Chapter Ten
A fter Brooke’s pronouncement, tense silence settled over the room.
She shouldn’t feel guilty, yet she refused to look Aiden’s way.
As a single woman, she was free to date whomever she wanted.
It was the same thing she’d told herself while he was off traveling the world and forgetting all about their one night together.
But the way he’d spoken to her a few days ago on the porch made her think she might have been wrong. He wanted forgiveness—though he hadn’t actually apologized— and he’d almost kissed her. He’d spoken of their night together with a heated look blazing in his eyes, a desire that matched her own.
None of it mattered. He’d also made it clear to her a long time ago that he considered sleeping with her a mistake.
He’d humiliated her when he said that night meant nothing, after she’d been so blatant about her feelings for him the morning after.
While she’d believed they were starting something amazing, he’d had one foot out the door.
Still, she wouldn’t have purposefully mentioned the date in front of him if her mom hadn’t asked about her plans.
Her mother’s eyebrows popped up in surprise, probably because Brooke hadn’t gone on a date in nearly a year, and she hadn’t had a serious relationship since Aiden left. Despite having tried.
“Who are you going out with?” Aiden’s sharp tone was accompanied by the screech of his stool being shoved back as he rose to his feet.
What the hell?
They’d agreed not to tell anyone about their short-lived romantic relationship, so she didn’t expect him to react so strongly to the news in front of her mother.
“Who is it, Brooke?” he demanded.
She straightened her spine and shot him a look of annoyance. “I don’t see why you care, but Fallon set me up with a man from Noah’s office.”
Aiden’s nose wrinkled in distaste. “Someone you don’t even know?”
Brooke blinked. “So?”
“I don’t like it.”
She smirked at him. “Good thing I don’t need your approval then.”
Her mother coughed but said nothing.
“Noah knows him from work? He’s not good enough for you.”
She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “Are you kidding? You don’t even know the guy.”
“Neither do you. And all lawyers are slimy.”
Brooke tilted her chin up in challenge. “I can’t wait to tell Fallon you feel that way, considering that she’s married to one.”
Her mom chuckled under her breath but still didn’t interject. She was busy shredding carrots and almost acting like she wasn’t listening.
“Noah is the exception. You shouldn’t go out with a stranger.”
Fed up with his nonsense, Brooke spun on her heel. “Bye, Mom,” she said, marching out of the kitchen.
Unfortunately, he followed her into the living room. When she headed for the front door, he blocked her path. “You need to rethink meeting up with someone you don’t know.”
She scoffed, balling her hands into fists at her sides as she glared at him. “I didn’t ask what you think, and I’m going on this date whether you like it or not. Now, get out of my way. I’m going to be late.”
She also felt an urgent need to get away from Aiden because she didn’t find his protective, alpha side nearly as off-putting as she should. His apparent jealousy caused butterflies to take flight in her stomach.
But wasn’t that the reason she agreed to this date?
The first step in putting her feelings for Aiden behind her.
She didn’t want her pulse to race when he was near.
She didn’t want to think about his hands on her body when he treated her to his heated stare.
She didn’t want to burn for him anymore, period, so she had to give moving on a real chance.
“Just tell me where you’re going, then. So I know you’ll be safe.”
Fueled by frustration and a need to put him in his place, Brooke closed the distance between them and shoved a red-painted fingernail into his chest.
“I’m not telling you anything, and it’s ridiculous that you would even ask. Who I date is none of your business. You lost the right to question me like this a long time ago.”
Despite speaking the truth, she also knew he had always looked out for her growing up. His protective possessiveness was part of the reason she’d fallen for him in the first place.
He shoved a hand through his hair in obvious frustration. “Maybe not, but that won’t stop me from worrying.”
She stepped around him, and this time he didn’t stop her, so she walked out the door and headed for her car.
A little while later, she stepped into the Italian restaurant Mark had chosen. He was waiting at the table when she arrived and immediately stood and pulled out her chair like a gentleman. Her lips curved upward at the courtesy.
“You look really beautiful,” Mark said, his eyes flickering up and down her body but not lingering anywhere that would make her uncomfortable.
“Thank you,” she said, feeling her cheeks heat in a blush.
