A Snow Covered Nightmare: Refuge Series Book Two by Debbie Zello (23)

Chapter Twenty-Three

Aiden kept his window partially rolled down for the short ride to Briah’s house. He was sweating and uncomfortable. He needed the extra air to cool him. He looked back at the initial greeting and thought it went better than he thought it would. He had visions of Briah slapping him and leaving him standing there with a deep red mark on his face and nothing else.

Briah had her window open as well. She felt as if she was having a mild panic attack. The absolute last person she thought she would see walking towards her was Aiden. She thought he was the hit man at first, one sent to exact his revenge on her for her testimony. When her mind finally recognized him, it was both a relief and a shock.

They were again so focused on their own path, that they never noticed the man in the car, as he pulled in behind them. Never noticed him following them a distance behind. They pulled into Briah’s road, as he pulled into the one before. He drove around and parked several houses up from Briah’s on the opposite side of the road facing her.

Briah turned into her driveway and parked. Aiden pulled up in front of her house. He got out and went to her car. He held her door open but didn’t get too close to her. He wanted her to come to him. He felt that she had to make that choice.

Together, they walked up the sidewalk and onto her porch. She took out her key and opened the door. She flipped on the lights and Aiden stepped into her space. He looked around, smiling. It was so her, from the colors to the accents. From what he knew about the program, they tried to make the individual feel comfortable in their new surroundings. Someone went out of their way to get this right. “Can I get you a glass of wine?” Briah asked, pulling him out of his musings.

“If you’re having one. Otherwise, coffee would be fine,” he said, shutting the door behind him. He watched her take off her coat and hang it on the hook. He followed her, hanging his next to hers.

As she walked towards the kitchen, he kept his eyes on her. He’d remembered the gentle sway her hips made, always stirring his desire. The leggings she wore below her turtleneck fit like a second skin. Aiden shut his eyes for just a second to rein in his wayward thoughts. Picking her up, throwing her over his shoulder, and running to the bedroom was out of the question.

Briah opened the refrigerator and took out the bottle of wine. She retrieved two glasses from the cabinet and began pouring the wine in each. She handed Aiden one of the glasses and said, “Make yourself comfortable.”

“Where are you sitting?”

“Here, in the kitchen. It’s my favorite room in the house.” Aiden looked around at all of the Christmas decorations. She had a small, decorated tree in the middle of her table. Her plastic clings on the windows with Santa, Rudolph and some Elves packing the sleigh.

“Do you like it here in Vermont?”

“Funny that you ask that. I was just thinking a few days ago that it finally felt like home,” she said with a smile. She sat down on one of the bar stools that surround her kitchen island.

“Good, I’m glad. You have your mountains and snow. Have you made some friends?” Aiden asked with an accusatory undertone, as he sat across from her with his back to the living room.

“If you’re asking if I have met a man, yes I have. I’ve dated him for a few weeks. He is very nice and treats me well,” she said as she watched the weight of her words hit him.

“Do you love him, Briah?”

“It’s Cherie now. Briah lives in Denver.”

“Do you love him?” he said slightly more forceful.

“If you remember correctly, you kicked me to the curb, not the other way around. Using that tone with me is inappropriate. It’s not like I cheated, Aiden, you sent me away.”

“I’m sorry. Do you love him?” he said much softer this time.

“I don’t owe you an answer to that question. How did you find me anyway?”

“Pete saw you in a restaurant Friday night. He is here on vacation. He called me. I got on the next flight.”

“He saw me and he followed me?” she asked her voice rising.

“Yes. When I got here, I followed you to work.”

“And I didn’t see either one of you. So much for my abilities. Did you hear about Jeanette?”

“Yeah. I spoke to the detective in charge of the investigation. He doesn’t think it was a hit. He said her place was ransacked and things were taken. It wasn’t just a clean shot.”

“You don’t think they could have done that on purpose? Made it look like that so we wouldn’t think I’m next?”

“There is always that possibility. But the Feds are very good at what they do with this program. If they weren’t, how would they get people to trust them? I’m going with that.”

“You found me. I’m hiding in plain sight, Aiden. I’m working and going to restaurants. I’m not in a cave somewhere living the life of a hermit.”

“Me finding you was fate, Briah. Shit luck. Pete’s in-laws gave them this vacation as a Christmas present. If it wasn’t for that, I would still be feeling sorry for myself, in Denver, alone,” he said looking miserable.

“This is what you wanted, Aiden. You said so. You said we were only having fun. It didn’t mean anything and I should go,” she said the pain of his words still apparent on her beautiful face.

“After the accident, I got to the hospital to see you as soon as I heard what happened. Blain and I arrived at the same time and walked in together. Brice saw us and ushered us into an empty room to talk.

