Chapter 3
Chapter Three
JOANNA
Inever did get that bath I wanted.
By the time I got home, took the necessary time deciding what to wear to this asinine event, and then got ready, there was no time for a long soak. Instead, I took a whore’s bath in the sink just to make sure I didn’t smell like animals from a day at the farm.
I’m not sure why I suddenly care about making an impression—it’s not as if I expect to find my soulmate at a speed dating event—but for some reason, I feel the need to look my best. Maybe wearing one of my shortest, skin-tight dresses will at least get me laid.
It’s a long sleeve number that hugs the little curves I have, giving them a moment to shine.
It cuts off mid-thigh, so I decide to add a pair of sheer tights for good measure—it is February, after all.
I glance in the mirror by the front door before exiting the house, giving myself a little pep talk. “You do not need a man. But you can have one, if you want.”
I decide not to grab a coat as I’m walking out the door, my logic being that I’ll be inside for the majority of the night.
It’s about a fifteen-minute drive from the farm to the center of town. I drive down main street, past Double Double and the bookstore, and loop the roundabout. As I’m making a left through the circle, someone jumps out in front of me, right in the middle of the road!
My foot slams on the break just in time, and my little hatchback comes to a screeching halt, inches from the perpetrator. I’m a bit too frazzled at first to consider what I should do next, but it’s no matter, because now there’s a knock on my passenger window.
I turn and see a familiar scowl. With eyebrows raised, Aidan’s tongue darts out to wet his lips, and he shakes his head.
“What?!” I don’t mean to bark at him as I roll down the window, but it’s just been one of those days, and his fucking judgement is pushing me to my limit.
He rears back a bit, stunned by my sudden outburst, but then I see the corner of his lip turn down. “Are you alright?” he asks, his tone gentle.
Is he actually concerned about me?
I look away, hiding my face from his scrutinizing gaze.
“I’m fine.” Then I remember what the hell just happened.
“Where’d that person go?” I lean over the steering wheel to get a good look through my front window, but there’s no one there.
“Someone ran out onto the road,” I mumble mostly to myself, as I’m partially trying to convince myself it really happened.
Aidan leans his head further into the window to get a better look at me. “You saw someone in the road?”
“Yes,” I bark. “Didn’t you?”
He pauses a moment before answering bluntly. “No.”
My mouth hangs open. “I’m not crazy.”
“I didn’t say you are.”
Aidan clearly has no idea what he just walked into, but for some reason knowing this just makes me angrier. “Why would I slam on my brakes if I didn’t see something in the road?”
“Are you asking me, or yourself?”
“I don’t know!”
He gives me a slow, bemused grin. “Maybe you should clear that conundrum up first.”
I let out a cry of frustration. “Argggh. Why is every conversation with you so difficult!?”
Aidan steps away from my car, his hands up in surrender, realizing his presence is not going to help the situation.
I cradle my face in my hands and take a deep breath.
Then I take hold of the steering wheel and hit the gas.
I drive around the block looking for a parking spot, but everything is full.
Either there are a lot of people planning to attend this speed dating event, or everyone decided to go shopping for milk at seven p.m.
Aidan is still standing on the edge of the curb watching me make embarrassing circles. I cut through the roundabout again and stop beside him.
“It’s been a shitty day,” I say.
Aidan looks around then gestures behind him. “You can park at my place.” He points to the vacant movie theater lot down the road.
Instead of arguing further, I take his advice and pull into the parking lot. By the time I turn the engine off, Aidan has walked over to my car. I get out holding my dress carefully in place, so I don’t flash him by accident. When I close the door and meet his gaze, he looks dazed.
Did my boob pop out? I check my neckline and see that the girls are still secure.
If I’m not mistaken, I think he’s flustered.
That’ll do, dress. That’ll do.
I give him a smug smile. “See something you like, Nosferatu?”
He shakes his head, clearing away any hint of appreciation that once showed, his signature frown back in place. He doesn’t even register my name-calling.
“Not in the slightest,” he finally says.
“Mmmhmm.” I nod with a tight expression, not believing him for one second.
He doesn’t look too bad himself. He’s still perfectly put together with a pair of black slacks and a white button-down shirt, but he’s abandoned the fancy jacket.
