistake it for only wanting that. I want the whole package.”
He leans down, nipping my bottom lip before pressing his lips to mine. A soft moan escapes my parted lips. Our tongues meet in the middle.
The only package on my mind right now is the very large one pressed against my stomach. He growls into my mouth.
“Sweetheart.” It’s a heady warning.
“Yes?” I ask innocently.
His jaw tightens as he shakes his head slightly, an amused look on his face. “Let’s go, my little minx.”
“What?” I tease. “You said package and yours is begging to be unwrapped.”
“My package is always begging when you’re around,” he says, smirking. “But for now, he’s staying wrapped. Let’s go. Our food is waiting.”
He pulls me toward his apartment, but I stop him. “I thought we were going in the…” I turn and point to a now empty parking space, “…town car.” When the hell did it leave? I look at Aiden confused.
“We’re staying in tonight.” A boyish grin spreads across his face. “I want you all to myself.”
“I’m all yours.”
“Damn right,” he says and sweeps me off my feet, carrying me into his building. I let out a laugh as I press my dress against my legs, making sure not to flash anyone. He doesn’t put me down until we are standing in his apartment.
“I think I’m a little overdressed,” I say, straightening my dress as I stand in the middle of his living room.
Aiden stands in front of me, admiring my outfit. “You look perfect.” He pulls on one of my curls, and we both watch it bounce back up. “You are the most beautiful woman,” he says, kissing my forehead. My eyes close momentarily while I soak up his affection that he freely gives to me.
“You’re too good at this boyfriend thing. I don’t believe you’ve never done it before,” I say. Judging by his friends’ reactions to me, I’m pretty sure he wasn’t lying.
“I guess I was just waiting for the right one to come along to show off all my awesome boyfriend skills.” I feel his lips curl up against my forehead. “I told you when we first met that I had skills.”
I laugh out loud and look up at him. “When you told me that, I’m pretty sure you weren’t talking about boyfriend skills.”
He flashes a confident smile. “Okay, maybe not when we first met,” he admits. I bite my lip and smile. I’m not complaining. He definitely has skills. In all departments.
Aiden has dinner all set out, waiting for us. We eat and drink wine, each telling each other about our week. I tell him about my conversations with Lexi. His bouts of laughter when I tell him about her crazy stories, like chicken butts and eggs or when she tried to catch a pig but ended up rolling around and playing in the mud instead. My thoughts jump to this past week. My leg starts shaking under the table.
When I talked with her CPS advisor this week, I asked what was going to happen to Lexi when she returns. It broke my heart to hear that she would be placed in foster care. I hate that for her. Every night after talking with her, I wonder what it’d be like if she lived with me. If I could foster her. Having another human rely on you definitely isn’t an easy decision. I’ve spent this week away from Aiden, analyzing, reasoning, and questioning the likelihood of my abilities to be a foster parent. And I always come back to my situation; Amy took me in when I needed someone, no questions asked. I feel like this is what I’m meant to do. Fate put Lexi in my path to help me, but I also think I’m meant to help her, too.
As soon as I decide that yes, I can be that person to Lexi, I pull back, asking myself where Aiden fits in this scenario. What if he doesn’t want any part in this? He didn’t sign up to date a woman with a child. Will that change my decision? She’s a child. She needs someone there for her, fighting for her.
“Addison.” I look up from my food at the sound of Aiden’s voice. “Where’d you go?”
