Page 2 of Tied and Tangled

“Well, let’s hope this year brings someone to help out with that situation.” My head whipped toward hers and connected with her blue eyes that matched River’s.

“Someone?”

“He shouldn’t be single. He’s a good man.” She shrugged, and I nodded, hoping to god she couldn’t see the way my heart broke right on my sleeve.

Once the girls were all packed up, they left. Aiden walked them out to the front of the building, and I walked through the quiet penthouse apartment. He hadn’t put up any Christmas decorations yet. He’d probably order someone to come in and spruce the place up. Or at least I hoped he would. Not that I would see it. I was officially on vacation.

Would he date while the girls were gone?

Go to some bar and bring back…Nope. Don’t go there, Aria!

He’s not yours. The girls aren’t yours either.I had to remind myself of that reality as I forced my legs to walk to my room. They weren’t mine no matter how much I wished they were. Wishing for the impossible was useless. I had already packed my bags and made my bed. I picked up my old duffle bag that had seen better days and hefted it up over my shoulder. If I left now, I could make the earlier Metrolink and call for Gemma to pick me up. My baby sister had just bought a car thanks to my oldest sister, Ruth’s, help.

I opened my bedroom door, and there he was.

Aiden Stark.

My boss. My crush. The man who was the main character in every one of my fantasies.Dirty and clean ones.

“Hi!” I blurted dorkily and winced.Why am I such a nerd?

“You’re leaving already?” He frowned, and I nodded.

“The girls left. I didn’t think you would want me hanging around.” And if I was left alone with him, being as goofy as I was, I was liable to do something stupid, like kiss him. Or make an idiot of myself and losing my job.

At least as the girls’ nanny, I had a front row seat to their lives.

“Oh. Right. Umm…” He cleared his throat and looked over his shoulder. “Do you have everything you need?” he asked, his blue eyes meeting mine. God, he had beautiful eyes. They were the ones I stared into every single dream since I had started to work for him. Me and my poor romantically deluded heart. Bright blue with a dark gray ring outside and specks of lighter blues inside. Magnificent. Brilliant blue eyes.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Right.” He looked at me for a long moment. It felt like we both swayed closer together.

Like two magnets unable to fight the pull toward one another. His aqua stare dropped to my lips. When he opened his mouth, my heart leapt up high, floating on hopes and daydreams. There was an attraction between us. At first, I thought it had been one sided. Young and naïve with a crush on the older man. But then I noticed how he would look at me.With interest.The way he seemed to find any excuse to touch me when the girls weren’t around.

I was nineteen, twenty in a couple of days.

“Any plans for your birthday?” he asked. I shook my head.

“Not really.” I made a face, and he frowned.

“What is it?”

“How did you remember?” I asked and watched as he swallowed whatever he was about to say as the look on his face turned stern.

“It’s the same day as mine,” he shared. My mouth opened with surprise. I quickly shut it.

“Oh.” My eyes widened, and I felt a smile crossing my face. “We’re birthday twins?” I asked, and he nodded.

“So, no plans?” he asked again.

“Ehh, it’s too close to Christmas.”

“So?” He frowned. He was watching me so intensely I doubted he’d blinked.

“So…” I hesitated. He seemed to be holding on to every syllable that slipped past my lips.

“So, what?” he pressed, and I giggled.

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