Exactly Like You: A Cupid Cafe Story Read online

  She’d been so full of it, telling him it could’ve happened with anyone. He supposed, after all she’d been through, her self-esteem was at an all-time low—having your life fall apart and your boyfriend leave you would do that. Plus… well, she admitted to being depressed—if she conceded there was an attraction between them, it would be proof she deserved good things.

  And, damn it, she was dismissing him, and that pissed him off. An attraction, at the very least, existed between them, and he didn’t understand why she was trying to deny it. He figured, as plainspoken as she was, she might call him on his bullshit. But she had her own load of fake BS to explain last night away.

  Unsure what to do with himself, with all the pent-up frustration, he decided to lay a fire for tonight. He walked around the camp gathering twigs and dry leaves.

  “Could’ve been anyone,” he muttered in disgust. His stupid talk had done nothing but wreck her ego further.

  Basically, she’d issued a dare. Prove her wrong—prove he wanted her, prove she deserved happiness. Not that it would necessarily be with him, but the way he looked at it, stopping things now would only hurt her more. He grabbed a pile of firewood in his arms from the stack on the edge of the camp and carried it to the fire pit. With a grunt, he dropped it there, then got on his knees to arrange it.

  If he spent some time with her, he could prove to her that… what? She was wanted, for one thing.

  It didn’t necessarily have to be sex, but he could open up a little, tell her what he saw in her, about the punch in his gut when she appeared. What could be the harm in that? He sat back on his haunches and swiped sweat off his face with his forearm.

  He couldn’t see any. By letting down his guard, he’d already hurt her. It made a weird sort of sense if he really opened the floodgates, he might build her up some. The idea he’d hurt her was more than he could take, he knew that much.

  Chapter Nine

  That evening, Roxie was doing her best to avoid Aidan, and it was working out fairly well. He was busy with dinner and she was wishing she were home, where she could curl up with Jinx and… wallow a little bit. Just a smidge.

  Unfortunately, if she demanded he take her home, she’d only come off as childish. Unable to handle a one-night-stand. Emotionally unstable, even.

  She sat on the log and watched him without offering to help. He wrapped corn on the cob and whole potatoes in foil then put them in the fire he’d built. Then he covered a portable grill with more foil, placed it over the fire, and put on a couple of steaks. Aidan cooked more than her mom, and she didn’t think she’d ever met anyone as obsessed with preparing food.

  “You cook a lot,” she said with a sigh. She might as well talk to him so he didn’t think she was pouting. Well, not still pouting.

  “I like to cook when I’m camping. It relaxes me.” He flipped the steak with a pair of metal tongs.

  Ah, so he needed to relax. She wasn’t the only one flustered by their talk earlier. It had her anxiety churning and she’d had to climb into the tent to take one of her anti-anxiety medications. That didn’t make it all go away, though. It just brought it back down to a normal level. Probably similar to how he was feeling now.

  “How do you like your steak?”

  “Medium.” She felt guilty for causing him undue stress. He shouldn’t feel guilty about last night—she’d wanted it to happen, too. She had no clue how to say so, though.

  “Me, too.” He lifted the steaks from the grill and put them on a plastic platter. The aroma from the seasoned beef drifted Roxie’s way and her mouth watered.

  He unwrapped the veggies, buttered everything, then put it all on metal plates. He brought her one, with a fork, and carried his own. Once she took hers, he joined her on the log.

  She hadn’t minded so much last night, but now he was sitting really close and she shifted as far away as she could. But it was a small log; she couldn’t scoot away or she’d fall off.

  Last night was absolutely not going to be repeated, so she didn’t know what his motive was for smelling so good and driving her crazy every time his arm brushed hers.

  “This is delicious, Aidan. Thanks. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”

  “You’re adorable when you eat, you know that? I love how you enjoy food. Most women try to act like they don’t eat at all, like the entire idea is distasteful.”

  “You’re so full of shit.” She put her half-eaten steak aside, placing the metal plate on the ground beside her. Twisting toward him, she waited until he raised quizzical eyes to her face. “What’re you doing?”

