CHAPTER NINETEEN
As James drove us home along the winding highway, Aidan, with his arms around me, noticed my body tighten.
He turned to look at me. “Are you okay?”
I gripped his hand. “It’s the hour. It brings it all back.”
“I’m so sorry. There’s been so much drama lately. I haven’t even asked
you how you were feeling about it all. You just seemed to be yourself.”
“I’ve been fine, Aidan, really. It’s only just hit me now. And it’s because we are on the same strip of road and it’s dark.”
I turned around, and headlights burned into my eyes as a car sped up close to us. I started to shake.
Aidan turned to see what had made me so tense. When the vehicle overtook us, he took a deep breath, and my body slumped into his.
He stroked me gently, drawing apprehension out of my muscles. “Baby, maybe you should see someone. I could make an appointment with Kieren. He’s helped me plenty.”
I exhaled a shaky breath. “No. Really, I’m fine. It just brought it all back.” He drew me in tight. “And with you holding me, Aidan, I could face a seven-headed monster spewing out fire, and I’d still feel safe.”
Aidan sniffed. “You didn’t happen to eat any of Simon’s cookies, did you?”
I giggled. “No. I didn’t. Tabitha did, and she was pretty giggly there for a while.”
He buried his nose into my hair and kissed me. “While I’m around, princess, no harm will ever come to you. I’d kill for you.”
“I hope that won’t be necessary because I couldn’t imagine my life without you, Aidan. And I’d hate to have to visit you in jail.”
“You will never have to do that, darling. We’re safe. I’ve seen to that.”
I was relieved when the big iron fortress opened up and swallowed us back into the safety of my beautiful palatial home. That hard, metallic yawn was music to my ears.
Aidan had made a good point. I probably needed to see someone, because I found myself dripping in cold sweat after that ride home. It hadn’t happened before. But then I hadn’t been out in a car at night since the car chase incident. Like some creepy phantom streaking its icy presence on my skin, the mystery of who was behind it continued to haunt me.
James jumped out and opened the doors for us.
“Thanks, man,” said Aidan, stretching his long legs out. “Where’s Linus, I wonder?” He looked at James, who shook his head.
Aidan put his arm around me. I was shivering from the cool air. “Come on. Let’s get you in.” He turned to James. “We’ll see you in the morning. I’ve got an early flight.”
“Sure thing, Aidan.” James turned to me and smiled. “Sleep well.”
“Thanks for everything, James,” I replied.
It felt so wonderful to be on my favorite sofa, wearing a cozy sweater and comfy leggings, watching TV.
Aidan sat at his desk, getting his itinerary together for the morning. Every now and then, he’d glance up at me with his large blue eyes glistening with tenderness. His delectably sculptured lips curved up at one end, the promise of which set off an electrical charge through me.
Rocket was at his feet, snoozing.
I stretched out like a lazy cat. Could life get any better?
“I’ll be there in a minute, baby,” said Aidan, combing back his unruly hair, which that morning I’d tangled in my fingers while he devoured me for breakfast.
“It’s okay, Aidan. Take your time. I’m really happy to be home.”
“You look good enough to eat, baby. I love seeing you without make-up and your hair down. And what’s underneath that sweater, I wonder?”
“Not much,” I said with a giggle.
He stood up and came toward me, his stride elegant but purposeful.
“I thought you were busy,” I said, looking up at him.
“It can wait.” He lowered down to his knee, and his hands went exploring beneath my sweater. He groaned as he caressed my heavy breasts. “Are you cold? Let’s put the heat on so that I can take this off.”
“I’m not cold now,” I murmured.
Just as Aidan lifted my sweater, Rocket barked and began to growl while his fur stood up. My breath hitched. I’d never seen him behave like that before.
Aidan’s eyebrows knitted. He sprang up. “What is it, buddy?”
Rocket ran to the door, continuing to growl. He made such a loud commotion, and there was no way to calm him. Aidan stepped out onto the balcony in order to survey the grounds.
“Maybe there’s a cat out there,” I called out.
Aidan’s furrowed brow told me there was nothing like that. I bit my lip with fear.
“It’s not a cat. Rocket never does this unless…” Aidan went to his bureau and took out a gun.
My mouth opened. “Unless?” quivered out of my throat.
Aidan grabbed my phone and handed it to me. “Go into the bathroom and lock the door.”
“Aidan, what is it?”
“Just do it, Clarissa, now.” His voice resonated in commando style.
Rocket was barking so loudly, it was hard to think, let alone ask questions.
Aidan slid a magazine into his gun. I started to shake with fear. I’d never seen a gun, let alone watch someone preparing one for use. Aidan led me by the arm to the bathroom.
He looked at me, his mouth tight. Aidan’s steely focus softened a little when he noticed how shivery I’d become. “It’s probably nothing, my love. Just go in there and lock the door. If I haven’t come back in five minutes, call 911. Okay?”
“Aidan…”
After he shut the door, I locked it, just as instructed.
I hugged my body as my teeth chattered. I told myself that it was probably a false alarm and that Rocket was barking at a rat in the house or something. It was the “or something” that made my legs turn into jelly.
I slid against the wall and sat on the bathroom floor. I held my head in fear. After a pep talk from a cool, calm, and collected part of my brain, telling me to get a grip, I stood up and placed my ear to the door.
Rocket’s bark was now in the distance. The fact he was still causing a ruckus didn’t help. My jaw remained tight.
I stared at my phone, wondering if it had been five minutes yet.