Page 9 of One Little Spark

Was it hot in here?She wanted to fan herself. Desperate for a distraction, she said, “It was pretty wild out there today.”

“It was,” he agreed.

She glanced up at him, but it was a mistake. He captured her gaze and held it hostage. She just couldn’t look away from his deep, dark eyes. They were hypnotic. She was holding his hand in hers when he rubbed his finger along her palm. Her breath caught in her throat as his touch made her belly flip-flop.

“Yeah, okay, Mike,” Jory said as he came in the door.

Aiden immediately stopped moving his hand, and the spell was broken.

“I switched with Mike, so you guys are on your own next Thursday night.” Jory yawned. “I’m gonna head.”

“Wait,” Hazel commanded. Speaking of pushing things, it was now or never. “I had a thought this afternoon.”

“Just one?” Aiden asked, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Actually, it was Mom who had the thought,” she clarified. “I said I wanted to move out”—Hazel turned to face Jory—“which she is all for, by the way.” Her brother’s mouth flattened into a straight line, but she held up her hands to stop him from interrupting.

“The thing is,” she continued, “I can’t afford a place downtown, which leaves the apartments on the edge of town near the freeway. I have no interest in living there, so you can save it, Jory. No need to protest.” When she glanced at Aiden, his gaze narrowed. “Mom came up with a great idea. She suggested I move in here with Aiden. He’s got three bedrooms and all kinds of space, and he could keep an eye on me—not that I need it—which would make you happy, Jory, but more importantly it would make me happy.”

“No,” Aiden said and shook his head.

Jory grinned. “Yes, that works.”

Hazel smiled at her brother. “See? I knew you would like it. I’ll be safe and out of Mom’s space. I know you think she wants me in the basement, but I’m cramping her style.”

Jory frowned. “I seriously doubt that, but this is a good compromise. I don’t want you at the edge of town in those rentals, for sure. This would work.”

“No.” Aiden stood up. “Absolutely not. This is not a good idea, Jor.”

“Relax, bro. She can take care of herself.” Hazel opened her mouth to comment when Jory continued, “She just needs a little oversight.”

“Jor, really, this is not a good idea. Your sister does not need oversight and she cannot live with me.”

Hazel smiled at Aiden. He knew she didn’t need constant watching. He understood her. She truly appreciated that. Now he just needed to agree to letting her move in.

Jory frowned. “Why? You afraid she’ll crampyourstyle? Not that you’re seeing anyone or doing anything at the moment, but she wouldn’t care if you were. Right, Haze?”

Her belly flopped. Seeing anyone? That wouldn’t be good. She wasn’t sure she could handle seeing Aiden with another woman, especially this up close and personal. Maybe she hadn’t thought this through enough.The story of her life.Too late to back down now. “Um, yeah. That would be fine. I’ll stay out of your way. You stay out of mine. It’ll work.”

Aiden was shaking his head. “You’re not listening to me. I don’t think this is a great idea. I still have to redo the kitchen.” He pointed to the old yellow stove with the matching yellow fridge. It was vintage nineteen-seventies. The cheap vinyl on the floor was cracked, and the cupboards were a mottled dark brown wood that had seen better days.

“That’s fine. I don’t mind. And I can help with the renovations.” Hazel smiled at him. One more opportunity to be in close proximity to the sexy man.

“Seriously. Jory. This is not a good idea.”

Jory sighed. “Do it as a favor to me, bro. Give it a month, then we’ll see. Maybe by then things in town will havesettled down.” He gave Aiden a look that Hazel wasn’t sure how to interpret.

“Yes, please give it a month.” Hazel turned on her best smile. She knew as soon as the word “favor” came out of Jory’s mouth, Aiden was done for. He wouldn’t turn Jory down. She wanted to jump for joy, or giggle like a freaking schoolgirl. It was stupid. She was a twenty-eight-year-old woman who did not need protection and was perfectly fine on her own. Hell, she’d moved out when she was only seventeen. But in fairness to Jory and her mom, that hadn’t gone so well. It was going to go well this time. She would make sure of it.

“Jor, man, seriously, I’ll help her find a place. I’ll even help with the rent, but I don’t think moving in here is a great idea.”

“It’ll be fine. She won’t be a problem for you. Promise.” He turned and stared hard at his sister.

“That’s right,” Hazel agreed. “It will be fun; us living here together.” She smiled at Aiden, but her insides were quivering. The stare he was giving her made her heartbeat tick up. When her mother suggested it, she’d thought it was a fabulous idea. Suddenly, she wasn’t so sure. All that time alone with Aiden was not going to be good for her equilibrium.

Chapter Five

Aiden stared after Hazel as she brought in yet another box. How the fuck did he agree to her moving in? It defied logic. She was the last person he needed to share a house with. It was going to be pure torture. And a lot of fun. Hazel always made him laugh.

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