  Aidan pinned her with his gaze, there was no other way to describe it. She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, even. A hand rose to caress her cheek and he leaned toward her.

  Roxie jerked back, falling off the log, her legs flying up in the air. Luckily, she’d placed her plate on the ground before all that, or she’d have ruined the succulent steak and veggies.

  “Oh, my God. Are you okay?” He stood and offered her a hand. Knocked on her ass both literally and figuratively, she took his hand. She couldn’t balance what he’d said today with him trying to kiss her.

  He tugged her up in one fluid motion, putting an arm on her waist to steady her. Her body was an inch or less away from his own, and her breasts brushed his broad chest.

  Taking a step back, Roxie brushed a curl from her face. “Look, I don’t need you trying to prove you don’t feel sorry for me because you feel sorry for me. Got it?”

  “No. That made zero sense and it’s not what any of this is about.”

  “What’s it about, then?” She picked up her plate and moved to the picnic table. She’d be damned if she left him know how much he affected her. And, falling off the log? She’d humiliated herself.

  Instead of sitting down, he narrowed his eyes and gazed hard at her. “I want you. And the first thing I intend to do is make sure you really understand that.”

  “Well, I don’t understand. What’s the second thing?” She started cutting her steak into more and more miniscule pieces.

  “What do you mean?”

  She wished it were true. Did he really want her? Not just a bedmate, but her? “You said that was the first thing. What happens after that?”

  “I think we can figure it out.” His voice had gone soft and seductive.

  Roxie sighed; she wasn’t sure she was going to win this fight—not with him, but with herself, because she really wanted him. Probably a lot more than he wanted her. More so since she knew how explosively hot it would be.

  Okay, no. No, she needed to remember she didn’t want to be the girl he hooked up with on a camping trip. How many other girls had he taken camping and gotten lucky? Was this a thing he did?

  She shook her head. Aidan wasn’t like that. He might be trying to make a point, but it was out of consideration for her feelings. He wouldn’t use her. It had just happened. But, it was best left in the past.

  “Stop mutilating that steak. Eat the damn thing.” He sat down across from her and took a bite of potato. “You shook your head. What’s going through that mind of yours, Rox? Your brain is always on overdrive.”

  “That we should get the camp cleaned up and get ready for bed. Like, sleeping. Because I’m tired from the hiking.”

  “Let me clean up then. You go get ready for ‘sleeping.’” He gave her a mocking grin at her clarification.

  Steak and vegetables forgotten, Roxie rose from the table and headed into the tent. She put on a t-shirt and a fresh pair of sweats. Maybe she should wear two layers of clothes, just to be safe. By the time he got her out of her clothes, her self-preservation might kick in.

  She zipped herself up in her sleeping bag, turning her back to where he would be laying.

  When he made his way into the tent, ducking low, he chuckled softly. “Worried I’ll try to kiss you?”

  “I’m just comfortable on this side.”

  “I remember. I held you all night, just like that.”

  That jolted
through her, leaving her pulsing with attraction. He’d felt so good.

  His sleeping bag rustled when he climbed in. He scooted close, and his bare arm came around to hug her middle as his muscular chest pressed into her back. She moaned softly, unable to stop herself. Apparently, he wasn’t trying to seduce her. He was trying to kill her.

  All she’d have to do is turn around.

  She laid that way, awake for so long, she didn’t even know how late it was. She waited for his breathing to settle into a sleepy rhythm so she could relax, but it hadn’t yet.

  Finally, she turned. His arm was still slung around her middle, so she was in his arms, facing him. “You’re still awake.”

  “You make it a little hard to sleep.”

  “Same.” She leaned forward and captured his mouth, unable to stop herself. They kissed for a few minutes, tongues toying with one another’s lips. His hands roamed over her breasts and down to cup her ass, pulling her close enough that his erection pressed into her abdomen.

  Roxie pulled back, breathless. “Goodnight,” she whispered.

  “Night, Rox.”

