Chapter Six

Aiden

The Wedding

“ D ream vacation. Go,” I challenge. The hotel bar is still packed, but Bec and I moved to a booth a while ago and I barely notice anyone around us. We’ve been talking for what feels like minutes, but my watch tells me it’s been a couple of hours. Bec mentioned she’s waiting on a few friends to arrive, and I have to meet the guys soon for the bachelor party. My gut twists under the pressure of time encroaching on us. Bec seems unfazed, but I’m already trying to think of ways I can see her again.

The conversation has been light and fun. When was the last time I felt this relaxed around a woman?

“Hm…money’s not a factor?” she asks. I shake my head. “I guess, I don’t know…somewhere remote. Give me wooded forests, hidden waterfalls, active volcanoes, sprawling mountains.” Her gaze is distant, a content smile overtaking her, like she’s there already.

“Volcanoes? So, you’re a thrill seeker.”

“Not really. But when my typical day-to-day routine starts to feel monotonous, I like to imagine experiencing the world in a simpler way. Exploring a corner of the world that’s undisturbed. Wandering through the natural beauty. It fills me with a sense of calm I can’t seem to replicate anywhere else. When I get in my own head, and my problems feel larger than life, it’s nice to imagine being somewhere like that instead, just breathing in the silence. Appreciating my small place in a massive universe.”

“Is it safe to assume you live out in the country somewhere?”

“Ha, nope. Not a country girl. Don’t get me wrong, city life suits me. I live here in Columbus, but when I need a break, I like to get away and try to remind myself that whatever I’m worrying about doesn’t really matter. Sometimes I get the itch to get away to remind myself how just being here, being myself is a gift. I am enough right now, exactly as I am.”

Bec looks at me and startles a little, as if she forgot I was listening. She stirs her drink, fidgeting with the napkin underneath.

“Sorry, that was a lot of rambling for a pretty standard question.”

I reach across the table to take her restless hand into mine. “It was a good answer, Bec.”

“You’re a good listener. Makes it a little too easy for me to run my mouth and embarrass myself. All right, next question. What’s your favorite memory?”

“My eighth birthday,” I blurt out, not thinking. Here I go bringing down the mood with a fucking memory like that. It’s true, but complicated to explain.

“Great party? Awesome present? Why is it the best?” Bec sips her drink and gazes at me with a relaxed smile.

Do I drag all my shit out in the open? I don’t talk about this with anyone except my family or maybe Dom, but there’s something about Bec. I don’t understand what it is, but I know I need more. She has this dangerous air about her. Like if she asked me for the impossible, I’d find a way to make it happen. My instinct is to tell her anything she wants to know, give her anything she wants, and do anything she asks. I have no idea how she has this hold on me, but she does. I answer honestly.

“My mom left my dad the week before and moved my little sister and me into an apartment. It was small. My sister and I shared a room. We had barely unpacked. Most of our stuff was still in boxes. Mom made macaroni and cheese for dinner because it was my favorite. And a homemade box cake, chocolate with chocolate frosting. To this day, you can’t convince me that any cake tastes better than those box mixes. We didn’t have any furniture in the living room other than an old TV, so Mom used a couple of moving boxes to form a makeshift backing to a “couch” and threw all our blankets on the floor. The three of us spent the night watching my favorite movies. My sister complained that she didn’t get a pick and then proceeded to quote almost every line. The two of us acted out our favorite scenes together, which made Mom laugh and give us a standing ovation.”

Bec stares at me pensively. I haven’t talked about that time in my life in a long time. It feels like she’s looking straight into my memory, reaching into my thoughts, and digging into the root of all that lingering, stale pain. It’s unsettling, leaving me feeling raw and vulnerable.

“Clearly there’s more going on outside the frame of that picture-perfect memory.” I can feel my shoulders tighten, hesitant to share more, but knowing I would if she asked me to. Because I can’t picture myself saying no to her, even though we’re practically strangers to each other.

Bec reaches across the table, wrapping her warm hand over mine. “I’m not going to pry, Aiden. I want you to share what you want, and stop when you need to. Thank you for telling me. I can picture it all so clearly. It’s obvious your mom and sister are important to you. Plus, you have good taste. Mac and cheese and double chocolate cake? That’s a menu I can get behind. But I gotta know…did you have good taste in movies too? What was the lineup?”

I chuckle, feeling the tension release from my body. “I had too many favorites when I was eight. I think I chose The Sandlot, Rookie of the Year, and Angels in the Outfield. ”

“You were quite the baseball fan, huh,” she says.

I had a feeling she didn’t recognize me. Good.