She settled into her seat across from Mark, taking a moment to study him. He matched his photo, but instead of being clean-shaven, he had a stubbled beard that suited him, sandy blond, like his hair. Good-looking and a nice guy. Fallon wouldn’t have set her up with him otherwise.
“I’m so glad you agreed to come tonight. Fallon told me about you a while ago, but she wasn’t sure whether you’d accept a date with someone you didn’t know.”
She smiled. “Don’t take it personally. I’m not really a blind date kind of girl.”
“I guess I should consider myself lucky then.”
Mark had an easy grin that put her at ease.
She picked up her menu and flipped it open.
She’d never been to this restaurant before, but it was a nice place with a romantic vibe.
A small glass vase sat in the middle of the table with a tealight candle inside.
The white tablecloths were crisp, and the lighting low enough to give an intimate feel.
For the next half hour, they drank wine, shared bread, and made small talk. It didn’t take long for Brooke to realize he wasn’t just nice, he was charming in a way that seemed effortless. Fallon had done well. Mark was a great catch.
Unfortunately, Brooke wasn’t interested in a romantic way. On paper, Mark ticked all the boxes. Successful, handsome, and easy to talk to. The only thing missing was the spark.
Sitting across the table from him, Brooke hated that she kept thinking about Aiden and the butterflies in her stomach when he demanded she skip her date.
It was a ridiculous high but profound in comparison to the bland feeling she got when Mark smiled and told her she was beautiful.
It wasn’t fair to compare the men. But that’s what she’d been doing for years, and it was a pattern she needed to break.
She couldn’t see Mark again, it would be leading him on, but for tonight, she did her best to keep herself engaged in the conversation throughout the meal. Her Alfredo smelled amazing, and she eagerly twirled the pasta around her fork.
She’d taken two bites before she realized that Mark was watching her.
“I love a woman with a healthy appetite,” he said. “It’s always so uncomfortable when I’m eating a full meal and my date is picking at a small, undressed salad.”
“Have you had a lot of dates like that?”
“More than you’d think. My sister told me that she eats before her dates so that guys don’t think she’s fat.”
Brooke laughed. “That seems a little over-the-top. Everyone eats. Why would a woman pretend not to?”
“That’s what I say.”
He cut a piece of his chicken parmesan and took a bite. “This is delicious. Would you like to try it?”
She almost said no, but it looked good, and he was already cutting her a piece, holding his fork out to her. The act felt intimate, especially when she wrapped her lips around the fork and his eyes darkened with desire.
Still, no spark on her end.
What was wrong with her?
As soon as that thought crossed her mind, her phone dinged with a text. Mumbling an apology, she pulled it out. Since Alex’s second heart attack, she never ignored her phone. But the text wasn’t from her mom or anyone else with bad news. It was Aiden.
Are you thinking about me while you’re with him?
She froze as she read the words, then clenched her jaw. They hadn’t exchanged texts in forever, and that he’d do so now, with this message, was utterly shocking. And infuriating. And… welcome.
Dammit.
Before she could come up with something, another text came through.
Do you know how crazy it makes me to think of you with someone else?
“Is everything okay?” Mark asked.
Not at all. “ Yep.”
She tucked her phone away and continued to eat. Trying to get back into the conversation, she asked Mark about his job. It turned out he was a contract lawyer, which he admitted was pretty boring.
She tried to feign interest, but the conversation lulled. She was the problem, not Mark. Her phone hadn’t gone off again, but she’d come to the realization that she wanted Aiden to send another message.
“Excuse me. I’m going to the men’s room,” Mark said, placing his napkin on the table. “I’ll be right back.”
As soon as he was out of sight, she pulled out her phone once more, having come up with a reply to Aiden’s message about how crazy it made him to think of her with someone else. She’d just send one message and refocus on Mark.
She typed out a response. You didn’t care if I dated someone else while you were gone.
Hoping that was enough to end the conversation, she started to tuck her phone away again, but he responded quickly.
Oh yes, I did. I just convinced myself I’d done the right thing.
Hurting her had been the right thing to do? Damn him.
This time, she turned off her phone. To hell with Aiden. She was going to direct her focus where it belonged: on her date. Spark or not, Mark deserved her full attention.
Aiden did not.