by Eason, Mary
“Comes with success babe. Get used to it. It doesn’t get any easier.”
“I can understand that you as a model would run into this sort of thing, but I’m a caterer. I bake cookies. I don’t get it.”
“Men! Who can understand them?” Miranda said as the same man that had been responsible for tossing them in the past handed them menus and took their drink orders while looking suspicious at the fact that they both held their menus up to keep from laughing out loud.
“I can’t believe he’s still here,” Miranda exclaimed once the man was out of earshot.
“Neither can I. Do you think he remembers us?”
“Beats me. But I think we definitely need to have a little fun with him.”
Before Miranda could find new ways to torment the man, Cara tried to intervene.
“So, tell me about Paris. Is it everything you believe? Is Jean Claude?”
“I’ll make you a deal, babe,” Miranda began without blinking. “I’ll tell you all about how good Jean Claude is in bed if you tell me all about Aiden?”
At Miranda’s deadpan answer, Cara couldn’t speak. Miranda had been with Aiden for almost three months. A new record by his standards. If anyone should know how good he was in bed, it would be Miranda.
Chapter Eight
Aiden shut the door to his house as quietly as possible. He hoped not to wake Cara before another more unpleasant thought almost forced him to go to her room. What if Cara were still seeing Jason? He’d tried every way possible to get that little piece of information out of her in the past few weeks and always she’d answered the same way. She wasn’t talking to him about Jason.
He forced out of his mind the image of her in bed, in his house with Jason. He couldn’t’ believe she’d still be seeing the guy. Not and want her the way that he did right now. His instincts had usually always proven right about a woman. Cara didn’t care about Jason.
Aiden was exhausted. He slipped into his room and showered with every good intention inside of him telling him to just go to bed. He didn’t listen. He went down to her door and stood staring at the knob. Was he just about to make the biggest mistake of this relationship? He hoped not because he couldn’t wait for her.
Aiden opened the door and through the light from the full moon, he could see that she was sleeping alone. Thank God.
He slipped under the covers and reached for her. She wore a thin cotton gown that felt like silk to his touch. He almost had the gown off her body when she awoke.
Aiden was disappointed. He’d planned to kiss her naked body awake.
“Aiden! Geez! My God, you scared the crap out of me.” Her voice sounded shaky and totally un-Cara in the pale, moonlit room.
He grinned and finished the job before reaching out to touch her body. She thumbed him hard on the arm.
“Ouch! Dammit, why’d you do that?” He faked anger.
“Because you scared me to death and you’re laughing about it.”
He heard the quiver of her voice. She wasn’t nearly as scared as she was excited.
He smiled and pulled her against his body. She realized he wasn’t wearing a thing as well when her hands met his bare chest.
“I want to hear all about the last few weeks, baby, but first things first. I’ve thought of nothing but this since the last time I touched you.”
Aiden kissed her, felt her awakening response. He touched her breast and felt her heart pounding beneath his fingers.
“Is that me or is that all fear.” His lips teased the words against her breast, before moving down.
“Its all you, Aiden.” He almost didn’t catch her words over her attempts at gathering air.
Aiden stopped for a second and looked into her eyes. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for you, Cara?” His words seemed to take her by surprise. She didn’t understand them. Cara shook her head; a tear slipped from her eyes. She was crying. He loved her tears.
Aiden’s lips moved across her receptive body aware of every single one of her reactions to his touch.
“Spread your legs for me.” She did exactly as he asked. His lips moved along the soft skin of her thigh before his tongue parted the moist skin and entered her. Cara groaned and arched closer to his touch. She tasted like heaven. He couldn’t get enough of her. Even when he felt her body tighten and climax, he continued to taste her, his tongue slowing when her legs collapsed against his shoulders. His fingers continued stroking her. He heard her moan as he slipped one then two fingers inside. Aiden rose above her, watching her passion unfold again in front of him. She was so sexy to watch. She climaxed beneath his stroking as another tear slid from her eyes.
He gathered her close and held her until she was still beneath his again. Then his lips claimed hers and he parted her legs with his body and entered her with one hard thrust.
Cara arched against him again. She was so wet. She was ready for him again. He moved within her, felt her hips thrust wildly against his body. Her legs circled his waist driving his thrusting body harder into hers. Aiden couldn’t begin to control his pleasure when he felt her inner muscles tense again around him. He was so close. He thrust harder, faster, deeper until his body reached its breaking point. And then he lost himself deep inside the woman that he couldn’t get out of his head for weeks.
When he could actually put two words together again without running out of breath, Aiden rolled over on his back and brought her up close to him still on top, their bodies joined still.
“So, how was your week?” he asked and heard her burst out laughing.
“That’s all you can say after that?” she asked in amazement.
“Well, I was trying to be polite. What I wanted to ask was do you think we’re going to survive each other. That was the most amazing sex I’ve ever experienced or read about or heard about or seen on TV. But I’m not sure I’m going to live to turn thirty-one if it keeps up with that much intensity.”
“I know. I think you’re killing me.”
