Page 53 of Aiden

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.

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