Aiden
I WAS UNSETTLED after my conversation with Maddox. He was hiding something—the same way I was. However, I had to respect his right to privacy the way he respected mine. We both had issues we chose to deal with in different ways.
I offered to go to a movie with him, but he’d asked for a rain check and had headed out a while ago, leaving me alone in the office.
I stared out the window at the busy sights of the city. Even at seven in the evening, the streets were crowded, the sidewalks bustling. I was restless and didn’t know what to do. I could go home and work out or hit my local bar and have a drink, but neither appealed to me.
I picked up my phone, dialing a number I knew by heart.
Cami’s voice was breathless and surprised when she answered.
“Hi.”
“Hey, you busy?”
“No.”
“Wanna take a ride with me?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be there in twenty.” I hung up and grabbed my keys, refusing to listen to the voice in my head that told me it was a slippery slope I was standing on.
For tonight, I just wanted the voice to shut the fuck up.
She looked pretty when I picked her up. Her dark hair loose and swinging around her shoulders, the highlights still bright with their rainbow hues. Dressed in leggings and a hoodie, without a trace of makeup on, she was casual and effortlessly sexy.
Before I realized what I was doing, I leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Thanks for coming.”
She smiled. Cami was one of those people whose happiness poured out of her. Her smile was wide, lighting her face and making her captivating green eyes sparkle. Bentley described it once as beaming. He was right. She was like a sunbeam. My own sunshine.
Reaching over, she squeezed my hand. “Anytime.”
Her one word somehow made things right in my world.
We stopped and got coffee, then headed to the highway. She never asked where we were going; she just seemed happy to be going with me. I felt the same way about having her in the car.
“How are your classes going?”
Cami went to the same design school as Emmy, except she was taking fashion design, while Emmy took graphic design. I had seen some of Cami’s work, and I knew she was talented and loved the creative process.
“They’re good. Finals are soon, and I’m looking forward to the break.”
“Are you working all summer at Glad Rags?”
I had first met Cami at the high-end boutique when Bentley had been looking for a birthday gift for Emmy.
“Yes.” She sighed.
“You don’t like it?”
“It’s fine. I make good commission, and my boss is great. It’s just a lot of demanding women at times.” She proceeded to do a few imitations of a few encounters that occurred at the store, which made me laugh. “But it’s not forever. Once I graduate, I hope to get hired on with a clothing company and work my way up.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“I don’t come in this direction often,” she said, changing the subject. “I didn’t realize how many wineries there are out this way.”
“I know. There’s a whole bunch. Lots of great ones.”
“I should tell Emmy. We could do a tour or something. That would be fun.”
“Bent likes wine. I’ll talk to him, and we’ll arrange a trip for all of us. Sandy will handle the details. She loves that sort of thing.”
She looked over, her expression delighted. “Really?”
“Yeah.” I chuckled. “Bentley can spring for the limo to take us.”
She giggled and looked away. I glanced down at her hand resting on the seat, the urge to cover it with mine strong. I cleared my throat and focused on the road, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter.
She reached over and turned the satellite radio to a classical station, the lush music filling the cabin of the car.
“I like this car,” she mused.
“Me too. It’s a Lincoln MKZ. Roomy and quiet.” I laughed. “Unlike my motorcycle.”
Her eyes widened. “You drive a motorcycle? Aiden, that’s dangerous!”
“No, I’m careful. I have it parked at a friend’s garage in Grimsby. I hate driving it in Toronto traffic. It’s so congested, and there’s a ton of assholes on the roads. It takes away all the fun of driving something so powerful. So I leave it there, and I drive it on less traveled roads.” I paused. “I love the exhilaration and the power. Have you ever been on one?”
“No.”
The thought of her behind me, her arms around my waist, and her breasts pressed to my back filled my head. “I’ll take you one day.”
“Is it scary?”
“No, I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
She smiled and looked away. “Okay.”
“Until then, you can relax in this car. It’s very safe.”
She trailed her fingers along the luxuriant leather of the upholstery. “Decadent.”
“Not as decadent as Bentley’s Jaguar.”
“I’ve never been in a Jaguar.”
“It’s awesome. I tried to convince him to buy a Bentley because I thought that would be funny saying Bentley’s Bentley, but he wasn’t as amused by it as I was at the time.”