“Mmm. Well, my love, I can’t think of a better way to die. But now that I got my fix of you for the moment,” she pretended to pull away but he brought her back against him, “keep that up and we’ll have a repeat performance like the last time and I should remind you, I’ve just spent half the night trying to get to you.”
“Then maybe you’d better…” She pointed down and he eased his body from hers.
“So, how goes the crazy life of Dallas’s newest star? Have you found yourself another boyfriend to fulfill your every desire in my absence?”
“Aiden, don’t joke. That’s not funny,” she told him while snuggling closer.
“I’m not trying to be funny. Its time we talked about something.”
She pulled away so that she could look at him. “I’m not sleeping with Jason. That’s over, okay. Are you happy?”
“Thrilled.”
“What about you? Found any models to bed in Arkansas.” Aiden knew she was teasing him, but the reminder of Miranda came too close.
“I’m not dating anyone, Cara. That is anyone but you. And I don’t plan on that changing. You’re what I want. What I’ve wanted for a long time now.”
“For now anyway.” She whispered so softly that he almost didn’t catch the words.
Aiden pushed her back against the pillows and looked into her eyes. “Forever, Cara. This isn’t a game to me. I’m not just playing with you.”
* * * *
Forever? Cara could almost believe Aiden meant those words when he was looking at her the way that he was right now.
“I’m not playing either Aiden. I just…” She didn’t know what she wanted to say. That she couldn’t believe him. That there was no way Aiden Wilder would be interested in forever. It was too soon. She couldn’t trust her feelings.
Couldn’t trust Aiden. It was too soon.
Relationships didn’t work like that, did they? They weren’t all magic and romance. Her parents had fought for as long as she could remember. They stayed together
because it was the best thing for everyone.
“We’ll go slow. I know you need time. I know this is happening fast. We’ll take things slowly.”
Cara wanted to cry at the tender expression in his eyes.
“I think it’s a little late for that, don’t you? We haven’t exactly taken it slow so far.”
He grinned and pulled her closer. “I guess you got me there. So why don’t you tell me about your week and I’ll try to go slow?”
“Ugh…do I have to?”
“Don’t tell me being a celebrity doesn’t agree with you?”
“It’s horrible. I can’t go anywhere without someone recognizing me from that newspaper article. Mostly men and let me just say you guys are twisted.”
“Do I want to hear this?” Aiden closed his eyes and then added, “No, I definitely don’t want to hear this, but I think I’d better.”
Cara had to laugh at his pitiful expression. “Take for instance tonight. Miranda and I were out at Texas Traditions.”
“Wait, when did Miranda get back in town?” he asked as she searched his expression for some sign of something.
“A few days ago I think. She’s here to finish moving from the apartment and to do an assignment. Why?”
“Because I didn’t know she was around, that’s why and no, I’m not interested in getting back together with her.” Aiden cupped her face and looked into her eyes. “Do you believe me?”
“Yes.” She did. She remembered Miranda’s strange comment earlier and wondered how much of what Miranda had said in the past about her relationship with Aiden was real.
“So, tell me about tonight.” He innocently kissed her nose while his hands did very dangerous things to her body. Cara moaned.
“Oh, some kid, probably barely old enough to be at the club recognized me from the paper. Oh, and guess what? Texas Monthly wants to do an article on the shop. So we’re going to be even more famous.”
“Oh great. More competition. I think I’m going to have to come back sooner than a year; otherwise I’m going to lose you.” He continued to explore her body with his hands.
Yeah that was going to happen. She couldn’t get enough of him.
“That’s just silly. You have nothing to worry about,” she told him with a sweet, little smile.
“Uh-huh. So why am I not convinced?” He gave her a deviant smile before tossing the covers away.
“Well, maybe you just need to try harder.” For a moment, Aiden seemed at a loss for words. But only for a moment. Then he pushed her back against the covers and covered her body with his.
“You know, I think you’re right. You can’t leave if you can’t get enough.”
* * * *
“You look like hell.” Lois glanced up from her computer and stopped what she was doing to stare open mouthed at him. “You coming down with something?”
Aiden tried not to show any reaction to his assistant’s concern. He stopped in front of her desk to collect his messages. He was late. He knew it. He didn’t need to be reminded of that fact. Or the reasons why he was two hours late. He could still picture Cara beneath him in bed. The scent of her skin still clung to him. She smelled like pure, sexual pleasure.
“Oh.” He heard his assistant’s slightly shocked annunciation of that word and glanced up. Lois’ eyes were trained on something just above the collar of his shirt.
“Something wrong?” he asked, his hand going up to the spot that her eyes were targeted on. Nothing. The skin felt tender.
“Oh, well, Mr. Wilder…”
“What is it, Lois?” Aiden’s concern for the woman became real. She rarely called him Mr. Wilder anymore.
“You have a…hickey on your neck.” She dragged the words out before her eyes snapped to his.
“What?” And then Aiden remembered. Oh yeah. He’d have at least that. He remembered the way Cara had kissed him there. He’d loved her aggression, but it had surprised him just the same. This was definitely the bad girl side that he’d seen lots of lately. He wouldn’t be surprised if he weren’t bleeding.
