Page 85 of Seduced in Ink

Not again.

She let out a breath and approached the door. Unlocking it, she met his gaze.

“Hi,” she whispered. He swallowed hard, and her gaze went straight to the long lines of his throat.

“Thank you for opening the door. I wasn’t sure you would.”

She looked up at him and frowned. “I wasn’t sure I was going to either for a moment.”

“Can I come in? Or…I can stand right here. I don’t want you to feel like I’m crowding you.”

“Come in. Let’s talk. We need to. And I want to make sure the door’s closed and locked.”

He frowned as he looked around, likely noticing that the chairs were on the tables and the lights were off.

“Are you alone here?”

She nearly rolled her eyes but understood where he was coming from.

“Brynn just left. And, yes. I’m alone. And my car is parked in the garage, not out in the alley. I’m being safe.”

“I don’t like that you’re alone.”

“You don’t get to have an opinion on what I do, do you?” she asked, not realizing that she was going to snap the words until she’d said them.

Aaron stuffed his hands into his pockets and nodded. “I guess I deserve that.”

“No, I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want to yell. I’m just so tired of yelling.”

“I’m tired of yelling, too. Though I haven’t been the one doing the yelling. Your cousin did most of that. And my brother.”

Her eyes widened. “Wait, is that a bruise on your chin? Did Lincoln hit you?” She reached out and brushed her fingers along his newly shaven jaw, her eyes going wide. “I cannot believe he hit you.”

“He didn’t. Ethan did.”

Her hand fell, and she blinked, sure she hadn’t heard correctly. “Ethan? Sweet baby Ethan?”

Aaron snorted and shook his head. “I’m going to have to use that phrase with him, I think. I’ve never actually heard someone call him sweet baby anything.”

“I know he’s your older brother, but he always seems so innocent and sweet.”

“And I was never innocent?” he teased. It felt like they were back to their old selves. Madison had missed it. Even though the crack across her heart still burned.

“There’s nothing innocent about you, and we both know it,” she said, sounding far more sultry than intended.

He licked his lips, and she bit hers.

“Why are you here, Aaron? If it’s to check up on me, I’m fine. I’m working. I’m making do. Guy isn’t here. He can’t be.”

Aaron reached out as if to touch her face but seemed to think better of it at the last minute, letting his hand fall. She felt a bit bereft at the lack of touch. She needed him.

And she hated herself for wanting that touch, for wantinghimso much.

“I’m an idiot,” he said, shocking her out of her thoughts.

“You are, but why?” she asked. He laughed, bringing a smile to her lips.

“Again, I deserve that. I’m an idiot for pushing you away. I thought you needed time with your family. I thought you just needed space to breathe and figure out what you wanted. Because I assumed, I hurt you and myself, thinking you didn’t need me. But you know what we didn’t do?”

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