Page 53 of Finding Happily Ever After

She’d lied to him.

Maybe not overtly, but withholding the truth like that was almost the same. Especially the truth that she’d withheld.

A virgin?

Hell. That wasn’t fair to keep that from him. And why would she? If they were getting as close as he thought they were…why wouldn’t she trust him with that information?

Every time he thought about that night and how he’d…a growl of frustration rose inside him. He’d been so rough with her. He’d let his need and desire for her overshadow everything and if he’d known that…shit.

The fact that Aiden hadn’t told her about Brenna…well, that was different.Wasn’t it?

It was a part of his life he was trying to put behind him. It didn’t have anything to do with who he was now.

Maybe Natalie felt the same?

He couldn’t think clearly.

With classes over for the day, Aiden packed up his things, leaving the stack of unmarked papers on his desk. They could wait. He was in no state for marking. He needed some fresh air. No. He needed a drink. Hell, he needed both, because every time he thought about that night with Natalie, he was conflicted. Without a doubt, it had been the most connected he’d ever felt with a woman.Ever.It was no contest. And the sex…damn. Out of this world. And that was the problem. How could he be both angry at himself and full of shame for the way he’d taken her and at the same time feel that it had been absolutely perfect and the hottest sex he’d ever had?

He needed out of his head.

Aiden drove the short distance to his house, but instead of going inside, he left his car parked out front and walked toward Main Street. It was a warm spring day. The snow was melting and almost gone in places that the afternoon sun hit. He unzipped his jacket and let the air hit his face as he took deep breaths. By the time he got to Main Street, he felt better. Not that it was much of an improvement.

“Hey…Aiden, right?”

“Nick.” Aiden automatically smiled at the man he’d almost ran into on the sidewalk. He’d been so lost in his own thoughts he hadn’t even seen him pushing the stroller. “Sorry, man. I almost crashed right into you.”

“All good.” Nick laughed. “I’ve been there myself.”

“Been where?”

“So twisted up about a girl that you can’t think straight.”

What?

Aiden was about to protest when Nick added, “Of course, thegirlwho had me twisted up is a chubby-cheeked little angel with the sweetest smile.” He bent down and tickled the little girl who giggled the sweetest sound and kicked her feet. It was so cute that Aiden couldn’t help but smile.

“Wow.”

“Right?” Nick said. “I have never met another female who has the power to make me smile the way she does. Magical, right?”

Aiden had met one other woman who could put a smile on his face just as easily. Maybe even more so. But she also apparently had the power to take it away just as quickly. His smile twisted into a frown he felt deep in his gut.

“Hey,” Nick said. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to—”

“Is this some sort ofnew in townmeet-up?” Jeremy Davis, his hands full of boxes from Sweetie Pies, joined them on the sidewalk.

“If it were…”

Jeremy laughed. “I know, I know—then I’m out. But I could bribe you with a cinnamon bun.”

“Any honey buns?” Aiden was a sucker for those buns, even if they did make him think of Natalie. But everything made him think of her, so what did it matter?

“Sorry, just cinnamon today.”

Aiden shook his head. “I’m out.”

Jeremy looked to Nick, who shook his head firmly. “Not today. I gotta keep my sexy dad bod if I have any hope of ever dating again.”

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