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‘Oh, I think I can handle it.’ She bit into one and smiled. ‘They still taste pretty good.’
‘Do they?’ He reached for one himself, and was flooded by the heady spice mix that washed heat through him. ‘They have held up well. Good to know.’ He couldn’t resist glancing down at the shapely legs peeking out beneath the very sensible nurse’s uniform.
‘Is there something I can do for you, Aiden?’
Oops, busted. Though he could think of a few replies – all of which would probably be unwise. ‘Just admiring the view. And thinking.’
‘Do tell.’
‘I don’t think I realised people had freckles on their legs.’
‘Obviously I do.’
‘So I see. But I have to admit, it makes me wonder if they go all the way up and down.’
‘Interested in finding out, are you?’
‘I’d be lying if I said that’s not tempting.’ He waited until she looked at him. ‘Really tempting. But it doesn’t matter, because I’d never act on it.’
‘So you are all talk,’ she teased then added, so quietly he almost missed it, ‘Pity.’
He should have left it at that. This was Mia. His friend. But he couldn’t. ‘What was that?’
‘I said “pity”, because maybe I’ve wondered how far your ink extends.’
‘Are you interested in finding out?’
‘What would you do if I said yes?’
It took long moments for his brain to come up with a semi-sensible reply. ‘I’d question your sense of humour.’
Mia took a deep breath. ‘And if I said I wasn’t joking?’
‘I’d say it’s an incredible compliment, but probably a dumb idea. Because for all that we tease and joke around, I really do care about you, Mia, and I’m not willing to do anything to risk hurting you.’
‘What makes you think you’d hurt me?’
Aiden chose his next words carefully. ‘I wouldn’t mean to – and I certainly don’t want to – but that’s what would probably happen. You’re looking for serious – your Triple D – and I can’t offer you that.’
‘I know that. Katie warned me about you.’
‘You should listen to her.’
‘Maybe. But I’m just so fed up, Aiden. So much time and effort, for broken hopes and disappointing dates.’
‘All the short, lying frogs?’
‘Yeah. Dating should be fun, and this isn’t. And I miss having fun, Aiden.’
‘What are you saying, Princess?’
‘That even though I know what I want long-term, I don’t feel like I should be denied all fun while waiting to meet Mr Happy Ever After. Do you?’
‘Of course not…’
‘Then I stand by my earlier comment. It’s a pity you’re all talk and tease. Because it seems much more sensible to me to have fun with someone I know and trust not to hurt me, rather than with some stranger. Stranger hook-ups aren’t really my style anyway.’
‘Is any of this? Do you even do string-free sex? Because that’s what we’re talking about, right?’ Even if he probably shouldn’t be.
