Chapter 16

Aiden

She didn’t pull away from me kissing her hand, so I held it gently in mine and placed the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly in connection with the others there like the whole set had been custom-made just for her.

“Ella, I’m sorry. I don’t know everything that was said because my mother pulled me away, but Zep told me what happened.”

“They told me about your plans for after the party, so if you hurry, you can still make that date.” She turned to walk away, but I didn’t let go of her hand.

Instead, I tugged it, holding her hostage. “Hear me out. I wasn’t going to do that.”

“Yeah, right. Even your buddy didn’t deny you’d made those plans.” She glared at my sideways with narrowed eyes and tried to pull away once again.

“No, he didn’t, and if you stop fighting me, I can tell you why.” I tugged her hand, and she lost her footing, stumbling into me.

We were no more than a breath apart, but I didn’t dare kiss her. She was as angry as a wild animal, and there was no sense poking the bear.

“Fine,” she said through gritted teeth. She tugged hard, so I let go not wanting to hurt her hand, so then she led me to a small room off the foyer, a music library from the collection of vinyl albums and gold records on the wall. She plopped down on a distressed leather couch that was so comfortable I wanted it for my bedroom and crossed her arms in front of her.

She was closed up so tight I didn’t know if she’d ever let me into her space ever again, but I knew I owed her the truth and an explanation.

“Zep couldn’t tell you that we didn’t plan that because he’d had given the real plan away and the twins would have been pissed off at him. You see, it’s his goal to have them both, but so far, Sadie’s not been cooperative to his plans.”

“So you did make plans to go upstairs and have sex with them when the party was over, but only so your friend could score Sadie?” She shook her head like she wasn’t buying it. “How does that make any of this any better?”

“No, I never planned to go up. We lied to them so they’d get started without me and I was going to be a no show.”

“So you lied to them?”

“Would you rather I had been telling the truth?” She was being irrational and missing the point.

“No. I’d rather you not have anything to do with anything like that in the first place.”

“And I just explained that I wasn’t. I don’t like the twins. In fact, I hate them. I think they’re spoiled, slutty, brats who are much too young for me, and I’ve tried to deter Zep from them more than once. But he’s got this fantasy in his head and...” I waved my hand around and let the explanation go. I didn’t want to get into Zep and his fantasies. I’d be there all night. “It was never going to happen. I only lied to them and went along with it so they’d leave me alone all night and I could have more time with you.”

She raked her hand through her long blond hair and sat forward to rest her elbows on her knees. “I want to believe that.”

“You can, Ella. It’s the truth. I swear you’re the only person I wanted to spend my night with. I wanted to get to know you.”

“Are you sure the Twins didn’t put you up to all of this? As a way to get to me. If they did, just tell me. I’m tired of games.” She met my eyes, and I felt so bad for her.

“They’ve done quite the number on you, haven’t they?”

“You have no idea. They are awful.” She leaned back and seemed to relax a bit.

“I didn’t even know you knew them until everything went down tonight. Which reminds me, you’re the girl from the club. You spilled your drink on me, why didn’t you say so?”

Her cheeks turned bright red. “I’d hoped that with the mask you’d not remember me from that night. The twins had me so frazzled. They’d taken my contacts earlier that day and hid them, so I couldn’t see anything, and then they hid my flat iron so that I couldn’t get ready. They’re a real treat to work for.”

“Oh no. Well, it’s obvious why they’d be that way. They’re jealous of you.”

Her eyes met mine with a look that told me she might think I’m full of shit. “Why would they be? They’re the Blue Twins. They have their own reality show, they get to live in this palace, and they can have anyone they want.”

“Not me. Besides that, you’re ten times prettier and an all-around better person than either of them.”

“You say all the right things, but I don’t want just another rich guy player. If that’s all you are, then don’t waste your time with me.”

The twins had done a number on her for sure. She was going to have trouble trusting anything from me if I didn’t take drastic measures. I wasn’t letting them take her from me. “How about we go for a drive and give me a chance to show you who I am?”

She took a deep breath and glanced away as if she wasn’t sure, and when I thought she’d refuse me and send me out the door, she nodded and released the breath. “Fine. I’ll go for a drive, but only because I don’t want to be here when they get home.”

I stood up and offered my hand, and she took it, letting me pull her up from the couch. She didn’t say a word as she led me out of the house and I stepped ahead of her to open the car door for her. She seemed to hesitate again before sliding into the passenger seat, so I hurried around the car to get us on the road before she could change her mind. I wanted to take her someplace where we could be alone, so I headed out to the beach. I had a house there with beach access and thought it might be just the place where we could take a private walk and spend some time getting to know one another.

I was fascinated with her life and talent and wanted to hear more, but I was also fascinated with her body and wanted to learn more about it as well. I’d take things slow if she needed, but I was at the very least hoping for another kiss.

I headed out on the main highway and took a few turns into the neighborhood to get to my house, and that’s when I noticed her leaning forward in her seat, looking out the window with narrowed eyes as if focusing to see in the dark.

“I used to live on this street,” she said.

“I bought a house here a few years ago when I thought I was going to be moving away from my parent’s home. My father was furious because I didn’t let him find it for me, but I had wanted to do things on my own then. I guess at some point we were neighbors and didn’t know it.”

“There’s my house.” She pointed to a lovely two-story house that was painted such a bright white it seemed to glow in the dark. There was a for sale sign out front, and I noticed my company logo on the top of it. “Looks like it’s for sale.” She sank down in her seat and looked forward as I drove to the other end of the street where my own house sat.

“Maybe one day I can buy it back. For my mother. It would make the perfect place to work like my mother did. She made her studio in the garage.”

“Why did she sell it?” I wondered if there had been any issues that maybe she didn’t want to deal with like housing regulations or repairs.

“She didn’t. Days before she passed, the bank contacted Nola. I’d asked her to take over mom’s finances. I was too young, and I didn’t understand anything happening. I honestly didn’t even want to try. My mother’s insurance canceled on her and the loan she’d taken on the house defaulted, and so they took it. Nola hadn’t had the heart to tell me until after the funeral. I had hoped there was something we could do.”

I really felt for her, and though I still had my suspicions about Nola, this story seemed legit. Her mother had borrowed against the house which wasn’t the best move, but probably her only one if her finances were suffering.

“I’m sorry.” It was all I could say.

“Thanks. One day, though, I’m going to earn it all back.” She lifted her chin, and there was a proud determination, a solemn vow that I had no doubt she’d make sure was fulfilled.

I pulled into my drive, and her face lit up. “You own this house? I’ve always loved it!”

“Yes. It’s my sanctuary. I still want to live here one day, but for now, I’m staying at the house with mom. I’ve got to keep an eye on her and how she tries to spend the money.” I didn’t go into my mother’s past issues. Maybe one day Ella would learn of them, but not today.

I reached over and put my hand on her knee, and she covered it with her own but didn’t push me away. “Would you like to go inside and see it?”

She smiled brightly and nodded. “I’d love to.”