He smiled. “Okay. Lunch.”
Aria pulled out one of her business cards and scribbled her personal phone number on the back before she handed it to him. “Call me and let me know the time and place.”
“I’ll call you and let you know what time I’ll pick you up on Saturday for lunch.”
“You’re pretty stubborn, huh? I can’t meet you there? Saturdays are really busy for me at the studio. I’m thinking it would be better if I can just meet you at one of the restaurants near there.”
He sighed. “Fine. You win. We’ll meet for lunch on Saturday.”
“Good.”
“Good.” He searched her eyes, and for a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. Instead, he simply smiled. “See you soon.”
Then he was gone.
Chapter 5
“I need some advice, Brent.” Aria eyed the outfit hanging in the back room closet of the studio. It was her signature “date” look—ripped jeans, leather jacket and revealing cami. She’d pair it with kick-ass high-heeled sandals. Sexy but comfortable.
“What kind of advice?” Brent took a seat on the couch. When they’d renovated the studio, they’d added a living space in the back, because both of them spent so much time in the building. There was a television, a computer with two huge monitors, and a mini workout area with a treadmill and free weights. “Why are you staring in the closet?”
She nibbled on her thumbnail. “I’m going on a lunch date today.”
Aria had spent the entire week thinking about her date with Myles, going over the reasons she said yes and why she should have said no. The only conclusion she could come up with was...curiosity. He seemed to debunk all of her early theories about him, that he was straitlaced and work focused, and she’d damn near fallen in strong like with him after his explanation of her painting. There was nothing sexier than a man who loved and appreciated art. Especially her art.
“A date? Finally?”
She picked up a pillow and threw it at her friend. “Be quiet. There’s nothing wrong with focusing on myself.”
“Is that what you were doing?”
She glanced at him through the mirror. He dipped his hand into a huge bag of chips and pulled one out. “Yes. I chose to concentrate on getting settled here and putting out this work.”
“Gotcha.”
She hated him. Not really. Sighing, she walked over to him and plopped down on the couch next to him. “Can we at least pretend that you’re supportive and not simply trying to point out what I don’t want to face?”
“Ha! Well, at least you admitted it.”
“Seriously. Advice?”
He bit down on a chip and held out the bag for her to take some. She grabbed a handful. “Fine. What type of advice? And who is your date?”
“Myles.”
He choked, and she patted his back. Hard. Brent pushed her hand away. “Okay, okay... Are you trying to kill me?”
“Brent.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Please.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just surprised. Why Myles?”
“Because he asked me out. And he’s pretty funny. And he bought the Phoenix.”
“So, he bought a date with you?”
Aria stuffed her mouth with chips. Her best friend had only said what she’d thought initially. How convenient that Myles bought a painting and then asked her out the same day, after he requested a “meeting” with the artist. It all seemed suspect.
“Hey.” Brent rubbed her back. “Chew that food and stop avoiding this.”
Swallowing roughly, Aria took a few sips of water from her bottle on the side table.
“So, you’ve thought about the possibility?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yep. Pretty much.” She lifted her legs up and rested her chin on her knees. “But at the same time, he doesn’t seem like he would do that. The entire exchange felt sincere. And I could have said no.”
“Do you like him?”
Aria shrugged. “Kind of.”
“So, what’s the problem? Besides the obvious.”
“See!” Aria gripped Brent’s shoulder. “You see the obvious reasons why this isn’t going to work, right? He’s so different, too buttoned up. They call him the ‘serious’ twin, for goodness’ sake.”
“And he’s exactly the type of man you said you didn’t want to date anymore.”
Aria dropped her head, picked at a stray thread on the cuff of her pants. Her mother had paraded a lot of men in front of her every time she came home for a visit, and all of them were like Myles—professional, intelligent, respectful. Until she agreed to give them a chance, that is. They’d spout all kinds of frilly love stuff about being attracted to her beauty as well as her brains. They’d wine and dine her, tell her how her personality put her above the rest. Then, as soon as she got comfortable, they’d slowly start making suggestions. Straighten your hair or wear this dress or paint your nails pink instead of blood red. Eventually, they’d ask her to reconsider her dreams in favor of a more acceptable career—like fund-raising, nursing or stay-at-home mother.
And the sad part? Even after she’d put her foot down and told her mother to never try and hook her up again, Aria found herself dating the same sort of men. I guess I have a type. Holloway was the last of the trust fund babies. Well, the last of the fake trust fund babies. Because he was broke and he’d latched on to her when he’d seen promise and dollar signs. Why the hell would she put herself right back into the same situation for Myles?
She leaned into Brent, letting him wrap strong arms around her. “I’m not telling you not to date him. I just need you to not hide your head in the sand about your reasons.”
“It will be fine.” Her statement was more for her than for Brent. “He’s a nice guy. He’s connected to my friends. And it’s just lunch.”
