Page 35 of Seduced in Ink
Bristol laughed. “Yes, you have to take it once you enter middle school if you’re born a Montgomery. But by then, there’s usually a whole new generation. Or someone else has gotten married, and it just gets super complicated. We’ll do an entire set of flashcards, and maybe a light show so you can get the names right.”
“Good thing I’m not marrying Aaron, then.”
“Good thing,” Annabelle said, giving Bristol a look that Madison chose to ignore.
She did not need to remember all of the Montgomery cousins. She only needed to remember the ones that she currently knew because she was not marrying Aaron. Even if theyweregoing on a maybe real date tonight.
The girls stayed for a little while longer and then headed out, complimenting Madison’s look once more before leaving her alone and wondering how she had gotten into this situation. Thankfully, she didn’t have to stew long because the doorbell rang again. She swallowed hard, wondering what she was going to say to him.
She needn’t have worried, though. All thought left her when she saw Aaron standing there wearing gray slacks, a crisp shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showing off his sexy-as-hell forearms, and a wicked grin.
“I saw Bristol driving away with my cousin in the front seat as I pulled into your neighborhood. Should I apologize?”
She shook her head, reaching around to grab her wristlet. “Please don’t. I love Bristol. She’s just…a lot sometimes.”
“You know they say that about me, too.”
There was an awkward moment, and then Aaron leaned forward and brushed a kiss across her lips.
She moaned, thankful that she was wearing matte lipstick instead of anything shiny that would spread.
“Hey there. You ready to go?” he asked, clearing his throat as he moved away.
“I think I am. Finally.” She didn’t know why she’d added that last part, but there was no taking it back now. Aaron searched her face, and she had to remind herself that this wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.
“So, pasta?” she asked, wondering if she could say anything more ridiculous.
He smiled at her, and for some reason, she wanted this night to be real. Yes, he’d kissed her. Sure, the kiss had felt real. But they were only playing. It was all an act.
Still, she couldn’t think clearly.
“Yes. Pasta. You know we could go for salads or something light and airy, but I want the amount of carbs that will make me roll out of there.”
“I have been craving pasta for a week. So, no, I am not getting a freaking salad.”
“That’s my girl,” he said, squeezing her hand.
She tried not to think that it was real because it hurt to do so.
They talked about their days, about the café and his art, and she leaned into the seat as she listened to him speak. He had a deep, soothing voice that sometimes rumbled a bit if he got tired, but he wasn’t as growly as his brothers. He surely wasn’t as gruff as her cousin. He seemed to love life a bit more. Or maybe he was just happier. The fact that he was doing this for her meant that he had a secure sense of self that she couldn’t even hope to possess.
She truly appreciated him and everything he was doing. Though she wasn’t sure how to tell him.
They sat down in an angled corner booth, one with leather backs taller than her head. She just sank in, grinning.
“They don’t make booths like these anymore.”
“No. And I don’t like sitting in the middle of the area either, feeling like I’m on display.” Aaron winced. “Though I think that’s what we’re supposed to do tonight.”
Madison tried to ignore the hurt that statement caused because it was true. She shouldn’t feel bad about it.
“We can always take a picture and post it on social media. That’s what couples do, right?”
“It’s been so long that I don’t even remember anymore. Well, we can do that.”
Aaron pulled out his phone and turned it to face them. Then he wrapped his arm around her shoulders before kissing her cheek and hitting the side button. She saw her face in the photo, her eyes wide, surprise evident, and Aaron chuckled.
“Don’t look so surprised, it’s supposed to be real.”