my hair looking like a bird had landed in it and attempted to make a nest. I blinked and cleared the vision. “Um.” I rubbed my hands down the front of my skirt, hoping to press out some of the creases in it. “I’m not really presentable for public dining.” Damn, I didn’t want to blow my chance at a pseudo date with Aaren but I had to be honest. “Perfect. I don’t feel like driving around either or fighting with Friday night parking in the Queen City, so we’ll order in.” I stared at him for a moment then looked down at the papers and laptops with our completed graphs and PowerPoint. When we had work, it was easy to occupy my mind and keep from drifting into erotic fantasy land but with the job done and nothing for us to talk about over food I was hesitant. “You don’t have other plans tonight, do you?” Tonight was family game night at my parents' house, but I had already informed them I would not be there. So, technically I was free. “Not really. I have time for dinner.” His smile was bone melting and spine tingling. “Great. Do you like Italian? That’s the only thing I happen to have on speed dial for long nights.” “I love it.” He rose and went to his desk. “To be honest, the only reason it’s the only thing in my phone is because it is my favorite.” I laughed. “Mine too. From pizza to ravioli to spaghetti and everything in between.” Pulling a tri-fold from his desk, Aaren crossed back to me and handed me the menu. “Pick whatever you want.” “Let’s see.” I made myself stare at the food items instead of at the strong, wide hands of the man beside me. Those hands with their blunt fingertips and neatly trimmed nails. I loved a man that kept himself groomed. Not in an extreme metro-sexual way, I didn’t want him pretty, just one that cared for himself. The thought of those hands palming and squeezing my breasts or holding my ass had my sex throbbing. With him standing so close, I had to press my thighs together and not squirm. He sat next to me. “I love their veal scallopini with mushrooms.” The warmth of his body so close to mine had me wanting to moan. He wasn’t even touching me, but the right side where he sat was honest-to-goodness tingling as if every cell in my body had flooded there and was reaching toward him. It made no sense. I’d never been this mentally and physically attracted to any man. Not even my first love when I was in college. What was it about Aaren Reston? “That sounds really good.” I looked over the items slowly, repeating each name in my head just to keep my imagination from roaming. “If not that then their lasagna rivals anyone’s.” He pointed at the item on the menu causing his finger to brush the tip of mine. I’d been a fool to believe that it was not possible to feel sexual desire from a light touch in a non-sexual place. Because desire sizzled down my arm from the place of contact and blazed a determined trail to my pussy. It was as if he’d stroked my clit. Shit, I was in trouble if I stayed for dinner. Glancing at him, I saw he wasn’t looking at the menu as I suspected but at me. He was in the process of scanning my body. Sitting beside me, he could see the swell of my cleavage in between the parted fabric of my blouse and possibly a hint of the magenta corset I was wearing. I believed a girl had to enhance her figure whenever possible. Especially when you were a thick woman you had to ensure all your curves were always on perfect display. When his gaze rose and met mine, I saw how his light green eyes had darkened to almost a forest green. That look excited me. Over the years we had worked together I always believed our attraction was on one side—my side. However, I couldn’t mistake the look he’d given me for anything but interest. “Kalan?” His tone was thick and husky. My name came out like a caress from his lips. I lowered my eyes to those thin, firm lips, a pale pink color, and wanted to