“But you’re missing the best one. Ever seen A League of Their Own ?” she asks. When I shake my head, her jaw drops. “You’ve got to be kidding me? You better go to your room and pay to stream that movie right the fuck now! Sorry, Aiden, no hotel porn for you until you watch the best baseball movie of all time!”

Her outrage is amusing, and I throw a smirk her way, settling farther into the booth, getting comfortable. “How can you say that so confidently? Have you seen any of my favorites?”

“No, but trust me, I don’t need to. You’ll understand when you tell me—in about two hours—how right I was. Go on, I’ll wait here.” She sits tall, crossing her arms across her chest, and even though she’s trying to act serious, she can’t hold in her laugh. The sound shakes the shadows from my thoughts. It’s impossible to linger in the past when her entire personality radiates sunshine.

“I think it’ll confuse the staff here if I pay for that movie when I’ve already rented two adult films.”

Her mouth drops open as she stares incredulously at me, her eyes full of intrigue, whispering, “Seriously?”

“No.”

She laughs and shrugs. “Your loss.”

“Okay, it’s my turn. What’s your biggest fear?” I ask.

“Straight for the jugular on this one. Okay, I guess I’d say…losing myself? I feel like I’m finally starting to figure out who I am. I’d do anything to hang onto it.”

“You seem pretty confident to me.”

“Showing confidence and feeling confident are two very different things. I’ve always been able to turn it on when I need it. But when shit hits the fan and I’m put in a position where I have to either force myself into the mold someone else wants or say fuck that and just be myself, I have a record of doing what will cause the least amount of conflict. I used to think it was a strength. Keeping the peace, playing mediator, making sure everyone else gets what they need. Until I realized the cost is too high. It’d be so easy to lose track of who I’m becoming, because I’m just starting to figure it out for myself, you know? I don’t want to sacrifice who I am or who I want to be.”

It makes sense what she’s saying. While she’s exuded strength and self-assurance tonight, there’s also a vulnerability lingering right below the surface. Our conversation has been mostly joking with each other back and forth, trying to outdo one another with quick wit and a heavy dose of sarcasm, but when I share something personal, her empathy and ability to say the right thing without asking me to share more than I want tells me just how compassionate she is. Anyone can take advantage of that, and it pains me to hear people she’s trusted in the past have hurt her and made her feel like she has to be someone she’s not.

“People who care about you wouldn’t ask you to sacrifice any part of yourself.” She looks at me thoughtfully, and I can tell she’s absorbing what I’ve said. “And tonight? Do you feel like you can be yourself with me?”

“Oddly, yes.” The admission seems to be difficult for her, a shy smile on her face as she looks back and forth between the drink in her hands and me. “Normally, I feel like I need to keep people at a distance until I have a better feel for them. Until I know I can trust them. For some reason, I don’t feel the need to do that with you.”

“Strange, I was just thinking the same thing about you. Be yourself with me, Bec. I won’t ask you to change. I’d never want that.” I mean it. There’s something incredibly special about Bec, and the way she’s looking at me makes me feel like maybe the connection isn’t one sided.

* * *

We’re walking down the hallway, toward my hotel room, when Bec’s hand wraps behind my neck, nails scratching along the base, fingers tangling in my hair. She pulls me closer like she needs my lips on hers more than she needs air. I can’t wait any longer. I find an alcove and push her against the wall beside the ice machine, hidden from anyone walking past us. My hands roam to her ass, and I pull her against me. She gasps, her soft lips parting, and her body melts. She tilts her hips to meet mine, staring at me with those piercing eyes.

Bec is a vision. Long brown hair curling down her back, a graceful sway to the way she moves, and a carefree energy radiating off her. I want to get tangled up with her and dig my fingers into her soft curves.

Physically Bec is stunning, but there’s also something intriguing about the way she thinks. Her big blue eyes lock with mine, and the heat between us grows. Her hungry gaze only fuels the fire building in me.

I slide my hands under her ass, and she wraps her legs around my waist. I lean in, pressing her against the wall. “What do you like, Bec? What do you need?” I murmur in her ear before gently biting at the lobe.

I press my lips to her neck and trail soft kisses down her bare shoulder, finally letting my tongue slip out to taste her skin. Her black dress hugs her curves, and it begins to ride up her thighs. She shivers in my arms and her fingers tighten in my hair. “I need you to kiss me, Aiden. Now.”

“I am kissing you,” I mumble against her jaw, pressing another teasingly soft kiss along the edge. Bec pulls my hair hard, and I chuckle, lifting my gaze to meet her heated stare.

