Ayden's Secret (13 page)

Inside the house Joshua sat Charlie on the couch, and Evelyn propped her foot on a pillow. The two boys were hanging on the back of the couch telling her how worried they were. Ayden headed up to take a shower. Charlie was out of his reach for now. The feelings that shot through him were new. Possessive and protective. He wanted her to himself, he wanted to be the one to pamper her, was that more jealousy?

***

When he returned downstairs, she was alone watching television. He knew he had spent a while in the shower and even longer in his bedroom getting dressed and checking email. He wanted to give them a chance to wind down. Apparently, they had and moved on. At least they fed her. Pizza, they stole his idea, too.

“Pizza’s on the counter.” Charlie pointed over the couch.

“Thanks.” Ayden pulled two cold slices out of the box, slid them on a paper plate, grabbed a soda from the refrigerator, and headed to the living room. “Where did everybody go?’

“To watch the fireworks.” Charlie tried to move her legs, but he just lifted them, sat down, and pulled them in his lap.

“You want me to take you out to the porch so you can see them?” Ayden slid a hand along her calve. Her legs were a mile long and smooth as silk except where the sand still stuck to her.

“No, I’m beat. I need to take a shower. I still have sand all over me.” Charlie closed her eyes at his touch. The moments they shared in private were so good. She couldn’t wait for everyone to leave. Then she could have him all to herself.

“I’ll run you a bath. You need to keep that foot out of there. You don’t want all the sand and stuff running down into those stitches.” Ayden patted her legs and looked at the foot. Her first scar and it was his fault. He hauled her out to the ocean, and some other man tried to reel her back in. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Dragging you out to the water. If I would have just left you alone…”

“I wouldn’t have had the chance to enjoy that kiss.” Charlie searched his eyes and found him feeling guilty. She just knew it.

“Don’t you dare blame yourself for this. That guy had no business fishing that close to people.” Charlie wanted to kick him for even thinking it was his fault. He took on way too much responsibility. That’s why she didn’t tell him about the ordeal in Vegas. He would be on full alert and hunting again. No need. She was away from there and safe, here with him. “I’m just glad it caught me and not one of the boys.”

“Now you’ll have a scar.” Ayden looked at the stitches.

“And someday I’ll have stretch marks and wrinkles. Hell, I already have wrinkles.” Charlie pointed to her eyes. “Right here in the corners.”

“You don’t have wrinkles. I have wrinkles.” Ayden pointed to his forehead and his cheeks.

“Those aren’t age wrinkles. They’re character lines from smiling or frowning or thinking.” Charlie knew they were more from frowning and thinking than smiling, but they looked the best when he smiled. “I think they look sexy on you.”

“Thanks, darlin’.” Ayden smiled. She had no reason to be attracted to him, yet she was. Any man with eyes that could see was attracted to Charlie. He wanted to rip the heads off the EMT’s that came to check her out. They perused her body more than her foot, and that was what pissed him off the most.

The phone rang, and Ayden got up to answer it. Charlie heard his side of the conversation, and he seemed a little stressed by the end of it though as far as she could tell it was just a meeting of some sort next week.

“Charlie, I have to tell you something, and in light of our current situation, you’re probably going to be mad.” Ayden paced at the foot of the couch.

“What?” Charlie sat up anticipating something horrible.

“I forgot about a date I had made for next week. I would cancel, but it’s one of the other instructor’s cousins, and she’s only in town for a few days. He already told her I would take her out.” Ayden didn’t want to take her out. He wanted to stay home with Charlie.

“Oh, well, that’s okay.” Charlie was a little jealous, but he had made the commitment prior to their agreement. Plus it gave her wiggle room to test his emotional progress. “Are there any more dates lined up I should know about?”

“No.” Ayden held his hands up. “This was the only one. I swear it.”

