After what feels like forever he rests his forehead against mine and tries to catch his breath. “I have to stop now or we’ll never make it anywhere.” He brushes his lips against mine one more time before he reluctantly takes a step back and holds on to my hand.
As much as I want him to pick me up and carry me to bed, I know we need to do this. I know he’s not lying that he and Savannah aren’t married beyond a piece of paper, but I know I still need to meet her. I remember the look she gave me last night and there was more to it than her playing the role of a dutiful wife. I want to say that to him, but I fear he’d take her side and end any kind of relationship we could have.
I can only hope that maybe she’s a little like Gia and is protective of Aiden. For some reason I don’t get the feeling she’s in love with him and hoping that one day he’ll see her as more than a little sister. But that could just be a lie I’m telling myself.
Maybe she isn’t miserable because she’s married to Aiden but miserable because she’s in love with a man who doesn’t love her back. Both sound horrible, but loving someone who doesn’t love you has to be worse.
We walk out of the building and a town car is waiting for us. The driver avoids looking at me and it puts me on edge. I suddenly want to turn around and go back home. Aiden must feel my discomfort. He gives my hand a small squeeze as we get into the car. I try and pull my hand from his, but he doesn’t let me. When he starts to say something, my eyes go to the driver who can hear everything.
He closes his mouth and I watch his jaw set into a hard line. I’m not sure what he’s mad about, so I turn to look out the window. I close my eyes when I feel his lips on the back of my hand.
“Have you changed your mind?” he asks me softly.
I don’t look over at him, knowing between the softness of his words and looking into his eyes I’ll want nothing more than to crawl into his lap and have him tell me everything is fine. I can’t do that because the driver would see and who knows what will come of that. Is this how it will be if we’re together? Will everyone pretend I’m not around like the house I grew up in? I can’t live like that again and I won’t.
I look at the driver and I see him glance away quickly in the mirror after I’ve caught him staring.
“My heart,” Aiden says, and my stomach flutters. There’s an edge to his words, and when I finally look at him he’s angry.
“Not now.” I can tell from the look in his eyes he wants to push. “Please.”
I don’t want to have this conversation with an audience. When we stop in front of a house I’m a mixture of happy and uneasy. I want to get out of the car, but knowing I’m walking into a confined space with the wife of the man holding my hand is nerve wracking.
Aiden opens the door and helps me out, and then I’m shocked when he levels the driver with a stare.
“I said don’t stare at her and to not be fucking rude. You’re fired.”
He tugs my hand and I’m glad he does because I would still be standing there with my mouth hanging open if he hadn’t. I can feel he’s pissed because it radiates from him as we walk into his house.
“Is everything okay, Mr. Clark?” a man inside the front door asks.
Two security guards look to where our hands are joined and their eyebrows rise. My whole face heats knowing what everyone is thinking. I try and pull my hand from his, but he doesn’t let it go.
“I can’t do this,” I say as we walk into the foyer and the door closes behind us.
“I’m going to fix this,” he tells me. “Please don’t try and leave.” The desperation in his voice has me questioning everything.
“Why did you tell the driver to not look at me? I can’t be a dirty secret.”
“I don’t know why I said that to him. When I got to your place it just came out of my mouth.”
I want to tell him it’s because I’m a dirty secret, but he cuts me off.
“Because I’m jealous and I knew he’d want you.” He’s so intense and I don’t think he’s ever looked at me with so many raw emotions.
I stare at him in confusion. He thinks the driver would want me? “That’s ridiculous, Aiden.” I feel myself getting mad. “You don’t have to lie.”