“Doing what?” I whisper back shakily, hoping my voice doesn’t sound as squeaky as I imagine it to be.
His lowers his head, and before I can take a calming breath, his lips are hovering over mine. I close my eyes, overwhelmed over the fact I’m about to be kissed by someone like Aiden.
When the feel of his lips doesn’t come, I open my eyes in case I imagined it. I didn’t. His eyes are shut tightly, a pained expression on his face. Before I can ask what I did wrong, the vibrations from Sunday’s cry have me looking down at her.
I begin to rock her, too afraid to look up at him. Then Aiden’s hands come into view, gently pulling Sunday from my grasp. There’s an ache in the pit of my stomach at the feel of my empty arms. When I look up, Aiden is speaking rapidly, and I can’t keep up.
I clear my throat. “Did I do something wrong?”
He stops, drawing back to look at me. “What? No. I—” He stops to close his eyes and run his fingers through his hair, something I’ve wanted to do all day, dying to see if it’s as silky as it looks. His eyes flick open, and there’s so much emotion shining in them. “Fuck! I’m not good for you. I’ve not had a relationship last longer than a week, and you’re a relationship kind of girl. I don’t want to hurt you.”
I release the breath I was holding, wondering why his words have affected me. It’s not that I’m denying that I’m attracted to him, because I am, even more so after spending the day with him. And I dare admit I think I’m beginning to have feelings for him.
“Okay.”
His gaze looks away briefly before coming back to me. “I need to get going. Thank you for spending the day with us.”
I stand with him. “No, thank you for keeping me company. It’s been one of the best days I’ve had in a long time.”
He seems to struggle with something before finally nodding. “I’ll go grab her pushchair and stuff.”
“All right.” I help him gather up Sunday’s things as he continues to rock her. I can see she’s still crying. “Would you like me to help you next door?”
His tight expression relaxes. “Would you mind holding Sunday for me while I carry the pushchair upstairs?”
I rush forward, holding my arms out for her. “Of course.”
We walk across the front garden and the security lights come on. My heart is in my throat when we reach the steps to his apartment, knowing this is where we say goodbye. He rushes up, keys and pushchair in hand, and deposits them inside.
I force a smile as he rushes back down the stairs, taking Sunday, who has calmed down, out of my arms.
“Goodnight, Aiden,” I whisper, fiddling with the edges of my top.
A shiver runs down my spine at the heated look he gives me. “Goodnight, Bailey.”
“See you around.” I wave lamely, and before I can make a bigger fool of myself, I spin around and rush back to mine. I close my eyes once the door shuts behind me, groaning.
He was going to kiss me. Me. Lame Bailey James. If I hadn’t felt his breath on my face or seen the lust in his eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it.
But Aiden Carter was going to kiss me.
Shaking my head, I step inside my empty house. Being alone has never bothered me before—I enjoy my own company—but after a day filled with Aiden and Sunday, I feel lonely.
Walking into my office, my laptop sits open and I know what I have to do, so I walk over and fire it up.
All throughout the day today I wished I wasn’t deaf. I longed to hear Sunday cry or the noises she made that would make her dad smile. And Aiden… it hurt every time his lips moved and I couldn’t hear his voice, not knowing if it was deep, husky or low.
Tears spring to my eyes as I load Google, typing in the search bar for a doctor who specialises in my condition.
For the first time since my family died, I want to live. And if someone can help me achieve that, give me back my hearing, I will do whatever it takes. I’m longer the scared girl who lost her family and her hearing. I’m no longer angry at the world, at everyone who forgot three lives were taken in that fire, or that those girls still walk around like they didn’t commit heinous crimes.
I may not be healed, but I don’t think anyone really heals from something like I’ve been through. But I’ve been dealing. I got my degree in art and design, just like my parents wanted for me. I started my own business to make them proud.
But if I really want to make my parents proud of me, then I need to start living. I have to stop letting those girls rule my life, and where and what I do in it.
