Page 5 of Tied and Tangled

Guilt ate at me as I opened and read the second note.

Daddy! We’re going to miss you! If you get lonely or bored, you should call Aria. She’s never boring to be around.

Love you!

Lake

My girls.So thoughtful and loving. Where they got that from, I had no idea. I tried to be affectionate, but it didn’t come easily. Except this year, something had changed. I smiled easier. Breathed easier, too. I tried to be home and around for the girls more.

And I knew the reason.

A certain live-in nanny I had had no business hiring, but when she’d smiled at me during our interview, I hadn’t been able to resist. Who the hell would be strong enough to resist that warm dimpled smile and dark gaze?

My phone rang, and I took it out of my pocket.Front deskcalling.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hello, Mr. Stark, I’m sorry to interrupt your evening, but I have Miss Aria down here,” Tarek, our doorman, shared.

“Aria?” I looked at the clock and frowned. How the hell had an hour passed by? Had she missed her train? “Is she okay?”

“Yes, sir, she says she forgot her phone.”

“Let me talk to her,” I demanded a little too harshly.

“Hi.” Her sweet voice made me relax. “I’m so sorry if I, umm, interrupted you—"

“Nonsense.”

“I got to the train station and went to pay with my phone and realized I left it in my room.”

“I’ll get it for you,” I offered, and she explained where it was. I hung up letting her know I’d be right down.

Walking into her bedroom, I breathed in deeply. Unable to resist her sweet vanilla and spun sugar scent. Every weekend she left, I found a reason to walk into her bedroom. Especially when the girls were already in bed. There was something exquisitely peaceful about her space. Tidy but cozy, she had made her space her own.

You gave me that,her voice replayed in my head.

I had to force my body to keep calm. The last thing I needed was to sport a damn erection in the front lobby as I dropped off her cell phone. I moved about and saw it. Sitting right atop of her pillow. Right where she had said it would be. I could take it to her, and that would be that.

I could come back and eat my sandwich in peace and quiet.

Why didn’t that sound like anything I wanted to do?

I didn’t want her to just walk out. I stared out her window and noticed how dark it had become, how late it really was.I could lie.I could tell her I didn’t see it, and she would come up. Maybe I could talk her into staying with me to share a pizza. I could drive her home.

I walked out of her bedroom empty-handed because Lake was right. Aria was never boring to be around.

3

ARIA

Iheard the elevator ding, and I turned just in time to watch the doors open slowly. Aiden Stark stood in the middle of the elevator, looking way too handsome than any man should be allowed.

His dark hair with a little gray starting to come in at the temples left him looking distinguished. Dashing. Bright blue eyes and sun-kissed skin and a body that made you want to pretend to faint because you knew he’d be more than capable to catch you and sweep you off your feet.

All of it was enough to make women of any age swoon, but what always sold it, no matter what, were his three-piece designer suits. Perfectly tailored to his lean muscular body.

His eyes connected with mine, and I watched as they softened. Just like that, I fell deeper in love with my boss. And as hopeless as that was, I waited. Watched on bated breath as he neared. Every step he took toward me had my heart doing funny things. I was way too caught up with the man.

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