She chuckled. “You are a nut.”
“He used another word.”
“I bet he did.” She was quiet, taking a sip of her coffee. “He likes expensive things.”
I shrugged. “He’s used to them. He came from money. I’m still adjusting.”
“Do you ever resent him?”
Her question surprised me. “Resent Bentley? The guy who took a chance and shared a house with me, accepted me the way I was, and did everything he could to make my life easier? Gave me a job I love and made me very rich while doing so? Why would I?”
“He’s your boss. Always at the top. Always in control.”
I changed lanes, thinking about her question. “BAM is Bentley’s. His concept, his passion, his ideas. He offered us equal shares, but we refused.”
“Oh?”
“Bentley has what we need as a leader. He’s decisive. Clearheaded. Fair. Yeah, he’s the majority shareholder, but with that comes a tremendous amount of responsibility and stress. Neither Maddox nor I was interested in that sort of pressure. We both love what we do, but Bentley is the heart and soul of the company. Mad Dog and I talked about it, and we gave him a counter offer. I own twenty-five percent, Maddox owns twenty-four. Neither of us can outvote Bent, and that’s how we wanted it. To show him how much we trust him. He trusted us enough to know if we accepted his offer, we could outvote him, if we ever chose to do so. I think, once he thought about it more, he realized our idea was the right way to go.”
“Wow.”
“I trust Bentley completely. With business decisions, with everything. The three of us have a weird relationship that works. My job description for a VP is the oddest ever written, I think.”
“Yes, I don’t know many VPs who do security detail as well.”
I shrugged. “It’s what we both wanted. Like I said, weird, but we just mesh.” I chuckled.
“Do you ever disagree?”
I thought about this morning and grimaced. “Rarely.”
“What? Your face looked funny.”
I pulled into the driveway at Mrs. C’s and parked the car. I winked at Cami. “My face always looks funny, Sunshine. In answer to your question, no, I don’t resent Bent. I admire him, respect the hell out of him, and I love him like a brother. I’m happy to follow his lead because he never makes me feel as if I’m anything but equal in his decisions.”
Then I was curious. “Do you resent Emmy?”
I wasn’t sure which shocked her more—my question or my sudden nickname for her. She blinked, then spoke. “What?”
I shrugged. “Her life has changed drastically since she met Bentley. She’s living in a great place, and she’ll never worry about money again.”
She frowned. “First off, she’d live with Bentley over Al’s or anywhere else. She loves him, not his money. And second, she deserves the happiness.”
“You don’t see her as often. Do you resent that?”
“No. I miss her, but I understand. People’s lives change. We’re still close, and that won’t change. We’ll figure it all out.”
“You approve of Bentley, then.”
“He’s amazing. The whole package. Sweet and sexy, strong and caring. He’s so good to her—how can I not approve?”
A strange feeling rippled through my chest. For the first time ever, I was jealous of Bentley. But not for his money. It was because Cami held him in such high esteem.
“I see. Sounds as if you’re a big fan.”
“I am. Because he’s made my best friend happy. He’s not my type, though.” She peeked across the seat at me with a wink.
“Oh?” I asked, meeting her gaze, needing to hear what she had to say.
“No. I like muscles and tattoos. Beautiful eyes. And men who pick me up and drive me to the lake.” She slid out of the car. “Especially when they have funny faces.”
I was laughing as I pushed open my door.
I suddenly felt ten feet tall.
Bentley who?
“This is beautiful,” Cami declared and turned to look at me, delighted. “No wonder you want to keep this place!”
I grinned at her enthusiasm and squeezed her fingers. Somehow, our hands had become clasped together as we walked around and I showed her the property. Mrs. C. wasn’t home, but she had given me permission to come out and look around. She had told me to feel free to sit on the porch and that she had left me something on the table. First, I was pointing out all the things I loved about the place to Cami, who listened, enraptured. Like me, she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the vast expanse of water or the way the sun looked reflected on the surface of the lake.
“Can you imagine what this looks like during a storm?” she asked. “I bet it’s mesmerizing with the water kicking up on the sand and the sky looming over it.”
“I know.”
“And those apple trees. I bet they would make awesome jelly and pies.”
