"You sure you can't stay?" Aiden asks in the tone I used to think was flirtatious. Now it's confirmed. He was definitely flirting all those times he made comments in that tone. He just couldn't act on his feelings, but now he can.
"I'd consider sticking around." I say it with the same flirty tone.
"Goodnight, you two," Tom says as he leaves.
"Can I walk you to your room?" Aiden asks.
"I'd like that."
We leave the restaurant and go up the stairs to my room.
"Thank you," I say, smiling at Aiden. "I think I've got it from here."
"You sure you don't want help with the key?"
I laugh, remembering back to that night. I was so nervous around him I couldn't even get the key in the lock.
"I've got it figured out now." I turn toward the door.
"Sophie." Aiden's hand wraps around mine, gently pulling it away from the door and turning me toward him.
"What is it?" My voice is breathy, my heart racing so fast I feel like it's about to leap from my chest.
"Stay with me."
My eyes lift to his. "We haven't even gone out yet, other than tonight."
"I realize that, but I don't want to be without you tonight. If we can't see each other in New York, we have to make the most of the time we have when we're here."
I take a breath. "Aiden, I want to. I really do. I'm just not someone who moves that fast. I want to get to know you more."
His lips rise to a slight smile. "That's not what I meant when I asked you to stay. I just want to spend the night with you. We can talk. Watch a movie. Or I can just hold you in my arms." His hand lifts to my face, cupping the side of my face. "Please. Stay with me."
I gaze into his eyes, trying to decide what to do. My brain is telling me we're moving too fast but my heart is all in. I've been waiting for this moment, never thinking it would actually happen, and now that it has, I'm torn about what to do.
Aiden tilts my face up to his, then leans down and presses his lips to mine. It's just like I imagined and more. His slow gentle kiss has my body coming alive with need, heat surging inside me.
He pulls back just enough for our eyes to meet. "Please tell me you'll stay."
"Where's your room?"
He steps back, getting his key out. "Right next to yours."
I watch as he hurries to unlock the door, probably assuming even a second of delay could make me change my mind. And maybe I should, but I can't. I want to be with him, even if all we do is sleep.
Aiden's right. We don't have much time together, so why waste it being apart?
Chapter Sixteen
Sophie
"How'd you get a room this late with all the tourists?" I ask as we go in his room. It's just like mine but with a dark blue quilt on the bed and a small chair by the window.
"Tom had a cancellation," he says, going over to the bed to move the clothes off it.
"Who would cancel this late? Didn't you just make your reservation?"
"I made it Thursday night, when I decided to come here. Tom said a room was available so I took it." Aiden comes over to me, taking both my hands in his. "I get the feeling he already had it reserved for me."
"Why would he do that? He didn't know you'd be coming back this weekend."
"No, but he knew you'd be coming back, which meant there was a good chance I'd be back."
"Are you saying Tom is playing matchmaker?" I look up at Aiden, wanting more than ever for him to kiss me again.
"I'm saying Tom knows a good thing when he sees it. He knew we were right for each other even before we did."
"But he didn't know you broke up with Celine. Why would he set us up, knowing you had a girlfriend?"
"I told him about Celine. Even before I broke up with her, I told Tom I didn't see a future with her."
"Why would you tell Tom that?"
"Because he asked. He knew I had a girlfriend and asked me about her. I could've lied and said things were great between us but I knew he'd see through it so I told him the truth."
"Has he been trying to get us together this whole time?"