Chapter 33

Nora realized that Randy had been unusually quiet during AJ's story and looking to the front door where she had last seen him, she saw that he was curled up, on the floor, with his thumb stuck in his mouth, sound asleep. "I thank you two for wearing the little guy out," she said as she walked over, scooped her son up in her arms, and added that she needed to put him to bed.

Getting to her feet Miranda replied, "That's alright darling we need to be going anyway," then she and AJ took their leave. As they walked across the drive to Miranda's door she turned to him and asked, "Would you like to come in for dinner? I'm sure I could throw something together without too much trouble. I'm just sorry there aren't any brownies left."

He smiled down at her and said, "The other half of the batch is in the fridge at my house. Would you like to come home with me for dinner?"

Miranda's eyes closed as a torrid scene of her and AJ entwined among the sheet of a king size bed flashed through her mind. She knew it must have been AJ's bed because she only owned a queen sized one. Opening her eyes to dispel the vision, she blushed lightly, and said, "I'd love to, AJ."

Not knowing the reason for her blush, he was still pleased she had agreed. "Do you need to get anything from the house before we go?"

Miranda smiled and wondered what he would say if she told him she needed to grab a toothbrush and clothes for the morning. She simply said, "No." Then let him escort her to the Escalade. She enjoyed the forty-minute drive to his home because he had reached out to capture her hand and didn't let it go.

Once they were in his kitchen, AJ asked Miranda to put some rice on and showed her where things where. He was busy heating up the wok. He got an assortment of vegetables and some shrimp out of the fridge, "I hope you like stir fry?" he asked.

"Almost as much as I like brownies," she grinned.

They had a pleasant dinner and polished off the brownies with cups of coffee while sitting on the couch. When they finished, AJ rose from the couch, offered her his hand, and when she stood next to him he reluctantly said, "I suppose I should be getting you home now."

Placing her hand on his chest she looked up at him and said, "You only need to take me home if you want to. This maybe awfully bold of me, but I want you AJ Chegwidden, and if you feel the same, I'd like to adjourn to that king size bed of yours."

Smiling down at her he asked, "How did you know I had a king size bed?"

Startled that she had almost given away her secret, she quickly recovered by saying, "I assumed a man of your size would need a bed of that size."

"Well you're right, I do have a king size bed, and I don't think you're too bold for what you said. I like an honest woman," he told her. "I feel I should be equally as honest with you. I don't usually go in for one night stands. I just want you to know that if we start something tonight, I want it to be an on going thing."

"I feel the same, AJ. It's been a long time for me. I haven't been in a relationship since my husband died. You're the first man that has come along that I have felt any strong attraction to."

"I glad you feel the same way. Come with me and you can check out my king size bed properly."

Going into the bedroom he tenderly took her into his arms and began kissing her. He ever so slowly removed her clothing, kissing and caressing every inch of skin as it was exposed. She was so lovely! It had been quite some time since he'd had a woman here in the house, and it felt just a bit odd. The last woman here was Meredith, and they had been engaged to be married. Remembering how badly that ended, he quickly turned his thoughts back to the woman in his arms not the one best forgotten!

To Be Continued….