Chapter 14 Aiden
Aiden
My eyes widen because, somewhere between all this chaos, I had forgotten about my mask.
I begin to formulate some excuse for this kidnapping ruse when I catch her eyes trail over me in a slow sweep.
She’s checking me out. A rush of pride courses through me.
Without realizing, I straighten and push out my chest.
“You done staring, or should I give you a twirl?” I tease, loving the way her cheeks flush.
“I wasn’t staring,” she backpedals. “You look different than I expected.”
“Different good?” I lean in, smirking. I must be a glutton for punishment, flirting with my best friend’s girl.
She fiddles with the straw in her water glass, avoiding my gaze. “Let’s just say if our trope went from captor to lover, I would not be mad.”
My mind starts racing. She’s definitely flirting back—and if that’s the case, maybe she’s not as good for Eli as he thinks. This mission just shifted from a kidnapping to a full-on covert operation. I’m going to expose her for who she really is.
I let out a low chuckle, the sound making her glance up. “Careful, princess. Sounds like you’re flirting.”
The sound of her stomach breaks our conversation.
“Oh my god, this day could not get any worse,” she says, covering her face with both her hands.
“Are you hungry? We can get some food.” I don’t know why I’m offering to sit down and have a meal with her when I should really be getting her to Eli. Part of me doesn’t want this morning to end.
“You’re feeding your hostage? That feels very ‘Stockholm syndrome starter pack’ of you,” she quips, making me roll my eyes.
Before I can retort, she lets out an exhausted sigh, fingers fidgeting with the sleeves of her sweater, making her look small and vulnerable.
“That actually sounds perfect. I could really go for a hot cocoa and, like, ten pancakes.” The morning toll must have finally caught up with her.
A faint ache blooms in my chest, a mix of guilt and the strange urge to make it up to her somehow.
We place our order and a mug of hot cocoa, with an ungodly amount of whipped cream, appears less than a second later. Like they had fully anticipated her order.
“So,” she says, taking a sip of her hot cocoa and leveling me with a look that makes me want to spill everything about myself, “do you want to play twenty questions?”
I grin. “You want to play twenty questions? Like speed dating?”
“Yup!” She pops the P in all seriousness.
“You want to date me, princess?”
I catch the way she shifts in her seat, gaze flicking anywhere but me.
She’s flustered. That’s cute. “Alright, rapid-fire or the soul-searching kind?”
“Rapid-fire,” she says, tapping the edge of her mug.
“Fine. But if any of this gets too annoying, I swear—”
“First question!” she starts, pointing a finger like she’s a game show host. “Favorite color?”
“Black.” Her hand flies up to cover her mouth as a chuckle leaves her lips, the sound cute and endearing.
“What?”
“You’re wearing all black right now,” she teases, holding back another chuckle.
“Okay, fine, your turn?”
“Pink, obviously.” She gestures at her sweater, which has slipped off her shoulder again, giving me another peek of her collarbone. The olive color is like a beacon calling me home; I want to nestle my nose into the crook of her neck.
Clearing my throat, I try not to think about how soft her skin would feel under me. “Next question.”
“Favorite food?”
“Steak. Rare.”
“Ewww. Like with the blood running out of it?” Her nose wrinkles like she just ate something sour. It’s incredibly charming.
“Yeah,” I say, smirking. “That’s how you know it’s actually good. What about you?”
“Green bean casserole. I know, I know, it’s a holiday dish, but I love it so much I could probably eat it daily.” She can not be more adorable; she’s giving Jake a run for his money.
“Favorite guilty pleasure?” she presses on.
“Cheesy rom-coms. And I’m not ashamed.”
She laughs, and the sound hits me in a way I can’t ignore. “Of course you aren’t. What movie?”
“She’s the Man,” I say, watching her eyes light up.
“Shut up! You’re lying, that’s my favorite movie!” She’s bouncing in her seat with giddiness.
Proving that it is indeed her favorite movie, she begins imitating the famous lines. “‘Do you like cheese? Why yes, my favorite is Gouda.’”
I can’t help but laugh along with her. Something about her just eases my tension and makes me feel weightless. All the stress from residency applications, my rotation, my responsibility for Jake, and even this kidnapping—it all evaporates the longer I sit here talking to her.
She tucks one of the hairs falling around her face behind her ear, the movement causing a faint scent of vanilla to waft over me.
Her eyes sparkle when she smiles, and I swear my chest tightens every time they meet mine.
I shouldn’t have noticed her smile. I shouldn’t care.
But I do. And I can’t stop myself. We stop talking as the waitress drops off our food.
She was not kidding when she said she wanted ten pancakes; the stack is so tall it almost comes up to her chin.
I’m not even sure where she’s going to fit them all.
I ordered the Pops’ Special from the menu: two eggs, crispy bacon, and a warm, flaky homemade biscuit. My mouth waters and stomach rumbles before I even pick up my fork. I didn’t have breakfast this morning since I was trying to get to her in time.
“Okay, what about a dream vacation?” She glances up at me while spreading butter on every single one of her pancakes, her long lashes framing her doe brown eyes. As a physician, I am genuinely worried about her cholesterol health. That’s a lot of butter.
“Somewhere cold and secluded, like the mountains. You?”
“Definitely a beach, toes in the sand, and a good book in my hand. The perfect vacation.”
Instantly, I’m picturing her on the beach in a dark green bikini, the color complementing her olive-toned skin and bringing out the color of her eyes.
I shouldn’t be thinking of her this way but can’t seem to stop myself when it comes to her.
Every time she fires off another question, it’s like she reels me in a little tighter, her grin daring me to play along.