  She turned away before she could give in to temptation. The last thing she needed was another night to make her start falling for him, and another awkward day-after conversation. It would be best for both of them to stop this thing right now.

  Aidan woke up before Roxie and started another fire. He’d made a breakfast scramble with onions, eggs, and sausage all mixed together before they left for the trip.

  He’d taken his cue from her last night and let things go after the kiss, and he’d paid for it. He’d been hard, left wanting and awake for hours after the kiss.

  He wanted Roxie. And he hoped to prove to her the other night wasn’t a fluke, a she-was-there thing. Aidan didn’t want to dwell on it, but he definitely felt more for her than she was convenient.

  Rox was so hard to pin down. She was smart, self-deprecating—she didn’t take herself too serious. She could have a laugh at her own expense. And, damn, but she was beautiful. Those full lips and big eyes. Even her nose, a tad too big for her face… it all came together into the most intriguing woman he’d ever known.

  And she could roll with anything he threw at her. She’d loved rafting. She maybe hadn’t loved climbing the wall, but she’d gotten up and tried again, over and over, until she made it to the top. And yesterday, she’d hiked with him even though he knew she wasn’t in as good a shape as he was. He had to be in top form because of his job.

  He couldn’t stop thinking of the other night. The sounds she made, the way she writhed above him. Roxie was passionate, giving, exciting… God, he had to stop thinking about her so much. He was getting hard making breakfast, damn it.

  Roxie climbed out of the tent, pulling her big curls up into a messy bun. “What smells good?”

  “Making you breakfast. Sit down, wake up. Have some coffee.”

  “I don’t know how you do all of this on an open fire but you’re my hero.” She poured black coffee into a travel mug and took a long sip. “Mm, so good.”

  “So, I’ve got another hike planned for today. Different trail this time.”

  “Couldn’t we put on shorts and a tank top and lay out in the sun? I like the sun, I like the nature sounds. It’s the walking that makes my body ache.” She settled on the log she’d fallen from last night and stretched out her legs.

  “I could think of a few other causes.”

  “Hush, you. So, how about it?”

  “Hmm…well, no.” He dished out the scramble and put it on a plate. “We’re going hiking, but there is this great spot, off the trail. I thought we’d take a blanket, spread it out, and eat sandwiches. Then we could lay back and relax in the sun before heading back. That’s a fair compromise, don’t you think?”

  She met him at the picnic table and he quirked an eyebrow at her. Apparently, she didn’t want to try eating on the stump again.

  “It involves all the walking so, not so much,” she said. “But, it’s your itinerary—I’m just along for the ride. The walk, more precisely.”

  Aidan stopped eating to look at her. She wore no makeup—hadn’t worn much since he’d known her. Her hair was falling out of the bun in curling tendrils around her face.

  “Why are you looking at me that way?”

  “You’re a little irresistible.”

  “That’s definitely not true.” She pushed a curl behind her ear and tucked her face down. He could detect a faint blush on her cheeks.

  They finished eating in silence, then Aidan stood, took her empty plate with his and deposited them in the garbage.

  While they packed up a backpack with sandwiches, water, and a blanket, they chatted. The awkwardness of the day before seemed to have dissipated in the night.

  “When I went walking yesterday, I walked down to the pier. There were so many people fishing.”

  “Yeah,” Aidan said, finishing up the packing. “There’s a lot of fishing here.”

  “It was cool. I could try fishing, if I could get by with touching neither bait nor fish.”

  He slipped on the backpack. “That’s not really fishing, Rox.”

  “Sure it is. It’s the essence of fishing. The fish and the bait are inconsequential. It’s the sitting, being still as the breeze plays over my skin, the snap of the line and the act of reeling something unknown in.”

  They headed down the path he pointed out. As they hiked, they had a full view of the early morning lake. “It’s a little breathtaking, the sights here. I could live without the walking, but everything has a price, I suppose,” she said.

  They stopped near the lake, moved a little off the trail and spread out a blanket. “You ready to eat yet?” Aidan asked.

