Read Story of Us trilogy 01: TouchStone for Play for Free Online Page B

try to stifle a smile. "I see. Then I’m very
flattered." Blown away would be nearer the mark. Nervously, I play with my
rings and prepare to make small talk. "So, how’s your day been, Mr.
Stone?"
    I can’t believe I just said that.
    "Pretty good, although I have to say it’s getting
better by the minute, and please call me Ayden."
    I love the way those two syllables come together,
Ay-den …
    When the bell sounds for the start of the play, I sigh
with relief. I’m fighting to hold onto my composure, and that’s virtually
impossible with my insides insisting on doing somersaults. “That’s a nice thing
to say, Ayden."
    He leans into me and, startled, I tip back a little.
"What can I say, I’m a nice guy." He throws that out there,
just waiting for me to catch it.
    "I don’t doubt it." I pull my lips together,
forcing myself to say no more, but Mr. Stone there’s so much more I could say
in response to that. You’re toying with me - again, "Do you come to the
West End often?"
    Now I’m really scraping the barrel.
    "Not as often as I’d like. What about you?"
He has me in his sights again.
    "Not as often as I’d like, parking can be a
problem."
    "Yes it can. But that can be said of so many
cities around the world. Thankfully, I don’t have that problem."
    "Why, don’t you drive?"
    His mouth twitches slightly. "I have a chauffeur
Beth, parking is his problem, not mine."
    "Lucky you," I reply, much too tersely.
    He broadens his smile in such a dangerous way it
almost causes me to fall of my chair. "Indeed, lucky me. I feel very blessed."
    Now he’s teasing, making me laugh or is it a giggle?
He’s laughing softly too and his eyes are alight with amusement. I’m no expert,
but I think we just connected. Then again, what do I know? Either way, I’m
becoming more physically aware of him by the second. He’s doing something very
indecent to my libido.
    I think I’m being seduced.
    With a playful glint he massages his chin with his
forefinger, letting it roll in and out of that delicious dimple. "Maybe we
should carry out a kind of survey and check out the parking arrangement in
other cities?"
    Is that a serious question?
    With girlish enthusiasm I play along. "I hear
Rome can be quite congested."
    "Well there we are, let’s go to Rome and
check." He stands and takes my arm.
    Remaining seated, I offer a down turned smile.
"No, I can’t. I’m sorry."
    "Why ever not?" He mimics my expression.
    "It’s a school night."
    "Of course,” he says, as if he should have known.
“Nevertheless, I hear Rome is nice this time of year."
    I’m finding it impossible to conceal just how much I’m
enjoying his company and partaking in our silly conversation. In fact, I can’t
remember when I ever had this much fun with a man, with or without clothes on.
    "Rome’s nice at any time of year,” I say
confidently. “Or so I’ve been told."
    He ushers me towards the door, stopping to whisper in
my ear. "Then we’ll have to go."
    Effortlessly, he takes my hand. With a spring in my
step I accompany him through one door and then another and up a flight of stairs,
until we enter a private box overlooking the stage. It’s red and plush and
beautiful.
    "A box to ourselves? This is lovely Ayden."
    He directs me towards the seat on the left overlooking
the stage while he moves towards the seat on the right, next to an ice bucket
with the neck of a rather expensive looking bottle of something sticking out of
it.
    "Can I pour you a glass of champagne Beth?"
He asks with so much self-assurance it makes me think, you’ve done this
before.
    "Why not, you seem to be going to such a lot of
trouble on my behalf and, I have to say I’m a little taken aback." It’s
true, who does this?
    "Believe me it’s nothing, I didn’t want to ...
overwhelm you." He considers his words carefully.
    "Then you’ve succeeded. I’m flattered but not
overwhelmed." I flutter my eyelashes and dismiss the idea with a hand
gesture which makes us both