by Jill Sanders
“He wears a suit?” Amy sounded interested for the first time.
“Yeah.” Kristen frowned, thinking that she’d just walked into another trap. After all, all she knew about him was that his name sounded familiar and he was not her type.
“What’s his name?”
“Aiden.” She rested back against the wall as she sat on her air mattress.
“Aiden what?” She could hear the question in her friend’s voice.
“Aiden Scott.” Just saying the name out loud made her heart skip for some reason.
“And?”
“And what?” She rubbed her forehead.
“Kristen, don’t make me come over there. I have an early meeting.”
She giggled. “He’s tall, has dark hair with a little curl to it, chocolate eyes that are hard to read, and totally not my type.”
Amy was silent for a while. “I like him.”
“What?” She sat up and blinked a few times.
“Oh, come on. He breaks the mold. He’s nothing like the last three guys you’ve dated.”
“I don’t count Tyler.” She closed her eyes, remembering how the first real man of her dreams had run off with his best friend, Jake.
“Honey, Tyler got to second base, he counts.”
“No. He only dated me to confirm that he was gay. That doesn’t count.”
“Okay, but you have to admit, the beach-bum guys just don’t work for you.”
She sighed. “Yeah, somewhere out there is my perfect man.”
“Just be careful with this one, okay?” Amy begged.
“Right.” She felt like a fool. She didn’t know Aiden’s intentions, but she had a feeling she was being played again. Her history made her cautious.
When she finally hung up with Amy, she decided a long, hot bath was in order. By the time she pulled herself out of the water, her entire body was aching and she knew she was paying for the short time she’d been locked out on the balcony.
She swallowed two aspirin and drank another mug of hot cocoa before bed.
When the alarm went off early the next day, she groaned and pulled her sore body off the air mattress. Today was going to be worse than yesterday because she couldn’t stop shaking. Calling in sick was not even possible, not when she was the one calling the shots at the meeting.
At least the meeting was early. After she was done, she could head straight home and take the rest of the day off to recuperate.
It took a lot of energy to pull on her clothes. She didn’t even really think about what she was wearing; she just picked the warmest clothes she had. When she stepped outside, she shivered and felt like crying. It was still snowing. How could it still be snowing?
The short hike to the station usually didn’t bother her, but today every bone in her body ached and every step felt like it could be her last. She even stopped in the little store on the corner to purchase a new pair of gloves and a hot cup of tea to help soothe her sore throat. But, as she stepped out again, even her new gloves did little to warm her from the cold wind. She tucked her free hand deep into her jacket’s pockets, but still felt like the chill was pushing through her and nothing would stop it. Even her eyelashes seemed frozen. When she walked into the office, Carla stopped her in the hallway just as the feeling was coming back to her face.
“Oh my goodness. Are you sick?” She rushed over to Kristen and took her arm. “Why on earth did you come in today?” She reached up and felt her forehead. “You’re burning up.”
“I have a meeting with Bob and Mark this morning. Then I’m heading home and going to bed right after.”
Carla shook her head. “You could have let someone else handle that.”
She leaned a little on the countertop, feeling like she’d just run a marathon. “No, it’s my baby.” She silently wished for the day to be over.
“Well, don’t push yourself too hard.” Carla glanced over Kristen’s shoulder and smiled. “Morning, Mr. Scott.”
Kristen tensed, remembering the kiss, how his lips had felt against hers. She felt her face heat and hoped that Carla didn’t notice.
“Morning, Carla.” She felt him stop just behind her. “How are you?”
“Oh, I’m just fine.” Carla dragged out the words.
Kristen felt Aiden take her elbow and turn her a little. “What the . . . ?” His dark eyes changed and she could see concern in them. “I knew I should have taken you to the hospital yesterday,” he said in a low voice.
“I’m fine, it’s just a cold. It’ll be gone by tomorrow,” she said, trying to catch her breath, which she still couldn’t seem to get under control. At least she was starting to feel less like a Popsicle.
“What on earth are you doing here?” he asked as he walked her toward the back break area.
“We have the meeting with—”
“Someone else can go,” he interrupted her, then walked over and started pulling a mug out of the cabinet.
“I can handle my own meetings.” She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned at his back as he heated up some hot water.
“Yeah, but in your condition you should be at home in bed rather than trekking through the snow and cold.” He turned and looked at her and she watched him shake his head. “Fine, we’ll go to the meeting, but you’re going to bed directly afterward.”
She felt like screaming that what she did was none of his business, but just then Paul walked in.
“Kristen, what have you done to yourself?” He rushed over to her and took her shoulders in his hands. “You look like death.”
She wished she’d paid better attention to her reflection as she’d gotten ready that morning. Did she really look that bad? She glanced down and realized she’d pulled on some of her new clothes. They weren’t inappropriate, but they were probably not the best choice for her meeting today. She had on a pair of dark blue dress slacks with a pale cream-colored blouse. The blouse probably highlighted her sickly coloring; she realized she must look horrid.
