A knock on the door took my thoughts off shoes.
“He's here!” I whispered to the computer. My stomach was suddenly doing the meringue, mambo, and cha-cha-cha. Aiden was here.
“Then you should probably go answer the door,” Darcie advised me with a straight face. “Have fun! Do whatever you think I would if I were single!”
I stuck out my tongue at her and closed the laptop screen. There was a second knock, and I scrambled to get to the door, nearly tripping on my shoes laying on the floor in the process. I threw it open and did my best to look nonchalant instead of nervous and flushed.
“Hi.” I opened the door wider and motioned him in. He looked good enough to eat. He was wearing dark gray pants with a crisp button-up shirt, much like the outfit he had worn the day we met. I wasn't sure if he had done it on purpose, or if that just happened to be the nicest clothes he owned. Either way, he looked great.
“Hi, yourself.” He smiled as he took in the dress. “You look spectacular.”
“Thanks.” I was giddy from the compliment. “You look spectacular, too,” I said, cringing at my words after they came out. I sounded like a love-struck tween. Go me. “I just need to grab my shoes and I'll be ready.”
He waited patiently as I slipped on the pair of silver pumps. The heel was higher than I was used to, with strappy ribbons that wrapped around my ankles, but they were beautiful and I felt like a princess wearing them. I couldn't walk very fast, but I didn't care. It was beautiful out and walking slow meant I got to spend more time with Aiden.
“How do you like the island?” he asked, offering me his arm to keep me steady as we walked out the door. I happily took it, even though I felt fairly steady on my feet. No way I was turning down an opportunity to touch him.
“It's amazing. I can't believe how clear the water is here,” I told him. “It's completely different than anything I've ever seen before. Emma was right about this place.”
“Emma?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
“My cousin. She, um... vacationed here about a year ago.” To say she “vacationed” here was putting it mildly. My cousin, Emma LaRue, had won a trip to this resort and met billionaire Jack Saunders. Their relationship had been in all the papers and tabloids for months. I didn't want to name drop my billionaire relatives, though. It felt too much like bragging. “She met her husband here and never shuts up about how awesome this place is.”
“It is definitely one of my favorite places,” Aiden agreed. “I know a story like that about this place, too.”
“I never believed her when she described it. I didn't know it was possible for a place this beautiful to even exist.” I looked around in awe. “I can see how this place helped her fall in love.”
“It would be easy to fall in love here.” Aiden smiled at me and I blushed a deep, deep red. It would be all to easy to fall in love in a place like this, especially with him.
“What about you? Are you enjoying the island?” I asked, changing the subject before I accidentally professed my love for him.
“I am now that you're here,” he answered with a charming grin that only sped up my already frantic heartbeat. “I thought I was going to be bored this week. I don't really need to be here for this, but it makes the company look good.”
I nodded. I was here for basically the same reason. I was here to make my boss look good. It was something we had in common.
“So I'm just a distraction from boredom for you?” I teased. I felt brave around him. Like I could say and do anything. I wasn't afraid to flirt with him, which was a new feeling for me.
“Yes. I mean, no. I mean...” He glared at me. “You certainly are distracting.”
I giggled as we entered the restaurant. It was strangely quiet, and I noticed that nearly every table was empty. The clock on the wall said that it was dinner time, and I knew this was the main restaurant, but I had no idea where all the people where.
“Where is everyone?” I asked, peeking around a corner. Only one or two tables had guests at them.
“Probably hiding from me,” he joked. I didn't quite get it, but he had already pulled out the schedule of events from his pocket. “Ah ha. There's a 'Welcome to the Island' party going on at the dance club.” He put the schedule back neatly into his jacket. “Would you like to go there instead?”
“And ha
ve to deal with drunk lawyers and loud music?” I quickly shook my head. “This looks like more fun.”
He looked around at the quiet, candlelit tables and nodded. “I think so, too.”
The host showed us to a small, romantic table for two next to the window. The sun was just setting on the horizon and turning everything into red and orange flame. We had the best seat in the house since no one else was in the restaurant. It was absolutely stunning. I couldn't imagine a better place to spend an evening with an attractive man.
“What are you getting?” I asked after we had both taken a moment to look through the heavy leather menus. There was some amazing, fancy sounding food and I wanted to try all of it.
“I have no idea,” he answered honestly, peering at the menu. “It all looks good. What about you?”
“I'm in the same boat. I think I'll just have one of everything.” I looked up at him from the menu. “It's all inclusive, right?”