Completely Captivated Read online

  “I’ll go put these in a vase of water. Have a seat. I’ll be right back.” She gestured to an open table.

  Aaron took the seat that gave him the best view of her and watched her walk toward the kitchen. He was instantly rewarded when he saw her hug the flowers close to her chest and bury her face in them again.

  After arranging the vase on top of the display case, she made her way back toward him with two plates in her hands. He stood and took them from her, placed them on the table, and pulled her chair out for her. Clearly inexperienced with that kind of attention, she hesitated a second before she realized he was being thoughtful and polite. She quickly took her seat, and he moved back to his.

  “What have we here?” His voice had an air of excitement and fascination over the scrumptious goody in front of him.

  “I remember you mentioned you needed to work out more. So, I brought you some bread pudding with white chocolate sauce to give you a little extra incentive.” Christa flirted, much to her surprise, purposely misconstruing his previous words to her.

  She had a fleeting thought that this was their “thing,” intentionally misinterpreting words and playfully using them against the other at a later time. She quickly pushed that thought aside, thinking that no man as gorgeous as Aaron would be interested in having a real “thing” with her.

  Aaron laughed, genuinely laughed, for the first time in a long time. His deep blue eyes danced with mischief sprinkled in them. “I don’t recall saying it quite like that.” He took a bite of his dessert and groaned with satisfaction as he chewed. Pointing his fork at her, he added, “You are trouble.” The sparkle of mischief was back in his eyes, the shade deepening to a rich, dark blue that drew her in until she became a willing victim.

  “So what brings you back here today? Severe coffee addiction? Need a sugar rush? Did you get sent home early for falling asleep at work?” Christa teased between bites, trying to steer the conversation away from the thoughts swimming in her head.

  Aaron responded with a wide smile and considered turning her words into something dirty and sexual, like he would normally do, but quickly changed his course to try something new. Like honesty.

  “I just wanted to see you again. This is my new caffeine spot. The coffee and pastries are the best in the city. But you’re the real reason I can’t stay away. I’m here twice a day on weekdays and three times on Saturday.” He watched her hand freeze in midair, her eyes widen, and her lips part for a second. He had to give her points for recovering quickly as she pushed past the shock and narrowed her eyes at him dubiously.

  “Why?”

  “Why? Well, because you’re beautiful. And sweet. A great cook—even though you’re trying to make me fat. You probably hear this all the time, but you have a really nice ass, and I really like to stare at it. That blush that takes over your face and neck when I say something remotely dirty is sexy as hell. Like right now, when you’re still thinking about how I commented on your ass. But mostly, because I like talking to you and getting to know you.”

  She narrowed her eyes more, absorbing his words and sizing him up at the same time. “What about your girlfriend?” she asked, not hiding her suspicion of his intentions.

  Now it was Aaron’s turn to look shocked. And confused.

  “Girlfriend? I don’t have a girlfriend.” His eyes crinkled at the corners, and his brow furrowed at her question.

  “Well, no, you have a couple of them, at least,” Christa responded. “You brought them in here with you.”

  “No, no, no—neither of those women is my girlfriend, Christa. I’m an agent, and they’re both models. We were on our way to client meetings, and I needed coffee. The first girl didn’t meet the client’s needs, so I brought the other one by the next day. You know, after you got me hooked on your cooking and your ass. But it’s strictly business with the models. You haven’t seen me with one in a while, have you?” As of now, it’s strictly business anyway.

  Christa shook her head slowly, pulled the corner of her lower lip into her mouth and bit it while she considered his explanation. Her self-defeating thoughts returned with a vengeance, attempting to deprive her of the tiny bit of happiness blooming inside her.

  He was so handsome, and he was interested in her—that just didn’t make sense. He was so far out of her league they weren’t even in the same zip code. Surely, he’d made some mistake, and he’d come to his senses. Or she’d burn a batch of croissants, and he’d move on to another coffee shop.

  Then an unusual thought, for her, took root in her subconscious and urged her to change her mind. Take a chance. What’s the worst that could happen?

  “Well, then I’m glad you came to see me again. And I love the flowers, that was so thoughtful. And…I really like talking to you, too.” She finally admitted her feelings aloud, looking shyly at him through her eyelashes. But she was completely unable to hide the huge grin on her face.

  First Date

  Aaron stayed at the café with Christa the rest of the afternoon then walked her to her car after closing up shop that evening. Just before she got in, he stopped her with his hand on her arm.

  “Christa, before you go, I have something to ask you.”

  “What is it?” She immediately wanted to facepalm herself. Couldn’t you reply with something a little smoother?

  “I’d like to spend the day with you tomorrow. Is there any chance you can clear your schedule for me?” His confident smile was on full display, but he felt anything but confident as he watched her freeze in place and look everywhere but at him. He’d never worried about being turned down before, but she appeared to search for an excuse to say no.

  He wants to spend the whole day with me?

  What will I talk about that whole time?

  What if I run out of conversation topics?

  What if he takes me home early because I’ve bored him to death?

