“No. Of course not.”
“Just my first one in twelve years.”
“It’s like riding a bike,” Kiki said as they went down the stairs together.
Aimee froze before she got to the bottom, grabbing Kiki’s arm in a panic. “What if it’s Jack?!”
“It can’t be. We have security, remember?”
“Well, how did Joe get in, then?”
Kiki peeled Aimee’s hand off her arm. “I called the guard and told him to let Joe in. Now relax.”
“Oh. Okay,” said Aimee, patting her chest a few times to calm its crazy rhythm. “Of course you did. That makes complete sense.”
They stood at the bottom of the stairs for a moment. Aimee looked at Kiki, who just stared back at her. “Well?” Kiki asked.
“Should I answer it?”
Kiki rolled her eyes. “Only if you want to go out with him tonight.” She left Aimee standing there and went into the kitchen.
A very small piece of Aimee wanted to run up the stairs and lock herself in her bedroom. But instead, she took a deep breath and went to the door, unlocking it and opening it up before she could chicken out.
Joe was standing on the front step, looking handsomer than she thought it was possible for a guy to be. She felt herself go weak in the knees. Now she knew exactly what her romance novels were talking about when they said that. She’d always thought it was silly before.
He was wearing khaki pants and an expensive-looking dress shirt, open at the neck. She could see his hairy chest beneath and tried very hard not to picture what the rest of it might look like. And that chest … it was so broad it made her feel absolutely tiny. She loved that about him instantly. His waist was trim but not small. No one could ever describe Joe as small. His legs were thick too, and muscled - she could tell from the way his pants fit. Good lord almighty, what have I gotten myself into? She broke out in a sweat, wishing she had worked out an extra hour. Or three. I should have douched.
“Hi, Aimee. Ready to go?”
“Hi, Joe.” She smiled shyly. “Yes.” She stepped out and began to close the door behind her.
“Wait a second,” he said, pulling a pink rose out from behind his back. “You may want to go put this in water first.”
A smile bloomed across her face. “Oh, it’s so pretty! And thoughtful! No one’s bought me a flower in … years,” she said, losing a little of the happy glow that had appeared, remembering why no one had bought her flowers in ages. Jack. Talk about a wet blanket. “Come in, while I get a vase.”
She opened the door back up, putting her clutch purse on the front table and leaving him in the foyer, before going into the kitchen. She caught Kiki standing in front of the sink, her mouth full of cookie.
“Caught ya!” she said, pointing at Kiki’s mouth. “I need a vase. Where are they?”
“Oh vats fo fweet. Eee boough oo a fwowah.” Kiki pointed to a cabinet above Aimee’s head.
“Yes. He did.” She grabbed Kiki’s arm and leaned in, squealing as quietly as she could, “And he looks ah-may-zing!”
The sound of a man clearing his throat in the kitchen doorway made Aimee’s blood run cold.
Kiki was looking over Aimee’s shoulder, her eyes showing her surprise and then mirth.
“He’s right behind me, isn’t he?” Aimee whispered.
“Mmmm hmmm,” said Kiki, struggling to swallow her food. “Hey, Joe. Want a cookie?” she asked, grabbing the nearby plate and leaving Aimee to walk over to him with it held out in front of her.
“Oh, no thanks. Nice seeing you again. Kiki, right?”
“Yes. And I can’t take no for an answer. Our lovely and talented Aimee made these. You must try them.”
Aimee was glad for the distraction so she could look into the cabinet Kiki had pointed out and get down a vase. She kept herself busy with unwrapping the rose and getting it in water, hoping to avoid facing the guy she had just called gorgeous within hearing range, for as long as possible. So much for playing it cool. She sighed as she turned on the water and filled the small blue bud vase. Like Kiki said - I might as well just be myself. If he doesn’t like the fact that I’m a flaming dork, he can just move on. She turned and watched him roll his eyes in pleasure at the taste of her cookies, and sent a quick prayer out to the universe that he would like dorks.
“Ready to go?” she asked, trying to act like she wasn’t so nervous she wanted to barf.