Series: The Laws of Opposite Attract Series by Vi Keeland
Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
“I can see that now.”
I squinted. “Can you? Or are you still kissing ass to make up for what you said last night?”
Brayden smiled. “No, I actually do notice the difference now. But I couldn’t on the paint website, so I thought you were just being difficult.”
“You see?” I plucked the sample square from his hands. “There’s a method to my madness after all.”
When we returned to the project house, Brayden pulled to the curb. “Do you have to go back inside, or are you done for the day?”
“I’m all done and ready for my volunteers tomorrow.”
“Would you want to get something to eat?”
I nibbled on my lip. “Are you asking as colleagues or as a date?”
“What if I say a date?”
“Considering you’re young enough to be my son, I’d have to decline.”
Brayden’s face scrunched up. “There’s no way in hell you’re old enough to be my mother. Not unless you’ve got the fountain of youth at that medi-spa of yours.”
“Maybe not physically, but I have a stepdaughter who is probably close to your age. And my guess is I have ten years on you, at least.”
“How old is she?”
“Thirty. My husband was seventeen years older than me.”
He shrugged. “So you didn’t care about an age gap when you married him. Why do you care now?”
I smiled. “It’s not a good idea, Brayden.”
“Alright, so we’ll have dinner as colleagues.”
I wanted to. Really, really wanted to. Which is why I knew I needed to say no. I sighed. “Thank you for the invite. But I think I’m going to have a quiet dinner alone.”
He frowned. “Fine. Where did you park? I’ll drop you at your car.”
I pointed to the car directly in front of his. “I’m right there. Have a good night, Brayden.”
He sulked. “You, too.”
I got out of the car and walked to mine. Just as I opened the door, Brayden rolled down his window.
“Hey, Alex?”
“Yes?”
“You might be a stepmom, but I don’t know any moms who look like you.”
CHAPTER 3
Alex
That night, I decided to have dinner at the hotel restaurant. In retrospect, that was probably a stupid idea if I was trying to avoid Brayden. I realized my mistake the moment he waltzed in, looking so freaking good I wanted to scream.
He wore a navy polo and dark jeans, the thick watch around his wrist the perfect complement to his sexy hands. When he noticed me sitting in the corner, the way his eyes creased as he pretended to be surprised was so freaking adorable.
He headed straight for my table. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Yeah, totally crazy, right? Considering we’re both staying here.” I laughed.
He held out his palms. “I’m not stalking you, I swear. I’m just hungry, and there aren’t a lot of options in the immediate vicinity.”
As his eyes lingered on mine, all I could think was: You’re hungry, alright. Just not for food. And quite frankly, I wouldn’t have minded taking a bite of him right about now.
He flashed a mischievous grin as he pointed to the chair across from me. “Is this seat taken?”
“In fact, it’s not.”
He batted his sinfully long lashes. “Would it be okay to join you, then?”
I felt my cheeks flush. “That would be fine.”
Brayden sat down and drummed lightly on the table. “Have you ordered yet?”
“No.” I faced the menu toward him. “I was just looking when you got here, but I can’t decide what I want.” Well, for food. Based on the way my body was reacting right now, it definitely knew what it wanted. Except Brayden wasn’t on the menu. He never would be.
A waft of his incredible scent blew in my direction. My nipples hardened, a sign that my body and my common sense were on a break, completely disassociated from each other.
He perused the choices. “How hungry are you?”
“Pretty hungry.” I cleared my throat.
He looked up at me. “Would you want to share a pizza and try the eggplant parmesan, too? I feel like both but can’t decide between them.” He closed the menu. “Maybe we could split them in half?”
Or you could split me in half. What the hell is wrong with me?
“That sounds great. I’d been eyeing both of those things,” I said. Along with your lips. Your hands. Your strong forearms.
“Not surprising, considering how similar our tastes have been thus far.” He winked.
“On certain things…not necessarily home décor.” I winked back.
He set down the menu and looked straight at me. I felt like there was a spotlight overhead. His eyes were piercing. This man gave you every ounce of his attention, and it was a bit overwhelming.
A waiter came by and took our order, giving me a moment’s reprieve. But once he left, Brayden’s attention yet again focused intently on me.
“So…you mentioned a stepdaughter,” he said. “Do you have other kids?”
“No.” I stared down into my water glass. “My husband didn’t want any more kids, so we didn’t have children of our own.”