  A lifetime of doubt and insecurity was hard to overcome, especially when someone as overtly handsome and visibly successful expressed interest in her. Not that anyone like him has ever asked me out before, she amended internally. His clothes were name-brand. His suits were custom tailored. His car screamed wealth and prestige. Her car screamed to be taken to the repair shop. Embarrassed she’d left him waiting for an answer while she wrestled with her self-confidence, she smiled warmly and replied with the first thought that came to her mind.

  “I would love to, Aaron. I’ll call Allie and make sure she can cover the shop alone. Saturdays are usually slower since we don’t have the nine-to-five crowd first thing in the morning.”

  “Great. How about I give you a call later tonight just to make sure? That gives me an excuse to talk to you again tonight.”

  She looked at the ground, hiding her shy smile. “You don’t need an excuse to call me, Aaron.”

  They exchanged numbers then Aaron closed her door and watched her drive off with a smile permanently etched on his face. He’d never been so drawn to anyone so fast and so completely. The foreign nature of those feelings should’ve been enough to send him fleeing. Instead, he felt it drawing him to her more and more with each passing minute.

  Within thirty minutes of when she arrived at home, she’d already called Allie and arranged for coverage, completed her nighttime ritual, and climbed into bed. When her cell phone rang, excitement and anxiety vied for first place in wracking her nerves. She stared at the phone display until after the second ring before she answered it.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Christa. Did you make it home okay?” His voice was low and sexy, the deep timbre of it seeping through the phone and wrapping her in its warmth.

  “Yes, I did. I’ve already called Allie, and she’s fine with taking over the shop tomorrow without me.”

  “That’s the best news I’ve heard all week. I’m so looking forward to forgetting the rest of the world exists and just spending the day with you.”

  “It sounds like you have an amazing day planned for us.” She snuggled de
eper under the covers and hugged her pillow close.

  “Well, I hope you’ll think it’s amazing. Are you already in bed?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “No reason. I was just thinking about your ass again. I’m trying to picture what you wear to bed to cover one of your best assets.” His playful, teasing tone kept the question light and humorous, so she decided to give him a dose of his own medicine.

  “You’re so funny,” she replied nonchalantly, dismissing him with her mocking tone. “I don’t wear anything to bed. I’ve found mixing clothes and sheets is much too confining.”

  He groaned in physical pain. “You don’t play fair.”

  “You started it.” She couldn’t help but laugh, feeling slightly more sure of herself than just minutes before. “So, you can dish it out, but you can’t take it?”

  “Babe, I can definitely do both. I’ll be more than happy to demonstrate for you. But before you start fantasizing about having your way with me, you do have to get to know me first. Before you get in my pants, I’ve set a minimum number of dates you have to meet. That number is only in my mind. You have to earn it.”

  Christa threw her head back in laughter, loving his sarcastic and frisky sense of humor. “I’ll keep that in mind. Let’s make a deal. You stop staring at my ass all the time, and I’ll stop trying to undress you with my eyes.”

  “Afraid I can’t agree to that. I’d never be able to hold up my end of the deal. I’m not even interested in trying, honestly. So, tomorrow you’ll walk in front of me the entire time so I can stare at your ass.” He chuckled, and she knew she was in trouble because she thought even his laugh was sexy.

  They talked much longer, running the gamut of topics to learn bits and pieces about the other, until staying awake was no longer an option. “As much as I hate to go, I need to get some sleep. Four o’clock came early this morning, and I have a feeling I need to be as rested as possible for everywhere you’re taking me tomorrow. Though you haven’t told me about a single place yet.”

  Before letting her hang up, he felt the need to stress the importance of their all-day date. “We have the whole day together, Christa. There are several places I want to take you, just to spend time getting to know you better. But I’d like for my plans to be a surprise. If there’s anywhere you want to go, I’ll make it happen too.”

  “That sounds great, Aaron. But I kind of need to know what to wear since I have no idea where we’ll be all day.”

  “Something comfortable—clothes and shoes. Dress in layers. Feel free to take off as much as you want. Just don’t obstruct my view of that gorgeous derriere. I may need to take pictures of it as you walk.”

  “Comfy layers and an exposed derriere it is, then,” she laughed. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” She rattled off her address, and he promised to pick her on time.

  The next morning couldn’t come fast enough for Aaron. He bounded up the steps to Christa’s apartment. Part of him hoped she wouldn’t be fully ready yet so he’d have a chance to look around her apartment, get an idea of what her life was like and see what was important to her. The other part of him hoped she was waiting for him so they could get away before something unexpected had a chance to ruin his plans for their day. He knocked on her door and completely forgot all about whatever he had been thinking when she opened the door.

  “Hi. Oh, wow,” he stuttered.

  Self-conscious, Christa looked down at her choice of clothing and suddenly felt very insecure. “Is there something wrong with this? I can change.” She turned toward the hallway, but Aaron grabbed her hand to stop her.

  Her soft skin was like silk in his hand. She stopped in her tracks and looked up at him expectantly and with a hint of shyness.

  He physically couldn’t make his hand let go of hers. Her hand was small, but he felt the strength in it. It was soft, but he’d witnessed firsthand how hard she worked in her café. But most of all, he knew it just felt right…meant to be…destined.