“There are peach trees on the property Bent likes over there. Jed says he has strawberry and raspberry bushes. They share all the fruit between the three neighbors.”
“That’s awesome.”
“They all bought at the same time years ago. Raised their families here, lost their spouses. None of them wants to stay on without the others.”
“Wow.” She met my eyes. “Sort of like the three of you.”
“Yeah, I suppose.”
“You need to buy this place, Aiden. No matter what Maddox thinks. He’ll come around.”
I had shocked myself and told her what had occurred earlier—both this morning and when I spoke to Maddox. She had listened and offered her opinion on the subject.
“I understand what he’s saying. He’s worried about losing his family.” She sighed. “No one wants to be left behind, Aiden.”
Something about her words made my chest ache. She sounded sad.
“Did that happen to you, Sunshine?”
“My dad left us for a new family. He walked away as if we meant nothing. My mom—she never recovered.” She glanced away, brushing her cheek. “Dee stepped in and became my world. My rock. She’s always been there. My mom died when I was still young, but she had checked out long before that.”
“So they both left you.”
She inhaled slowly and patted my shoulder, meeting my gaze. The bereft look in her eyes made mine sting. “Yes. I understand how Maddox is feeling. You and Bentley need to make sure he understands. It’s important.”
“We will.” Unable to stop myself, I slid my arms around her, holding her close. She burrowed into my chest, her head under my chin. She was tall for a woman, but at 6’7”, I towered over her. It felt right somehow, offering comfort. She had done it for me so often; it was good to return the gesture.
We held each other silently for a minute. Then she pulled back with a smile. She still looked sad, but not as vulnerable as she had appeared. I hated seeing her that way—she was always strong.
“Why did you start calling me Sunshine?”
“It suits you. When you smile, you beam. Like a ray of sunshine.”
She held out her hand, giving me one of her beams. “Show me more.”
Grasping it, I grinned. “My pleasure.”
I showed her everything. Jed was home and told us to feel free to look around, and Mr. Wilcox was fine with us walking the property too. “Your Mr. Ridge said you were coming with an offer tomorrow. I have a feeling it won’t be ours much longer.”
I grinned and clapped his shoulder. He offered coffee, but I politely declined, making Cami giggle when I described the thick sludge he considered drinkable.
“We’ll be awake for days,” I assured her.
When we got back to Mrs. C’s porch, there was a plate waiting, piled high with oatmeal raisin cookies under the plastic wrap. “Now, these I can recommend.”
She bit into one with a hum. “Delicious.”
We sat, enjoying the view and watching the sun disappear. The light faded, the view of the horizon diminishing, yet it was still beautiful. The warm air was calming, the water lapping against the shore and the breeze swirling around us the only sounds. After finishing the cookies, we strolled to the car. We glanced out over the water, hardly able to see where it started and the night sky began. The twinkling light of the stars was the only difference.
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
I was shocked by how much I had enjoyed the evening. Part of me had thought I would get her there and fuck her on the beach or in the back seat of my car to ease the stress. But I was strangely content with her quiet company. Her mere presence smoothed the rough edges that kept me tense all day. It was an unusual feeling for me. However, I was sincere when I replied.
“Thank you for coming.”
Our eyes locked in the dimness. Her green irises were bright and open. Without a thought, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. Her mouth was soft underneath mine. She tasted like cinnamon and sweetness. Like Cami.
Like home, a voice whispered.
I pulled her closer, intensifying the kiss. She wound her arms around my neck, teasing my hair, and sighing into my mouth. There was no groping or rushing. Only sensation.
The coolness of the night air. The feel of her curves molded to my body. The silkiness of her hair fisted in my hand.
The total, complete rightness of the moment.
Until she spoke, her quiet words like a shotgun blast in my head. The same words used before that were nothing but a lie that almost destroyed me.
“I care about you, Aiden. I care about you so much.”
Cami
I opened another drawer, searching in vain for my scarf. It wasn’t here. It wasn’t anywhere. I racked my brain, trying to remember when I had worn it last. I hurried down the hall, knocking on Dee’s door.
“Come in,” she called.
I poked my head inside. She was pulling on a blazer, appearing put-together and professional as she always did when heading into the office.
