"Maybe we'll give it a try," Aiden says, his eyes on mine. "What do you say? Up for an after dinner walk?"
"We'll see." I look back at Tom. "Thank you for the wine."
He gives me a wink. "I couldn't let you two have a romantic dinner without a little wine."
"Oh, it's not like that," I rush to tell him. "Aiden has a girlfriend."
"Is that so?" Tom looks at Aiden, then shakes his head. "I guess I just assumed this was a date. Well, the wine is still yours to enjoy." Tom turns to leave, then turns back to Aiden. "Why didn't you bring her?"
"She was busy this weekend."
Tom nods, then walks off.
"Should we toast?" Aiden asks, lifting his wine glass.
"What are we toasting to?"
"Unexpected encounters on country roads. A wonderful dinner. And strangers becoming friends."
"That's a lot to toast to."
"It is." He holds up his glass. "So?"
We clink glasses and I take a sip of the wine.
Aiden sets his glass down. "I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean to upset you."
"Don't worry about it. I shouldn't have got so upset. You hit a nerve. It's my own issue. There was nothing wrong with what you said."
"You want to talk about it?"
"I really don't. Tell me more about you."
"Would you like to hear about my failed attempt to play high school football? I don't find it that funny but my friends seem to. They make me retell it now and then just for their own amusement."
"Why?" I smile. "What's so funny about it?"
"Many things, but it mainly involves a jock strap. If you'd rather not hear this before dinner, now's your chance to back out."
"I'm all in. Let's do it. What's the story?"
As he tells it I pick up my wine, swirling it in the glass as I look across the table at Aiden. He's everything I could want in a guy. I love talking to him and just being around him. Even when he makes me furious, like he did this morning, or just now when I was about to leave, I still like him for some unexplained reason.
Maybe it's good we met. Now I finally know what to look for in a guy. I need to find a guy like Aiden. A guy who makes me feel the way I'm feeling now. In a city of eight million people, I should be able to find a guy like that.
If only it was as easy as it sounds.
Chapter Five
Sophie
Dinner took two hours, which I think was intentional. Tom kept showing up at our table, first with salads, then with homemade rolls. Each time, he'd apologize that dinner was taking so long but the sly look in his eye made me think it was all a setup, like he was purposely trying to make Aiden and me spend time together. I don't know why Tom would do that, knowing Aiden has a girlfriend. Maybe he just wants us to be friends.
Just as we're about to leave, Lois appears by our table, her hands planted on each side of her round waist. "Well? How was it?"
"Wonderful." I point to my empty dessert plate. "The blueberry cobbler was amazing. The whole meal was the best I've had in a long time."
"I'm glad," she says, smiling.
"You've got a real talent for cooking," Aiden says.
"She sure does," Tom says, coming up beside Lois and putting his arm around her. They're an adorable couple. They're both short, with Tom just a couple inches taller than his wife. They both have white hair, chubby faces, and are round around the middle.
"I'm completely stuffed," I say, leaning back in my chair.
Lois turns to Tom. "Did you tell them about downtown?"
"Yes, dear," he says, smiling at her. "I told them all about the pretty lights and how you make me walk you by them at least a couple times a week."
She turns back to me. "You have to go see it. It's beautiful. Every window is decked out in lights."
"I'm sure it's lovely but I really need to get back to my room."
"What's the rush?" Tom asks. "It's barely after seven. You're not going to bed yet, are you?"
"No, but I have some work to do."
I'm not really going to work. I'm going up to my room and straight to bed. After two drinks at the bar and half a bottle of wine, I'm tipsy to say the least. I might even be drunk. Either way, I can't be around Aiden when I'm like this. I get flirty when I'm drunk.
"I'm up for a walk," Aiden says.
"Work can wait," Lois says to me. "Go ahead, dear. It isn't far. You can go see the lights and be back in your room in no time."
She's not going to give up until I agree to this. I might as well go. Like she said, it won't take long, and maybe the fresh air will sober me up.
"I guess I could take a short walk," I say, getting up.
"Splendid!" Lois claps her hands. "Have a good time! I need to get back to the kitchen before my biscuits burn." She scurries off.
The dining room is now half full and people are waiting to be seated.
Tom looks back and sees them. "Oh! I have to go. You two have fun!"
Aiden gets up. "Ready?"
I take a moment to steady myself.
"Need some help?" he asks, offering me his arm.
"No, I'm good."
As we're walking out of the restaurant, I stop when I notice the room spinning. "I might need some help after all."
Aiden steps closer and I take his arm as we leave.
"Too much wine?" he asks as we stroll down the sidewalk that leads to downtown.
"I normally don't drink that much. I usually stop at one glass. And I rarely have a Manhattan, and tonight I had two."
"You're on vacation. You're allowed to indulge a little."
"It's not
