My attention snaps back to the present. Ronan has led us into a spacious, sparkly kitchen. The decor is spotless grey and white like in those cooking TV shows. A petite woman stands behind the counter, closing the stove.
At Ronan’s shout, she turns around and comes out from around the corner. She appears in her mid to late forties. Her brown hair is pulled into a bun and covered by a disposable cap. She’s wearing a black skirt and white shirt all complete with an apron.
“You startled me, boy.” She scolds in a motherly tone.
“Sorry.” Ronan doesn’t appear sorry at all.
“Who’s this?” She asks as her kind blue eyes fall on me.
Ronan clasps an arm around my shoulder. “This is Elsa. You know, like the princess in Frozen.”
I elbow him and he winces. “Ouch. What was that for?”
Margo smiles. “I’m Margot, you can call me Margo like the boys. It’s rare to see a new face here.”
Interesting. So Aiden limits access to his house. Except for Silver, of course.
What? I’m not salty about that.
Not at all.
Ronan waggles his eyebrows. “She’s the one that got King all worked up.”
I elbow him again and this time, he lets me go. “And will break my ribs. Damn, Ellie. I didn’t know you were so strong. Are you open for threesomes?”
Margot is the one who hits him this time.
“On second thought, don’t tell King I mentioned that.” He looks around before whispering to Margot. “Are there listening devices here?”
“I wish there were.” Margot has a bit of an Irish accent.
When she faces me, it’s with a renewed type of interest. “I’m glad to finally meet you, Elsa. Do you want anything to drink or eat?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“I do!” Ronan’s eyes glint like a kid waiting for his Christmas present. “Have you prepared the chips?”
She motions at the counter behind her where there are a few bowls of homemade chips. “They’re cooling.”
“You’re the best, Margo!” Ronan slaps a noisy kiss on her cheek.
“Don’t you have your own cook?” She sounds resigned as if she asked this a thousand times.
“They’re not as good as you.” Ronan snatches a chip and must’ve been burnt because he winces and drops it back down. “My offer to come over still stands. We’ll pay you double what King does.”
“Stop trying to take Margo away.” Comes Aiden’s familiar voice before he strolls inside with Xander on his toll.
Aiden changed into black trousers and a plain grey T-shirt that brings out the smouldering colour of his eyes. It doesn’t help that the cloth tightens around his chest muscles highlighting his agile, sculpted physique.
My cheeks heat no matter how much I try to control my reaction. Why does he have to be so hot?
Aiden spares me an unreadable glance before he focuses back on Ronan who still hasn’t given up on the burning chips.
Did I mention that I hate the tension between us?
/> No. Not the tension. I hate that he ignores me.
I’ve been his main focus since the beginning of the year, it stings to be reduced to nothing.