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taking a fifteen minute break
until they realized they were stuck together in the middle of the dance floor
all by themselves with no music playing.
    “Oops,”
said Aiden before leading her back to their table.
    “Can
I get you some dessert?” asked the waiter.
    “How
about sharing a tiramisu?” suggested Aiden.
    “Sure,
I think I’ve got enough room to split one with you.”
    It
was getting more like a real date, more like a fourth or fifth date with this
man as he spoon fed the coffee soaked sponge into her mouth. She wanted to
groan and moan because not only was the taste and texture heavenly, but having Aiden’s
hand close to her mouth was almost orgasmic.
    She
used the ladies room while he paid the bill, and then they walked back to the
car and got inside.
    Aiden
turned on the car heater as she shivered.
    “You
should have worn a warmer dress…not that I’m complaining.”
    He
started the car and headed back toward her house. The journey there seemed to
take only a few minutes. It was now or never.
    “You
want to come in for a coffee?” she suggested when he pulled up outside the house.
    “I’d
love to.”
    He
held the car door open for her again, and they headed up the path to the door.
She opened it up and took off her coat as he flicked off some of the rain from
his jacket.
    “Here,
let me hang that up so it can dry.”
    He
handed it to her, and she placed it on the coat rack by the door. The smell of
his aftershave lingered on it, and she closed her eyes. So
far, so good. He’d accepted her invitation.
    “Let
me give you a quick tour of the place,” she said.
    “Lead
the way.”
    Charlotte
took him into the family room. “This is my dad’s house. I had a rented
apartment when I worked in Seattle, so I haven’t had time to look for a place
of my own. It does feel strange to be sleeping in my old room again.”
     
    He
smiled and walked over to the shelf above the fire. He picked up a photo and
studied it.
    “I’m
guessing this is your mother?”
    Charlotte
nodded.
    “She
was beautiful. You look a lot like her. How long has she been gone?”
    “Five
years.”
    “How about your parents?” Charlotte stood
beside him as he studied the rest of the photos.
    “My
mother died when Christopher was a baby and our father about ten years ago. I
can tell that family’s important to your father by all these photos he has on
display.”
    Charlotte
nodded. She’d grown up with what she considered to be perfect parents and a
loving family. She wanted the same when it came time for her to marry and have
a family of her own.
    “At
the end of the day family is all we really have.”
    He
stood looking at the photo of her with her parents when she was about eight.
Did she actually see a tear the corner of his eye?
    “Why
don’t you have a seat on the couch and make yourself comfortable while I get
the coffee,” she said.
    She
left him still looking at the photos and had barely heard the first drip of
coffee making its way through the filter when she felt his arms snake their way
around her waist. Charlotte hadn’t even heard him enter the kitchen. His mouth
made a slow seductive trail along her right shoulder until it arrived at the
base of her neck.
    She’d
just died and gone to heaven.
    Aiden
kissed her neck while placing both his hands over her breasts. The coffee
dripped faster, louder, and the smell of the brew drifted in the air above
them. She’d remember that odor and sound and think of Aiden every time she made
coffee now.
    He
squeezed her breasts causing both nipples to harden and push against the inside
of her dress. He let his hands slide down onto her thighs while kissing her
neck and jawline.
    Charlotte
slyly flicked off the coffeemaker.
    “You
want to go upstairs and forget the coffee for now?” she asked him.
    “Lead
the way.”

 
    Chapter Seven
     
    She’d
grabbed his hand, taken him up the stairs and into the bedroom, where she’d
pulled the drapes and snapped on the lamp on