Ayden's Secret (11 page)

“I didn’t know that.” Noel scrunched her brows together. Obviously offended Ayden hadn’t told her a woman was living with him at the time. She looked at Tom. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“It was his case, babe.” Tom looked at his wife knowing he was going to get the third degree later for this.

“Ayden?” Noel looked at her brother now.

“Noel, we can talk about this later, darlin’. Evelyn is probably chomping at the bit to see you.” Ayden didn’t want to hash this out in front of Charlie. He didn’t have to go through the details with Evelyn. She was more practical, accepting of his privacy. Noel on the other hand wanted every detail of his life. Impossible.

“Fine, but we will talk about this, Wolf.” Noel stood and smiled at Charlie. “Please don’t take it the wrong way. I’m excited to meet you, really, but I don’t like not knowing about the women in my brother’s life.”

“Oh God.” Ayden poured a cup of coffee. He couldn’t wait until they got to Evelyn’s; he needed the caffeine now. Noel would crucify him before the day was out, and all because he hadn’t disclosed private information. How was he to know that Charlie would track him down?

“Women?” Charlie looked at Noel. The woman was smaller than Evelyn but carried the same demanding presence. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, and apparently she wasn’t too thrilled about Ayden having any woman in his life without her approval. Great, she was like Joshua. “How many women are in your brother’s life?”

“Apparently one more than I was aware of.” Noel didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot with Charlie, but she was pissed at Ayden, and if she didn’t get out of there, it would turn ugly.

Noel headed out the door with Page on her hip. Tom walked backwards and apologized to Charlie as he followed her. Ayden stood at the counter with half a smile and tipped his cup up for another drink.

“She doesn’t like me.” Charlie gulped. Shit. How long would they be staying here? Maybe she could sleep on Evelyn’s couch. Or maybe Evelyn would side with her sister and Charlie would watch Ayden be ripped from her hands.

“She doesn’t know you, and that’s what she doesn’t like. She’s pissed at me because she thinks she’s my keeper. I told you how she came to live with us. Noel speaks her mind without a filter.” Ayden set the coffee cup in the sink. “Come on. She’ll lighten up.”

“No, I don’t think she will.” Charlie was nervous. More nervous than the first day she went to meet the rest of them. A false sense of security and familiarity had settled over her. Now with Noel, it seemed dangerous again.

“You’ve been waiting ten years, darlin’. You gonna let my little sister stop you now?” Ayden couldn’t help it. Charlie was getting nervous, and the anxiety showed. This was the reality of relationships. It wasn’t always butterflies and rainbows. Could she stand up under pressure?

“Will she stop you?” Charlie wouldn’t let Noel’s opinion influence her desire for Ayden, but Ayden loved his little sisters, cherished them, protected them. Would he choose against them?

“Hell no.” Ayden realized then it was him she was worried about, not Noel. “And she won’t sway Evelyn either. Don’t worry.”

Ayden looked her over, no makeup this morning. Her hair was in a ponytail, and aside from the frown she couldn’t hide she looked naturally beautiful. He liked her like this. Just being herself. Even with the frown, which he was sure would change once they got to Evelyn’s.

“You ready for the beach?” Ayden wasn’t ready for the long day ahead. He didn’t like crowded venues, and the beach would be packed today. Charlie had a lot of crowd issues but had agreed to go. He told Joshua to pack a paper bag just in case she had an anxiety attack. He couldn’t do it himself without her knowing about it.

“I don’t like crowds.” Charlie was a little anxious about the beach.

“Don’t worry, darlin’. I’ll be there. I promise nothing will happen to you.” Ayden stole a quick peck on the cheek and started for the door.

Charlie tripped, like she usually did, when he caught her off guard like that. Maybe she would get used to his sweet kisses. Maybe they would forever throw her off balance.

Chapter 11

Ayden led the way into Evelyn’s where babies were being passed around. Charlie held on to the back of his shorts by his belt loop, and he instinctively wanted to protect her. He thought to pull her into his arms and reassure her that everything would be all right.

Stephanie beat him to it.

