Page 23 of One Baby Daddy
I pick at the wrapper to my Spiedie and slowly shake my head. “None.”
Leaning forward now, he takes my hand in his large, calloused palm. Those blue eyes peeking out from under the brim of his hat. Seductive, and yet mysterious. I know practically nothing about this man, but even with that, there is this crazy pull I feel when he’s near, like I was meant to meet him.
“What are you doing Friday night?”
Turning my hand in his, he weaves our fingers, his palm so warm. “I work until seven, but I don’t believe I’m doing anything after that. Why?” I smile, looking through my eyelashes, feeling so freaking shy with the way his thumb is running along the back of my hand. “Did you have something in mind?”
He nods slowly, eyes never leaving mine. “How about I text you with the details later?”
“Do you have to text me later because you don’t technically have any plans of what to do?”
The corner of his lips tilt up, his straight white teeth peeking past his lips. “Way to call a guy out.”
“Just keeping you on your toes. Can’t make you believe I’m an easy catch.”
“Nah, we couldn’t have that at all, could we? You’ve got to play hard to get.”
“Exactly.”
Chuckling, he releases my hand with a quick squeeze and picks up his sandwich. “Well, your secret is safe with me.” Winking, he takes a big bite out of his sandwich and casually chews while his eyes study me from across the table. Observant, casual, yet one of the sweetest men I’ve ever met. Whatever he comes up with Friday, I’m game, which is unusual. By Friday, I will have worked far too many hours, and I know I’ll be exhausted and probably prefer a night in to veg in front of Netflix for a few hours. Yet if it means I get to spend more time with this man by accepting a date on Friday night? I’m in. In fact, it’s practically all I care about at the moment.
* * *
“So, who was the guy?” Logan takes a seat next to me at the nursing station, sitting backward in his chair, arms resting on the seat back.
After lunch, Hayden walked me to the elevators, gave me a warm, comforting hug, his chin resting on the top of my head, and then sent me back to work. I can still feel his strong arms tightly insulating me, giving me a brief reprieve from the stress of my job. When I arrived at the nursing station, there was already a text message from him, waiting to be opened.
Smiling like a fool, I opened it up and read it at least five times before responding.
Hayden: Thanks for stealing a moment with me. Seeing that smile of yours gave me the energy I needed for the day. Can’t wait for Friday. Have a good rest of your day.
I’ve been on cloud nine since, and I think it’s showing, because I’m not normally this peppy at work.
Typing away, I focus on the computer in front of me, pushing back the giddy smile wanting to take over my controlled and neutral lips.
“Come on,” Logan pokes my side. “He looks familiar, do I know him?”
A lot of people know him, especially a little south of Binghamton. I’m surprised we haven’t run into any fans yet.
“He’s a friend,” I answer, being as vague as possible.
“Really? Because he seemed like a lot more than a friend.”
Sighing, I turn in my chair and cross my arms. “We’re, you know . . . getting to know each other. That’s all. Nothing serious.”
“And he brought you lunch?” Logan thins his lips and nods, his eyes trained on something above me, not able to look me in the eyes. “He likes you. Not just because he brought you lunch, but I saw the way he stepped closer to you when he saw me in the elevator. I saw the way he looked at you, and he really likes you.”
My cheeks heat up, my skin breaks out in a light sweat. It’s hard to believe a sweet and caring, not to mention extremely popular, man like Hayden couldlikeme. And yet, he keeps coming around, searching me out, making me feel valued. I’ve never felt this comfortable around a man this quickly before. Even with Logan, I kept my distance until I realized he was a good guy and I could trust him. Maybe because for my entire life my brothers told me I couldn’t trust any man. And my sister’s life has practically proven that point as well.
“I mean, there might be something more than just friends . . .”
“Yeah?” Logan wiggles his eyebrows at me. “Have you been out on a date?”
I shake my head. Logan isn’t going to let up, so I turn completely toward him, one leg crossed over the other now. “But he did ask me out at lunch today.”
Logan nods knowingly. “He’s totally into you.” Chewing on the side of his lip, he looks to the ceiling for a second before asking. “How come I feel like I know him?”
Probably because his face is all over commercials and billboards.
