Page 23 of Falling for You Again

Aaron isn’t in bed when I wake up to burnished sunlight pooling on his empty pillow. My first thought is he regretted last night and that’s why he isn’t here. The only thing I regret are the new memories of him that will haunt me for a long time. It won’t be easy, walking away after only one night with him.

But as much as I want to fall back to sleep, I can’t linger in bed. I have a table to sand, and I want to know what Aaron plans to tell his team come Monday. When does he expect an answer? When will Savant notify Artisant? That’s my window to prepare my offer to Uncle Bear. I need numbers from the registers Mom manages and approval for a business loan before Uncle Bear seeks another buyer once Savant pulls out.

I roll from bed to go search for Aaron only to stop when I spot a pair of women’s running shorts and a thin T-shirt, threadbare from many washings, folded on the nightstand. The clothes weren’t there last night. Nor were the flip-flops on the floor beside the bed.

They must belong to Fallon.

That thought comes with a sting of envy.

Still, I put them on, feeling a little weirded out because they’re his ex’s. But what choice do I have? I don’t want to wear a ball gown home, and my feet will disown me if I put them back in my heels.

Following the scent of bacon and eggs, I go downstairs. I spot my gown draped over the back of the couch in the living room, my heels tucked nearby on the floor, ready for when I leave.

Aaron’s back is to me when I enter the kitchen, a large, bright room that runs the width of the house. Emi would salivate over this space. Tall windows open to a small, square yard. Morning sunlight drenches the marble countertops and white tile backsplash. Aaron stands at the stove, plating scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. He wears gym shorts and a workout shirt and looks as if he went for a run. His hair is messy and damp. Two mugs wait by an expensive-looking espresso machine. I smell the nutty aroma of freshly ground coffee, and my stomach rumbles.

“Morning,” I say.

“Hey.” He turns with a friendly smile. “I was just going to come wake you. Hungry?”

“Starving.” I slide onto a stool at the island. “How are you even awake?” We stayed up well past 4:00 a.m., talking and doing other stuff, and it’s only 8:30 a.m. now.

“Never fell asleep,” he says. “Coffee?”

“Please. And please explain why you didn’t sleep. I don’t know how you’re functioning. I’m exhausted,” I say around a yawn, covering my mouth.

“I couldn’t stop thinking.” He gestures that his mind was buzzing and puts a mug in front of me. He then retrieves oat milk from the Sub-Zero fridge and sugar from a cabinet, then sets them both beside my coffee. I stare at them, a little stunned he remembers how I take my coffee—oat milk with two sugars. In the entire year we were together, Paul never could get it right.

Then I register what Aaron said and my stomach concaves. “Do you regret last night?” We shouldn’t have mixed business with pleasure. It never works.

“Hell, no. Last night was ... It was amazing, Meli.” He looks straight at me and a flush moves up my chest.

I duck my head with a pleased smile.

“How are you feeling?” he gently probes.

“I hurt in all the right places.”

Aaron’s grin is instant and full of male satisfaction. My face flames. “I can’t believe I said that.” I slap a hand over my eyes.

He sets two heaping platefuls on the island and sits beside me. “Your secret is safe with me,” he teases.

Steam from the eggs rises past my face. “This smells fantastic.” I dig in. “Cook like this every morning, and I’ll marry you again.”

“About that ...” He folds a strip of bacon into his mouth.

“I shouldn’t have said anything.” I wave my hand in a poor attempt to erase last night’s joke. “I wasn’t serious.”

“I am.”

Egg falls off my fork. “Come again?”

“We should get married.”

I stare hard at him, then cackle. “Youaresleep deprived.”

“This is why I didn’t sleep.”

I wait as he shovels egg into his mouth, chews, swallows, and takes another bite. Whatever he plans to say, he’s nervous about it.

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