“Charlie, thank God! Come out back with me. I have to talk to you.” Stephanie grabbed her by the arm and tugged her away.

Ayden smiled. It was better this way. Tom nudged him and motioned back out the front door. Ayden followed.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was going to track you down, man.” Tom smiled. He hoped she would, and she did. He knew the moment he saw them together that she was the one for Ayden. Charlie had the patience of a saint. Six months in hiding would be hard on anyone. Hiding out at Ayden’s was like living in a dungeon for six months. Good thing she made the best of it.

“It’s fine. I’m actually glad she did. I missed our date.” Ayden grabbed the top of the porch and stretched. It really was a beautiful day. “I can’t believe I let it slip away from me.”

“Well, you’re not on the job anymore. I didn’t know what to tell Noel.” Tom settled into one of the rocking chairs. “That sister of yours is a real pain in the ass when she doesn’t get her way.”

“I know.” Ayden laughed. “She still wants me to come home and marry Jessica.”

“Yes, she does,” Tom agreed. “I guess she thinks the old flame’s still burning.”

“Jessica has no doubt led her to believe that. I want a family, but one of my own. She has three kids, two exhusbands, a little late to decide all along she wanted me.”

“I agree. I don’t think Noel cares about Jessica as much as having you home again. I was up for a position in Quantico; she threw a fit.” Tom groaned.

“I warned you when you got involved with her. Noel got all the drama queen genes.” Ayden laughed. “I spoiled her rotten, I know. She has never forgiven me for leaving, and though she understands why I need to be near Evelyn, her full blooded sister, she hates that I’m not there with her.”

“She doesn’t like that Joshua won’t move to Tennessee. She thought for sure Evelyn would make him leave and come be near her,” Tom confessed. “I told her we could move here. There’s an office in Charlotte.”

“Good luck. The only way Noel would move is if it were her idea.” Ayden laughed again. Stubborn woman. That’s where he got most of his ideas that women were difficult and always ready to disagree with a man, his little sister.

“Ayden?” Noel stepped outside with Evelyn behind her. “We have to talk.”

“Talk.” Ayden’s face drew into a grimace. He was in no mood for her today. He was happy damn it. Wasn’t that good enough?

“I don’t agree with you keeping her a secret from me.” Noel swatted Tom on the leg making him uncross his legs so she could sit on him. “But I am willing to accept the fact that she will be around a while. Evelyn even offered her a job.”

“What?” Ayden looked at Evelyn who shrugged.

“I thought you guys were a couple, and it hurt my feelings that you wouldn’t tell me something like that. Evelyn explained that you’re friends. That Charlie needs your help right now.” Noel crossed her arms feeling bad for snapping at Charlie earlier.

If she had known the woman had been through so much, she wouldn’t have. It was hard enough being away from Evelyn most of her life, now Ayden was gone, too. Evelyn had protected her and spoiled her when she was younger. Ayden had picked up that role when she moved in with his parents.

“You know I am a passionate person when it comes to my family. I love you both so much. I miss you both. I don’t want Page growing up only seeing you guys on holidays. Plus now I have Joshua’s family to compete with.” Noel felt Tom’s soothing touch on her back. The man had a heart of gold.

“You’re not competing with anyone.” Evelyn reassured her little sister. It was extremely hard being away from Noel since she spent most of her adult life searching for her. Their stepfather had killed their mother, and Noel testified against him. They separated them and sent her to live with Ayden and his mother. Evelyn went into the foster care system. She was told her little sister was dead. “I wouldn’t ask you to make Tom leave his job and his life to come here. Don’t ask me to do that to Joshua.”

“We could come here though, if you’re both so damn determined to stay here.” Noel hated that they wouldn’t come back home, but she always made the best of things. She always had hope for the future. Now that she was over her mad spell, she really thought about it.

“He could get a job in Charlotte. They have an office there.” Ayden started right in. Evelyn loved Noel, had almost died trying to find and protect her. The least the kid could do was move a couple states over for her big sister. “I know the guy in charge. I do a couple training exercises with them each year.”

