No Kissing Allowed (No Kissing Allowed #1)(27)

My thoughts cut short at the feel of a hand on my stomach. I started to turn just as Eli pulled me flush against his chest, his body moving before I realized that he was trying to dance with me. If pressing your bulge against a girl counted as dancing. I bit my lip to keep from cringing audibly. My gaze darted over to Lauren and Grace, but they were actually into their guys, laughing and flirting and having too good of a time for me to ruin it. I tried to keep pace with the bulge-presser, moving my hips as I took a step away from him, only to have him match my step, securing me to him. Ugh. I spun, dancing around him, which was clearly the wrong thing to do, because now he was looking at me like I was some sex kitten in his latest fantasy. God, get me out of here.

I took a step away and reached into my back pocket for my cell, glad that I’d opted for skinny jeans instead of the dress Lauren begged me to wear. My eyes widened as I peered down at my phone. “Sorry, I have to take, uh, make a call.”

“Now?” He looked like a five-year-old who’d just had his birthday balloon popped.

“Sorry.” I pushed through the crowd, toward the bathroom, and clicked my phone, intending to fake a call, but then my eyes zeroed in on the missed text on my screen.

Aidan: Sorry, had to leave work early to meet with a client. Are you around tonight?

He’d sent it over an hour ago. I quickly typed back that I was at the club and wished he were with me. There. I could say things without getting romantic, without confessing my feelings. A moment later my phone flashed again.

Then I’m on my way.

I straightened, sure that he was joking. What if someone we knew saw us out? But then I remembered that we were in a city of over eight million people. The likelihood wasn’t there.

The line to the bathroom took forever, so when I came out twenty minutes later, I had to scan the club in search of Lauren or Grace. Finally I spotted them and started over, but then my gaze caught on someone at the bar. A giant smile spread across my face, and I tried to rein it in before I reached him. Aidan.

He was dressed in jeans and a button-down, his hair messy; a fine stubble covered his perfect face. I wanted to run my fingers across his jaw, feel its roughness. But then the bulge-pusher, Eli, cut in front of me, and I blinked to regain focus.

“You disappeared on me,” he said.

I faked a smile. He really seemed to be a nice guy. A horrible dancer, but nice all the same. “Sorry. I was just going to meet a friend.”

I motioned to the bar, and he turned, scanned the people there, and then his eyes went wide. “Is that Aidan Truitt?”

I sucked in a breath.

“Is he coming over here?”

“He’s my boss. He’s probably just coming to say hello,” I said, hoping my voice sounded more even than it felt.

“You work for Aidan Truitt?”

“Sure. What does it matter?”

He shrugged. “Nothing. I just know his name, his story. How he refused to come work with his dad’s company and instead went to the competitor. Seems pretty low if you ask me.”

I gritted my teeth together. “You don’t know him, so maybe you shouldn’t judge.”

Aidan arrived before I could say another word. He started for my hand, but I managed to slip out of reach without it looking too obvious. “Aidan, hi, funny running into you here.” He gave me a quizzical look, so I quickly added, “This is Eli. He works at Graham Group.”

Realization crossed Aidan’s face, and then he was all business. He lifted his hand to shake Eli’s. “Nice meeting you.”

Eli launched into a thousand questions, everything from Aidan’s advertising philosophy, to his political preferences, to his favorite gym. After a while, I felt embarrassed for the guy and desperate to be free from his crazy questioning and dance skills.

“Well, it was nice meeting you, Eli. And I’ll see you Monday, Aidan. I was just heading out.”

I started to go around them when Eli grabbed my arm. “Are you sure you’re ready to go?”

My gaze fixed on him as I pulled free from his grasp. “I’m sure.”

“But, we were—”

Aidan stepped between us, forcing Eli to take a step back. “She said she’s leaving. Now allow her to leave.”

Eli threw up his hands. “Yeah, all right. Of course. Another time, then, Cameron.”

I breathed in Aidan’s clean scent, and then he said good-bye to me, too, and disappeared through the crowd. My heart sped up as I quickly texted Lauren that I wanted to leave. That was…wow. Aidan stood up for me like I was his— I shook the thought from my mind before it could fully form when my phone buzzed.

Aidan: Coffee? There’s a small café a block away. Shouldn’t be busy at this hour.

Is that risky?

Aidan: Yes.

Aidan: But you’re worth it.

My heart began to dance as I reread his words. Why don’t we go to my apartment instead? Lauren’s out for a while, and I make the best hot chocolate in the world.

“With whipped cream?”

I spun around to find Aidan behind me, a sexy smirk on his face as he leaned in closer. Warmth pooled low in my belly, spreading through me as I stared into his eyes. Whipped cream and Aidan. This could get interesting. “Is there any other way?”

The smirk turned into a full smile, and I found myself appreciating how it changed his face. How the intense expression he wore at work turned playful and fun. “Ready?”