Niki

“You mean, it’s your last night in New York, and you haven’t even seen a Broadway musical? Niki, the other day, that is all you could talk about. What changed?”

“Aubrey, I-I don’t know,” I confess. Truth be told, I was holding out for Aiden to take me, but after the other night, he hasn’t so much as looked at me.

“Niki, something’s up…talk to me. You can’t keep holding everything in.”

“Listen here, skank, I’m good. You have too much on your hands to worry about my drama.”

Which is sort of true. Aubrey has her hands full, balancing being a newly single mom plus renovating the B&B and a budding romance with Drew Williams, the owner of WilliamSon Construction, the company in charge of the project.

“Hey, whore! Don’t call me a skank.”

“Did you just roll your eyes when you said that?” I laugh.

“Maaaaybe.” She jokes. “But seriously, Niki. You can’t hold this shit in. Talk to me or even talk to Gavin.” She sighs. “You know, he has messaged me a few times about you.”

“We sort of had a fight…well…it wasn’t really a fight, but I kind of got pissed he was having cuddle time with someone else, and then he got pissed that Aiden came into my room and offered to rub me down.”

“So I heard,” Aubrey admits.

“He wasn’t offering to rub me down…well, not right then…”

“Niki Marie Sanders! Did you bonk your boss?” Her question is more of an accusation.

“Not really…” I was trying to avoid telling her about fingergate, but honestly, it’s bothering the fuck out of me.

“Miss Sanders?” Charlie, our designated hotel manager, comes walking out of the elevator with a tower of wrapped boxes.

“Niki? Who’s there?”

“Aubrey, our hotel manager just popped in. I’ll message you later.”

“Sounds good. Love ya.”

“Hi-ya, Charlie. Let me take those from you.” I rush over, grabbing the boxes and setting them on the floor.

“Mr. Alexander had those sent over for you and asked for me to give you this.” He hands me an envelope, then turns to leave.

“Thanks Charlie!” I call after him.

Throwing the letter aside, I rip open all the packages and find the most beautiful St. Laurent, emerald green, strapless mini-dress with a raw edge, pleated to perfection, and two shoe boxes with the most beautiful strappy sandals.

Holy shit are those…They are!

Holding up the dress, I look at the two shoe boxes sitting in front of me. Tapping my newly manicured nail on my lip, I study my choices.

Delicate, glittery silver straps, with a red sole, of course.

Is this really my life?

Or a more vixen look with crisscross black leather straps…Choo’s?

Hmmm, vixen it is!

The only thing missing is the jewelry.

What in the world. What could this mean?

Gathering the gifts, I head to the bedroom to get ready, only stopping to make a quick call to the spa. This time, I protect the goods and just go in for hair and makeup.

These gifts could only mean one thing…more.

Sharp, contrasting angles of the pleated fabric cover me from breast to mid-thigh, a fusion of greens. Aubrey would give me so much shit about the length — or lack thereof. Well, the back is a tad longer…so there will be no flashing of the lady bits tonight.

YOLO, right? I admire myself in a mirror in the lobby while waiting on Aiden. Turning this way and that, I study the unique cut of the couture gown that hugs my body tightly. Like all the clothes Aiden gets me, it fits like it was made for me.

“You ready?” I hear Aiden behind me.

I see him in the mirror and stop to appreciate the fine specimen that is Aiden in his fitted suit, hands in pockets, standing there, talking to the hotel driver. I take one last look at myself; I can’t stop smiling. It’s huge…actually, I don’t think I’ve smiled this big since I got my braces off sophomore year.

“When you are,” I say, turning around.

He inhales sharply. “My God, you are so stunning.” He takes a couple steps toward me to close the gap.

“Thank you.” I suddenly feel naked in front of this man, as if he is seeing me for the first time. Vulnerable.

“Your hair, it’s different.”

“We decided to leave it with a little of my natural wave, but slick it back and away. I wasn’t sure at first, thinking it was a little too Kardashian, but I think I’m rockin’ it.” Nodding in agreement, he scans the room. His eyes settle back on mine. “Aiden, you look gorgeous.” His hair is gelled back, making the light brown appear darker than normal and hiding the specks of grey that pop in the daylight. His day old scruff, not so lucky.

“This is exciting. Where are we going?” I wait for him to hold out his arm to walk me to the car, but instead, he places his hand on the small of my back, guiding me through the foyer.

“It’s a surprise.” He pushes through the door, eyes scanning, once again, as the driver opens the car door. I climb in, and Aiden scoots in after me.

“Is it touristy?” I ask.

“Huh?”

“The surprise.”

“You will see. Now, buckle up.”

“Okay.” I wonder at his change in attitude.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a little blue box. Setting it on the seat, he slides it over, pushing it with his finger.

“What’s this?” I pick up the box, mentally doing a few fist pumps in the air.

“Just a little something I picked up today.”

Slipping the ribbon off, I flip off the lid, unable to wait. Aiden takes me by surprise by laughing at me.

Holy crapola!

“Aiden, this is way too much.” I hold up the Bulgari serpenti white gold bracelet paved in diamonds. This had to have cost more than my car. Okay, maybe not more than my car but more than some used ones.

“Take it. I’ve put you through hell the past couple of weeks, and this is my apology.” He turns to me. “Forgive me?”

“Yes, I forgive you.” I hold out my wrist in front of me. The demons rear their ugly little heads. “Aiden, you don’t have to buy me things. I don’t need them.”

“I know I don’t have to, but I want to.” He reaches over, taking my hand into his. He rubs tiny circles with his thumb, thinking. “But, I am afraid this comes with a warning as well.”

I have a feeling I know what he’s going to say, so I plead, “Aiden, don’t say it.”

“Niki, I can’t give you what you deserve. What I do, who I am…it’s complicated. My life, if mingled with yours, would just bring you pain that I’m not willing to project onto you. So, please, understand that when I’m a little cold, or I turn the other way, it’s not because of you. It’s me, fighting an internal battle with the man I am and the man I’ve become.”

“Aiden.” I place my other hand over his. “I’m not a delicate flower. Your world…I think you would be shocked at how I could fit in. I don’t always desire soft and slow. Sometimes, hard and fast is the only way you can get through life, and if that is all you can give, then I’m willing to take it.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Mr. Alexander, we’re here,” the driver announces over the intercom.

He quickly removes his hand from mine, and we wait for the driver to come around. “This night is for you, no matter what happens, no matter my reactions. Just know, I planned it for you.”

“Hey!” I tug on his suit jacket while he is sliding out of the car. “Where are we?”

“How does ‘Wicked, The Musical on Broadway’ sound to you?”

Clapping and bouncing up and down in my seat, I start singing. “Kiss me goodbye, I’m defying gravity. And you can’t pull me down. Nooooo.”

“Come on, Niki; we have a musical to see.” He winks, holding out his hand.

I thought I was a walking, talking contradiction, but this man confuses the hell out of me.