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responsible one,” she said.
    “It wasn’t easy, believe me.” Aidan thrust his hands into his hair again. “Just give me a moment to calm down, okay?” He closed his eyes and exhaled a cavernous breath.
    “Calm down?” Beth’s eyes traveled across his face, down his chest and stomach to his—
    Her breath hitched.
    He was still erect.
    Now that she could actually see the outline of him under his pants, she had confirmation of what she’d assumed earlier: He was very well endowed. From what Connie told her, a well-endowedman was a very good thing.
    “This is what you do to me,” Aidan said softly. “I don’t even have to touch you. Just the thought or sight of you arouses me.”
    Beth averted her gaze, embarrassed that he’d caught her staring at him. The thing that surprised her was he didn’t look the least bit ruffled by it. She knew then he was right for stopping them when he did. If she couldn’t even look at his erection concealed by his pants without blushing, then she was not ready to go beyond kissing with him.
    Beth gave Aidan his requested moment to calm down and used the time to settle her own emotions. How, in one instant, could she feel hesitant about intimacy, and the next, act like a physically starved woman who’d push the boundaries and act so differently from her usual character?
    After a minute or so, Aidan pulled her close and tucked her against his chest, resting his chin on the top of her head. The pleasurable way her body responded immediately to him told her that such a transformation wasn’t as farfetched as she had assumed.
    Beth jumped out of Aidan’s arms when she heard the front door slam shut.
    “Gee, tonight was fun!” Olivia’s loud pronunciation was abnormally slow and deliberate. “I think I’ll go to sleep now—in my bedroom—which is right next to Beth’s bedroom.” The volume of her voice increased. “Therefore, I must walk past her room to get to mine!”
    Beth giggled at Olivia’s dramatics. She was grateful, though, that her friend was courteous enough to let them know she was back instead of returning unannounced and catching them in a compromising position.
    “Liv, it’s all right,” Beth called. “You can come in. Aidan and I are just talking.”
    Olivia poked her head around the corner, her hand covering her eyes. She separated her forefinger and middle finger and peered at them through the crack.
    “Oh, good. You’re decent!” With a smile, she dropped her hand and stepped out into full view.
    Beth laughed. “Liv, I told you, Aidan and I were just—”
    “Yes, I know, talking.” Olivia gave a casual gesture of her hand. “But tell me something, Beth, since when does your hair tangle, your lips puff up, and your shoes fall off from just talking?”
    Beth looked down at her stocking feet. Her cheeks flamed for the umpteenth time this evening.
    A knowing smirk played across Olivia’s face. “That must’ve been some conversation.”
    Aidan placed his hand to the small of Beth’s back and chuckled. “She’s got you there, baby.”
    Olivia wiggled her fingers in a playful wave. “Good night, you two.”
    She skipped off to her bedroom.
    Beth suppressed a groan. She would have a lot of explaining to do tomorrow.
    Aidan’s hand traveled up her back to her shoulder, where he gave an affectionate squeeze. “I should get going.”
    “Right now?”
    He regarded her apologetically. “I don’t want to, but I also don’t want you to be tired tomorrow.”
    Beth noted the late hour displayed on the bedside clock. Once again, he was being the responsible one. She had to start making the same effort.
    She offered a compliant smile. “I’ll walk you out.”
    After putting her shoes back on, she accompanied Aidan to the foyer.
    “Let me escort you to your car, or motorcycle, whatever you drove here,” she said on her way to the closet to fetch her coat.
    To her dismay, Aidan shook his head. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable not knowing if you