“Hey, you didn’t by chance borrow my scarf? The yellow one with the irises on it?”
She smiled indulgently. “No, I didn’t. Can’t find it?”
I opened the door wider and leaned on the frame. “No. I’m having a streak of bad luck. First my favorite umbrella, now my scarf.”
“Bad luck comes in threes. Watch out. Goodness knows what you’ll lose next.”
She snapped her fingers. “You had it on last week when your project group was here.”
“Right. Maybe it slipped between the cushions on the sofa.” I ran to the living room, checking the sofa and chair, searching under the cushions and on the floor.
Dee came in, laying her briefcase on the table. “No luck?”
“No.”
“Maybe you wore it one day to school, and it’s in your locker?”
“It wasn’t there when I looked for my umbrella.”
She poured us each a cup of coffee and sat down across from me. She patted my hand. “I’m sure you’ll find it.”
She studied me over the rim of her cup. “What’s wrong, baby sister? You look exhausted. I heard you pacing in the night.”
“I couldn’t sleep. Big project on my mind. I worked on it for a while.” Not wanting her to continue, I changed the subject. “How’s your research?”
“Oh, what a mess. This clan has more issues than the royal family. They’re fighting over everything in the will, including property. The whole thing is quite the situation. It’s not simply land out west. They have some all over the country, and it’s like a free-for-all with disputes.” She shook her head. “I should never have recommended Bill Winston to Bentley. Since Bentley hired him away from the firm, I’ve lost the lawyer with the most knowledge about property law and land disputes. I find his replacement . . . lacking.”
I smiled. Bentley had decided to hire a permanent in-house lawyer and asked Dee for a recommendation. Once he and Aiden had interviewed Bill, an offer came fast, and Bill was happily ensconced in his new office at BAM. He was everything they needed: trustworthy, dependable, and loyal. After what happened with Greg, they were taking no chances. Bill had his own department, and he told Dee he loved his new job. His wife did too, since he was home more with her and the kids.
“I’m sure Bentley would have no objection to you picking Bill’s brain for a few hours. He kinda owes you.”
She laughed. “I am going to call him today. No one knows property law like Bill. He’ll help me sort through some of the details so I know what to do next and craft my recommendations.”
“When do you expect it to wrap up?”
“I have no idea. I’m away for several days next week to do some more research in Calgary. I’m hoping soon, though.”
“I miss having you around.”
She stood and kissed my head. “Me too, kiddo. But it will be over soon, and maybe we can do a trip or something. The three of us girls. A weekend away, maybe? Somewhere fun?”
“I’d like that. Emmy would too, I’m sure.”
“Okay, you talk to her about it, and we’ll plan it as soon as this is done. My treat. I’m getting a bonus for this work.”
“Thank you.”
“No thanks needed. When you’re a hotshot clothing designer, you can treat me.”
She left with a wave. As soon as the door shut, I slumped in my seat, pulling my phone from my pocket. My last text to Aiden sat unanswered.
I don’t know what I said to upset you, but I am sorry. Please talk to me.
After one of the nicest evenings I had ever spent with him, he had kissed me. It wasn’t our usual, passion-filled, rip-your-clothes-off-now kind of kiss. It had been filled with something new. A fledgling emotion I thought we both felt had permeated the entire evening. Until I told him how much I cared. He had jerked back as if I had shot him, tense and upset. I’d tried to reach out, but he caught my hand, holding it away from him. The look in his eyes broke my heart. Anguished, he was lost in some memory in his head, no longer with me, but stuck in the past.
Silently, he led me to the car, waiting until I buckled up before shutting the door. He stood by his door briefly, his shoulders slumped, inhaling deeply. Then he slid in, started the car, and drove us back to Toronto. After changing the station, he turned up the music and was utterly silent. I tried to figure out what to say, but every time I looked at his profile, the tense set of his jaw warned me to stay quiet. At my building, he shut off the engine, the silence screaming between us.
“Aiden, I—”
He held up his hand. “Thank you for coming with me tonight. I’ll watch you walk in.”
“But—”
Once again, he interrupted me. “Good night, Cami.” Then he leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to my head.
It felt like goodbye.
I hesitated, then opened the door. I hunched down and looked at him, my voice filled with regret. “That was one of the nicest evenings I’ve had in a long time, Aiden. I’m sorry I ruined it.”
