Page 86 of Vain
I think over her words as we sit in silence and eat. My answer to her question should be yes, but maybe I’m just fucked-up enough to know that Matilda Carson is special. I’ll take her any which way I can have her. Of course, I want her to want me,but I want her to need me too. I like that she seeks me out for protection.
Reese looks at me knowingly and shakes her head with a good-natured grin. “Well, it’s been eventful, but now that you’re back, I think I’m going to head to the airport and catch the next flight out.”
“You sure? You must be exhausted.”
“You know what they say, no rest for the wicked.”
“Amen to that.”
“Say goodbye to Matilda for me, and don’t forget to give her my card.”
I nod as she opens the door. “Hey, Reese?” She turns back to me. “Thanks again.”
“Anytime. And tell Arlo I said hey. Oh, and Aiden? Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
MATILDA
I stir, hearing voices. I catch the tail end of Aiden and Reese’s conversation. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
The sound of the door closing has me opening my eyes and looking over at Aiden. “Why do I feel like there isn’t much she wouldn’t do?”
He turns at the sound of my voice. “Good instincts.” He sighs when he sees my expression fall. He gets to his feet and sits on the bed beside me. “What Daniel did is not on you. Some people are very good at hiding who they are. And don’t discount the fact that you instinctively knew not to make him your personal guard. I mean, his thinking that you would pick him is sound. Why wouldn’t you select the team member you’re already familiar with?”
“I didn’t trust him enough to let him in,” I admit. “I didn’t really think anything of it because I don’t really trust anyone.”
“But you trusted me.”
I look at him as he lifts my hand and kisses the back. “I didn’t know I would when I hired you. I just knew I wasn’t comfortablehaving anyone from Cox Security in my house. That’s weird, right? That I felt more comfortable with a stranger in my home than any of them?”
“That’s the instinct I’m talking about. Something made you wary of them, and you listened to your gut. I, for one, am glad you did.”
“You’re right, though. I might not have known I’d trust you, but I did, almost from the start. Yes, you made me nervous, but not for those reasons,” I admit with a blush.
I expect him to smirk smugly, but instead, he leans over and slides his hand into my hair before kissing my temple. “I think our souls recognized each other.”
I look up at the sappy shit and grin. “You think you were mine in a past life?”
“I think I’ve been yours in all of our lives.”
I swallow, the smile slipping from my face at his sincerity. “Aiden,” I whisper, choking up.
He kisses me and there is something different about this one, something softer and more tender. By the time he pulls back, I’m a boneless mess.
He climbs off the bed and grabs the cup from the table at the end of the bed. “Here, drink this while it’s warm, while I fill you in on Banner’s phone call.”
I tense. “Something else has happened?”
“Shit, sorry Tilly. I wasn’t thinking. Nothing has happened with regards to you or Daniel. But some things did go down back home.”
“Is everyone okay?”
“Yes, at least that’s what I’ve been told. But I’m going to FaceTime Marcus tomorrow and see for myself.” He launches into what happened, and I find myself in shock.
“And I thought my life was like a messed-up movie. Tempest seems like a crazy place to live.”
He tenses at my words but when I look at him, his expression gives nothing away. “It’s really not normally like this.”
