Prologue
SHE LIGHTLY DRUMMED the table, only leaving his face to look at the clock. Two more minutes; she could do this. When she turned back, he had leaned against the chair, tapping his foot. “What is it?” she asked, but already knew the answer.
“I know I’m not the most handsome, sure, but you didn’t even try to know me.” The man’s gaze fell to her lone hand on the table, drumming away, then back at her. “We started with only five minutes. Our time’s nearly up and you don’t even know my name.”
The woman sighed, dismissing her hand from the table. “Fine, what’s your name? What’s your occupation? How long have you been single and desperate enough to attend a speed-dating event to find your potential soulmate?”
He stared back, his face suddenly crumbled. “I’m Aaron. Aaron Burton.” Then he paused and scoffed. “What’s yours?”
“Amora Kinley,” she mumbled, looking back to the clock. Less than a minute more of Aaron Burton. Less than an hour more of this speed-dating. Then I can go home, she reminded herself, turning back to him. Then she’ll be satisfied.
"Amora.” Aaron rolled out the word, and leaned forward, a smile fighting at his lips. “Doesn’t that mean... love?”
“Yeah, but it also means mulberry.”
The man chuckled, amused. “Well, what’s a minor doing here? You clearly want to be somewhere else.”
“I may appear young, but I’m actually twenty-three.” Then she paused, glancing at the table over and glaring. The woman only winked back. “My friend wanted me to get out of the house.”
“Why didn’t you just say no?”
“Well, you clearly don’t know Willow.”
Aaron studied her, still tapping his foot, and shook his head. “Well, I’m your loss! You’ll never find any as good as me.” He huffed. “How do you know you don’t want a boyfriend if you’ve never had one?”
“You’d be surprised.”