“Is that the best you can do? Such a shame. You had so much promise—” I cut her off, swallowing her words in a frenzied kiss, both overwhelming and heightening my senses. I’m consumed by her soft lips, my need driven even higher when a quiet moan spills from her into our working tongues. Bec shifts, gripping my shoulders tightly, her fingernails pressing into my skin. She writhes in my arms, and I harden in response. She smells like summer rain with a hint of something floral that I can’t quite place. She tastes like mint and ginger, spicy and sweet .

Who the fuck is this woman?

“Where’s your room?” Bec pants into our shared breath, holding me tighter, and I grip her just as fiercely. A mess of hands and limbs and desire. Before I can answer, her phone rings. “ Shit ,” she hisses. I lower her to the ground as she fumbles with her phone.

I don’t give her space. I lean my body into hers, peppering her neck with kisses while she answers the call. “Hey, girl. What’s up? What? No, I’m fine, why?” Her voice is breathy, and I can hear her need coursing through her, reflecting my own.

I run my hand over her stomach and turn her around until she’s facing the wall, her back flush against my chest. Bec presses her free hand against the wall for support, and I trail my hands along her sides before gripping her hips and tasting her neck, gently biting.

She struggles to stifle a quiet moan and presses her ass into my groin. She leans her head to the side to give me more space to ravish her neck and shoulders with my tongue.

Holy shit. I love the feel of her full, lush curves. Her body is fucking perfect. I can’t wait to wreck it.

“You’re here already?” she asks.

Well damn, this doesn’t bode well for the plans I’ve been making in my mind. They all involved Bec. Bec in my bed, in my shower, on my face, on her knees.

I pause, lifting my head, and Bec turns to face me. Disappointment on her face, I’m sure a mirror to my own. “Awesome, I’m glad you were able to head out early. Yeah, I’m here. Just finished getting ready in my room. I’ll head to the suite in a few. Yep, I’ll see you there. Okay, bye.” She doesn’t break eye contact as she disconnects the call and lowers her phone to her side.

I’m not done with Bec yet, and she sure as shit doesn’t look done with me.

“I’m sorry. My friends are parking. I probably only have fifteen minutes or so.”

Fifteen minutes…well, that would be plenty of time for—

Her palms come up to my chest, pushing me back playfully with a smile. “And before you even think about it, the plans I had required much more time than that.” Her gaze rolls down my tall frame and back up. She tilts her head, taking her time giving me another once-over, further emphasizing her point, and damn if I don’t want to know what the fuck she would do if I gave her all my time.

“Lucky for me, it seems we have all weekend. It’s only Thursday,” I say. Hopefully, I don’t sound like an overconfident asshole. I don’t do cocky. I normally do aloof and levelheaded, but I really do want to see her again.

“Yep, lucky you.” She pops up on her toes, kissing my jaw before smacking my ass as she passes me, gliding gracefully back into the hallway. I’m stunned for a second, watching her stride away from me. Coming to my senses, I jog to catch up with her while unlocking my phone.

“Hey, in all seriousness, I promise not to blow up your phone. I would love to see you again. Can I get your number?” There is something about our connection that I don’t quite understand. Is she attractive? Fuck yeah. But this feels like more. An unfamiliar pull drawing me in. A restlessness settling in my bones at the thought of separating from her. An electric current lighting me up from the inside at the thought of keeping her close.

She turns, walking backward toward the elevator with her arms held out to her side. “Shouldn’t we leave it up to chance? See if the universe pushes us together again? Then we’ll know we were destined to do the no pants dance.” She gives me a shimmy. I’m sure she thinks her exaggerated wiggle is silly and not seductive, but shit, it’s doing it for me.

“No, fuck the universe.” I wrap my hand around her bicep and tug her close, mere inches separating us. “I’ll show you stars myself.”

Definitely over-the-top cheesy, but I can’t help myself.

For once, I’m not second-guessing everything I say to a woman. I’m not worried about making an impression. Bec has me acting on impulse and intuition. She doesn’t know who I am. No preconceived notions, no pressure. It’s freeing. I can be myself and not worry about being exploited or judged. All unfortunate side effects of my career.

She barks a laugh and pushes the button for the elevator. “You were so close to coming off so smoothly. But wow, that line is unforgettable in the worst way possible. Aiden, what am I going to do with you?”

“Give me your number, and we’ll find out. How about it, Bec? Take a chance on me.” The elevator rings as it opens, but I hold her attention, staring into those beautiful eyes. She takes my phone, dials her number, and presses the Call button before handing it back to me. She steps backward into the elevator, holding up her phone to show my number coming through on her end.

“I like the sound of that, Aiden. Don’t keep me waiting long.” She smirks as the doors close.

Holy fuck. I think it’s going to be an unforgettable weekend.