The Pretend Girlfriend(39)

And her expectations didn't always line up with reality, either. Aiden did enjoy the occasional mindless shoot-em-up or thriller, but he also loved some real classics like Casablanca. His favorite book was The Count of Monte Cristo and he apparently liked to listen to classical works while studying, and classic rock while working out.

And that answered another of her questions: that he did, in fact, like to keep in shape. She eyed his shoulders and the way his tailored jacket hugged them.

And, she noticed, Aiden wasn't even forcing anything. He smiled when he told her about the first time he'd been out of North America.

Again, Gwen found herself experiencing a certain level of comfort with Aiden, a certain level of attraction. She looked down and both saw and felt their thighs still touching.

Wasn't it possible that he felt something, too? He said that he didn't. But maybe he was hiding it from himself, or just keeping it from her for some obscure reason.

And that led her into her next point.

"See? Now I know you a little better. But there's more than just knowing things about the other person. There are also feelings... It's hard to describe. There's this sort of... familiarity you feel with the other person. This comfort. Like when you've just met someone pretty much, but it feels like you've known them forever, you know?"

"Yes, I know," Aiden said. He made eye contact when he spoke, and Gwen felt a small flutter of excitement low in her chest.

Before she could ask the next question, she swallowed, then wet her lips. "Do... Do you ever feel that way about me?"

Aiden's eyes glassed over while he considered the question. "No. Really, Gwen, you're just not my type. Why? Do you feel that way with me?"

"What? No, of course not! Not even a little," Gwen said. She couldn't look at him anymore, so instead she focused on the potted plants on the sill of one of the apartments in the building across from her. Tiny, delicate looking white flowers shifted in the pot as the breeze brushed them.

She knew that she shouldn't have asked that; she already had the answer. It must be all that touching and pretending, she thought. It made me think there was something where there was nothing.

Despite knowing that she shouldn't feel this way, bitter disappointment filled her. It really is just a business deal to him, she thought.

Still, there was one more thing, one last action she could take to try and see if he meant what he said. Gathering herself up, she turned her attention to him.

"Something else you wanted to know?" he said, misinterpreting her expression.

She shook her head, then said, "Kiss me."

"There's no one around, Gwen," he said.

"Just kiss me. There's something I need to know."

Seeing that she meant it, Aiden nodded. She expected some sort of resistance. She expected to have to lean into him.

She didn't expect for him to lightly slip his fingers around the back of her neck, leaving one hand on her thigh, while he pulled her close. Her lips parted slightly as his face filled her vision. Then she saw nothing but sparks and colors as she closed her eyes at the moment of contact.

It was just like in the car. Like an electric current passed from his mouth into hers, giving her prickles up and down her torso. His lips were soft on hers, and he tasted a little sweet from the latte.

His hand moved up from her thigh, coming to rest against her waist. He pulled her closer.

He was just as good a kisser as she remembered. Though her thoughts at the moment became rather fuzzy, due to obvious circumstances.

Again, her lips began parting as she really fell into the kiss, her body wanting more. And this time, there was no Henry Manning sitting across from them to cough politely and stop the whole thing.

No one can kiss like this and not feel something, she thought. She brought her hand up to his cheek, felt the prickle of his stubble against her palm.

Then Aiden pulled away. Slowly, Gwen leaned back and opened her eyes. Her blood felt thin and hot, pumping through her veins impossibly fast. She clasped her hands tightly in her lap so that he couldn't see them tremble. When she licked her lips, she could taste his sweetness again.

"Oh..." she said, "You stopped."

"Yes, I thought that maybe you were upset about it lasting so long. It says in the contract..."

"I know what the contract says!" Gwen replied. She knew because it was one of her requirements. Chaste kisses only. And technically that kiss did violate the rules, because at that moment she felt anything but chaste.

The question was, what did Aiden feel?

"Did you find what you needed to know?" he asked.

"Maybe... Did you feel anything?" Besides me, she added silently, remembering his hands on her neck and waist.

"You're a nice kisser," he said.