He shook his head, not meeting my eyes. “You didn’t. This is on me.” He fell silent.
Defeated, I shut the door and walked up the steps, dragging my feet. The tears in my eyes made finding the keyhole difficult. Finally, the key slid in, and I opened the door, shutting it tight behind me.
His car pulled away, leaving me alone and confused.
I hadn’t slept all night, the evening playing on a loop in my head. The way he smiled. How my hand felt wrapped in his. How small and protected I felt when he held me. The emotion in his kiss.
The pain in his eyes. I would never forget the anguish.
I sat, lost in my thoughts, startling when my phone buzzed with a text from Emmy, reminding me about meeting for coffee. Glancing at the clock, I knew I wasn’t going to make it. At that point, I’d be lucky to make class on time. I stood, feeling drained, and wished I could just stay home and hide for the day in bed. I didn’t have that luxury, though. Returning to my bedroom, I grabbed my purple scarf, wrapped it around my neck, remembering Dee’s words.
“Bad luck comes in threes. Watch out. Goodness knows what you’ll lose next.”
I had a feeling I’d already lost my three.
My umbrella, my scarf, and the biggest loss of all—Aiden.
“Are you listening to me?”
I glanced up from my cold coffee, shaking my head to clear it. I blinked at Louisa, trying in desperation to pick up the thread of our conversation.
Or lecture was more like it.
She wasn’t happy I’d been late. I’d already postponed coffee once, and I knew I couldn’t miss another date. She had sulked the entire time at our project group at my place last week until I made a point of asking her for coffee this time. Then she settled in and worked, even helping to serve coffee and insisting on staying behind and tidying up. I had to admit, when she wasn’t being whiny or stuck-up, she could be pleasant. But that wasn’t very often. She liked to complain—the way she was right at that moment.
“I mean, really, why drag me out for coffee if you are going to ignore me? Good friends don’t do that.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to remind her I hadn’t dragged her anywhere and that we were school chums, not good friends. But it seemed unkind. So I patted her hand and smiled apologetically.
“I’m sorry, Louisa. I didn’t sleep well last night, and today I lost my favorite scarf, couldn’t locate my notes in my locker, missed Emmy this morning, and was late for class. I’m a bit distracted.”
“Is Emmy angry with you?”
I shrugged. “Annoyed a little, but she knows I had a bad morning. I just hate letting her down.”
“She should be more understanding.”
“It was my fault.” I defended Emmy. “And she’s fine.”
Louisa blinked. “Oh. Okay.” She blurted out, “You can borrow my notes.”
“Really?”
“Sure.” She dug into her bag. “I’m like you. I still write them out.”
I took her notebook, flipping through it. The book was precise. “Wow, your handwriting is so neat. Mine looks like chicken scratch.”
“I rewrite them all. I like them neat.”
“Ah, that explains it. I’ll copy them and give this back to you.” I went to grab my bag and knocked over my cup, spilling coffee everywhere.
I gasped and she shrieked, jumping up to avoid the coffee.
“Oh no, my notes!”
“I’m so sorry.” I grabbed some tissues, lifting the notebook, blotting up the liquid. “Look, it’s not too bad, just the cover, and the edge of the paper. I’ll replace it, okay?”
“Fine,” she huffed. “But you should take better care of other people’s things.”
I scowled. “It was an accident.” I offered her the book, not liking her tone. “I’ll ask someone else if you prefer.”
Her expression changed from sullen and pissed to contrite. “No, it’s fine. It’s just a book, right? Keep it and use it. I’ll start a fresh one since it’s ruined.” She stood, picking up her knapsack. “I’ll get that from you on Monday. You can give me a new one when we have coffee again next week.” She hurried away with a fast wave over her shoulder, leaving me confused.
When had I agreed to coffee next week?
I glanced down at the “ruined” notebook. A few splashes of coffee on the cover. I flipped through the pages. None of the notes were affected.
With a sigh, I stood and added it to my bag. Everyone was different. If a new fifty-cent notebook made her happy, I would get her one. I’d also tell her I wasn’t having coffee with her next week.
No doubt, she’d be angry with me.
But that wasn’t anything new for me lately.
Especially not today.