“Well, Tom, I guess we’re moving to North Carolina.” Noel looked at her husband as if she didn’t just steamroll that decision on him. “How far is Charlotte from here?”

“Three hours.” Ayden smiled. “You have a way of working things out, Noel.”

“I know.” She shrugged. “So, you like Charlie, huh?”

“I do,” Ayden admitted. It was getting easier to admit it every time he said it.

“Well, I’ll give her a chance, but I warn you I’m not going to be easy on her. You’re my big brother. I don’t want you to get hurt like before.” Noel pushed up from Tom and headed back inside.

“Did you turn her into a tyrant?” Evelyn asked.

“I thought it was you,” Ayden answered.

“It’s hormones. She’s pregnant again. We were trying to wait, but apparently Noel can’t remember to take a pill every morning.” Tom lifted out of the chair. “What, you thought she just gained weight?”

“Yeah, actually I did.” Ayden shook his head.

“Don’t tell her you know. She wanted to wait until after the holiday.” Tom shrugged and headed back inside.

“Well, what are you hiding, Evelyn?” Ayden joked.

“Actually, I’m pregnant, too.” Evelyn laughed. “Don’t tell anyone, only Joshua knows.”

“Jesus. Is everyone pregnant?” Ayden laughed. It was going to be an interesting weekend.

Evelyn went inside, and Charlie stepped out on the porch.

“Hey, you hiding out?” Charlie sat in the rocking chair.

“No, family conference.” Ayden took the rocker next to her. “How’s Stephanie?”

“Married,” Charlie whispered.

“What?” Ayden couldn’t believe this. One more secret and he would check for cameras. This had to be a set up, a joke they were all playing on him.

“They eloped last night.” Charlie looked around to make sure no one else could hear. “They feel so guilty today. I told her not to worry, just go ahead with the wedding as planned. No one has to know right?”

“Not around here.” Ayden looked at Charlie. Was she keeping secrets, too? “What else do you know?”

“What else do you know?” Charlie wasn’t telling him about Evelyn.

“Evelyn and Noel are both pregnant,” Ayden whispered. It was nice to have someone to share things with.

“Wow. This is exciting don’t you think?” Charlie had relaxed again. In the great scheme of what was going on this family, her feelings for Ayden wouldn’t take up time on anyone’s list of concerns.

The door opened and everyone filed out with beach bags and children.

“You ready?” Joshua looked full of life and energy today.

“What the hell.” Ayden stood and held a hand out for Charlie.

“Can we ride with you, Ayden?” Gray and Chase Jr. looped their arms around each of Charlie’s legs.

“Take ‘em.” Ethan struggled with the assorted equipment in his arms. “Seats are in the vans.”

“Go grab your car seats.” Ayden couldn’t say no when Charlie put her hands down and patted their heads, at the same time giving him a pleading look. She liked the little monsters, and they thought she was funny. Probably why she liked them, he decided. The woman had the worst jokes ever.

The two boys stormed past Ethan almost knocking him over in the push to get to the vans to grab their car seats.

“You need anything from the house, darlin’?” Ayden stepped closer to Charlie.

“I don’t think so. I have sunblock and a change of clothes in my bag.” Charlie looked at all the gear Malcolm, Chase, and Ethan were loading in the vans. “If I don’t have something, I’m sure they do.”

“It’s going to be packed at the beach today.” He wasn’t sure how well she was going to do with a crowd the size they were no doubt headed into. Charlie shrugged her shoulders and smiled. Ayden nodded. “Let’s do it.”

***

The boys were struggling with the car seats Joshua had unlocked and handed them. Ayden grabbed the seats and headed to his truck. After locking them in place, he lifted each kid in and strapped him in. Charlie sat in the passenger seat, and when Ayden got in the driver seat, he took in the scene completely.

Two happy kids in the backseat, one happy woman next to him, life was good. Looking in the rearview mirror, he smiled. His was the only easy going vehicle at the moment. The wives were directing the husbands, and the seating arrangements of the two minivans changed at least once more while they waited.