“You are not a slob. You look incredible.”
“You’re just saying that because you feel bad about the nanny interviews.”
“I’m saying it because you’re a beautiful woman and I’d be an idiot if I didn’t at least say it out loud.”
A wash of pink crossed her cheeks and she fought a smile. If only she knew that it made him that much more attracted to her. If only she knew that she was making every inch of his body draw tight and burn hot.
“Thank you. I appreciate the compliment.” She pressed her lips together and gazed up at him. “If you’re going to take Oliver, I’ll just head out. I should be done in about an hour. I don’t know how long your mom is planning on staying, but I can grab a cup of coffee if you want more time.”
The gears in Aiden’s head whirred. He’d first thought it would be better if he and his mom were alone with Oliver. Keep things simple. But the truth was that he couldn’t imagine Sarah not being there. It didn’t make any sense, although he wanted to know why. Then he realized that no matter the situation, Sarah calmed him. She took the edge off. She made him believe things would work out. Aside from his sister, he didn’t have anyone in his life who did that, but this was different. Sarah wasn’t obligated to make him feel good.
“What if I said I wanted you to stay?”
She scrunched up her adorable nose. “What? Really?”
“I could use the moral support. I could use someone on my side. Things with my mother are not easy. I think you’ve gathered that much by now.”
“I have, although you haven’t told me the reason why.”
Because I don’t want to talk about it. “It’s complicated. If you’re here, it’ll keep the conversation light and fun. I could use that right now.”
She looked down at herself. “Oh God. I look terrible. I should go change. I don’t want her to see me like this.”
Before he could think about what he was doing, his fingers cupped her chin. He shouldn’t have crossed that line, but he couldn’t help himself. “I think you look perfect. Don’t change.”
She didn’t move. He didn’t either. Neither of them said a thing, but their eyes connected, as if they were each digging deeper, wanting more.
Sarah broke the spell with a shake of her head. “You’re sweet, but there’s no way I’m wearing this to meet your mom. And I have no makeup on.” She turned and headed out of his office. “Back in five minutes.”
Aiden watched her jog away, her leggings accentuating every move. A ripple of steamy thoughts ran through his head—everything he wanted to do with her. It had been a long time since he’d wanted a woman as badly as he wanted Sarah. The question was whether the opportunity would present itself. So far, there was always something in the way.
Aiden wandered into the kitchen, where his housekeeper had put on a pot of coffee. She’d also stocked Sarah’s cookie jar with an assortment of biscotti, some of it plain. Oliver regularly chowed down on teething biscuits, and Aiden decided that this was basically the same thing.
“Do you want a cookie?” He offered it to Oliver.
The baby snatched it from his hand and it went right into his mouth, like most things. His eyes grew wide once he’d gotten a taste. Aiden leaned against the counter, enjoying the moment. Sarah was going to leave behind a lot more than a cookie jar on Sunday.
“Good, huh? Just wait until you get older and I can take you out for hot fudge sundaes or we can get a hot dog at a baseball game.” The thought brought with it a peculiar mix of hope and melancholy. Dads did those things with their children. Aiden very much looked forward to having those experiences with Oliver, but they were things he’d missed out on entirely.
Sarah hurried down the stairs. “This is as good as it’s going to get. I really wish you would’ve given me some advance notice. I could’ve taken a shower and done something with my hair.” Her face was flush with color, probably from rushing around. She wore a full black skirt that skimmed her knees and a white top that hinted at the curves he’d been admiring for days now. She’d put on the sandals she’d been wearing the day he met her, which gave her a few more inches of height. He still towered over her, but he loved the way they made her legs look.
“Once again, you look perfect.”
The buzzer for the elevator rang.
“You’re sweet. And you need to answer the door.”
Aiden’s heart went from racing over Sarah to plummeting to his stomach. His mother had arrived. He didn’t bother with the intercom, hitting the button to grant her access to his floor. “Here goes nothing,” he said to Sarah. He filed into the entryway, Oliver in tow and making excellent progress on his cookie.