“Aiden.” She sits a little straighter. “What’s going on here?” She looks between us and I wait for him to speak up. Thankfully, he does.
“Emma and I are together.”
The way he says it sends shivers down my body. A definite thing. A tangible object you can touch.
I look between them, wondering how Mom will react. She’s got a couple of tattoos herself, so I’m not worried about her judging him based on that. But he’s older and this is all weird.
“I wished you told me during our meeting. Surely I would have figured out who you are when I went to visit.”
He shrugs, smiling as he looks down at his hands. “Yes, I know. I figured I would meet you sooner or later. But I knew if you or Emma knew, you wouldn’t let me invest.” His charming smile lights the room. “Better to ask forgiveness.”
“You’re right.” She raises an eyebrow as she stirs her frothy creamer into her coffee.
I bring the mug to my lips and swallow the warm liquid. How does he even know?
“Ashley,” I say out loud, without thinking. “Ashley told you.”
I’m going to kill her or hug her. I don’t know yet.
“Ashley?” Mom looks at me inquisitively.
Aiden smiles. “I’m her big brother.”
He sounds proud, and I’m glad they’re getting along better.
Mom claps her hands. “Oh! I just love her! This all makes so much more sense now.” She calms and clears her throat. “But still, Mr... Aiden, I appreciate the gesture, but we can’t accept such a gift knowing what we know now.”
I nod in agreement with her words.
Aiden places his large hands on the table, looking more business than friendly. “It’s already done, and I can assure you it’s not a gift. You’ve owned this business for over twenty years. It’s not charity, it’s an investment. I promise you, it’s no big deal.”
Her inhibitions melt away and she wipes a tear away. “Thank you. I know I can’t talk you out of it, but I will repay you for everything.”
He shakes his head. “Investment,” He reminds with a smile.
I sit in admiration. He would do something like this for me?
Aiden’s green eyes glide over the full countertops. “You baked?”
He smiles the sweetest smile before moving to devour some cupcakes. I admire his lean frame in our small kitchen. If he were to move two feet his head would hit the fan.
Mom laughs as she watches him. What she says next doesn’t surprise me. She’s always been this way with my friends.
Just never a boyfriend. I can’t believe I just thought that. Is that what he is?
She watches with a worried mother expression as he picks up another.
“Look at you!” She stands up, pulling pans from the cabinets. “You’re starving. You’re not heading back to the city tonight. Have dinner with us. You can sleep on the couch. I know it’s not much, but it would make me happy.”
He takes another bite of a blueberry cupcake. “No, it’s more than enough. Thank you.” He continues as she’s about to turn the burner on. “Thank you, really. But I’d love to eat what Emma made. I missed her cooking around the house.” Well, that wasn’t subtle.
Mom smiles, giving me a sideways glance. Hopefully, she won’t ask about that for a while.
Being the amazing woman she is, she leaves to give us some privacy and tend to her garden. But she leaves us with a parting sentence.
“Regina called and said Caleb invited us to dinner tomorrow night when you saw him earlier. I thought that was sweet. Why didn’t you tell me? It’s been years since we’ve been there for dinner.” She smiles.
I shrug. Thanks, Mom.
Aiden raises his brow at me, but I shake my head. It isn’t a conversation we need to have right now.
A very happy Rex jumps on Aiden when Mom opens the backdoor and steps outside.
I laugh as he prances around foolishly. “Get down, Rex.”
Aiden sets his food down and gets on the floor, hugging the wagging pup.
It makes me melt. I admire how Aiden, with his long and lean body, covered in tattoos, and a powerhouse of a man is sitting on my kitchen floor, telling Rex how good of a boy he is a million times.
Finally, he sits next to me, his happy demeanor morphing into something different. Sadder and darker.
After a few moments of silence, his green eyes glide over me. “Why did you leave?” His deep voice is stern, demanding answers.
I gulp. “I got scared, and I didn’t want to be a burden.” I admit, cursing myself for thinking I have the strength to stay away from him. All my thoughts have been utterly consumed by everything that he is since I last saw him.
He laughs shortly. “You are never a burden. I already told you, you’re mine. You can’t separate us. You can’t make that decision on your own.” He looks out of the kitchen window and back to me. “I won’t allow it, Emma,” He states with finality.
I want to smooth the worry lines between his black brows. I did this to him. I feel awful; I knew I couldn’t stay away from him. I know I’m his.
“I’m sorry.” I lean towards him.
He checks the window, making sure Mom is still outside.
Such a gentleman.
Then he grabs my face in his large hands and crashes his mouth to mine.
I lose myself in him as he kisses me passionately. The moment last mere seconds, but I feel better than I have in days. Just from his touch.
He doesn’t bother asking if we are okay, if I am okay with us being together, or whatever it is we are. It’s as if he already knows what’s in my heart. And to be truthful, he doesn’t need to ask.
He pulls away, pushing a stray hair behind my ear. “By the way, who is Caleb?”
I hesitate. I could lie, it’s not like it matters. No one matters but him, but I can’t lie to him…I never will. If my parents’ marriage taught me anything, it was that communication is key. That’s why they stayed together for so long. I need to remind myself that whenever I doubt him.
I flip my hand carelessly in the air, keeping my tone nonchalant. “An ex from high school.”
His jaw twitches and he lifts a brow. “And your mom wants you to go to dinner at your ex’s house because?”
I sigh. “She doesn’t know we dated. It’s a long story, but to make it short, our parents have been friends for years and we dated in high school. He cheated on me on my birthday. That’s it.” I smile but his perfectly controlled face doesn’t waver.
“Why doesn’t she know you two dated?” He asks the question I hoped he wouldn’t ask.
I shrug. “She would let him stay over really late when I was in high school because she thought we were best friends.”
He shakes his head. “Fucking wonderful. Did he do anything to you back then?” His green eyes bearing into mine.
I look at him confused. “No, of course not. Only you, I’ve never done anything with anyone but you. You know this,” I remind him.
His body relaxes before tensing up again. “So, you never did anything with him at all?”
I hesitate and he leans in closer.
“We kissed,” I admit.
Aiden’s fist clenches.