Chapter Two #2
I watch him interact with the fans for a few more minutes, then I decide the time has come to reveal who I am. A bit of sadness washes over me. It would have been nice to flirt with Aiden. Hear more of his clever conversation and see if there could be any kind of spark between us.
But as soon as I say I’m Scarlett Rivershon, that will all disappear.
I wait for the last fan to get a selfie taken with Aiden, then I walk toward him. Aiden’s face lights up, and despite myself, I feel my heart flutter inside my chest.
“You returned,” he says, smiling gently at me.
“I’m a woman of my word,” I say. “But I’m also a woman of bad manners. I haven’t introduced myself to you.”
Aiden’s looks at me with interest. I pause before I deliver the news he’s not expecting to hear. “I’m Scarlett. Scarlett Rivershon,” I say slowly. “Scott Rivershon is my dad.”
Now I wait.
“I know,” Aiden says simply.
Wait. He knows?
“Wyatt pointed you out when we arrived. I was coming over to say hello when that gust of wind blew everything around your face.”
Did I misread the situation? Was he genuinely just talking to me and not flirting? Wow. Maybe I need to hire a dating coach or something if my game has fallen this far off.
“So you know who I am and you still wanted to talk to me?” I ask, incredulous.
“Is that not allowed?” Aiden asks, a concerned look filtering across his gorgeous face. “Does Coach not want us to even talk to you?”
I think on this for a moment.
“I’ve never had the opportunity to find out,” I admit. “Most of the time when I meet a player, we exchange pleasantries, chitchat, and that’s it. No player has ever asked me to come back for more conversation.”
“I feel as if we’ve already met on a different level,” Aiden says. His full lips begin to tip upward into a smile. “I mean, I picked a feather out of your hair. I don’t normally do that when meeting someone for the first time.”
I chuckle at that. “I know, you had the unfortunate timing of meeting me when I was looking like a black swan.”
“Well, black swans are beautiful and elegant. Even if they lose a feather or two,” he adds, grinning at me.
Then I see a dimple appear in his left cheek. Oh, that is really cute. My heart leaps again.
Which is stupid. My heart shouldn’t leap over any smile, compliment, or dimple from a Miami Manatees player.
Ever.
“Well, I appreciate you still wanting to talk to me,” I say softly. “I’m not used to that.”
Aiden is quiet for a moment, and his gaze takes on a thoughtful expression. “I don’t see the danger in talking, do you?”
I swallow. He’s right. There’s no reason why the two of us can’t talk and get to know each other.
But he’s wrong, too. Because if we talk and like each other?
Talking is as far as it can ever go.
Which makes talking dangerous.
“No, of course not,” I answer, keeping my fear to myself. Besides, I’m being ridiculous. We’ve exchanged a few sentences, nothing of substance yet. We can get to talking, and I could be bored to tears. Find we have no common interests between long pauses—
“I have three questions for you,” Aiden says, interrupting my thoughts. He pauses and lifts his hand to his hair, pushing hair off his brow and raking it back into place with his fingertips.
I smile up at him. “Perhaps I’ll have three answers for you.”
Aiden grins, and yes, my head knows the rules, but the way my pulse speeds up at the sight of that smile tells me my body is ignoring them.
“One, I notice you don’t have a drink. May I get you one?” he asks.
“First answer,” I say playfully. “I drove myself tonight, so I’d love a mojito mocktail. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll go to the bar and get you that as soon as I get the answer to my second question.”
“Go on.”
“I noticed you were picking up the items in my basket. I want to know what you think of them.”
“I can answer that. But first, what’s the third question?”
“I’m supposed to deal blackjack as soon as the gaming tables open,” Aiden says. “And I was thinking we could continue to talk if you would care to keep me company at that table. Or you could help me deal the cards. Whatever you want to do.”
I stare at him, surprised by his offer. Aiden wants more than small talk. He wants to spend some significant time with me this evening.
“Scarlett? Have I overstepped?” he asks, a look of concern flickering across his face.
“No, not at all,” I say quickly.
“It’s not against the rules, is it?”
I shake my head. “No, absolutely not.”
“So what do you think? Will you gamble with me tonight?”
I stare up at him, my breath catching in my throat. It’s a gamble, all right. Not gambling with him.
But rather on him.
I bite the inside of my lip. My head tells me to do one thing, yet my heart tells me another. I stare up at Aiden, and the second our eyes meet, I know which one I’m going to listen to this evening.
“Once I have my drink,” I say slowly, “I’ll give you my thoughts on your basket. Oh, and I’m excellent at shuffling cards, so if you need my services at the blackjack table, I’m happy to step in.”
Aiden’s face lights up. “Let me get you that drink.”
I smile in response. “Okay.”
He turns and heads toward the bar. I take a steadying breath of air.
Because just like that, I’ve rolled the dice on getting to know Aiden Wentworth this evening.