"Aiden," he says, coming up beside me. "From the road?"
"Yeah, I remember." Clearing my throat, I look back at Tom. "Are we good here?"
Tom squints as he looks at his reservation book. "I thought you said you were alone. Says here you're with someone named Manny?"
"Macie. My friend. She's on her way. She'll be here in a few hours."
He nods, handing me my credit card. "Let me get your key." He opens a cabinet behind the desk that holds keys hanging on tiny hooks. They don't have key cards here, just regular keys.
"I might know someone you'd be interested in," Aiden says.
I turn to him. "What are you talking about?"
"You said you needed a date. I know a lot of people. I know at least one guy I think you'd like."
"You don't even know me. And I never said I was looking for a date."
"You two know each other?" Tom asks, his eyes going between Aiden and me.
"Not really," I say, turning away from Aiden.
"We had a little traffic mishap on the way here," Aiden says.
"It was more than a mishap," I say to Tom. "His carelessness got me arrested."
"Arrested?" Tom says, sounding alarmed. "For what?"
I sigh. "Littering."
Tom nods. "That can get you in a lot of trouble around here. Littering is big no-no. We take it very seriously."
"I didn't actually litter. I accidentally dropped a water bottle out the window when someone's papers flew out of his car and covered my windshield." I glance at Aiden.
"It was an accident," he says.
"I understand that, but it doesn't change the fact that now I have to take time off work to drive up here to appear in court."
"Hey." He puts his hand on my arm. "Let me make it up to you. I'll take you to lunch. Or dinner. Or both."
"You really think buying me a meal is going to fix this?" I turn to him and see those bright blue eyes staring back at me. My pulse quickens and I jerk back, causing his hand to drop from my arm. I look back at Tom. "Could I have the key please?"
"Sure thing." He hands it to me, glancing at Aiden. "You checking in?"
"Yes. Aiden Mills."
"Aiden." Tom smiles. "Good to finally meet you." He shakes his hand.
I pick up my bag and head to the stairs.
"Hey," Aiden says as I'm leaving. "I really am sorry."
Not looking back, I continue up the stairs to my room. I know what Aiden did was an accident but I'm still upset about it. I'm already late paying rent this month, and now I have to spend money renting a car and driving up here again, not to mention the time I'll miss from work.
My phone rings. Macie's name appears on the screen.
"Hey!" I smile as I answer, excited I'll get to see my best friend soon. "You almost here?"
"Soph, I'm really sorry but I'm not going to be able to make it."
"What? Why?"
"The plane's delayed. I'm stuck in Chicago."
"Can you get on another flight?"
"They're all booked. The lady at reservations said I may not be able to get a flight until tomorrow sometime. Add in the drive time from the airport and I may not get there until tomorrow night. I could still come but we won't have much time. What time are you leaving Sunday?"
"In the morning." I sigh. "We'll just have to do it another time."
"I'm sorry. I was really looking forward to this."
"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault. I'll just have a relaxing weekend alone. It'll be nice to just have some time off."
"Maybe you'll meet someone," she says, her voice rising in excitement. "A hot mysterious stranger who just happens to be staying at the same inn."
"I doubt it. This is the type of place couples go for a romantic getaway. I'm pretty sure I'm the only single person here, well, except for...never mind."
"Excerpt for who? Is there a hot mysterious stranger there you're not telling me about?"
"He's not mysterious. And not really a stranger. Well, he kind of is, but I've met him twice now so he feels like less of a stranger."
"You already met a guy? You just got there."
"I didn't intend to meet him. It was an accident. And then I found out he's staying at the inn, which I guess isn't that surprising since there really isn't anywhere else to stay."
"Wait—back up. How'd you meet this guy?"
I tell her the story, including the part about being ticketed and having to come back here to appear in court.
"So much for a relaxing weekend," she says.
"I know, right? I finally get some time off to just chill and then this happens."
"Did the guy at least apologize?"
"Yes. I could tell he felt bad but it still makes me furious that he could be that careless. Why would he put a stack of papers on his dash when the window was down?"
"At least you didn't hit anything. You weren't hurt, right?"
"No, it just shook me up."
"So he's hot?" she asks, a smile in her voice.
"Who?"
"The guy. You said he's hot."
"No, I didn't."
"You implied it."
"When?"
"I asked about the hot mysterious stranger you met and you said he's not mysterious or a stranger. You never said he wasn't hot, which means he is."
I pause. "Okay, yes, he's hot, but why would I care? I'm not interested in him. Besides, I'm sure he's here with his girlfriend. Or maybe he's married."
"Did he have a ring on?"
"No, but not all men wear rings. Why are we talking about this? I'm here to relax, not to meet a man."
"Doesn't mean you can't be open to it. Did he seem interested in you?"
"He asked me to dinner but only to make up for what happened this morning."
"Or maybe it was a date. If he asked you to dinner he doesn't have a girlfriend."
"He wasn't asking me on a date. He specifically said dinner was to make up for what happened. Oh, and he mentioned something about setting me up with one of his friends, so no, he's not interested in me."
"You should do it."
"Do what?"
