Chapter 10

“That was… interesting,” Aiden said, still looking at the photo. In it, her Nan was holding the soldier’s hand with both of hers and making doe eyes at him while he was smiling adoringly down at her. She hadn’t been a short woman, but the soldier, a darkly handsome, clean-shaven man of about twenty, towered over her. Mitch moved to look over her shoulder, pressing closer than she would call strictly platonic and she felt her breath hitch deliciously in her throat as she pressed just slightly against him in turn. He felt warm, and sturdy, and was just enough of a distraction for the moment from the photo in her hands. She placed it down on the table and turned to look up at him, questions pouring from her gaze as it met his, but she only found a content, determined look there in return.

“What are we even doing?” She breathed out, finally putting words to the flirtatious but evasive feeling that had permeated throughout the entire day and evening.

“This,” he said, simply, before sliding his palms over her cheeks and brushing his lips against hers.

She melted into the kiss, every bit of her suddenly on fire, aching for more; more of his touch, more of him. A soft sound rose in the back of her throat as she was taken back to that night in the woods, a night they’d never let continue to its inevitable conclusion, despite the many different outcomes that had played out in her fantasies over the years. Idly, the thought fluttered around, whispering wonderings over if it was back on the table.

“Mitch,” she murmured against his lips, trying her best to stay upright and cool things down before people started staring. But aside from a few regulars scattered about and very absorbed in their own cups and company, the bar was mostly empty on the weeknight evening. It felt like they were in their own little bubble. Across the way, Jerry whistled a soft little tune as he dried glasses and made it a point to mind his own business, a knowing smile playing on his lips..

“Is this okay?” He asked, the words genuine and sweet as she nodded and fell back into the embrace with no more second-guessing from her. She’d waited long enough and, come what may, picking up where they’d left off had been a long, tantalizing desire.

With caution flung to the wind and no thought to the consequences, she smiled against his mouth, her fingers sliding to thread through his hair, carefully so she didn’t disturb the injured one she was caring less and less about.

They finally broke away, a smile quickly forming over her lips as she stayed close to him, not quite ready to let go.

“I’ve been wanting to do that all day,” he confessed with an almost shy grin.

“I’m glad you did,” she replied, still pressing close.

“To be honest, I’m kind of surprised you decided to come out with me tonight. Kissing me back was even better than I could have hoped for.”

“What? Why?” she all but exclaimed.

“Well… I didn’t want to make assumptions, or get ahead of myself, but all day its seemed clear to me that this could be the start of… something really good. And I know that could get complicated. I don’t know if you’re on the same page, but…”

She nodded as he trailed off, the question hanging between them. “I know what you mean. And I might not know yet, but I’m happy to let this play out and see where things go. We can figure it out.”

“That’s fair,” he agreed, with a slow smile as she finally let her hands fall from his hair, one lingering on his shoulder. He took an idle sip of his beer and eyed her, one of his hands still resting on her waist. It felt so good to just be with him, just like this, she thought, as something clicked into place and left her feeling, somehow, just right.

“This is nuts, right?” she said with a laugh, taking another sip of her own beer and smiling at him over the rim of her glass. “Are we nuts?”

“I don’t know,” he said, an echoing laugh of his own falling from his lips. “But I’m looking forward to finding out.”

#

Hours later, they arrived at the cottage, stopping to embrace again at the front door. As Aiden pulled away just a bit, a breathless laugh slid from her lips. She fumbled for her keys, barely registering the twinge of protest from her busted palm as she missed them in her bag and hit the photo frame instead. And all the while, Mitch kept distracting her with more teasing kisses, until, at last, she managed to get the door open.

“Want to come in for a bit?” Aiden asked, not necessarily wanting to rush right where she wanted them to go, but hopeful all the same that he’d want to stick around.

“Thought you’d never ask,” he said, with a boyish grin.

She grabbed his hand, leading him inside. Within a few minutes, they’d kicked off their shoes and settled onto the plush, oversized chaise-length sofa with a couple of glasses of a rich red Aiden had hunted up from the wine cabinet. Snuggled up with him there, lights dimmed, facing the ocean crashing onto the shore as the tide came in and rushed salty, fresh air through the open windows, everything felt strangely right. Normal and comfortable, but still so refreshingly, tantalizingly new. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but everything they had done together so far felt that way.

“This is… kind of perfect. This feels like home,” she breathed out the words, a soft hint of wonder lacing her tone.

“I feel it, too,” he agreed, his eyes locking to hers. “Sort of like… it’s always been this way. Or could have been, all along.”