It’s a cool evening, but he appears unfazed as the sun drops behind the buildings of Main Street.
Meanwhile, I rush past him at a brisk walk to make it inside to a comfortable temperature.
The speed dating event has been set up inside Kiki’s Cafe.
It’s not until we both enter through the glass double doors that I realize Aidan is headed to the same place I am.
I do a double take as he holds the door open for me.
I knew he was single, but this is not his typical scene.
In fact, Aidan rarely participates in anything town-related, but truthfully, neither do I.
Inside, Kiki and her sister Kendra are finishing the final touches on the decor.
The lingering smell of meat and fried starches hangs in the air, but they’ve done their best to set the scene.
There are little paper doves placed on each table and the napkins have been folded to look like Valentine envelopes.
A few pop-over centerpieces are displayed on the counter next to the snacks, but my stomach is too knotted to even think about eating.
I’ve lost sight of Aidan, but I assume he split off in a different direction without me noticing. Regardless, he’s not my concern. I’m here to do my part for Raegan and then finally have that bath I’ve been longing for.
There aren’t too many people here yet. I check the time on my phone to make sure I’m not early, but I’m right on time. I recognize a handful of men I’ve seen around town, but as I take a headcount, I realize there are no other women besides the banshee sisters, myself, and Raegan.
I head straight toward the leader of this circle where she’s sitting at one of the tables writing something on a notepad.
I lean over her shoulder and speak right into her ear. “Please tell me I’m not the only woman here.”
Raegan nearly jumps out of her skin but laughs it off. In fact, her laugh sounds a little forced. “Why would you say that?”
My stomach drops. “Where are the rest of the women, Rae?”
She closes her eyes, and I just know I’m going to want to punch something after hearing whatever it is she’s about to say.
“I couldn’t find anyone else to do it!” she blurts out, and I have to hush her with a wave of my hands. “No one would participate at such late notice,” she adds in a whisper.
“Except for me, apparently,” I grumble, rolling my eyes.
As she stands up, I take in her outfit. She’s wearing a wide legged, pink jumpsuit that looks comfy as hell with a white baby tee underneath.
Her dark brown locks are pinned back on either side of her face with red bows.
She looks adorable. I guess that’s an option when you’re not being auctioned off like a cow.
“Please tell me they are the ones who have to switch?” I beg, pointing to a group of men talking by the counter.
Raegan’s eyes go wide. “Of course. I wouldn’t make you do that. It’s humiliating.”
“What’s humiliating?” Jamie asks as he appears beside us.
“How fucking cute you two look together,” I say, lathering on my sickly-sweet sarcasm. “No one else stands a chance.”
I am happy for them, but as much as I’d love to have what they have, a mate bond feels way too intense. Jamie gives guarddog energy, staring down every man who walks by Raegan as if he’s barking at the postman. Not exactly a trait I look for in a partner.
Without meaning to, my eyes find Aidan in the crowd.
He’s talking to a man with blondish-red hair and round glasses.
As if feeling my gaze, he glances back at me.
I avert my eyes quickly, returning to the conversation between Raegan and Jamie, but I can feel the focus of all the other men in the room.
I hate the attention. I try to run my fingers through my hair, but my hands are sweaty and stick to the strands, negating the effort.
My excessive swallowing has my throat feeling dry, so as someone passes by with a tray of tiny flute glasses filled with something sparkly, I grab one for myself.
I’m hoping alcohol will take the edge off my sudden nerves, but after taking a sip, I’m severely disappointed to discover it’s just a sparkly juice.
I swallow it down reluctantly. “The mayor didn’t give you a budget for drinks? ” I ask.
“Like I said,” Raegan groans, “short notice.”
Another five minutes passes, then Raegan rings an annoying bell to summon everyone’s attention.
All the men gather around the tables and wait for whatever she has to say.
By my count, there are ten in attendance.
A lot of them look eager, but a few, including Aidan, look like they’re ready to call it a night before the event has even started.
Good.
Go home so I don’t have to waste another five minutes of my life talking to you.
Raegan takes her time explaining the rules while I slip awkwardly to the back of the group. When mentioning who the lucky lady of the evening is, they all turn their heads to take me in, and I shrink into myself like a coward.
The guy directly in front of me mutters quietly over his shoulder, “Seems wrong to put you on the spot like that.”