"Let him set you up. You keep saying how hard it is to find someone in New York. If this guy's willing to set you up, do it. Maybe his friends are hot too."
"I don't know. I guess I could consider it, although I really need to focus on work right now. I'm up for a promotion. Did I tell you that?"
"Yeah, but you weren't sure if you'd get it."
"I have to. It's that or—" I pause, not wanting to even consider moving back home. "I really need that promotion."
"That bad, huh?" Macie says with a sigh.
"I'm just a little short on money this month. But I'm not going to worry about it. I'm supposed to be relaxing."
"But now you can't because of the money you're spending on this trip. I wish you'd told me this sooner. We could've cancelled the trip. Maybe it's not too late to get your money back."
"It is. You have to cancel 48 hours before you arrive."
"I'm sure they'd make an exception. Didn't you say the people who own the place are really nice?"
"Yes, but I don't want them losing money because of me. I don't think they're getting many guests. I snuck a peek at the reservation book and only saw a few names written down. I don't mind staying. I need the break. I'll get back feeling refreshed and ready to work even harder. That's sure to get me the promotion."
"You could always ask your parents for money."
"And have them tell me what a huge mistake it was to move to New York? I'd have to be desperate before that happens."
"I'd give you the money if I had it."
"I know you would," I say, feeling sad I won't be seeing her this weekend.
There's a knock on my door. "Delivery for Sophie Chambers."
"Who was that?" Macie asks.
"I don't know. He said he has a delivery."
"Go see what it is."
"Hold on." I set the phone down and go to t
he door. When I open it I see a man holding a vase of flowers.
"Delivery for Miss Sophie Chambers." He smiles as he hands me the vase. "Enjoy."
"Thanks." I shut the door and go set the vase on the nightstand, then pick up my phone. "I got flowers."
"From who?"
"I don't know. Maybe they give out flowers now to every guest."
"Is there a card?"
I walk back to the flowers and see a card sticking out. It reads, Sorry again for what happened. Hope these make you feel better. If not, they at least smell nice. - Aiden.
"They're from that guy," I say.
"The hot one?"
"Yes. I mean, the guy with the flying papers."
"The hot one," she says in a teasing voice. "So I guess this solves the mystery of whether or not he likes you."
"That's not why he sent them. The note says he's sorry for what happened. They're apology flowers."
"That was nice of him."
"It was." I smile as I lean down to smell them. They're a mix of flowers in all different colors, placed in a pretty rose-colored vase.
"You should have dinner with him."
"I'm sure he has a girlfriend. Guys who look like him always have girlfriends."
"You could have dinner as friends."
"I don't think so. Hey, I should go. I promised my boss I'd look over a spreadsheet for her and I'm already late getting back to her."
"You're not supposed to be working today."
"Tell that to my boss. She doesn't believe in days off. It's fine. It won't take long."
"Okay, well, I'm going to try to get a flight home."
"Good luck! Let me know what happens."
"I will. Talk soon!"
"Yeah, bye." I set my phone down and move the flowers to the small table that's next to the door. I lay down on the bed, looking at the bouquet and trying to remember the last time I got flowers. It's been years, probably at least three or four.
My phone chimes with a text. Did you review the spreadsheet?
It's like Bianca knew I was just starting to relax. I get up and go over to my computer bag. I take the laptop to the bed and fire it up, my eyes going back to the flowers as I wait for the files to load.
Bianca texts again. Are you there? Why aren't you answering?
Looking at it now, I text back.
Reviewing the spreadsheet should've only taken a few minutes but ends up taking two hours because Bianca insisted on going over it on the phone with me, talking through every detail and having me make changes.
Now it's four and I never got the nap I wanted to take, or the walk I'd hoped to go on. I didn't even have lunch. I lost the whole afternoon because of work. I love being an event planner but Bianca makes it far more complicated than it needs to be. She's someone who works because she doesn't feel right if she's not constantly busy. She doesn't know how to relax, and doesn't understand people who do.
After a quick shower to wake myself up, I go down to the inn's restaurant for dinner. It's early and nobody's here. There's a small bar so I sit there instead of at one of the tables.
"What can I get you?" the bartender asks. He's cute. Probably a couple years younger than me with shaggy brown hair and deep dimples in his cheeks.
"Manhattan. With two cherries, please."
He gives me a smile. "Coming right up. I'm Charlie, by the way."
"Sophie," I say, smiling back.
"Going for the hard liquor, huh?" a deep voice says from behind me.
I look over and see Aiden taking the barstool next to mine.
Chapter Three
Sophie
"It's my favorite drink," I say, watching Charlie pour the bourbon in the glass. It's a generous pour, which is good. After the day I've had, I could use a strong drink.
"I imagined you being more of a Chardonnay type of girl," Aiden says.
"I need something stronger than that today."
"Manhattan, two cherries." Charlie sets my drink down in front of me, showing off his dimples.
"I'll take one too," Aiden says, "but without the vermouth and the bitters. Oh, and the cherries."
"Then it's just bourbon," I say, turning to him.
"Exactly," he says with a smile.
Charlie goes to get a glass.
"Give me the best kind you got," Aiden says. "This is on the company dime."