“Was that your idea?”
“Hell, yes. Lunch is during daylight hours, doesn’t last long and won’t ruin the rest of my day if it doesn’t go well. I can go and see what he’s talking about, eat a free meal, and come back here and work.”
Brent laughed. “You’re crazy. So, what’s the advice you needed? Seems like you have it all figured out.”
Aria stood and walked back over to the closet. “My outfit.” She pointed to the items in question hanging there. “Should I change, or keep on what I’m wearing?” Currently, Aria was comfortable in camouflage joggers, a black T-shirt and black Roche Ones. “I mean, it is technically a date. Shouldn’t I walk in lit?”
Brent frowned. “I thought we said we wouldn’t have these sorts of conversations now that you have some girlfriends. Why don’t you call one of them and do what y’all do?”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because they’re related to him. And—” she scratched her neck “—I haven’t told them about it.”
“Wow, so I must have missed the memo. I didn’t know this was a secret date.”
“Shut up and answer the question.”
“The fact that they’re related to him should prompt you to talk to them more. They have more insight into what he likes.”
“But you’re a man.”
“Yeah, a man who doesn’t want to date you or kiss you or do you.”
Aria’s mouth fell open. “Should I be insulted?”
“No.” He stood and walked to the closet. Sighing, he pulled out the outfit, peered at it, then put it right back where it was. “Keep on what you’re wearing?”
“I’m not exactly sexy in this outfit.”
“Listen, I can’t speak for Myles, but I know a little about men and their thought process.” He gripped her shoulders, looked into her eyes. “Don’t take this the wrong way—you’re beautiful—but chances are he didn’t ask you out because you dress like a minx.”
Aria pouted.
“Don’t give me that look,” he continued. “All I’m saying is, he obviously likes your everyday look.”
The corner of her mouth lifted up. “Really?”
“Absolutely. And I can kind of see why—in a first-cousin type of way.”
She laughed, pushing him away. “You get on my nerves. I guess I should take that as a compliment.”
“You definitely should, because it is.”
Aria hugged Brent and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
“So many times I’ve lost count.”
“I probably should put on makeup.”
He frowned. “Every. Day. Aria. No. Makeup. Aria.”
She really did love her bestie, but... “Lip gloss?”
“Fine.” He shrugged and took his bag of chips. “I have an appointment in five. Have fun today.”
“Thanks.” She picked at her hair in the mirror. “I will try.”
“Don’t do anything I would do.”
“No chance of that happening. Like I said, lunch, daylight, short.”
A little while later, Aria walked into the local Applebee’s for lunch with Myles. He was already seated at a corner booth. As she approached the table, disappointment crept up on her when she noticed his attire. It was noon, on a Saturday, and he was dressed in a suit. And she was...not.
That mere fact only cemented in her what she already knew. This date would probably be their last. There was no way they could be anything more than friends.
“Hi.” She stopped at the table.
He glanced up and smiled. “Hi.” He stood, gave her a polite hug and a kiss on the cheek, and waited until she slid into the other side of the booth. “I’m sorry. I was checking my emails.”
Aria let her gaze roam over his face. Oh, my God. It was a tragedy that she had to end this before anything could start. Because Dr. Myles Jackson was ridiculously hot. He looked so good in that suit her inner nasty-girl was practically begging her to take him for a spin. Still, she wished he’d worn something a little less formal, like just a button-down shirt and a pair of jeans. Damn it.
The waitress came and took her drink order. Once the young woman was gone, Aria leaned forward. “Before this goes any further, I...let’s talk.” Myles leaned forward, too. So close their arms were touching. Damn it. He smells good. And it wasn’t just his scent. His hair, his skin, his eyes, his hands... Everything about him seemed to make her feel a little crazy and a lot confused by her strong reaction to him. “Because I have questions.”
As if he lived to torture her, he blessed her with his sexy ass smirk. “What do you want to know?”
She wanted to know what he looked like with his clothes off, but she would never see that. Swallowing, she tapped her finger on the table. “I’ve been trying to come up with a reason.”
“A reason why...?”
“You asked me out. I have to know why.”
He stared at her with narrowed eyes. “This again?”
“Yes. It’s just... I think I’m confused because I’m not sure I’m your type.”
Myles leaned back, took a sip from the glass of water in front of him. Aria looked at the glass sitting just off to her left and considered mimicking his action but felt like that would be petty. A few tense seconds later, he resumed his former stance. “What makes you think I have a type?”
Aria sighed. “Because at the studio, you came with a date. Tina. The woman who didn’t know that red and blue made purple? I’m not trying to be judgy, but... I’m nothing like her.”
* * *
Myles couldn’t believe this turn of events. He’d waited all week to see her again, to talk to her. He’d agreed to lunch, not dinner. He’d even agreed to meet her at Applebee’s. And he hated Applebee’s. And now this woman was questioning his... Hell, he didn’t even know what this was.
