He stepped to the side, allowing me to pass. Once I did, he followed closely, placing his hand on my lower back and holding the door to the restaurant open for me to pass through.
I turned to him once we were out on the sidewalk. “I understand if you have somewhere else you need to be. I wasn’t going directly home.”
He stared down at me, not saying anything. The look he gave me should’ve intimidated the hell out of me. And on some level, it did, but something inside of me also wanted to reach up and pull his face to mine. And that scared me more than anything. Even at twenty-three, I hadn’t had a lot of experience with the opposite sex, but I knew men like Aaron Townsend were one of a kind. And dangerous.
“Where are you headed?”
“Right down the street,” I answered, nodding in the direction of where I was headed.
“I’ll walk you.” He turned and made a motion with his head. Out of nowhere, two burly men stepped forward.
I gave Aaron a confused look.
“My security. They will follow us,” he responded to my silent question as if it was no big deal.
“You travel everywhere with security?” I had to ask.
“Just about.” He was short on words, but strangely I didn’t mind that at all.
I felt his firm hand at my lower back and a shiver ran through my body. I silently prayed he hadn’t felt it.
The walk was mostly silent, but it was short—only about a block down from the restaurant.
“A bookstore,” he commented.
“Not just any bookstore. They sell vintage books,” I defended.
He snorted but used his free hand to pull the door open, his other hand still at my back.
Entering the bookstore, I inhaled the scent of old and used books, loving it. “Hi, Sam,” I greeted the clerk who seemed to always be here at the store.
He lifted his head, his wire-framed glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose as he did. A smile blossomed on his handsome face, but it quickly disappeared when his eyes moved from me to the man standing closely behind me.
For some odd reason, I felt the need to make introductions. “Sam this is, uh, Aaron Townsend. He’s a friend of my father’s.”
Sam’s pale face seemed to grow even paler, his lips clamping together before parting. “Aaron, nice to–”
“Mr. Townsend,” Aaron corrected.
I looked back at Aaron who was staring at Sam, relaying something silently with his eyes. I had no idea what was going on. I turned back to Sam, whose eyes had narrowed, but he quickly looked away from Aaron.
“Sam, did you get the books in?” I asked.
He nodded and went to move from behind the counter but stopped when he took a quick glance behind me. “They’re on the shelf in the back row. You know where we keep them.”
I wrinkled my forehead but nodded and proceeded down the two stairs to enter the main part of the store. Aaron followed me all the way to the back of the bookstore. I smiled widely when I saw the newly stocked books on the shelf. Stooping low, I took out a copy of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, followed by Home. I stood with the books in my hand, and that giddy feeling I always felt when I wrapped my fingers around new books overcame me.
“They just got these in,” I stated, smiling, my eyes still trained on the books. “This one was published this year.” I held up the copy of Home. “I’ve read this one but this is a vintage copy. One of the first published. I’ve been waiting weeks for the bookstore to get it in.” I went on to talk more about the books, but paused when I saw Aaron simply staring at me, his usual scowl set in place. “I’m sure you have better things to do than to watch a librarian geek out over books.”
He lowered his chin, eyes boring into mine. “I’ll let you know when I have other matters to tend to.”
I swallowed, feeling uneasy and oddly comforted under his penetrating gaze. How was that even possible?
I turned back to the bookshelf, realizing Aaron wasn’t going anywhere unless he wanted to, and for now, he didn’t. I didn’t want him to leave either, but I’d never say as much out loud. Browsing some more, I picked up two more books I hadn’t intended to get right then but just couldn’t turn away. I headed to the register, placing the books down on the counter. Sam gave me the same smile he always gave whenever I was in the store, until, again, he ventured to look behind me.
“That’ll be two-hundred–” Sam was cut off when Aaron thrust a credit card in his face.
I turned. “You don–” My refusal stopped short on my lips when Aaron turned stern eyes on me, telling me without words that his paying wasn’t up for debate.
Sam silently took the card and rang up my items.
With Aaron’s hand again at the small of my back, we exited the bookstore.
“Do you like ice cream?” I questioned without thinking.
Aaron lifted an eyebrow and I dipped my head on a smile. He looked perplexed, as if he was trying to figure out what he was still doing with me.
“There’s a shop right across the street. I was going to stop by to get my favorite praline ice cream before heading home for the night.”
He turned his head in the direction of the ice cream shop I’d just gestured toward and then nodded.
I took that as a yes, especially when he placed his hand at my back again, urging me forward. We got our ice cream—my vanilla and praline while he ordered regular chocolate—before he offered me a ride home. After telling him that I opted to walk, he took that as an opportunity to walk me all the way back to my third floor walk-up apartment.
“Your father allows you to live here?” he questioned once we reached my door.
I squinted. “He doesn’t allow anything. I’m twenty-three. He doesn’t really have a say in the matter.”
That frown deepened.
I angled my head. “The neighborhood isn’t that bad.”
He didn’t respond but the expression on his face revealed he didn’t think too highly of my neighborhood.
