13 KEEP FROM LEAVING

He had had Ella order two juicy steaks from his favorite restaurant and couldn't help grimacing at how he had obtained the desert. His mother had asked all the questions he had expected: who, why and where. What he didn't expect though was to get a lecture on how he had been a bad host by not giving his goodbyes himself at dinner last night. Nor did he expect his mother NOT to try and set him up with Toni, for all she knew she was exactly the type of girl she had been pushing his way.

A few minutes later, coffee table set up, the intercom interrupted his inner gloating as Ella announced Toni's arrival.

"Miss Mathews here for you."

"Thank you Ella, I'll be right out."

He went to open the door to his office and came to a halt when he saw her. She looked so young and bright and the sexiest woman he had ever laid eyes on. His erection was out of control and he just needed to bury himself in her. He cleared his throat when he saw that he was practically salivating.

"Antonia."

"Aidan."

She gave him a bright smile that nearly stopped his heart and sent his mind racing to imagine her wearing nothing but that smile. He had to literally shake that thought out of his mind. He needed to tame his thoughts around her but when he looked up he saw a very adorable blush and knew he needed to see that shade all over her body.

"We should probably eat before you have to get back to work."

"Of course. Pardon my manners."

He led her through his office and basked in the smile that lit her face up when she saw the set-up.

"This is beautiful. I hope you didn't go through too much trouble."

"None at all, it's my pleasure."

She sat down on one of the opposite single seat sofas and placed her bag next to the seat. He uncovered the plates and placed the lids on the trolley to the side. He then moved over to the opposite chair and looked at her for a while, taking in her dress and her jewelry. She always wore cuffs; he couldn't help wondering why she liked them so much, he would love to kiss her wrists.

They had their lunch in relative quiet, with a little chatter here and there, he couldn't keep his eyes off of her and every time she raised her head to talk to him, she would blush the most adorable shade of pink.

"Tell me a little about your childhood." He sat back with a glass of champagne, watching her eat her slice of chocolate cake.

"There's not much to tell, it was normal." He had seen the color drain from her skin when he asked her the question and now, he watched her with his brow furrowed as she placed her half-eaten cake back on the table with shaking hands.

"I should get going so you can get back to work." She said standing up.

Aidan was worried he had pushed her away. He stood up with her, trying to find something to keep her from leaving.

"Did I say something wrong?" He could hear the panic in his own voice.

"Not at all. I just think I've taken enough of your time."

"I enjoyed every minute of it."

He could see the relief on her face and noted that he needed to find out more about her childhood and he obviously wasn't going to find out from her.