Page 26 of One Wild Ride

TEN

Alexander

“But this body?” Aria said waving her hands around me.

I shouldn’t have told her about never being naked in front of a woman. Now, I’m going to have to explain why. That’s when I’ll lose her forever.

Perhaps if I had kissed her last night or any of the other nights I had the chance, I would have gotten something before she left. Not left with a sad conversation about my penis and a look of horror on her face.

“What about my body?” I said as I glanced down at the zipper on my jeans.

Aria stood and I took in how beautiful she was—savored it because I knew it would be my last chance to admire her this close. She had an amazing purple sweater on that clung to her and all I wanted to do was peel it off.

But that wasn’t going to happen.

She knelt in front of me. “You have this beautiful, sexy body and you haven’t let women see it? Even covered up with your top and jeans I can tell it’s gorgeous underneath. What if I took all the art in your place and hid it away, saying you could never see it again? How would that make you feel?”

“I’m not an object, Aria. Paintings are objects to be admired—a person is not,” I said, disappointed at her take on beauty and people.

“You’re right, Alex. And I don’t mean any woman has the right to feel you up whenever they want, or that you should wear revealing clothing. What I meant is, if you are intimate with someone you should trust them enough to show them. Did you not trust them?”

Aria tucked her legs under herself and sat on her haunches. Her soulful brown eyes wide, seeking answers. Answers I couldn’t give her.

“Trust had nothing to do with it.” I shook my head. “Why are we talking about this, Aria? Why does this concern you anyway? These are my issues. You are here to paint my mural, not delve into my psyche.”

I picked up the sketch pad and handed it to her. She took what I offered, sighing as she studied her drawing. Aria didn’t move and refused to lift her head. A minute crept by before her eyes rose, telling a story I was afraid to hear.

“You’re right, Alex. I’m just your employee, here to do a job.” She stood and turned to face the wall.

Gritting my teeth, I held onto everything that wanted to come out. Every detail of my life, of my frustration, and how she was the first person to get to know me that wasn’t controlled by my mother.

I carried the weight but I had grown up learning how to hold that heavy burden. Aria was light and free—everything I wasn’t. Everything that drew me to her sweet splendor kept me from reaching out for more.

I stood and walked up behind her. “I didn’t mean that—”

She turned and all the warmth had drained from her eyes. “I know what you meant, Alex. Or would you prefer Mr. Hawthorne?”

“I want you to call me Alex. Just because you work for me doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”

She covered her heart with the pad of paper, cradling it. “Like Bradley? No thank you, Alex. Despite what you think, my friendship can’t be bought. You may be used to paying people to be with you, but I have to be honest and tell you that’s not healthy. And I won’t contribute to that behavior.”

Aria turned and headed toward the door of the bedroom. “Since you picked out the picture, it’s going to take me a few days to make a large mock up for your wall. I won’t be back until next week. Goodbye, Alex.”

I watched her turn and walk down the hall before she disappeared.

Damn.

That wasn’t at all how it was supposed to go. I was stupid to think Aria would start to fall for me as she spent more time in this room near me. Like the mural was some aphrodisiac drawing us together. It’s as if I have the imagination and emotional maturity of a sixteen-year-old.

And even if she fell for me, what would become of that? There was a battle being fought in my heart. Between life as it has always been and the risk of love. I wanted love to win and maybe that was why I tried to keep Aria near. Even though I knew at the end of whatever this was, life as I knew it would ultimately win.

Because life before this mural involved my mother. And my mother always won.

“Alex, can I speak with you?” Bradley appeared in the doorway.

Perfect timing. The one man I considered a friend was also hired help.

“Yes. What is it?”

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