“It’s okay, Ayden. I mean we’re just getting to know each other on this level, right? Maybe a date would be good for you. Maybe I should…”

“Like hell. Look, I have to take her to dinner, that’s it. Leon needs to take his wife out for their anniversary, and his cousin happened to schedule her visit around that day. It’s not even a real date. It’s more like a favor.” Ayden propped his hands on his hips and scowled at her. How could she think it was a good idea for him to date other women? The mere thought of Charlie out with another man made him seethe with anger. “Do you want to come along?”

“No, don’t be ridiculous.” Charlie was satisfied with his reaction. Now she just prayed the woman wouldn’t grab his attention.

“Come on. Let’s get you in the tub.” Ayden pulled her up into his arms.

“I can walk, you know?”

“I know.” He kissed her nose. “But I like carrying you, makes me feel like a cave man. Besides, I haven’t been to the gym all week. Lifting you is a good workout.”

“Ayden.” Charlie feigned offense. She knew she wasn’t fat. He knew it, too, but she was tall and had a lot of lean muscle. Not the lightest feather in the pile that’s for sure.

***

Ayden ran the bath while Charlie sat on the commode watching him. She could have drawn her own bathwater, but he insisted. His big body sat on the edge of his tub, and he circled the water occasionally with his hand to make sure it was warm and not hot. The night was coming to an end, and she hated not sleeping next to him. Her foot could play a sympathy card in that direction, but she didn’t want to overplay her hand either.

“Are you going to bathe me, too?” Charlie teased.

“What, you think I should?” Ayden would love to, but he was the one slowing things down. Bathing Charlie wouldn’t slow anything down.

“You can if you want to. I mean I can’t walk, can’t run water, why should I be able to wash myself?” It was his idea to slow down not hers. She would jump ahead any safe spaces she could at any sign of weakness.

“Hummm.” He thought about it long and hard, just like he was getting. “It does make sense, but I think I better not.”

“That’s too bad.” Charlie started undressing as he turned the water off. He wanted to be the tough guy, fine. “Can you at least pull the bottoms off for me?”

“Sure, darlin’.” Damn, that didn’t work. “You need help getting in the tub?”

“I think so, yes.” Charlie pouted and nodded innocently. She felt horns growing out of her head she was being so devilish.

Ayden slid her shorts and swimsuit bottoms off at the same time carefully pulling them over her feet. There she was, naked again. Why couldn’t she have shown up in November? Instead, it was hot as the devil and Ayden knew why. He was looking at her in the flesh. Temptation, yes, Charlie was tempting him, so he returned the favor.

Ayden trailed his big hands over her legs tenderly, slid them up her sides and then around her back. Charlie was so enraptured by his caress she closed her eyes and tilted her head back. His touch affected her so much. Slowly he slid them around then finally in place to lift her. He sat her in the warm water. Charlie somehow managed to remember to leave the right foot on the side of the tub. She thought for sure he would leave, but he sat on the side of the tub instead.

“Are you going to bathe me?” Charlie said hopeful.

“Nope, just thought I’d watch.” Ayden dipped the washcloth in the water next to her and grabbed the soap. He lathered the cloth and handed it to her. The tub was large and deep, and he bought it for that exact reason. Charlie was realizing that it was going to take some balance, and he stayed close in case she really needed his help.

Charlie took the cloth and managed to get most of her clean before asking him for help. Keeping her balance with one foot high in the air was a little more challenging in a slippery bathtub. Ayden’s tub was big. Large enough for two people, but just right for a man of his size.

“Can you get my back please?” Charlie was frustrated and agitated at his pleasure in her predicament. His smile was kicked up, and he almost laughed. It took all the seduction right out of the moment and left her defeated, again. “This was supposed to be a seduction technique not a stand up routine.”

“Darlin’, you don’t have to do a whole lot to seduce a man.” Ayden actually laughed. He knew she was working a new angle. He scrubbed her back. “But I do appreciate your efforts.”

“You are impossible.” Charlie laughed in frustration. If it didn’t take a lot to seduce Ayden, then she had no idea how to get the job done. Ten years she built their friendship and made passing suggestions. He never accepted. She had exposed herself openly several times in the past few days, and he still didn’t bite.

