"I was,” I said, taking another bite of the potatoes. "Today was fun. Makes me wonder what other secrets you have that you aren't telling me."

He grinned in response.

"You want another beer?" he offered.

"How about a scotch instead,” I said.

"Sure thing.”

He started to head out of the kitchen to the living room liquor cabinet.

"Should I help you clean up first?" I asked.

"Nah," he said. "I'll put the food up, but the dishes can wait." He poured me a drink and I followed him out to the living room. "Be right back."

While I waited for him on the couch, my mind wandered back to the conversation we'd had when he extended the invitation for today. He had promised not to try anything. I mulled that over, angry at myself for having pushed him to that point. Our friendship was a once in a lifetime kind, that much was true, but I couldn't help but wonder....

"Penny for your thoughts?" he said having returned. He poured himself a drink and sat down beside me on the couch.

"Nothing, I'm just..." I turned to face him, tucking my legs up onto the side of the couch. "I've had a lot of fun today."

"Me too,” he said.

I leaned my head on my arm curled up on the back of the couch. He looked at me with his piercing blue eyes, brightened from the day in the sun. I wanted so desperately to say what was on my mind, but I knew as soon as I brought it up I would sound like a hypocrite. The last thing I wanted to do was to push Aiden away any further than I already had.

"It seems to me," he began. "That whenever we hang out, you end up having a good time."

"That's true,” I said. It seemed as if he were leading up to something.

"So it seems to me that if you enjoying doing something, and that something makes a person happy, then the person should do more of that thing."

"That seems logical." I nodded.

He reached over and absently played with my hair, tucking it behind my ear, smoothing down a flyaway.

"So what's the problem, Blair,” he said in a more serious plaintive tone. "Why can't we give this a shot? We already know that we care about each other. We definitely have a good time together. I mean, I know the circumstances are not ideal, but dammit, Blair.... I want this."

I hadn’t expected such a declaration and didn’t know immediately how to respond.

He continued, "Okay, you have told me that you don't want to jeopardize your chances of this job, right?" I nodded. "We've already proven that we can keep our personal relationship separate from our professional lives. I for one, would never do anything to hinder your chances at getting it. Sure, I want the position just as much as you do, but either one of us could get it, I think. You deserve it just as much as I do, and I don't want to take that away from you. Nor do I think you would do differently for me. I don't know which of us will get it, but I do know that no matter who gets it, we will both still be living here. Maybe we'll end up working for opposing law firms. Who knows? But I do know that I like you."

I sat in stunned silence.

I thought maybe he would try and kiss me or get me into bed in some way. His flirtations had waned over the past few weeks and I had thought he had accepted my rejection. Throughout the course of the day he had time and time again passed up any opportunity to make a pass at me. Aside from light flirtations he had remained true to his promise.

Still I felt torn.

I knew that what my heart wanted lay in a far different direction that what my mind would allow. Since the moment he had set foot in that office I hadn’t been able to get him out of my mind. I had almost convinced myself that the night we had spent together after our date had been a mistake, but having been with him in such an intimate way had just increased my feelings despite my inner protest.

I knew that I felt the same way about him, and I couldn’t longer deny it.

Not even to myself.

I looked at him, his expression one of patient expectation.

He wanted an answer from me, and I had none to give. I had been so career focused that I found it hard to let go, even now.

Without a word, I placed my hand behind his neck and pulled myself to him, placing a small but expectant kiss upon his lips. He looked stunned when I pulled back, but soon the crooked smile danced at the corner of his lips and he leaned forward and kissed me back. The heat of his lips sent shock waves through my whole being.

Of its own accord my arm tightened around the back of his shoulders as I felt his hands slide around my waist. Neither of us had changed out of our swimsuits and I became suddenly aware of the sand and saltwater that had dried to my skin. His tongue probed me, teasing along my lips searching for mine. I tasted the scotch on his mouth, twisting my fingers into his hair as my body already ached for more.

His hands slid down my waist along my hips and over my exposed thigh, finding the edge of the sundress, where he traced along the edge of the fabric teasing me as he continued to kiss me.

Just when I thought my lips would erupt into flame, he lightened his kisses and began to trail his lips along the side of my neck. Just as I suspected he left a trail of fire until he landed right beneath my ear, where he flicked his tongue.

I heard him inhale when my breath caught in my throat.

His hand slipped beneath the hem of my dress and he stroked the flesh of my thigh, moving upwards to my trembling abs. Even still I remained cautious as to how far I should let this go. My caution was silenced when he nipped at the curve of my earlobe, inciting an inner frenzy in me.

I pulled my hands back and traced the outline of his collar bone, smooth and tan from the day, but hindered by his linen shirt. He leaned back a bit to let me pull the garment off of him exposing the expanse of his muscular chest, where I placed the palm of my hand relishing in the feeling of his heart pounding beneath it.

My own matched his pace when I realized his fingers had found the edge of my bikini bottoms underneath my dress. He didn’t go past the edge, but traced small circles along the flesh just at the edge.

"When you touch me like that, it turns me on,” I whispered into his ear.

He curled his lips back in a heated grin.

"Do you know how much I love hearing you talk like that?" he growled, tightening his grip around my waist and pulling me closer to him.

I realized then that I wanted nothing less than what I had before me.

I wanted him, with everything that I had.

I arched my back to his touch, placing my eager lips back to his. I felt his fingers slide along my side, coming to a stop at the string of my bikini top. A momentary question passed between us, as he stopped and searched my eyes.

I looked at him with expectation.

His tentative trembling fingers found the tie around the back of my string top and pulled it loose. I pulled it over by head and tossed it aside, leaving just the then cotton fabric covering my alert breasts.

He returned to kiss me, allowing his lips to linger slowly over mine, while his fingers traced my skin, moving closer and closer to my awaiting breasts. I sighed when he grazed his thumb over my nipple, cautiously as if gauging my reaction. The sensation made my eyes flutter and my breath grow ragged.

"Take me to the bedroom,” I whispered.

"Not yet," he sighed.

What was that supposed to mean?

What guy answers 'not yet' to the offer of going to the bedroom?

I soon found out.

He pulled away from me and casually reached for our tumblers. Without a word he handed me my scotch and raised his glass, clicking it against mine without a word. I watched with curiosity as he downed his, set it back on the table with a bit of a mischievous glance in my direction.