“I . . .”
“She’s ill. I’ll make sure she gets home directly after our meeting this morning.”
Paul glanced over and nodded at Aiden. “Very well. Next time, give me a call. I’ll send someone else out so you can rest.”
She nodded and watched a hint of relief flood Paul’s eyes before he turned and left. She was really starting to feel like a child.
“So, you’ll take his advice, but you won’t take mine?” Aiden said as he walked over and handed her the hot mug of cocoa.
“I’ve known Paul Stein all my life, and I just met you last week.”
“Fair enough.” He looked down at her lips as she took a sip.
“Besides, I know exactly what his motives are.” She glanced at him over the mug and watched his lips curve into a smile.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Aiden kept stealing glances at Kristen during the meeting. He watched as her coloring went from pale to almost translucent. At one point, she looked green and when he reached over and took her arm to hold her steady, she glared at him.
By the time the meeting was winding down, she was no longer glaring at him as he held her upright. Her voice had grown softer and it looked like every breath she took caused her energy level to fall drastically.
“That’s it; you’re going straight to bed,” he said, steering her toward the curb. The snow had finally stopped, leaving the streets full of slush. He was thankful she’d been wise enough to wear heavy snow boots and a warm coat. She’d even kept her new gloves on during the entire meeting.
“Yes, Dad,” she said in a weak voice. When they jumped into the first taxi that stopped, she leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes as he told the cab driver his address. He didn’t want her alone. Not until he made sure this time that she was okay.
He couldn’t stop watching her. Her
dark eyelashes contrasted sharply with her pale skin. He could see dark circles under her eyes and he frowned thinking about them.
He should have demanded that she go to the doctor yesterday after finding her trapped outside. He should take her to one now, but something told him that she’d use all her energy to fight it.
“I guess I fell asleep,” she said, then let out a yawn as the cab stopped in front of his building.
“It’s okay, we’re here.” He helped her out, then took her arm and smiled when she rested her head against his shoulder as they walked.
“I never get sick,” she said as they made their way toward the warmth of the building.
“I only do when I don’t get the flu shot.” He nodded to the doorman and felt her stiffen next to him.
“Where are we?” She stopped and pulled her arms out of his.
“My place.” He took her hand again. “You need rest and it’s closer than us riding the train to your place.”
She frowned. “I can get to—”
“Just humor me. I promised Paul I’d watch after you.” He tugged on her hand, knowing she was too weak to fight it. “Besides, at this point, I doubt you could make it all the way home.”
She sighed and closed her eyes, then swayed. He reached out to steady her.
“If you don’t make up your mind quickly, I’ll probably have to carry you upstairs. It’s this, or I take you to the doctor’s office a few doors down.” Her eyes flew open and heated. Then she raised her chin and marched past him through the open doors. He smiled and followed her.
When he held his door open for her, her eyes grew large. “You live here?” She stood just inside his door, looking around.
“Yeah, you can explore later. Right now you need to get horizontal.” He walked her back to his room. She closed her eyes as she sat on the edge of the bed. He tugged off her coat and tossed it over the chair near the window. Then he pushed lightly and she fell backward onto the bed. He pulled her boots off and set her legs on the bed.
She turned onto her side and he heard her moan.
“I only need to shut my eyes for a while,” she said as she snuggled into his pillow. He took the throw blanket from the end of the bed and gently put it over her.
“Rest for as long as you need.” He started to back out of the room.
She glanced up at him. “Just an hour.”
He smiled. “Whatever you say.” As he walked out, he flipped the lights off. He spent the rest of his day finishing up some of his own work.
When he made his way back into the bedroom again, five hours later, she was still sleeping. He touched her forehead and was pleased to see that her temperature had dropped back to normal.
She looked so small in his bed, so pale. Her hair was matted to her forehead and he reached over to brush it away from her face.
She really was unlike anyone he’d ever been attracted to before. Besides the looks, there was her intelligence. Kristen was smart and funny, and he was finding the mix intoxicating. He still couldn’t understand the pull she had on him. Maybe it was the fact that she wasn’t falling for him like most of the women he’d dated had.
In the last few months, he’d actually been on a dating hiatus of sorts. The couple of women he’d seen just before that had been so much . . . his type that he had been turned off. Maybe she was exactly what he needed. A change of pace.
He set a glass of water on the nightstand along with a bottle of aspirin and went to order delivery.
Half an hour later, he heard the water in his bathroom turn on and couldn’t stop himself from imagining Kristen naked in his shower.
Kristen stood under the hot spray and felt life seeping back into her bones. She’d never slept as hard or as comfortably as she had in Aiden’s large, soft bed.
Just the thought of going home to her uncomfortable air mattress made her cringe.
When she stepped out of his spacious shower, she smelled something delicious coming from the next room. She frowned as her stomach growled for the first time that day. She’d been so preoccupied with making it through her meeting that she hadn’t even eaten anything that morning.
