Page 35 of Secret Santa

“I’ll follow you to make sure–”

“No!” I blurted, then cleared my throat. “No, it’s fine.” I didn’t want him knowing I was currently living in a motel, not when his house looked the way it did. I still didn’t understand how this was going to work. We came from different worlds.

“Oh, there you are!” We both turned toward Sadie as she hurried toward us, a smile on her face.

“Hey,” I said, feeling awkward. She glanced at Aiden and her smile tightened. I didn’t know Sadie well, but she seemed like the friendliest person in the office.

“Hey, boss,” she said, and Aiden dipped his chin. She looked back at me. “I wanted to give you this.” She held out a folded piece of paper to me, and I glanced at Aiden before hesitantly taking it. “One for you, too.” She gave Aiden one too, and he took it with less suspicion.

“Thanks,” I said, sounding unsure.

“It’s your name,” she said, and I pinched my brows together. “For the Secret Santa party next week.” I nodded. How had I forgotten we were this close to Christmas? “Don’t let anyone know whose name you drew. Same for you.” He nodded, smiling softly at her.

Had he tried to sleep with her too? My stomach tightened as I watched them. How would I know who he had and hadn’t tried to sleep with?

“Anyway, no gifts over twenty-five dollars,” she said, taking a step back and wrapping her coat tighter around her.

“How’s Candice?” he asked, and I blinked. “Is she feeling okay?” Who the hell was Candice?

“Oh, she’s doing a lot better,” Sadie said, waving her hand. “She’s recovering really well.” Her face turned red under the streetlights as she glanced at me. “Thanks again, Mr. Rhodes.”

“I’ve told you to call me Aiden,” he chided gently. She gave him a tight smile.

“Right,” she said, taking another step back. “Anyway, like I said, nothing over twenty-five dollars and the party is next Friday.” She gave us a final tight smile, then turned and hurried to her car.

“Who’s Candice?” I asked as soon as she was out of earshot. He huffed out a laugh.

“Her wife,” he said. My face heated with embarrassment. “Remember how I told you I’ve taken care of medical bills?” I nodded. “Candice had an accident earlier this year, and I helped them out.” I nodded in understanding.

Guilt twisted my stomach. I needed to learn to trust him. So far, he hadn’t given me a reason not to, unless you counted not telling me about the other woman he’d had an office romance with. Was that lying? Technically not. It wasn’t like I’d told him about my previous relationships, either, not that there were that many.

“That was kind of you,” I said, and he shrugged.

“I just do what I can.” He looked across the parking lot, and I followed his gaze, finding him tracking Monica and David. “I can’t believe she lied to you.” His voice was darker than I’d ever heard.

“She probably thought she was doing the right thing,” I muttered, and he snapped his head down to me.

“Don’t defend her,” he said. “She was being a bitch.” I chewed on my cheek, not wanting to agree with him, but I couldn’t disagree either.

“It’s fine,” I mumbled. He stared at me for another moment, then he let out a breath.

“You’re right. Let’s not let her ruin our weekend.” He turned toward me and rested his hands on my hips, drawing me into him.

“Our weekend?” I asked, pushing my brows together.

“I was hoping you’d come pick out a Christmas tree with me tomorrow,” he said. “And help me decorate it?” I smiled, then folded my lips between my teeth as I shyly dropped my head.

“Yeah,” I muttered, “okay.”

“And stay at my place?” I glanced up at him, finding him giving me a hopeful look.

“You’re pushing it,” I said, and he sighed.

“A man can dream.” I laughed and rested my head against his chest.

“You don’t mind me staying the night again?” I asked in a small voice. He laughed as he pulled me tighter to him.

“Fuck, no,” he chuckled, and I pulled back to look at him. “I’d move you in tonight if you’d let me.” I rolled my eyes but smiled. He dipped down and gave me a hard, lingering kiss that stole my breath before he opened my car door. “Text me when you get home. If I don’t hear from you in thirty minutes, I’m coming to get you.”

---