I went to thank him for purchasing my books and walking me back home, but what came out instead was, “Would you like to come in?” I had no idea where that came from. A part of me wanted to get away from this man as fast as I could. He both intrigued and intimidated me.
He stared down at me for a few heartbeats. His face remained set but I could feel an internal debate happening. “You live alone?”
Fidgeting with the bags in my hands, I nodded.
He gestured toward the door with his head and I moved to unlock it. He followed me inside, after saying something briefly to his guards who’d followed us up the stairs, then shut the door, locking us in.
Chapter Nine
Patience
I awoke the morning after our wedding feeling groggy. Probably due to the three glasses of champagne I’d had. I also blamed the champagne on my dreaming about the first night Aaron and I had ever spent together. That night after he walked me to the bookstore and then back home was the beginning of all of this. We talked…rather, I talked while Aaron listened about the books I’d bought, along with other authors I adored. How he didn’t get bored I’ll never understand, but he listened intently, all while scowling. By the second hour I came to realize that scowl was his natural face, save for certain moments. Like, when at close to one in the morning, he fell asleep on my couch. Just before I fell asleep against his chest, I noticed the softening of his eyebrows and lips. He truly was beautiful.
“Long time ago,” I reminded myself as I pushed the blanket off of me and got out of bed. I stood, stretching, and went to pick out a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt to do a few minutes of early morning yoga before the kids woke up. After about thirty minutes on my mat, which I’d brought with me when we moved into the house, I pulled out a sundress to wear for the day. It was moving toward the middle of summer in Williamsport and that meant sunny skies and possible humidity.
I showered, moisturized, and styled my hair in a french braid, then proceeded to get dressed. On the way out, I st
opped by the children’s bedrooms, unsurprised to see Kyle’s bed empty. I knew he’d likely already gone downstairs. I went to Kennedy’s room to rouse her out of her sleep, which could be an ordeal.
“Wake up, baby,” I cooed, tickling her under her chin. It took a little while, but eventually Kennedy began giggling. “Let’s go, time for breakfast. Your brother’s probably eaten all the waffles by now,” I teased, especially since I hadn’t even made anything yet.
I led a still groggy Kennedy down the stairs by the hand, and made a right behind the stairs toward the kitchen. My nose was immediately hit by the aroma of something delicious. I stopped abruptly when I was confronted with a wide, sculpted bare back at the kitchen counter. My heartbeat quickened and I swallowed.
“Mommy, I have to go potty,” Kennedy whined, peeling my attention from her father.
“Go ahead. You know where it is,” I told her, pushing her toward the half-bathroom that was just off the kitchen. “And don’t forget to wash your hands!” I called.
That grabbed Aaron’s attention who glanced over his shoulder at me. We stared at one another for a long moment, but Kyle burst into the kitchen, breaking the hold his gaze had over me.
“I’m hungry!” he called before passing between us and making his way to the dining room table just beyond the kitchen. “Mommy, Daddy made pancakes!” Kyle informed me.
I’d already surmised as much.
Aaron remained speechless as he carried two plates over to the dining table, setting one down in front of Kyle before taking a seat at the head of the table.
“Kennedy’s and your plates are on the counter. We didn’t know when you’d awake.”
Glancing at the counter, I saw two covered plates, and stood there, dumbfounded. I didn’t know what to say while Aaron sat at the head of the table staring me down, and our son ate his pancakes as if this was an everyday occurrence for him.
“What’s that?” Kyle’s question broke our stare down.
I glanced down to see Kyle was staring at Aaron’s bare chest. I followed his gaze and saw it, too. The scars that lined his broad chest and upper torso. My eyes also flickered over the tattoo that had me perplexed since the first time I saw it. I pushed that image out of my head—the memory of him that night at The Cage. I looked over to Aaron to see his eyes locked on me and I realized he was remembering that night, too. My pussy muscles began to vibrate and I had to shake myself loose of his hold. I turned my eyes over to Kyle who was still staring at the scars on Aaron’s chest.
“Kyle, don’t be rude. We don’t ask people questions like that,” I admonished.
Kyle frowned my way.
“My son,” Aaron’s booming voice disrupted the ensuing silence, “can ask me anything he wants.”
Our eyes latched onto one another’s again. Aaron effectively stared me down. My eyes narrowed, but I remained silent as he began to explain to Kyle.
“I was in a very bad accident as a child. These scars are a result of it.”
I shoved the memory of him explaining his accident to me to the back of my mind. It was much more than that, but he’s minimized the explanation for our five-year-old son.
“Oh, and what’s that?” Kyle inquired some more, this time pointing to the tattoo.
I bit my tongue.
Aaron ran a hand over the tattoo resting just over his heart. “This I’ll explain another time,” he stated, his eyes flicking over to me before moving back to Kyle.
“All done!” Kennedy came out of the bathroom running.
I went over to the counter to retrieve her breakfast and my stomach tightened upon seeing the chocolate chip pancakes he’d made. Inhaling a deep breath, I swallowed down the memories threatening to flood my brain. I carried the plate and placed it in front of Kennedy.
