her. “Isn’t that... I think that’s...” Her voice trailed off as Summer slowly turned away from the door of the shop toward the person her friends were staring at. She knew who it was before her eyes landed on him.
“Aiden.” His name left her lips in a whisper as she gazed at him from across the street. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans that hung on his waist and a deep red V-neck T-shirt that stretched across his chest, accentuating his muscles. Seeing pictures of him on social media or in magazines over the years did nothing to prepare her for actually laying eyes on him in person. Her heart was beating so fast that she couldn’t help but clutch her chest to try to slow it down.
There wasn’t too much traffic on the street, but enough that he should have been paying more attention to the cars and foot traffic than to her. Yet, even as he crossed the street, his eyes remained fixed on hers. Her gaze briefly left his face to admire his graceful, yet powerful, stride. His walk had always done something to her. He never rushed when he walked, as if he had all the time in the world. She’d never tell him this, but she couldn’t even watch him walk without the melodies to every Jill Scott song ever created floating through her mind.
As he approached, she was able to cast her eyes across his face more closely. Aaliyah had described him as milk chocolate, but Summer had to slightly disagree. She’d spent most of her life admiring Aiden’s complexion and it was definitely more like a hazelnut dipped in a rich chocolate-caramel blend. His strong jawline, deep gingerbread-colored eyes, and low, neatly trimmed beard took his look from sexy to downright delicious. Not that she was thinking about her friend as delicious. She was just observing a known fact...or so she kept telling herself.
When he finally stood in front of her, he didn’t say anything. She felt his eyes on every part of her face, causing her cheeks to grow warmer by the second. Girl, get a hold of yourself. This was Aiden. Her old classmate Aiden. Her good friend Aiden. He must have sensed her discomfort because he finally broke the silence.
“There are no better days than summer days,” he said with a smile, causing Summer to laugh harder than she’d intended. Hearing him say those words brought her back to her first day in kindergarten. She’d laughed then. She laughed now.
“Well, those are the best days,” she replied as she leaned up to give him a hug. Just like that, the feeling of discomfort dimmed. It didn’t go away, but it definitely lessened. She ignored the butterflies she felt in her stomach when they embraced and, instead, relished the joy of seeing her long-time friend again.
* * *
She was there. In the flesh. For once, Summer wasn’t a figment of his imagination. She’d even smiled and hugged him, which was more of a greeting than he’d thought he would get. Summer never did like surprises, and Aiden being in Miami was definitely a surprise. He’d expected a playful punch on the arm to be the most contact they’d have.
“How did you get the address to the boutique?” Summer asked. “We don’t launch the website until next week.”
“Winter gave it to me when I called Bare Sophistication in Chicago.”
“Figures,” Summer said with a laugh. “What are you doing in Miami?”
“I have an exhibit opening soon, so I’m here to finalize those plans.”
“A new exhibit? That’s awesome!”
Aiden turned to the woman who had spoken on his left. He’d seen four of them standing near the boutique when he’d crossed the street, but the closer he got, the more his eyes were only drawn to Summer. Judging by the surprised look on Summer’s face, she’d forgotten they were there, as well.
“I shouldn’t have said anything. The exhibit hasn’t been announced yet,” he stated.
“No worries, we won’t say anything. I’m Aaliyah Bai, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Aiden Chase.”
“We know who you are,” Aaliyah said enthusiastically before winking at Summer. “This is Danni Allison and this is Nicole LeBlanc.” Aiden shook both of their hands, as well.
“The four of us were actually going to get dinner at a Cuban restaurant a few doors down,” Summer said after the introductions were done. “Would you like to join us?”
Aiden looked from Summer, to the women, and then back to Summer. What he really wanted to do was be alone with Summer, but obviously she didn’t want that.
“You know what? I forgot that I need to finish unpacking my stuff back at the condo,” Danni said.
“You finished unpacking last week.”
Danni ignored Summer’s statement and turned to Aaliyah and Nicole. “Ladies, care to join me back at Summer’s condo?”
Aiden smiled at Danni’s not-so-discreet way of helping him out.
“Summer, why don’t you and Aiden go ahead to the restaurant. You can tell us how it is later.”
Summer glanced at him before giving Danni a smile that seemed forced. “Okay, then I guess I’ll see you when I get home.”
Aiden observed her as she watched her friends retreat. She didn’t speak after they left, but turned to walk toward the restaurant. As they walked the short distance, she fidgeted with the straps of her purse, taking it on and off her shoulder several times before opting to leave it on her shoulder. Considering how uncomfortable he was making her, he shouldn’t have been checking her out—but he couldn’t help himself.
“You know, I ate a couple hours ago, so we don’t have to eat if you don’t want to.”
She stopped walking and turned to him. “I could always use a hand lifting some of the heavy boxes in the boutique. The grand opening is in two months, so we’re trying to get everything organized since the floors just got done.”
Good to know some things haven’t changed. When Summer got nervous about something, she always needed to remain busy. As long as she had something else to focus on, she was fine.
“Yeah, that sounds good. I didn’t get to the gym or go running today, so I could use a good workout lifting boxes.”
She studied his arms and even the simplest look from her warmed his body. “So, you still run?”
“Anytime I can.” Running was always something they had in common. “Do you still run?”
“At least four times a week.”
His eyes then raked over the snow-white shorts hugging her thighs and her flowy, yellow blouse. When she turned and began walking back to her boutique, he stole a glance at her creamy, butterscotch-colored legs.
He was still staring at her legs when she opened the door to her boutique and motioned for him to step inside.
“Welcome to Bare Sophistication Miami. It isn’t much to look at now, but it will be as soon as the furniture gets delivered in a couple weeks. I’m having a lounge space on the raised platform in the corner, and we’ll offer tea and infused water throughout the day for our customers.”
Aiden observed the space in detail, noting the deep walnut flooring throughout the boutique and
