Aaron stared back down at his name on the paper. The shame and guilt immediately started building in his chest. He knew people—he could read them like a book. He knew in his gut that she was telling the truth. She was still so young at twenty-two, mostly isolated and completely introverted, and didn’t engage with anyone outside her small circle before he came along and charmed her. She’d been a virgin until he took that away from her. On top of ruining her life, he was divorcing her after not even remembering marrying her.
Aren’t I quite the catch? he thought to himself. She’ll be better off without me.
When he finally looked up, he noticed the door to Lance’s office was standing wide open, and Christa was gone. Her rings were still in one of his clutched fists, and the paper that contained only his name was in the other.
And Aaron was completely alone.
Table for Two
April
“Christa, the delivery man is here. Can you watch the front while I handle our delivery?” Allie asked.
“Sure, Allie. I got it,” Christa responded.
Allie Barker was Christa’s best friend and only employee at her coffee shop and bakery, The Sweet Spot, but somehow, they made it work together day after day. When the small shop in the high-rent district of an influential San Francisco neighborhood became available at an amazingly affordable price, Christa took it as a sign that it was meant for her. The fact that it had a ready-to-use gourmet chef kitchen was an additional bonus.
She thought if she could get her business going with fast and easy treats first, the kitchen would be perfect for catering larger events later. She had a five-year plan and was determined to see every last detail through to fruition. She was so involved in her thoughts about those plans, and how her business was performing, she didn’t hear the bell over the door chime when the next customers walked in.
When she looked up, she was pulled into the deepest, most delicious sea of blue ever to grace a man’s face. He was more than handsome—he was drop-dead gorgeous. His blue eyes sparkled with mischief, his smile was warm and contagious. She felt her own cheeks lifting in response.
His dark black hair was naturally messy and sexy, perfect for the obligatory finger-gripping during wild, swinging-from-the-rafters sex. His face was covered in just the right amount of five-o’clock shadow. He was tall, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and had a finely sculpted chest, if the shirt stretched tight across his shoulders was any indication. He had just the right amount of muscular build to be athletic.
Unfortunately, he’d walked in with an equally beautiful woman by his side.
As if I had a chance with him anyway, Christa thought to herself.
She pasted her best hostess smile on her face and greeted her new customers, mentally reminding herself she needed the clientele more than she needed a date.
“Hello. Welcome to The Sweet Spot. What can I get you?” she asked cheerfully.
“Hello.” The sexy, baritone voice was like smooth velvet to her ears. “Can we get a large regular coffee and a medium skinny white chocolate mocha, please?”
“Sure. Just have a seat, and I’ll bring it out to you. Anything from the pastry case?” Christa offered, practicing her salesperson skills.
The tall stick figure that accompanied the Adonis standing before her replied with disdain dripping from her lips. “Oh, those things have a million carbs. Keep them away from me.”
As if on cue, the handsome man responded with the opposite. “They look delicious. How about one of those croissants—toasted, with plenty of butter on the side?”
Christa wasn’t certain, but she would’ve sworn he ordered the pastry just to antagonize his date. She rang up the sale, quickly filled the coffee cups, and delivered the order to their table.
“Aaron, really, did you have to get the croissant? It’s the biggest pastry in the case,” the stick figure whined.
Aaron picked up the pastry and sank his teeth in. “Oh my God!”
Christa had turned her back to him the second before she heard his exclamation. She whirled around, placed her hand on his shoulder, and leaned in close to him. “What’s wrong?”
He almost laughed at the concern on her face. “Absolutely nothing is wrong. This is the best croissant I’ve ever had. Where do you buy these?”
He watched her beautiful face turn the loveliest shade of pink as her embarrassment set in. She quickly snatched her hand from his shoulder and straightened her back. “Umm, I don’t buy them. I make them here.”
“I’m impressed—honestly. This is heaven. It literally melts in my mouth.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Her reply was as warm and honest as her returned smile.
“I’ll have to come here every day now,” he said with a playful wink and a knowing smile. A smile that said he knew affected her and he knew she wished she could hide her reaction from him.
He’d always had the same effect on the ladies, and he’d frequently used his good looks to his advantage. He’d learned to read the signs; he knew when they were interested in him, and what they wanted from him. He’d give them a good time for a night or so, but no one ever held his interest for too long.
As he watched her walk away, he contemplated how he wouldn’t mind that little lady being next on his list. He was well-known in the influential celebrity and business circuits and often dated high-profile models. Dated was a generous term. He wined, dined, and sixty-nined them, then sent them on their way. His work had him hip-deep in models on a daily basis. Models that were long-legged, skinny, and wouldn’t eat more than a couple of pieces of dry lettuce to avoid gaining an ounce.
But everything about her seemed to contradict his normal type. Her name tag read Christa. She couldn’t have been over five foot three barefoot. She didn’t have long legs like his current companion, the one whose name he’d already forgotten. Christa had curves in all the right places, like a real woman should. Her breasts were small but perky, her legs were short but sleek and muscular, and her perfectly round ass—he could feast on it all day.
Her hair was long and blond, but it was her amazing brown eyes that held the magic. They captivated him, reached out and physically touched him, holding him as her hostage. For the first time in his adult life, he decided he’d gladly give full control over to someone else. The term love at first sight had always been a cliché to him. He’d argued there was no way a person could fall in love when they first met. But the feeling that stirred in his chest told him this pure, natural beauty was a threat to his one-night-only rule.