But he’d been trained to remain calm under pressure, to not react. He took a deep breath and met her questioning gaze again. “Tina wasn’t a real date. I took her out as a favor. For my father.”
She winced. “Oh.”
“Right. So, to answer your question. I don’t have a type. And I don’t play games. I asked you out because I find you to be extremely beautiful and smart and fascinating.”
Her mouth fell open, and a pretty blush crept up her neck. “Oh,” she repeated.
Myles liked that he made her nervous. He wanted to see if her blush reached other parts of her body. “I understand why you would think that, though. About Tina.”
“I’m sorry. I... It’s just that we’re so different.”
“How so? Because you keep saying it.”
She pulled her arms off the table and rested her hands in her lap. “Can I be honest?”
“Please do.”
“You’re a surgeon. You seem like you like order, routine. I’m an artist. I work when I’m inspired. I don’t punch a clock to create.”
“But you have to punch a clock to run your business.”
“That’s just a part of what I do, not who I am.”
“So, tell me who you are?”
She tilted her head and assessed him. The skepticism and interest in her brown eyes was unmistakable. He wanted to tick off numerous reasons their perceived differences didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Because now? He was pretty sure she would be his before the end of the month. Some people would call him cocky, but he thought of it as confident. His instinct had never failed him yet, and his gut told him that the connection burning hot between them wouldn’t be doused any time soon.
A few moments passed before she leaned forward again. “I’m someone who has worked hard to get where I am. I’ve fought for my career and my way of life. And I’m at a point where I’m not going to date just anybody so I can post my relationship status on Facebook. If I’m going to invest my time and energy into a man, I want to be respected and valued as a woman.”
Myles couldn’t take his gaze off her. The more she opened up to him, the more he wanted her. His pulse thundered in his ear as he waited for her to continue talking. But he decided to throw another card on the table, in the hopes it would build trust.
“I won’t pretend to understand how it feels to be you. I can only tell you my truth. I asked you out because of those things. Because I could see something in you, feel a connection when we talked. I thought it would be good to explore it. But I’m not always right.” He was right about her, though. But he wouldn’t push her. “Sometimes huge differences can’t be overcome. If we leave here and you feel that is the case, then we’ll just be cool. Friends.”
She relaxed in her seat. “Okay.”
He held his hands up at his side. “No pressure. We’re good?”
Aria blessed him with a smile, and he swallowed hard. That smile knocked him off his square every damn time. “We’re definitely good.”
The waitress brought Aria’s drink to the table and they quickly placed their lunch order. Several minutes later, they were eating. They talked about her work, why he purchased the Phoenix and what he thought it meant. She admitted that his explanation of the Metamorphosis had made her curious enough to accept the date initially.
“You didn’t like me when we met, did you?” he asked.
“Why would you say that?”
He shrugged. “I saw the way you looked at me that night.”
Aria pointed her fork at him. “That literally had nothing to do with you. Well, it had something to do with your date.”
He barked out a laugh. “Tell me how you really feel.”
“Hey, you asked. But the day had been one meeting after another. Good news, but I was exhausted.”
“You’re from Michigan, right?”
She set her fork down and wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Yeah.” She nodded. “My father served as the District Court Judge for Inks
ter.”
“Really? Is he still there?”
“No. My mother never wanted to be there in the first place. He eventually moved to a federal court. When he switched jobs, we moved.”
“Yeah, I actually lived in Las Vegas as a young child.”
Her eyes widened. “Really? I love Vegas.”
“It’s all right.”
“Oh, come on. Nonstop lights and action and people...so much inspiration. So much fun.”
“Like I said, it’s all right. I like it here better.”
“Why?”
“For one, I like the change in seasons. And I actually enjoy Ann Arbor.”
She hummed. “It is nice here. I’m glad I came back.”
“You’re stunning.”
She dipped her head, scratched the back of her neck. “Thank you, but you don’t have to tell me that.”
“I do. I don’t say anything that I don’t mean.”
“I can believe that.”
“So, if you believe that, then you can believe me when I say you’re so beautiful.”
“Myles...” She twirled her napkin around her thumb.
“Just accept the compliment, Aria.”
“Fine.”
“Finally!” He pumped his fists.
“If you can tell me that, I guess I can admit that I think you’re fine as hell.”
He laughed. “Well, that’s good to know.”
“So, why aren’t you taken? All of your brothers are married, settled down.”
Myles hated that question. It seemed as if everybody in his life was taking bets on his love life. “I don’t know. I definitely don’t sit around wondering when my turn is coming. I work a lot. There are things I want to accomplish in my career.”
“And you don’t think you can find love while working toward those goals?”
“That’s not it. My brothers have successful careers and happy home lives. But I’m not in a rush. It’s been a long time since I’ve been with someone.”
Spark of Desire ; All for You Page 26