With that in my mind, I send a request for an appointment with a doctor nearby. My grandparents are going to lose their minds when they find out. They’ve been trying to get me to see someone for a while, but I always refused. My family were dead; I didn’t feel like I deserved my hearing back.
Feeling better in myself than I have in a very long time, a smile lifts my lips. I feel lighter, freer.
In the mood to do some work, I open my emails, finding one from Charlotte at the top. I click it open and see a list of links for things she’s looking for in her covers.
Ready for a long night, I sit back in my chair, looking out my window to next door. The curtains move, making me tense, because even though I can’t see him, I know he’s there. I can feel it.
A small smile plays on my lips as I open the first link, trying to get my mind off the hot god who lives next door, who looks incredibly sexy whilst holding a baby.
Working will distract me from thinking about him.
But even as the thought runs through my mind, I know it’s a lie.
Because if there’s one thing Aiden Carter isn’t, it’s forgettable.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
AIDEN
For the entire week I’ve avoided Bailey. She makes me feel things I shouldn’t, and whether that’s from having Sunday in my life, I don’t know. I just know for the first time in my life, there is someone outside my family I’d do anything to make sure didn’t get hurt.
Staying away is harder than I imagined it would be. I’ve never had a problem when it comes to girls before. Ever. This is all new to me.
I glance out at the back garden when I see her step outside, wearing only a pair of denim shorts and a thin-strapped tank top that barely covers her magnificent breasts. She smiles brightly at the guys, gently resting a tray of drinks on the table.
“They can get their own damn drinks,” I mutter.
My hands clench when I see Mark, Liam, and even Landon checking her out as she leans over to grab one of them a drink. She passes it to Mark, laughing at something he says to her.
I wish I could see his lips from here, make out what that fucker is saying to her.
“Sunday, me and you are going next door. Daddy needs feeding,” I tell her. She kicks her tiny feet, so I take that as a good sign. “Yes, you want to go see the sexy lady next door, too, don’t you? Yes, you do.”
She kicks harder, making me smile. The front door opens, and I look up to find Mum walking in with some bags. I groan. There goes my excuse to go around Bailey’s. I was hoping she’d take one look at my puppy dog eyes and feed me.
And okay, spend time with me.
“Hey, Mum,” I greet.
“Hey, baby. I’m just gonna put the shopping away,” she calls out from the kitchen.
I look down at Sunday in her Moses basket and roll my eyes. “Should we tell her she’s just ruined our plans?” I ask, using a baby voice. Her lips twitch into a smile and my heart completely stops. “Did you just smile?”
I look around for my phone when she does it again. “Mum!” I yell, quickly moving to my bedroom to get my phone. I trip over the nappy box with an “oomph”.
Fuck!
I crawl over to my bedside table, taking my phone off charge, and in the process, ripping the charger from the wall. I don’t even care as I rush back to my girl.
Mum comes rushing out of the kitchen, her face pale and full of concern. “What’s happened? Is she okay?”
she asks, looking down at the phone in my hands.
“Mum, she freaking smiled. She smiled at me,” I tell her, before looking down at my daughter. “Didn’t you? Yes, you did.”
When she doesn’t smile, but instead, her bottom lips trembles, I pick her up, glancing to my mum. “She smiled, I swear to God.”
Mum starts laughing, walking over to run her finger down Sunday’s cheek. “Son, she wasn’t smiling. She’s got wind.”
“No, she hasn’t.” I pretty much yell, startling Sunday. I rock her in my arms. “She smiled,” I declare, looking down at her.
“She has wind. She’s not old enough to smile. I promise you, she didn’t smile.”
I exhale, my shoulders deflating. “Mum, I swear, she smiled at me.”
She pats me on the arm. “You’ll know when she really smiles. You guys all smiled when you had wind.”
I shrug. “I don’t care. It was the most beautiful smile in the world.” I look up when Mum doesn’t say anything to find her staring at me with such love in her eyes. “What?”