He watched her as she returned to the counter, took a few orders, and gave every customer her personal touch as she filled their orders. He was amazed at how she made each person feel like a welcome guest in her home, and they were all glad to be there. His eyes followed as she continued to move around the room, talking to her patrons as if they were long-lost friends. She adjusted pastries in the case and refilled the carafe with hot coffee with ease and care.
She returned to his table a few minutes later. “Can I warm you up?”
His lips curled into a slow, sensual smile. He intentionally misinterpreted her offer and his playful eyes danced with mischief. “I wasn’t aware that was a menu choice.”
When she realized her choice of words, he watched with amusement as the red crept up her neck and face.
“Your coffee,” she clarified with a laugh, thankful that his date was on the phone and completely oblivious to their conversation.
“I’m good,” he responded, lifting one eyebrow and deliberately leaving his response open to interpretation. Christa’s face suddenly looked like she had a sunburn, and he was completely enamored with her. “Keep blushing like that, and I might start to think you like me.”
She laughed nervously and straightened imaginary wrinkles from her clothes. “We can’t have you thinking that, can we?”
The next day, Aaron showed up with a different girl—same build, same attitude, but his attention was transfixed on
Christa. They continued their playful banter, with Aaron making comments to ensure Christa knew he was more than interested in her. Her natural shyness around men was evident, but that was part of his intense attraction to her and the foremost reason why he tamed his approach. She wasn’t seeking attention, fame, or fortune. She was genuinely a beautiful person, inside and out, and he wanted to get to know her and see where their mutual attraction took them.
“Hi, Christa. Did you save any of your delicious, mouthwatering croissants for me?” Aaron asked in his smooth as silk, sexy bedroom voice as he strolled up to the counter.
Christa smiled through her awkwardness. “I might have one or two left.”
“Feel free to save me one every day. I’ll have to add some extra time to my work-out schedule to make up for it, but it’s so worth it,” he joked, patting his already muscular stomach.
Over the following week, Aaron came in alone and ordered his usual. Their witty dialogue increased daily along with their comfort level. When he couldn’t wait any longer, he decided to make his move when Christa delivered his order to his table. He put on his best smile and held out his hand. “I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Aaron Rivers.”
“Christa Lanes,” she replied as she accepted his hand.
“I’d really like to have breakfast with you, Christa.”
Confusion shrouded her face. “Umm, right now?”
He nodded, his genuine smile covering his face, and gestured to the empty chair. “Right now would be perfect.”
Christa looked around her café and decided Allie had everything under control. “One minute.” She scurried behind the counter and grabbed her cup of coffee and a caramel croissant, a brand-new menu item she had just perfected the night before. She hurried back to his table and slid into the chair across from him.
His eyes bugged out at the sight of Christa’s pastry. She giggled as he looked back and forth at their plates, trying to figure out the difference between the flaky pastries.
“What is that?” he asked spiritedly, while never taking his eyes off the deliciousness on her plate.
“It’s something new I’m trying out to see how customers like it. It’s a caramel croissant. My own concoction.” She finished speaking as she raised her fork to cut off a bite. Before the tines touched her pastry, Aaron snatched her plate away and replaced it with his own.
“Let me be your guinea pig.” He vigorously dove into the baked bliss, licking his lips while never taking his eyes off it. Christa watched his facial expressions for his reaction, her teeth leaving their imprint on her bottom lip in anticipation. She didn’t have to wait long to know exactly what he thought about it.
“Fuck. This is incredible, Christa. This is the best thing I’ve ever eaten. It almost tastes better than sex feels.” Then, as if it suddenly hit him, his expression turned serious as he continued. “I can’t believe you gave me the plain one and took the caramel one for yourself.”
She laughed heartily as she explained her duplicity. “Honestly, I had a feeling you’d take this one away from me as soon as I brought it out. It actually took you a little longer than I thought it would. I almost got a bite of it. You were a little slow on the uptake. Maybe I gave you too much credit, after all.”
They settled into a playful banter, enjoying the company throughout the rest of their breakfast. With the pair feeling at ease with each other, their conversation moved easily from one topic to another, questions and answers freely shared as they became better acquainted. When the coffee and croissants were finished, Aaron reluctantly rose from the table.
“I have to get to work now. Can we do this again tomorrow morning?”
Christa was in awe of his confidence. He was so sure of himself, and he had no fear of rejection. Then again, she thought, why would he? He was beautiful, and she was…well, she didn’t feel like she was in his league. But he made it a point to come into her establishment, ask to have breakfast with her, and he wanted to do it again. Those had to be positive signs.
Christa rose from the table and smiled as she nodded. “I’d like that.”
She watched him leave while she picked up their plates and began preparing for the lunch crowd. Allie slid up beside her, smiling broadly while she watched Christa watching Aaron.
“You like him.”
“He’s funny. But I’m definitely not his type.” Christa sighed to herself, refusing to get caught up in the “I wish” world she could easily lose herself in. She’d wished her childhood away. That sentiment had gotten her nowhere. Her new focus was “I will,” and she only focused on the goals she knew she could attain.
Aaron Rivers wasn’t one of those attainable goals.
“He may be funny, but he’s not the only one. You’re funny if you think I can’t see through you, Christa Lanes. You definitely like him, and he seems to be into you too. Now, if you’d just let him get into you…if you know what I mean.”
Christa lowered her head and covered her forehead with her hand. She shook her head and chuckled at her best friend. “Did you defrost the meat for lunch like I asked you to?”
“You know, C, you should’ve asked that hunk about lunch meat before he left.”
“This is why I can’t have anything nice.”
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