or some shit, tryna figure out where the hell Benjamin’s ass put this letter so Aries doesn’t run into any more trouble. Now that he’s given me the building, it’s the least I can do, but even if he hadn’t, I know damn well I’d still be helping this man. I’m in too deep.
When we’re not together, he’s calling. When he’s not calling and we’re not together, he’s texting. When we aren’t texting and calling and being together, I’m thinking about him.
I mean, the pros are that Aries is funny, smart, hardworking, a great dad, nice looking. REAL nice looking… A swell of lust heated her pussy. He’s too rigid though. He’s also a smart ass and can be difficult. Argumentative. I know he is struggling right now; things are hard. He is a single father trying to raise a teenager and the last thing he needs is a distraction… But I like Aiden. He’s such a nice boy. Funny, too.
The boy had called her at the shop just the other day asking if she had a certain book he wanted that showed old cheat codes for some game she’d never heard of. Oddly enough, she did have it and put it aside for him.
And I like Aries, too. I actually care about him. She paused, gripping an oven mitt, and shook her head. I really care about this man – I’m invested. There’s just something about him. He’s so… so real. Benjamin, this is all of your fault. Look what you’ve gotten me into? Why in the hell didn’t you do right by this man?!
Her mind was all over the place, but somehow, through it all, she managed to have the food nicely plated in no time, putting a sprig of parsley on the side, just like her mother used to do when she was feeling fancy. She entered the dining room, her hands full.
“Let me help you.” The alp of a man instantaneously got to his feet. Before she could protest again, he took one of the plates from her grip and set it down, and then the other. “Have a seat.” He pulled out a chair for her at the other end of the table. She hesitated for a spell, then sat down. When she was seated comfortably, he scooted it in, then placed her napkin over her lap, draping it across her like a protective blanket. “Sit tight.”
Aries walked away and she tried in vain to see what he was doing. She heard the opening and closing of her cabinets, one after the other in quick succession.
“Aries! What’s going on?”
“I’ve got it. Just relax.” He soon returned with a bottle of wine in one hand, and a corkscrew and two wine glasses in the other. She looked down, fighting a smile. When she looked up, he was smiling, too. He disappeared once again. “Where’s the hot sauce, baby?” he called out.
Hot sauce? Is he really asking for hot sauce?
“Small closet. Left hand side, second shelf.” She heard the small pantry closet open and the gentleman was back. He placed the hot sauce down on the table, opened the bottle of wine, and poured each of them a glass before taking his seat. He slid his phone out and, in a moment, Luke Bryan’s, ‘I Don’t Want This Night to End’ started to play softly.
“Is country music your favorite genre?” She picked up her glass of wine and took a sip. Hmm, not bad.
He shrugged, lifting his glass, too.
“It’s a favorite, yeah. I like some heavy metal, soul music, alternative rock, and a little jazz if it’s contemporary.” He tasted his wine and from his surprised expression, he seemed to like it.
“Jazz, huh? I like jazz, too.”
He dug into his macaroni and cheese.
“Hold on, let’s say grace.”
His complexion deepened and he nodded in agreement. She closed her eyes and lowered her gaze.
“Thank you Jesus for this meal. Thank you for the company and for the blessings. Please keep watch over us this evening and—”
“Don’t watch us too closely, now. Might see somethin’,” he mumbled.
She paused briefly, refusing to open her eyes and let out the laughter that bubbled in the pit of her stomach.
“And thank you for always being right on time. Amen.”
“Amen.”
The man picked up his fork again, and began to tear the plate up. Seconds turned to minutes, and all she could see was a fury of animalistic activity at the other end of the table. Working both hands practically to the bone maneuvering his