“You.”
“What about me?” I ask, looking behind me. You know, just in case. The way she’s looking at me is making me nervous.
“You’re all grown up. You’re eighteen, going on to college, starting a new job, in a new house, and have become a dad in a few short months.” She inhales, straightening her back. “I’m going to be honest; out of all my kids I worried about you the most. I’m proud of all my kids, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t think you’d find your way. But seeing how much you’ve grown, then seeing you with Sunday…” she pauses, getting choked up as she wipes away a tear. I take a step towards her and wrap my free arm around her. One thing I hate is my mum crying. I’d put anything down that upset her, but as it’s me this time, I can’t. “Seeing you with Sunday, I’ve never been prouder. You’ve taken responsibility where some men wouldn’t. You’ve stepped up while some men step out. I love you.”
I squeeze her shoulder. “I love you too, Mum. And thank you. I—I’m not going to lie: I didn’t want to go to college; I just finished school. I wanted to have fun. But everyone in our family was moving forward while I was still in the same place. And I love cooking. I just didn’t want the guys to laugh at me.”
“They’d never laugh at you.”
My lips twitch at her heated words. “Mum, Uncle Max called me a bitch and pointed to the kitchen.”
“Your uncle Max doesn’t count,” she tells me quickly. “Your dad said he was dropped a lot as a kid.”
I laugh, hugging Sunday and Mum closer. “Okay. And as for Sunday, you guys raised me right. Family is everything to each of us.” I take a breath to really think about my next words. “At first, I really would have given her to you. I was scared out of my mind. But it took one look at her to know I’d never leave her, that she comes first, despite my fears of becoming a dad. And it’s because of you and Dad that I knew I could do it.”
She runs her finger over Sunday’s cheek once again. “What do you mean?”
I meet her gaze, my lips twitching into a smirk. “Because if you two could handle me and Mark and still make it to forty, then I can raise one little girl.”
She lightly pushes my shoulder, laughing at me. “You terror. Did you want me to have her for a few hours? You could pop over and see your cousins. I saw the van in next door’s drive.”
Yep, not ready for that yet. “Nah. We were actually going to pop over and see them. But we can keep you company instead.”
She steps out of my embrace. “Nonsense. You go on over. I need to get back anyway. Your dad wants me to bring him lunch.”
Her reddened cheeks give her away and I grimace, gagging. “Come on, Sunday. Let’s get ready to go before Nanny tells you why she’s really going over.”
Mum laughs again, grabbing her handbag from where she dropped it by the front door. “Like your dad says, I’m not dead.”
My face scrunches up. “Eww! Just go. And keep yours and Dad’s activities private next time.”
She opens the door and looks back over her shoulder. “It’s you who jumped to conclusions.”
I shake my head at her. “Mum, your face is as red as a tomato and you didn’t make eye contact when you were speaking to me.”
She shrugs. “I’ll be by in the week. Love you.”
I chuckle. “Love you too.” Once she’s gone, I look down at my girl and exhale. “Come on, then, let’s go next door before one of those jackasses hits on my other girl.” My eyes widen in horror. “I mean—Bailey. I meant Bailey.”
Maybe going over there isn’t such a good idea.
I glance out the window that faces her back garden and the view to her office. The same window I’ve watched her through many nights this past week. Even when I wake up to feed Sunday I’ll sometimes find her sitting at her desk, a look of concentration over her face.
A deep growl fires up my chest when I see Mark’s hand on her arm, taking the large plate of sandwiches from her. She throws her head back, laughing.
“That fucking does it. They should be my sandwiches.”
*** *** ***
I can hear their voices in the garden as I make my way around. The sound of Bailey’s laughter does something to my chest, and jealousy hits me that they’re the ones that are making her laugh and not me.
Landon notices me first, giving me a chin lift before going back to work. Maddox, Mark and Liam notice me next and share a look.