She made sure to put everything back where she’d found it and then walked out of his bedroom fully dressed. She carried her boots since they were a little dirty and she didn’t want to mess up his floors.
His place was impressive. She could only vaguely remember seeing the living room when they had come in. She remembered the view of the mountains. Now, as she made her way out of the bedroom, she noticed every detail. There was a sunken living area, a formal dining room, and a massive kitchen that sat near the back of the room. She couldn’t really remember what building they’d gone into.
She didn’t even remember what floor he was on, since she’d rested her head back in the elevator and tried not to pass out.
“It’s good to see you up and alive.” Aiden’s voice came from the kitchen area. She walked into the room and found him sitting at the long bar. “I’ve ordered enough for two.” He nodded to the Chinese delivery boxes that sat in front of him. “I hope you’re hungry.”
She thought about it and decided she could eat when she felt her stomach growl. “I am. Thank you.” She walked over and set her boots by what she hoped was the front door. When she went back into the kitchen, she tossed her jacket over the chair.
“You’ve got your color back and your fever has broken. Feel any better?” He smiled as his eyes scanned her face.
“Yes. I’m feeling a lot better. Thanks again.”
He began filling up her plate, and she was pleased to see that he’d ordered several of her favorite foods.
“I like your place,” she said, sitting down along the bar area.
He moved over and sat next to her. “Thanks.” She thought she saw something flash in his eyes, but she still couldn’t read the mood in those dark eyes of his.
They sat in silence for a while as they ate. When she was full, she turned to him and watched him finish off his own plate.
“What are you doing at R&S?” she asked.
He thought about it for a moment, which only confirmed in her mind that he was hiding something.
“Helping a friend out,” he said as he reached out to play with the tips of her hair. She leaned back, so his fingers came up empty.
“Why is working for them helping them?”
He shrugged and leaned closer to her. “There are different ways of helping out.”
She narrowed her eyes as she looked at him. “You’re a hard man to read,” she blurted out and instantly wished she could take it back when he just smiled at her.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Her breath hitched as he reached out once more and touched her hair. His hand cupped the back of her head gently, and she felt shivers run down her spine and knew it had nothing to do with the flu she’d just battled. Then he tugged on her lightly, so she leaned closer to him. Her hands went to his thighs and she felt his muscles flex under her fingertips.
“I’m not interested,” she said softly and felt her heart skip when he smiled slowly at her. Why hadn’t she noticed how sexy he looked when he smiled before? Or how his mysterious eyes sparkled as he looked at her?
“The funny thing is, I don’t know why I am either, but I figure, until I do, it couldn’t hurt to explore.” He leaned closer and she felt his breath mix with hers. His shoulders blocked out the light from the bar, almost giving him a halo around his dark hair. She could see slight highlights in the waves, making her want to push her fingers deep into it and explore the thickness and richness.
Her heart skipped a beat when his lips touched hers again. The kiss was nothing like the one he’d given her the day before. This time, there was a silent demand behind his soft lips.
She leaned closer to him and tried to match his pace. Her nails dug into his strong thighs
as his fingers tightened in her hair. She moaned as she felt herself let go.
“This works for me,” he said between kisses. When he tugged slightly, she slid off her stool and he drew her between his legs. She moaned as his hands ran down her sides.
Maybe it was because she’d told herself not to get this close to another man again, but she couldn’t stop her heart from beating faster as her desire for him grew. A low moan escaped her when he pulled lightly on her hair and brushed his mouth over her neck.
“Yeah, I just don’t feel the attraction,” he said sarcastically as he licked his way back up to her lips.
She shivered and stroked her fingers lightly over his shoulders. She closed her eyes as her head rolled back, giving him access to her neck again.
“Tell me to stop,” he said against her skin. “Tell me to go to hell.” When he pulled back, she looked into his dark eyes.
“I . . .” she started to say but just shook her head.
He scooped her up and tugged her closer, and she wrapped her legs around his hips as he pulled her onto his lap. She could feel his hardness pressed against her core and moaned with want.
Desire was something she was all too familiar with, but desire this fast, this big, was a whole new game. Her hands went to his hair as he feasted on her mouth. His hands roamed over every inch of her back and the curve of her butt as she slowly moved above him, with him, as his hips jolted with every rocking motion.
Images of them wrapped together flooded her mind, and she dreamed about how good it would feel for her bare skin to be touched again.
When her cell phone buzzed in her coat next to her, she jumped and almost fell off his lap.
“Easy.” His hands went to her hips to steady her.
She took a couple cleansing breaths. “Sorry.” She reached over and took her phone out of her coat pocket.
Seeing Amy’s number, she sighed. “I’d better take this.” He nodded.
She pried herself off his lap, walked over toward his large windows, and punched Answer.
“Hey, I heard from my mom, who heard it from Michael, who heard it from his dad, that you were sick today. So I’m heading over to your place with some of my mom’s homemade soup that she made for you.”