“Oh, thanks, Lois. Sorry, I’ll take care of that.” He turned and walked into his office but not before he heard her reply.
“You’re gonna need a pound of makeup to cover that one up.”
Aiden held back the chuckle until the door closed behind him. He found the stapler and managed to see the spot through the narrow reflective metal. Geez, it looked red and there was definitely no denying what it was.
“Here, try this.” Aiden whirled around at the sound of Lois dropping something onto his desk. A compact. He closed his eyes. It had come to this, had it?
“You’d better hurry though. I’ve rescheduled your first meeting, the one you missed already, but old man Stevens and his team are waiting in the conference room. And let me tell you, the old guy is very conservative. He almost yanked the account after Albert’s little fiasco. I don’t think the evidence of your sex life there is going to win you any favors with him.”
* * * *
“Cara—you’re late,” Shelby said with a false smile planted on her face. Two men dressed somewhat casually were seated in the two chairs in the store’s dining area. Then it hit her. The Texas Monthly interview was this morning. Was thirty minutes ago in fact.
“Oh, shit,” she said out loud and then was forced to apologize. “I’m sorry, Shelby. I completely forgot that was today.”
“Not to worry,” her friend said with another fake smile that told her how nervous Shelby truly was. “Warrick, Brad, and I were just getting acquainted.”
Shelby did a quick introduction before Cara directed them into her office.
“You look terrible. Did you have a good time?” She smiled at Cara’s embarrassment.
“Shh, they’ll hear you.”
“Ms. Bennett, as I’ve explained to Miss Edwards already, we’ll ask you some questions and then I’d like to get some photos of the two of you together and at work.” Warrick, the older gentleman who was actually conducting the interview, told her while his partner roamed around the office. Cara nodded.
“How long have you and Miss Edwards been in business?”
Before Cara would answer the first question, the phone rang. She lifted the receiver and heard Aiden’s seductive voice.
“Do you know that I can’t get this morning out of my mind?”
“Oh, hello,” Cara said while smiling at the reporter and motioning that it would only be a second. Then she swiveled in her chair so that she didn’t have to look the man in the eye.
She heard Aiden laugh. “What’s the matter baby?”
“This is not a good time,” she told him, trying to keep her voice from reacting to the soft suggestive tone.
“The interview. Okay, I’ll let you go, but you should be a little embarrassed you know? After all, I had to endure Lois’ questions when she spotted the hickey on my neck that you, my love, left.”
Cara sucked in air at a rapid speed, almost choking. “I’ll have to call you back on that,” she said and replaced the receiver to the sound of Aiden’s laughter.
“Now,” she said when she could face the three sets of very curious eyes once more. “Where were we?”
After an excruciating series of questions and endless photos, the crew from Texas Monthly left and Cara could breathe again.
“Okay you,” Shelby told her as she closed her office door. “Spill it. I want to hear all the juicy details of your first real weekend with Aiden. Was it wonderful? Did you leave the bed at all?”
With anyone else, Cara would have refused to answer any of those questions. But this was Shelby. Shelby knew everything about her.
“It was amazing. And no, we didn’t really leave the bed at all.” That much was certainly true. They’d spent almost the entire weekend in each other’s arms. Only leaving the bed long enough to eat and shower.
“I’m in so much trouble here, Shelby.”
“Why, are you kidding? Most women would kill to have a guy like t
hat. He’s as hot as they come. What’s the problem?”
Cara threw her a look that said she knew what the problem was. “Oh come on. This is Aiden Wilder we’re talking about here. How long before he runs into one of those leggy models he’s so attracted to and I’m history?”
Cara put her hands over her eyes. Just the thought of it made her sick. She’d been wrestling with the inevitable since this whole thing began. “I don’t think I can be one of those women who simply walks away.”
“So, who says you have to?” At Cara’s expression, Shelby added, “You know you really don’t give him or yourself any credit. Aiden doesn’t strike me as that type of man.”
“Where have you been this past year? Of course he’s that type of man.”
Even Shelby couldn’t find a lie to ease away that truth.
“This thing is going to end badly. I can just tell it. And I’ve got to start protecting myself. Otherwise, I’m going to be a wreck when Aiden moves on.
“If he moves on,” Shelby said without much conviction.
“When he moves on.”
* * * *
The catering part of the business was the only part that wasn’t growing like crazy. Cara was thrilled by the store’s success but the bakery was always just supposed to be what supported the catering business, which was her true love. As Shelby was quick to point out, never look a gift horse in the mouth. With money coming in from the sell of those mystery cookies, she and Shelby could afford to hire more help, which would allow them to concentrate more time on building the catering part of the business.
Not that there was much time for worrying about any of those things. Business was booming. And so was her little affair with Aiden.
Aiden came home every two weeks. And every two weeks they spent most of their time in bed.
It had become their routine. Even their friends knew not to call them during those times.
“Guess what?” Shelby stuck her head in one afternoon as Cara was going over the receipts for the day. It was two weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday and Cara still wasn’t sure what she was going to do.