"Got it," Charlie says, grabbing a bottle from the top shelf.
"You're here on business?" I ask Aiden.
"Maybe. We'll see."
"What do you mean?"
"Can't say. It's confidential." He checks his phone.
I stare at the bottles displayed in front of me behind the bar. Why did Aiden have to show up? And did he really need to sit right next to me? I would have been perfectly fine sitting here by myself, talking to the bartender.
Aiden irritates me, and I'm not sure why. Obviously I'm irritated by his carelessness getting me in trouble with the law, but there's something else that bugs me about him. I can't put my finger on it.
"Bourbon, straight up," Charlie says, setting the glass in front of Aiden.
"Thanks." Aiden takes a sip, then sets his glass down. "I talked to my lawyer. He said not to worry about the citation. We'll have to pay a fine but it won't be a lot."
I turn to him. "What's 'not a lot' to you?"
He shrugs. "Hundred bucks, maybe two."
"Two hundred dollars? Are you kidding me? I don't have that kind of money."
"You don't have two hundred dollars?" he asks, as if that amount of money is nothing to him. I'm sure it's not, given the car he was driving and the watch he's wearing. It's a very expensive watch and the suit he had on earlier was definitely not cheap. He's changed into jeans and a thin black sweater that fits tight on his chest. It's a good look on him. The suit was nice too. He's one of those people who probably looks good in anything.
I clear my throat. "I'm a little strapped for cash right now. I took my job for the experience. The pay isn't great, but I'm hoping to get a promotion soon."
"What do you do?"
"I'm an event planner." I take a big sip of my drink, hoping it'll calm my nerves. This guy makes me nervous. Maybe it's his confidence. Being a small town girl in a big city has eroded my confidence. People always make jokes when I tell them I'm from Kansas, implying I'm too nice or too naive to survive in the city. I'm working on being more confident but I'm not there yet and being around highly confident people makes my insecurities come out. "I work for a small company that does a lot of private events, mostly corporate."
"So not weddings."
"We do weddings, but that's not our speciality." I wonder why he asked about weddings. Is he getting married soon? "We do a lot of work for small investment firms. Private parties, dinners, new client events. We have a banquet coming up and my boss is completely stressed about it. I just spent two hours on the phone with her."
"What about your friend? Weren't you meeting someone here?"
"How'd you know that?"
"I heard you telling Tom about it."
I nod. "Macie. My friend from back home. She's not coming. Her plane was delayed and by the time she gets here I'll have to leave so we decided to try it another time."
"So girl weekend, singular?" He gives me that smile that makes my pulse race. I'm big on smiles. A guy with a good smile does things to me.
"I might just head home in the morning."
"Why don't you stay?" He turns toward me. "It's beautiful up here and the weather's perfect. Tom told me about some hiking trails. I'm going to check them out tomorrow morning if you're interested."
"I'm not much of a hiker."
"You walk, right?"
"Well, yeah."
"Hiking is just a fancy word for walking. C'mon, it'll be good to get out and get some fresh air before we head back to the city."
"I'll think about it," I say, not having any intention of hiking with him. I don't even know the guy. I'm not going out in the woods alon
e with him.
"Want another?" Charlie asks, pointing to my empty glass. I didn't even realized I'd finished it, but I do feel more relaxed.
"Maybe one more."
"Put it on my tab," Aiden says. "The first one too."
"I can pay for it," I tell him. "You shouldn't be putting my drinks on your company card."
"It's a business expense." He swirls his bourbon in the glass, which for some reason is sexy. I think it's the way he does it, the way he holds the glass and gently swirls the liquid around.
"How is this a business expense?"
"I'm interviewing you to be our event planner."
"For what? Your company?"
"The one I work for. We do a lot of events, mostly for our investors."
"You work for an investment firm?"
"Property investment. We buy old buildings and restore them. I hate seeing good architecture from the past being torn down."
"I love old buildings," I say, suddenly liking this guy more, now that I know he's not just another rich guy trying to get richer. I'm sure that's part of his reason for doing what he does but he's also doing something good. "Sometimes I just walk around the city, looking at all the old buildings."
"I do that too," he says, sounding surprised we have that in common.
"Another Manhattan," Charlie says, replacing my empty glass with a full one. "Another bourbon?" he asks Aiden.
"Please."
Charlie goes to get it.
"So where are you from?" Aiden asks.
"What do you mean," I ask, feigning surprise. "You don't think I'm from New York?"
He chuckles. "You're far too friendly to be a native."
I smile. "I'll take that as a compliment. But I actually AM from Manhattan, just not the one in New York."
Aiden waits for me to explain.
"I'm from Manhattan, Kansas. It's a small college town. I liked growing up there but I always dreamed of going to the other Manhattan so when I heard about this job opportunity, I took it."
"And how do you like it?"
"The job isn't great but I'm learning a lot."
"I meant the city."
"Oh, it's good. I mean, it's not what I imagined. I only knew what I saw in movies and on TV. When I actually got to New York, I realized how much money it takes just to survive there. I'm basically living in a closet. Like literally, my mom's walk-in closet back home is about the same size of my apartment."
Falling for Aiden Page 2