Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
I worked beside Aiden, swirling cocktails, pouring wine, and pulling icy beer straight from the keg as the mixer got underway.
Mayor Dorante oversaw the entire event with a self-satisfied smile. She wove between clusters of couples and groups, welcoming the potential women to our fair shore.
“Seems like a lot of ado about nothing.” Finn muttered, standing beside me as he sipped his water. Delicious platters heaped with canapés had streamed from the kitchen for the last two hours, their mouthwatering scent tempting my belly, which in turn rumbled reminders that I had yet to eat dinner.
“You think finding love is easy?” I asked, flipping glasses around to stack them in a rack for cleaning.
“Is this love? Or lust?” He waved a hand at the crowd.
“We have to start somewhere.” I lifted the heavy rack and leaned down to slide it into the dishwasher. “Don’t you want to find your person?”
I stabbed the start button then froze as an unexpected thought crossed my mind. “Wait, I mean—unless you, have?” I slid a glance at Aiden.
Finn’s unexpected chuckle rumbled out of his chest, beckoning sly glances from the women on the other side of the busy bar.
“What’s so funny?” Aiden asked, setting down a stack of dirty glasses.
“Nothing, I just—” I started, only to be, thankfully, interrupted by the mayor herself.
“And now for our next activity, speed dating. Please take a seat.”
The participants settled onto tables, laughing and chatting as they sat across from a potential match.
With our jobs done for the moment, we stood at the back of bar, leaning against the bench top as we observed the proceedings.
Finn slid a plate of food in front of Aiden and I.
“Eat,” he ordered.
Gratefully, I picked up a stacked sandwich, biting into it to find tender pieces of chicken flavored with a spicy satay and fresh, crisp vegetables.
Moaning in pleasure, I pulled a stool from under the counter, taking a seat to watch the proceedings.
“Let’s begin with some easy questions,” the mayor called from the small stage at the front of the pub. “What is your favorite color?”
“Black,” Aiden answered.
“Green,” I said around a mouthful of sandwich.
“Pink.”
Aiden and I both turned to stare at Finn. He shrugged.
“No judgment,” Aiden said with a grin. “Any particular shade?”
Finn shrugged. “I’ll let you know when I next see it.”
“Favorite animal,” the mayor called.
“Llama,” I said with a tongue-in-cheek grin.
“Dog,” Finn answered.
“Raptor.”
I snorted, touching Aiden with the toe of my shoe. “How about choosing a living animal?”
“Who says they’re not?” he answered with a grin. “I’ve seen Jurassic Park. You can’t tell me those aren’t real.”
I snorted, turning back to watch the mayor.
“Alright, now we have the fun ones over, let’s get serious.” The mayor flicked through her note card. “What is your favorite sexual position.”
The air seemed to get sucked from the room.
“Come on,” she cajoled. “Most of you wouldn’t be here if not for sex.”
The tension eased at her joke as participants began to discuss their preferences.
“Partner on top,” Aiden said after a beat. “I like to watch their expressions.”
I dipped my head, concentrating like hell on the remainder of my sandwich as I tried—and failed—to stop myself from imagining Aiden in the bedroom.
“That works,” Finn agreed, shifting beside me as he leaned against the bar. “Particularly if they’re sitting on my face.”
My blood warmed, heat simmering into a hot boil.
I’m about to spontaneously combust if they don’t stop.
“But,” Finn continued, sliding a thumb back and forth under his chin, “you know I like to be in charge.”
“That’s true,” Aiden agreed as my heart sank. “Sex with you is like fucking a director. You’re basically telling us what you want to see.”
My entire being went up in flames of embarrassment and desire.
They’re together. Damn it, I should have known this.
“How about you?” Aiden asked, nudging me. “Care to share?”
I swallowed around the lump of envy that sat like a stone in my throat. “Um, I’m not sure I have one.”
I chanced a peek up from my study of the crust to see they were both staring at me with raised eyebrows.