  “No, breakfast was just a couple of hours ago.” Roxie took off her shoes and socks and laid down on the blanket.

  Aidan spread out beside her, on his side to watch her. She basked in the sun, and he was reminded of the cats she loved so much.

  “You really do enjoy the whole laying in the sun thing, huh?”

  “I do. I put on sunblock and it’s not to tan. The warmth is so nice.” She didn’t open her eyes as she spoke. “It’s like sensory overload out here, and the sun is the icing on a nature-filled cake.”

  “You glow in the light.”

  “You sound crazier than me, now.”

  “No, I mean… you’re beautiful.”

  She quirked her lips in a half-grin. “Crazy talk.”

  Reminding himself she’d basically dared him to prove how much he wanted her and only her, he placed his hand on her stomach and scooted closer.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to kiss you until we’re both drunk on it.” He grabbed her tank and pulled her closer, sealing his lips over hers.

  She turned to him, rising above him, and deepened the kiss. When they heard other people laughing and talking a few feet away on the trail, she pulled away. “You’re right. I feel dizzy.”

  “Come back to camp with me and let me show you more.”

  “You’ve already shown me more. Don’t worry, I trust your abilities to overwhelm me.”

  He exhaled, a little frustrated. Why was she so determined to rebuff his advances? He’d back off because that’s what she wanted. Let her enjoy her sunbathing and he’d think about a new plan of attack.

  She laid back, closing her eyes, and enjoyed the warmth as her breathing evened out.

  That night, they sat around the campfire talking. After their hike, they’d made a trip to the bathhouse and showered in the separate facilities for men and women. It was their last night and Roxie was surprised to find herself a little sad to be going home tomorrow. Given the nature, the time with Aidan, and the facilities to clean up, she could get used to camping.

  This trip was either a catastrophe, with the unintended but oh-so-delicious sex, or a total win, because she survived four days away from home. Whichever, she didn’t want it to end. Especially not with Aidan so deter
mined to sleep with her again. Of course, it was to prove a point, but what the hell—she could enjoy the attention, couldn’t she?

  Without a word, Aidan got up from the fire, grabbed two red solo cups, put some ice in them, and turned to her. “Let’s go into the tent.”

  “The tent is for sleeping, and I’m not ready for bed yet.”

  “It’s also for discretion. Come on, I’ve got a surprise for you.” He grabbed an electric lantern and led the way.

  Curious, Roxie followed him to the tent and crawled in after him. He pulled a bottle of bourbon from his knapsack. “Thirsty?”

  “Is it illegal to drink in a state park?”

  “Not sure. If it is, they have to catch you first, and we’re not going to get wild. Just play a little game.” He poured them both generous cups over a couple of ice cubes and handed her one of the red cups.

  “What game?”

  “Never-have-I-ever. Are you familiar with it?”

  “I went to college.” She made a face at him. “As in, ‘Never have I ever played this game in a state park where it might be illegal.’” She sat there, and when he didn’t take a drink she spoke up. “Well?”

  “What? It’s my first time playing here, too.”

  “Okay, well, it’s your turn.”

  “Let’s get things going… never have I ever kissed a boy.”

  “Nice.” She took a sip, letting the chill of the whiskey spread over her tongue then burn a trail down her throat. “Never have I ever voluntarily walked into a burning building.”

  Aidan toasted her, then took a drink. “Never have I ever had more than one lover at a time.”

  “Classy, but neither have I.” Shifting her legs under her, Roxie sat cross-legged, hunched over a little in the small tent. “Never have I ever had a friend with benefits.”

  He took a big gulp. “Do I have to drink for every time I’ve done it?”

  “No.” Roxie grinned at him. “It’s your turn.”

  “Never have I ever just used you for sex.”

  She examined him, unsure of whether or not she believed him. She didn’t think he was a liar, but neither did she believe he was all that attracted to her personally. She was here, he was here. It was a little too convenient. “Well, neither have I. Right, so let’s change the topic a little bit. Never have I ever eaten calamari.”