I gazed at him, his words resonating with something deep inside me. “I wish everyone could see you like this.” His brows furrowed, and I added, “Vulnerable and real. There’s so much more to you than meets the eye, Aiden. Your mom must be very proud of you.”
“She is.” He smiled fondly. “And she’d love you. She’s been nagging me for years to bring a girl home. Not that I mean—”
“I guess I’m not the only one running away with myself tonight.”
Aiden palmed my cheek. “You make it easy, Dayna.”
“It’s getting late,” I said, standing. “We should probably go.”
I didn’t want to leave, not yet. But I also didn’t want to rush into something. Being with Aiden was so easy; it wouldn’t take much to fall headfirst for him.
I needed to retain some measure of control over my emotions. I’d just gotten out of a relationship with Josh. And regardless of everything else, he had hurt me.
We’d hurt each other.
I wasn’t looking to make the same mistakes so soon after.
“How about you give me a ride to your house, and then I can walk back to Carson’s house?” he suggested.
“Seems kind of counterintuitive, doesn’t it?” A small smile played on my lips.
“Not if it means I get to kiss you good night on your doorstep.”
Oh my.
My heart fluttered, and I knew then that taking things slow was going to be impossible.
I liked Aiden—really liked him.
I’d opened up and talked to him about things I’d never talked to another person about, not even Josh.
That had to mean something, right?
“What?” he asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Nothing. Come on.” I stood and offered him my hand. Aiden clambered to his feet and pulled me into his arms.
“I had a lot of fun tonight, Dayna.” He stared down at me, quiet and intense. My heart galloped in my chest as the air crackled around us.
“Fuck,” he breathed, and my brows pinched. “You do things to me.” His words danced over my lips as he kissed me.
I wound my hands around his neck, kissing him back, silently offering him my reply.
You do things to me too.
CHAPTER16
AIDEN
The next morning,I was the first up. After Dayna had given me a ride to her house, we’d sat in the car for another fifteen minutes, making out like teenagers.
I couldn’t get enough of her.
She was so fucking sweet and sexy. I’d left her breathless and flushed on the Benson porch with promises of a second date tonight.
We had the summer, and I intended to make the most of it.
Footsteps in the hall jolted me from the memories of the night before, and Carson appeared, casting a furtive glance in my direction.