Page 96 of Unmasking Love
“Why, I might be running out of time to share them.”
“My favorite joke of yours.” Emmett says affectionately and he takes the cups and her shoulder bag from her. “What do you have in mind tonight?”
“Does Felix have his Christmas tree up yet?” She asks and I just watch the two of them have this conversation.
“No, for a French Canadian he’s very protective of American Thanksgiving.”
“Okay, then we’ll do something with the fireplace, I can make it look festive.”
I follow them into the kitchen where Granny makes the rounds greeting the guys. I don’t hear what she says to Aiden but he blushes a little and then looks up to me. He smiles and nods to Granny before walking over to me.
“Granny is going to set up a trick shot with the guys, do you want to stay or go?”
“A trick shot?”
“She is a retired physicist who is now famous on social media for elaborate chain reactions to get a ball in a cup.”
“Oh yeah, I remember you telling me about her. Well, this I want to see!” I smile and he takes my hand and leads me to the sofa. We settle into the corner, he pulls me between his legs, and for the next two hours we are fully entertained by the way Granny can get these boys in line. Coach Bradford could probably learn a thing or two from her.
I am suddenly jolted awake when the boys start screaming.Shit. I fell asleep? How could Aiden let that happen? I probably looked so weird. I sit up and use my thumb to check that I don’t have drool hanging out of my mouth and a quick glance of Aiden’s shirt doesn’t show any wet spots.
I look up at his face as he caresses my arm to soothe me and leans towards my ear.
“Sorry they woke you, they got it in the cup by way of the ceiling fan, fireplace mantle, toy car, and pulley system. I’m honestly impressed.”
I sigh and lean against his shoulder again. The boys have quieted down only to erupt in cheers while they rewatch the video.
“C’mon, I’ll take you home.”
We say our goodbyes and Aiden helps me into my coat.
“Can you take me to my place?” I ask. “You can stay over if you want to, but I’ve got some early showings tomorrow and I need to do some prep work.”
“Showings on the day after Thanksgiving?”
“You’ve got practice,” I counter.
“I wasn’t doubting you, I was just surprised.” Aiden says as he pulls out of Felix’s driveway. “And I’ll stay over.”
His voice drops when he says it and my mind flashes again to our tryst in the bathroom earlier. I wonder what type of behavior the guys are used to that they had a rock paper scissors tourney to determine who would come and get us.
Will this get back to the other girlfriends? The wives? Are they going to judge me?
At least this time I’d be ostracized because of my own behavior. Not my mother’s.
Aiden stops at his place to pack a bag so he can go straight to practice tomorrow morning. We get to my place and he slows down by the door to the first floor apartment before following me up.
“You can work all night if you need to,” he says as we step into my apartment and he closes the door behind him. “But I have one rule.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?” I hand him my coat to hang on the hook.
“You have to do it naked.”
“No! Aiden, I can’t be texting clients naked.”
“Well then you can’t work.” He shrugs and can only hold his serious face for a beat before he smiles wide and my insides alight. He steps over to me and pulls me up on my toes. His nose trails along my neck and this gentle exhale tingles along my skin. Instinctively my nails rake through the hair at the back of his neck.
He acts out an exaggerated shiver and shakes me back and forth.