“You aren’t eating?”
I turned to Aaron. “No appetite. Kyle and Kennedy, when you’re finished with your plates, place them in the sink and then come upstairs to get dressed.”
I didn’t give the dining area a second glance as I hustled out of there and back up the stairs. I figured I could spend the day getting in contact with a number of contacts in Oakland to finish closing accounts I had there. Aaron didn’t leave me much time to settle my business in Oakland between moving here and planning for the wedding. I wrote out a few numbers I needed to call in my planner, and a few minutes later the door to our bedroom opened.
Aaron barged in, going over to his walk-in closet and pulling out a suit, and then laying out a watch and cufflinks. I watched him silently for a moment before I realized what he was doing.
“You’re going into the office today?”
He paused at the dresser before looking over at me, perplexed. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Reminding him that we just got married the day before seemed foolish but it was my only reasoning.
“I told my employees I’d be in a little late today. You and the children have a busy day. My assistant has made an appointment at Excelor for their registration. You will need to contact their former school to have their records sent over. There is also a camp that I’ve signed them up for that begins next week, and continues for the next three weeks. After that, they will have a week off before school begins.”
My mouth fell open. “You’ve already signed them up at Excelor? Without consulting me about it?”
A dark eyebrow lifted. “Excelor is a great school. I attended, as did you.”
“I know what school I went to.”
“Then what is the problem?” he asked, agitated.
“The problem is you took it upon yourself to do all of this without asking me.”
“I was supposed to ask you?”
I rolled my eyes up to the ceiling. “I am their mother. You don’t think it makes sense to at least have a conversation with me on where they’ll go to school, or what camp they’ll attend?”
“I am their father.”
I blew out a breath. “We’ve established that.”
“A father who’s lost five years of their life already,” he stated accusingly.
“A choice I thought you made,” I explained, defending myself.
“A choice you should’ve known I’d never make!” he seethed.
My instinct was to shrink back in the face of his anger, but I refused. I was not in the wrong in this. If he’d have never lied, we wouldn’t have been in this mess to begin with.
“Jackass,” I uttered, because I couldn’t think of anything else to retort.
“I’ve been called worse.”
“I bet you have,” I mumbled, and then climbed off the bed to head into the bathroom.
Just before I stepped over the threshold of the bathroom, he asked, “I assume you’ll be taking the children to visit your father at some point today or tomorrow.”
I froze.
“They were not allowed into his hospital room while he was recuperating and the children have not spoken of visiting him.”
I glanced back at Aaron, who was now staring at his wrist while he fiddled with the cufflink he was fixing. I hadn’t even realized he was getting dressed, having done my best not to glance in his direction.
“He doesn’t know about them,” I stated just above a whisper, but Aaron heard me loud and clear.
All movement of his halted. His stormy eyes moved over to me.
“Thiers does not know about his grandchildren?”
“No.” I looked around the room, avoiding the scrutiny of his gaze.
“Why not?” His voice was low.
“I have my reasons.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It’s the only one I’ve got.”
“You’ve not only kept my children from me and my family, but from Thiers as well.”
I thrust my hands on my hip. “Goddammit, I did not keep your children away from you,” I hissed in anger. “And my relationship with my father is none of your damn business.”
He angled his head, eyes narrowing. “Sweetness, I’ve
already told you, everything you do is my business. Especially now. Don’t forget it.”
I shook off the shiver that ran through me at the term of endearment. I particularly hated the way it alone made my lower lips flutter.
“You will tell him. Today.”
I eyed him harshly. “Are you ordering me?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t take orders.”
He moved around the bed to stand in front of me so quickly, I barely registered his movements until one of his firm hands rested against my waist while the other gripped my chin. He tilted my head to look up at him. His warm breath caressed my face and my body felt like someone just flicked on a light switch.
“You of all people know I don’t repeat myself.” He released me, taking a step backwards before turning to grab his wallet and cell phone and then moved to the door.
“I didn’t want him to treat them the same way he treated me,” I stated.
Aaron’s hand paused on the doorknob, just barely opening it. His back remained to me but he stilled, listening.
“I never wanted them to know what it was like to be treated as if they were an option in someone’s life, instead of a necessity. From the day they were born, I promised them they would be surrounded by people who loved them unconditionally and would move Heaven and Earth to be there for them. That’s why I never told him about them or them about him. I wanted to spare them what I felt growing up,” I confessed, blinking away the tears that had gathered in my eyes. I wanted to continue telling him that it was also why I never pursued his involvement with the twins after his fiancée told me he wanted nothing to do with me or my children.
I heard the door close. Aaron turned toward me, his lips set in a firm line. He stared for a few moments, letting the silence engulf us both.
“You will tell him. Today.” And with that, he turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Pushing out a breath, I let my shoulders sag. I could feel the little bit of control I thought I had over my own life slipping away from me.
Chapter Ten
Patience
“I-I can’t believe it,” my father stated yet again.
Aaron's Patience Page 8