  He smiled sincerely as he shifted his hand to lace their fingers together. “No, you’re perfect. That was a good ‘wow.’ Actually, it was a great ‘wow’ now that I’ve had a better look. I need to add a few body parts to my list of favorites.”

  Christa looked down at her clothes again but didn’t see anything special. She was wearing a formfitting solid white tank top, faded blue jeans with strategically placed tears, and the high-top Chucks that matched her glittery tan cardigan sweater perfectly. It was very casual and comfortable, but the sweater added a little flair in case they went somewhere nice. Her eyes caught the sight of their fingers laced together, and she felt her stomach do a somersault.

  “Well, if you’re sure,” she replied hesitantly.

  “I’m positive. Are you ready to go?” Aaron asked, trying to look around her apartment nonchalantly without appearing overly intrusive.

  “One sec—let me grab my phone off the charger,” she replied, giving him a minute to glance around the small but neatly decorated living room.

  He stopped to look at some pictures on the side table of a much younger Christa. She was riding on the back of a guy a few years her senior; they were both laughing, and neither seemingly knew the photographer had captured the moment. He guessed she was in her teens when it was taken, but it obviously meant something to her since she had it prominently displayed in her apartment.

  A twinge of jealousy tried to take up residence in him over the look of pure love on her face as she looked at the other guy. The guy was a fucking idiot if he couldn’t see she adored him, Aaron thought. He heard her coming out of her bedroom, walking toward him, and he backed away from the picture before he had too much time to contemplate the implications—of either the sudden jealousy or who the other guy could be to her.

  Slinging her purse over her shoulder, she stopped in front of him and smiled. “Now I’m ready. You know, you haven’t even checked out my ass once since you got here. I’m a little disappointed in you. I expected more.”

  He took her hand, this time with purpose, and twirled her around to drink in her petite, sexy form. “Perfect. Pure perfection.” With her fingers laced in his again, he led her out to his car. Once they were on the road, she noticed he turned away from the Bay Area, heading east out of town.

  “Where are we going?” she asked slowly, furrowing her brow and giving him a pointed look.

  Aaron chuckled at her stern face. “Somewhere I think you’ll like. It’s not far, and you’re safe with me, I promise.”

  “I’m sure that’s what all the serial killers say,” she quickly retorted.

  “Hmm. Good point. You’re probably right about that,” he taunted her.

  Aaron burst out laughing when he glanced over and saw her face. Her mouth gaped open, her eyes were narrowed, and she looked like she was about to tear into him. “I’m sorry. You’re right—your safety is not a joke.”

  He fished his wallet out of his back pocket and handed it to her. “Here, take a picture of my license and text it to anyone you want. I promise you’re safe with me.”

  She hesitated just a moment before snatching his billfold from his hand and snapping a picture of his license with her phone. A few clicks later, it was safely on the way to Allie with a note that if she didn’t show up for work to tell the cops to find Aaron.

  Christa’s phone beeped with Allie’s reply. “He can kidnap me any day!”

  Rolling her eyes, Christa handed his wallet back to him and laughed at Allie’s response.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked, amusement still lacing his voice.

  “Oh, just my friend Allie, who is supposed to be my lifeline in case you return without me. She said you can kidnap her any day. Big help she is.”

  By the time they reached the state park, Christa had forgotten any apprehension she had about going off with Aaron. Their conversations flowed much like they had in her café and on the phone the night before, but with a much more personal flair. The occasional brush of his hand against hers s
ent shivers down her spine, and goose bumps riddled her skin. She couldn’t ignore the sparks between them, the intense pull she felt toward him, or the way his smile melted her with how it was so relaxed and inviting.

  Christa had taken full advantage of being a passenger by turning sideways in her seat so she could look at him while they talked. She secretly wanted to stare at his handsome profile, but she used conversation as a good excuse. His short hair was messier than usual, but it only added to his rugged good looks. The man simply oozed sex appeal. His blue eyes were fierce and stood out against his tan skin and his eternal five-o’clock shadow.

  Every time he looked at her, those eyes pierced her to her very core. If the eyes were the windows to the soul, she couldn’t escape the feeling he was gazing directly into hers. She studied all his features, his body language, his overall disposition. He was obviously very successful, cruising fluidly in his Jaguar, but more than that, what made him unique was in his very demeanor. He was confident without being conceited. He was sure of himself without being too cocky.

  Okay, he’s a little cocky, but in an endearing way.

  When he exited the car, Aaron jogged around to open her door then took her hand in his. They walked in comfortable silence until they reached the trailhead. He stopped to look at the signs posted before turning to face her.

  “We can go on any trail you want today, but there is one I want to take you on first. It’s pretty long, but it’s worth it.”

  “That sounds great. I don’t mind a long walk.” She squeezed his hand as she replied, amazed at how natural it felt just being with him.

  “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  He led her down a dirt path, covered with natural mulch and lined with huge trees that provided a built-in shelter from the sun high in the sky. He’d been on this trail at least a dozen times and had always enjoyed it. But seeing it through Christa’s eyes was amazing. She never let go of his hand as she skirted from one new sight to another, freely sharing her thoughts and excitement with him.