That’s when I realise I’m glaring at them. I straighten my expression in time for Bailey to turn around. She must have seen the guys were distracted.
I watch as her chest exhales, her entire body relaxing when she sees me and a blinding smile blossoming across her face.
“Hey.”
I smirk when I notice she’s breathless. “Hey. We came over to see you. Sunday wanted to see her second favourite person.”
“Bro, that’s cheating using the cute baby,” Maddox whines.
I give him a shrug when Bailey steps over and looks into the pushchair before looking up at me. “Who’s her first?”
I puff out my chest. “Me, of course. She smiled at me earlier.”
Her smile brightens. “She did?”
“No, she didn’t. She’s too young,” Maddox says.
I glare at my cousin. “What would you know?”
“I helped Lily with one of her coursework projects once. It said babies smile between six and eight weeks old. She’s probably got wind.”
“Fuck off!” I growl, before tapping Bailey on the hand. “Is it okay if we go inside? I don’t want Sunday near all the building work, or to be out in the sun too long.”
Her forehead pinches together. “Oh, my God, yes. I’m sorry. I just need to make these another load of sandwiches. They’ve already eaten the first lot I made them.”
“They can make their own damn sandwiches,” I tell her, harsher than I planned. I school my expression. “Maddox just said he’s full now and for you to have a break.”
I don’t even feel bad for lying, or for using her impairment against her.
“He did?” she asks innocently, glancing over at Maddox. He looks upset but gives her a smile.
“Yeah, we’re full. Plus, we’ve got to grab some more slabs soon. We can grab something then, if we get hungry.”
“If you’re sure? I don’t mind.”
I tap her hand again, loving I have reasons to touch her and don’t need excuses. “He’s sure.”
“All right, then. Come on in.”
I follow her up, lifting the pram up the three steps into the conservatory.
“Wow,” I mumble, looking around the sweet get up. It has three white fabric sofas, all with various coloured cushions to brighten it up. There are two chairs with red cushions on and two tables. A TV is mounted onto the wall of the house, and the windows are fitted with blinds so she can watch it without the sun glaring across the screen.
It’s huge, the biggest conservatory I’ve seen.
I’ll have to tell Mary to get one because this is fucking awesome. I could live here. I even like the plants she has paced randomly around the room, and the mini bar in the corner.
“You okay?”
I realise I’ve stopped to admire the room and turn to Bailey with a smile. “This place is sweet. Has it always been a part of the house?”
“This is my favourite part of the house. It’s only been here for six years or so. My gran loves being in here when it rains. We’d often come out and read when it did. It’s the best time to be in here.”
“I bet,” I murmur, finding her more and more interesting.
We step inside the kitchen and she faces me. “Did you come around for something? Is everything okay?”
I smirk at the blush rising up her neck to her cheeks. “Yeah. Want to order food and eat with me? I can’t order to next door.” After hearing how that sounds, I quickly add, “And we saw you out the window and thought we’d come see you.”
Her nose wiggles adorably, her forehead creasing. “Why can’t you order to next door? Is it ‘cause they take it to Mary’s?”
It’s my turn to be embarrassed. “No, we’re banned.”
“Banned? From all take out foods or just a certain one? Or has Mary banned you?”
I scrub the back of my neck. “Um, all take out restaurants. It’s a long story.”
She grins, sitting down on the stool. “Now you have to tell me. How? Why?”
“It was a misunderstanding,” I tell her, quickly defending myself.
“Okay,” she says slowly.
I roll my shoulders. “The first time was because we had food missing from our order. One of us blamed the delivery guy for leaving it at the restaurant and one of us accused him of eating it. It ended up in a fight.”
My hopes she’ll be happy with that vague answer is shredded when her grin spreads wider. “Who blamed him for leaving it?”
“Maddox,” I easily admit.
She nods like she could have guessed it.
This isn’t even the worst incident we’ve dealt with when it comes to food either.
Aiden (A Next Generation Carter Brother Novel Book 2) Page 10