“Me?” Ayden dipped the cloth in the water and watched the soap slide down her long lean back. Charlie was completely naked, and she wanted him. He knew he liked her, but he also knew she thought she loved him. He wouldn’t take advantage just because she wanted him to. “I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, darlin’. You have been pulling out all the stops, and that won’t last. We need to learn about each other. Not just, go at it like two teenagers. There’s too much at stake. If all I wanted was to get laid, I could have done that several times over by now and not just with you.”

“Excuse me?” Charlie felt a little indignant. Yes, she had come on a little strong, but that was because ten years of polite conversation had gotten her nowhere. How could he lump her in the same category as other women?

“You heard me.” Ayden was still teasing.

“Well, you won’t have to worry about that anymore.” Charlie pushed his butt off the tub with her shoulder in a quick nudge causing him to scramble to his feet. She pulled the stopper with her toes, and as the water drained down, her temper raised up.

“Worry about what? What’s wrong with you?” Ayden stood there bemused.

“Will you hand me that towel?” Charlie brought her stitched foot into the tub standing like a flamingo. Once all the water had drained, she stood with one hand ready to snatch the towel.

“Charlie…what is it?” Ayden handed her the towel and noticed a new expression. One he had never seen before on Charlie.

“You dare lump me in with the rest of those hookers you’ve been dating. I’ve known you for over ten years, Ayden. So yes, maybe I did come on a little strong, but don’t worry. The fire’s out now.” She wrapped the towel around herself and climbed out of the big tub refusing his help. Her foot was a little sore to walk on, but she wasn’t about to be all girly in front of him right now. Oh no, he wanted the other shoe to drop. Well, he was getting it, right on his toes.

“Charlie…”

“And pulling out the stops, I haven’t done anything for you I didn’t plan to do everyday from now on. But I may just rethink that plan now.” Charlie headed across the hall to her bedroom. Ayden was right behind her.

“You’re sleeping in here?” Ayden wanted her to sleep in his bed, so he could tend to her. He was trying to pamper her, but now he had apparently made her mad. Shit, the other shoe was in his mouth along with his foot.

“Oh yes, I’d hate to rush you.” Charlie shut the door in his face and then limped to the bed. She wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. She wanted to open the door and ask him in, but she knew better. Apparently, Ayden had women throwing themselves at him, and she had made the same mistake. It was time to regroup.

Ayden started to knock on the door, but people were trailing back in downstairs. He would have to deal with Charlie later, in private.

***

Ayden headed down to mingle with the family.

Stephanie practically bulldozed over him to get up the stairs.

“You okay?” Ayden grabbed her arm halting her for a second.

“Fine.” Stephanie raised her eyebrows suspiciously and tugged free. “Is she in her room?”

“Yep.” Ayden shook his head and gave up. Women were not on his communication plane today.

At Charlie’s door, Stephanie knocked softly then heard the sobs and opened it anyways. Charlie was wrapped in a towel dripping wet and her foot was bleeding. She had busted a stitch stomping back to her room.

“What happened?” Stephanie sat next to her.

“I busted a stitch. It hurts, but I’m not telling him that. Jerk. God.” Charlie wiped her eyes and looked at Stephanie. “He said if he just wanted sex he could have already had it several times with other women. What does that mean? That he doesn’t know me any better than a stranger he meets or goes on a blind date with? All this time I was afraid I didn’t know enough about him, he doesn’t know me at all.”

“Men are ridiculous. Malcolm’s the same way. He won’t consummate our marriage because we eloped, and he feels bad. The whole reason we eloped was to have sex. Now I’m married and still a virgin!” Stephanie hugged Charlie.

“Malcolm doesn’t want to hurt you. He wants to make sure you don’t regret one single moment with him.” Charlie smiled. The poor guy had acted on a moment of passion, fueled by Stephanie, and then realized all too late the consequences.