“Holy shit! These are incredible. That Spider-Man is awesome! He’s, uh, he’s actually my favorite Avenger.” Oh my gosh, how cute is that? He has a favorite Avenger.
“Is it because he can climb?” I joke.
“Huh.” He looks thoughtful. “I never really thought about why I like him the best, but maybe that’s it.” He shrugs and then hands me the gift box. “This is for Kenny. If you wouldn’t mind giving it to her when you see her tomorrow, I’d appreciate it since I won’t.”
“Would you like to come?” The words tumble out of my mouth before I can even think to stop them. It’s so unlike me to be spontaneous. I haven’t even checked if it would be okay with Emma and Theo, but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind; she was smitten with him and Kenny loved him too. “That’s if you don’t already have plans. I know I’ve already taken up a lot of your week.” I rush to add.
“I don’t have anything going on. Are you sure it would be okay?”
“Pretty sure. I can double-check with Em and Theo, but I don’t see a problem with it.”
“Well yeah, I’d love to.” I mentally jump up and down on the inside that I get to spend more time with AJ, but then I remember I should be avoiding the guy at all costs except for our essential donation requirements.Damn it!“Or, I don’t have to come. You look worried.”
I give him my best smile and wave him off. He’s going to think I’m some nut job if I tell him I’ve changed my mind. “It’s all good. I’ll message Emma.”
Me:Hey, would it be okay if AJ came to Kenny’s party tomorrow?
I place my phone on the counter and clean up some of the cake decorating mess to make room for dinner. I frown. “I thought you were bringing dinner with you?”
AJ grasps the back of his neck, treating me to the visual feast that is his tensing bicep. “Uh, yeah. About that. I thought maybe we could go out and grab a bite to eat.”
Huh.
“Or, we could order in if you don’t want to go out,” he offers.
Does that make it like a date if we go out? Or is it pretty much the same thing as eating in? I’m not really dressed to go anywhere. Or should I say I don’t want to go out?
His rough hands land on my shoulders, his heat searing my skin. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t leave char marks behind. He bends at the knees, so his eyes are level with mine, trapping me in their warm gaze. “Talk to me, Sarah. What’s going on in that busy mind of yours?”
My phone buzzes with a text, so I grab it, thankful for the distraction.
Em:Of course AJ can come tomorrow, Kenny loved him. You know what she’s like, she collects people. *laughing emoji* Theo and Lachlan also want to show him the progress they’ve made with the climbing frame, so it all works out perfectly
I glance up to find AJ looking at the screen, a smile lifting the corners of his perfect mouth. I wave my phone between us. “You can come to Kenny’s party.”
“Great. I’m looking forward to it. Now tell me what’s going on up here?” He taps the side of my head, and I blow out a breath.
“Nothing. Everything’s great. I was thinking I need to change if we’re going out to dinner.” I force an upbeat tone into my voice to cover my confused thoughts.
“You look great. Come on, let’s go.” His hand slides down my arm to grip my hand, sending goosebumps racing across my body.
I chuckle. “Hang on. I can’t go out in these leggings and tank. I’ll change. I’ll be quick. I promise.”
He releases my hand, and I head toward my bedroom. “Okay, but I think you look great as you are.” I glance over my shoulder, to answer him, only to find him staring at my ass. I stop and raise my brows at him, waiting for his eyes to make their way back up to my face. “Sorry. As I said, you look great as you are.”
I chuckle and step into my bedroom, closing the door between us. I lean my back against the cool surface and blow out a long breath. Can I do this? Can I go to dinner, then come back here and wait for him to do his thing in the bathroom so he can give me his swimmers? The thing that started all of this. I’m getting attached. As I pull out my denim shorts and a silky tank, I reinforce the walls around my heart. I need to make the damn thing impenetrable. Dressing quickly, I release my hair from my standard ponytail and slip my feet into my Roman sandals, zipping up the back of each one. “I’m ready.”
AJ’s eyes snap up from his phone, then trail down my body and I feel his gaze as though his fingers are slowly caressing their way down my curves. Grabbing my cross-body bag, I pick up my phone and keys and head straight for the door, trying my best to ignore the wetness in my panties. His hand finds its way to my lower back as we make our way to the elevator.
“Is there anywhere around here in walking distance that’s good?”
“Yeah. Do you like Mexican?”
“I absolutely do.”
I point down the street. “Los Burritosis a fifteen-minute walk that way.”
“Perfect.” He takes my hand in his and we head off to grab dinner. I glance between us, my heart pounding behind my ribs and tingles racing up my arm. He’s holding my hand … and it feels … natural.