Page 22 of Watch Me, Daddy

I wasn’t the type of girl to give up. I always got what I wanted, even if it meant a little hard work and perseverance.

I wanted to figure Aidan out. Did he want me? Did he even like me? I’d get my answers if it was the last thing I did.

When I was ready, I took a deep breath and headed downstairs. As I entered the kitchen, the sight of Aidan at the stove preparing breakfast should have brought me something like a sense of comfort, but a strange tension hung in the air. His usually vibrant presence felt muted, and the silence between us was heavy, almost suffocating.

Was something wrong?

The clinking of utensils against pans seemed louder than usual, a stark contrast to the warmth that emanated from him yesterday. His gaze remained focused on the task at hand, his expression distant and detached. It was as if a wall had suddenly risen between us, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of confusion and unease.

Something had shifted, and I didn’t know what.

I sat down as Aidan slid a plate in front of me. I glanced down at it, seeing an impressive stack of pancakes complete with butter, powdered sugar, and a heavy dose of maple syrup. I dug in, the clatter of my cutlery against the plate deafeningly loud against the strained silence that enveloped us. Each bite was a struggle to swallow, not because of the taste, but because of the heavy tension that seemed to thicken the air around us. I stole glances at him, hoping for a sign, a word, anything that would break the oppressive silence.

But his gaze remained fixed on his own plate, his jaw tense, his mouth tight, and his expression distant. Frustration bubbled within me, mingling with confusion and a growing sense of unease. It was as if an invisible barrier had been erected between us, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t breach it. With each passing moment, my irritation grew, my appetite waning as my thoughts churned with a mix of emotions. I wanted to understand the mystery of his sudden withdrawal, but his stubborn silence only served to stoke the fire of my annoyance.

It was as if I had been set adrift in a sea of unanswered questions. My stomach twisted at the uneasy tension.

“Where are we going?” I ventured, trying to break him out of whatever mood he was in.

“I’m taking you north to a cabin in Maine. It’s outside of the Kozlovs’ reach as far as I could tell. It’ll be quiet, remote. We’ll have a security detail on the property, cameras, armed guards, the works. You’ll be safe there,” he explained.

“Sounds boring,” I sassed, but he didn’t react. Not even a little bit.

“Right now, keeping you away from the Kozlovs is paramount. I won’t stand for Anton touching you again,” he growled.

My eyes jerked up to his face. His usually controlled demeanor was marred by subtle signs of anger that etched across his face. The set of his jaw was more pronounced, his normally intense gaze held a stormy quality, and I could see the muscles in his arms tense as he clenched his fists on top of the table.

I studied him, trying to figure out the mystery behind the man. Maybe he did care about me after all. Without thinking, I pressed my hand to my cheek, and I found it still tender. Aidan must have noticed because he got out of his chair and strode over to me with two large steps.

“Does it hurt?” he asked, his voice soft.

In an instant, the stark tension dissipated.

“A little,” I admitted.

“I’m sorry he did that to you, Irina. You didn’t deserve that,” he replied. His whole demeanor had changed. The hard set of his jaw had relaxed. His piercing gaze softened as he slid a finger beneath my chin and lifted it gently. His tenderness sent tingles of sensation across my skin, and I licked my lips. His brooding stare followed the movement of my tongue until it was securely back in my mouth, which only made my core squeeze tight with desire.

“I won’t ever let him touch a single hair on that pretty head again, sweet girl,” he growled, and his eyes glinted with dark possession. For some reason, that made me feel more secure.

I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t utter a word at all.

“Let me get you something to make it feel better,” he offered.

“Okay,” I smiled softly.

His finger slipped away from beneath my chin, and the absence of the fiery tingle of his touch left me feeling bereft. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep quiet, watching as he walked over to the freezer, opened it, and retrieved a cold pack. He wrapped it in a hand towel and strode back over to me. Gently, he pressed it against my cheek, and I sighed, the cold relieving the ache in my jaw.

“Keep that on it. You’ll feel better in no time,” he smiled, and I returned the sentiment. I didn’t know why, but my cheeks heated a little at his concern for me.

“Thank you,” I whispered. There was no sass in my voice this time, simply gratitude.

“Come now. We have to get moving,” he said, but the command in his voice that I was used to wasn’t there. Instead, it felt softer, as though he was asking me and not demanding my obedience.

My heart cracked a little at the sound.

Aidan’s hand enveloped mine as he led me out of the house, into the garage, and towards his waiting car. The touch of his fingers against my skin sent a shiver of heat down my spine, and I found myself gripping his hand a bit tighter.

His sleek black car purred to life as the driver started the car. Aidan opened the door for me like the perfect gentleman, his heated gaze lingering on me for a moment before I slid inside the car and reluctantly let go of his hand. He settled into the seat beside me, and I couldn’t help but shift a bit closer to him so that my thigh touched his. He didn’t scold me, and I decided to stay that way. Tentatively, I reached out and brushed my fingers against his.

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