“He told us that he had offered to take you into protective custody and place you in the witness program. He said you refused, because of me. After a short speech about my inability to protect you 24/7 and Blain agreeing with him, I relented.

“When I went in to talk to you, I was at the lowest point I have ever been in my life. I felt emasculated. I’m a big, bad, homicide detective and I couldn’t protect the woman I love. And the only way around it was to make her think I’m some kind of dick to make her leave me. So I did it. Then I went and got completely drunk for weeks to try to forget what I had done.

“If it wasn’t for Pete, I would still be in a bottle somewhere. He brought me back from the brink. I saw a counselor and got my head into a better place. I prayed every day that you were okay and that I might find you,” he said watching her as he spoke. Briah listened to every word, thinking his misery mirrored hers.

“You weren’t going to say that until after Brice spoke with you?” she said quietly.

“No, never. I was going to climb into that bed with you and hold on to you forever. I figured we would move in to a more secure building. I was going to teach you how to handle a gun and get you a permit. Then adopt a big dog. I was making plans for us.”

“You hurt me,” she said with tears forming.

“I know I did, and I’m so very sorry. I can’t even blame Brice because I chose to do it,” he said taking a big gulp of the wine.

Briah got up from the stool and walked around the island. She had every intention of walking to the door, opening it, and asking him to leave. She needed time to process her emotions.

Aiden grabbed her on her way by and held her to his chest tightly. She struggled to get out of his arms, pushing on his shoulders. He brought his lips to her ear and whispered to her, “I love you, Briah. No man will ever love you more than I do. No man will ever crave you, want you or need you more than me. I ask that you find a way to forgive me and love me again.

“From this moment on, I am yours. If you send me away, I’ll go. If you let me stay, I’ll spend every day making you glad you did.”

He felt her beginning to relax in his arms. She let out a contented sigh, telling him so much about her feelings. Her hands went around his shoulders as they used to do. He felt her fingers on the back of his neck, combing the hair that went over his collar. He knew then that everything would be all right.

“I don’t love him,” she whispered in his ear. “I tried, but I couldn’t. I knew it was missing something. When I’m in your arms, I feel a love that I have never felt with any other man. Something I have never had before or since. You are in my blood. Even after what you said that day, my love didn’t die. That’s why I’m still here. For if it had died, it would have taken my life with it.”

“I know that you are still angry with me. I know that will take a while to fix. Can I please stay the night just to hold you while we sleep? I promise nothing will happen unless you want it to. I just need to hold you.”

He felt her nod before she said, “I need that too. I need it desperately.”

Roland watched as the lights went off one by one in the house. He smiled and said aloud, “Lucky bastard. I was thinking I might tap that myself before I waste her.” He waited a few extra minutes, making sure they were in for the night, and then he started the car and drove off to his motel.

Aiden waited patiently for Briah to come out of the bathroom. He meant what he had said; he would only hold her, making no effort to arouse her, unless she moved towards him. He got into bed wearing his boxers and covered by the sheet and blanket to his waist. He knew his chest and abs always got to her. He said he would be good, but he didn’t say he was a saint.

Briah came out of the bathroom wearing a completely utilitarian nightgown that wouldn’t have aroused anyone. Still, he sported an impressive erection just being near her.

She stopped just inside the room and stared at him. Just the reaction he was hoping for. “Is something wrong, baby?” he asked trying to sound oblivious.

“Can you put a tee shirt on?” she said stammering.

“I don’t have any clothes here, baby. All I have is my dress shirt with me. I can’t sleep in that and I doubt I’ll fit into anything you have,” he said, reasoning with her.

“Okay. Can you cover up then?” Aiden smiled and pulled the covers up slightly. She walked to her side and pulled the covers back. She sat down and then put her legs under the covers laying on her side with her back to Aiden. He just lay there waiting for her invitation. After a moment or two she said, “I thought you wanted to hold me.”

Aiden moved closer and turned on his side to face her. He softly said, “Come to the center, Briah. Come into my arms, baby.” She slid back until she was locked in his embrace. Aiden took a deep breath. He loved the smell of her hair and body. He was desperately trying to keep his throbbing erection away from her. He didn’t want her to think he was breaking his word.

“It’s okay, Aiden. You can relax, I know it’s there. It’s a natural reaction; I’m not mad.”

“Oh Christ, Briah. I can’t help it when I’m near you. But I won’t do anything about it I swear. I just want to hold you,” he said, laughing quietly.

Aiden felt her relax completely and soon fall asleep. He thanked God and all the saints for his good fortune in finding her and now having her in his arms. He felt if he died during the night it would be all right because he was with her. He didn’t know that somewhere in the night, there was a man that planned to make his thoughts into reality.