"A little competition can be invigorating, if you know what I mean,” he said with his crooked grin.
Jesus.
He took off his jacket and threw it over his shoulder holding onto the loop with one finger. One lock of blond hair had fallen over his eyes making his look more casual and undeniably sexy.
I tried to suppress the thought.
"I just don't think it's a good idea,” I said, my heart beat picking up. "I don't want to endanger the case."
"Oh, I don't either,” he said as we both began to slowly walk towards our cars on the other side of the lot.
Ahead of us just over the freeway, I could see the lights of the restaurants flicking on as dusk fell.
"How about this. Hypothetically speaking, if we were not competing for the same job, and if we were not partners on this case, then would you then like to have dinner with me?"
"Okay," I laughed. "If you put it that way, speaking purely hypothetically, and if none of the things that are happening were happening, then yes I would consider having dinner with you."
"But as things stand you only want to see me on a professional level. Is that correct?"
"That is correct."
I felt at odds with myself even as I said the words. I knew I had to quickly get some boundaries in place before this went much further.
He hung his head in mock sadness. "I suppose then that there is only one thing left to do."
"What's that," I asked.
"That would be to make this strictly a business dinner,” he said as he offered his arm out to me.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I took his arm unable to resist his charms any longer.
Tan.
Muscles.
Tattoos.
And funny.
Shit.
I was tempted.
I had to get the strength deep inside of me to deny his charm until the job was mine.
Just business.
"Okay fine," I said. "Strictly business."
We headed away from the parking lot and towards the strip just a few blocks away. The easy playfulness that we had established throughout the day, carried over as we found a fun looking seafood restaurant.
We had both decided to leave our suit jackets back in our cars. I changed out of my pumps and into a pair of casual sandals. With his sleeves rolled up and collar open, we both blended with the crowd a little more. I felt more relaxed as we found a table and we began to look over the menu.
"The mussels are supposed to be good here,” he suggested.
"I haven't even had a chance to try any seafood since I've arrived,” I said.
"We're just going to have to change that," he said, signaling the waiter. "We'll have a plate of your freshest mussels to start with," he instructed. "And a bottle of chardonnay for the table, please."
"Yes sir," the server said jotting down the appetizers and heading off to do his task.
Aiden turned back to me, resting his elbows on the table and crossing his forearms across his chest.
"Just like old times, right?" he said.
"Right," I laughed. "Except completely different." He chuckled. "I almost feel like we are getting to know each other all over again. You just seem so different."
"Different how?" he asked.
"Well," I gestured feebly at him. "You're.... taller, for example."
"Taller? That's what you're going with?"
"Okay, granted,” I said. "I just mean... that obviously you, um... work out."
He raised an eyebrow at what he thought I was suggesting. I kept a casual smile, while my eyes dared him to reply. He had a smooth confidence that hadn’t yet veered into cockiness. He did like to step right up to the edge of it though.
I scrambled to change the subject. "And this job. I mean you must have been top of your class to land this opportunity, and since this is a business dinner we should talk about that at least once. Business I mean."
"Of course," he agreed with a grin.
The waiter offered a reprieve in our banter by presenting the wine at that moment. He pulled the cork and poured a dash in Aiden's glass. After receiving the nod he filled both glasses and placed the bottle in a small ice bucket next to the table. The first sip flooded me with a relaxing warmth allowing me to let myself enjoy the evening even more.
"You've come a long way, Aiden,” I said. "That's all I'm saying."
"Thanks," he said while a wistful look drifted across his face. "And you,"
"Me?" I said with pretend shock. "What about me?"
"You have blossomed into a beautiful woman. But then again you always were."
"Oh please," I said. "With the braces and the glasses and the body of a bean pole?"
"Yes," he said. I pretended as if I didn’t notice the shift in his tone.
The server placed in the middle of the table a huge platter of steamed mussels with a small carafe of sauces on the side just in time to stop him from saying much more to me. The steam poured off the plate and filled my nostrils with the tantalizing scent making my mouth water.
We jumped in, both of us starving from the full day’s work, pausing only to place our order with the waiter for our entree. I went with the Caribbean chicken and he ordered a steak. I had another glass of wine, but I wanted to hold off. Regardless, I was feeling more relaxed as the night and the laughter continued.
"So do you have a boyfriend?" he asked.
I considered telling him about the guy I had dated for a while in college, but decided to skip that for now.
"No," I said. "I sort of stayed with the whole career woman thing. I never dated much."
"That doesn't surprise me,” he said, taking a swig of wine.
"Oh really. And why not?"
"Well, you never did in high school,” he said.
"I never got asked out in high school. There is a difference,” I clarified.
"I find that hard to imagine,” he said. "You never did know the effect you had on people."
I rolled my eyes.
"What about you?" I said, eager to change the subject. "Anyone special?"
"No," he said swirling around the last contents of his glass.
"That doesn't surprise me either,” I said.
"And why is that?" he said.
"You always had too many girlfriends in high school,” I chided him.
"Too many?" he said. "I’m hurt. Hurt, that you would say so."
I returned his grin behind his words. "You know," I said. "Some of us used to say that your reputation lived up to your name."
"Oh?"
"Your name is 'Player' after all,” I said. "Players gotta play, right?"
"Touché, my lady,” he said with a nod. "Touché."
"This meal has been amazing," I said dabbing my mouth with my napkin. "Thank you for talking me into it."
"We had to complete our very important business meeting after all."
"Right," I said. "Very important."
We stood and walked outside, heading back towards the parking lot, neither of us in any particular hurry it seemed. Night had fully fallen and the city sky line lit up the area with bright lights.
Despite my misgivings I almost felt like I was on a date.
I felt certain that Aiden had wanted me to feel that way, to put my guard down. This might be a strategic play on his part, a means of throwing me off. I found myself torn between wanting the night to continue, wishing almost that we didn’t have the ever present reality hanging over us of being in competition.
I couldn’t, would not let my guard down, despite how much I may have wanted to.