“I want closure, like you. That’s all.Please.” His blue eyes continued to plead with me.
“Did she tell you she’s coming to dinner tomorrow?”
He nodded and pulled my hip toward his.
“I hope it’s not going to be weird. I’m really trying to understand what’s going on here, but it’s very easy to misconstrue her actions. Abbie’s.”
“I promise you, Richards, there’s nothing to misconstrue. You’re it for me. It.”
I shoved any misgivings to the back of my mind. I wanted to believe Aiken, so I did.
In a short period of time, I’d gone from not ever seeing myself happy again to thinking there might be a happy ending for me. And I knew better than anyone what hope did to people—made them put on blinders when it came to red flags.
I didn’t even need a PhD to know that.
On Thanksgiving morning, I woke to stillness. It had been a while since I’d been completely alone. Running my hand over the cold, empty pillow next to me, I wished I hadn’t told Aiken to give me some space the night before. This wasn’t how this day was supposed to be. He should’ve been bringing me coffee in bed. We could’ve gone for a run and come home and made a pie—then made love while it was in the oven.
How did someone go from relishing isolation to not being able to handle one night alone?
I mentally scolded myself for my desperate nature, got out of bed, tossing on my robe and slippers, and followed Smitty downstairs. I went to open the back door, but was stopped by the aroma of fresh-brewed coffee and the sight of an Adonis leaning against my island.
“Morning,” he said, moving to get the door to let the dog out.
“Aiken?”
“I couldn’t stay away. I know you told me to, but I couldn’t sleep worth shit knowing you were mad.”
He trekked over to the coffee maker, poured me a cup, adding milk and sugar, and held it out to me with a shaky hand. “Peace offering?”
Cupping the warm mug in my hands, I nodded. “I missed you, but…” I took a sip of the coffee, looking for liquid courage in the form of caffeine. “But you have to understand, I’ve been through all the motions, dating, cheating, getting married. I don’t enjoy feeling like a jealous college girl. It’s not a pretty look for me.”
While I gulped another huge slug of coffee, Aiken let Smitty back in the house. He stood like a venerable soldier at our feet, waiting to be fed.
“Claire.” Aiken took my mug and set it down, gathering me in his arms. “You’re not a college girl. You are a woman. A beautiful, thoughtful, deep, smart, strong woman, who I love. You have nothing to be jealous over. I want to find my mom, and by some cosmic reason, your student and her bestie…”
“Bestie?” I busted out laughing.
“Perfect, I made you laugh and smile.” His lips took mine in a chaste kiss.
“Abbie with anieand her bestie somehow were dropped on my doorstep to help. I have to let them.”
I nodded into his chest, my robe loosening, his hand sifting inside, smoothing over my side, his rough hands catching on my silk nightshirt.
He went to kiss me again, his mouth hovering close to mine.
“I didn’t brush my teeth.”
“Who gives a shit?” And his lips met mine. It was a closemouthed kiss, but full of promise…
We didn’t end up running, but we got our cardio in before and after making pies. It was that kind of morning with my Energizer Bunny boyfriend.
Which was why I walked into Mary’s house with a pie in each hand and a big smile on my face. Patrick busied himself with handing out drinks and taking coats before sitting his ass in front of football on TV. Aiken joined him, but didn’t look happy. It wasn’t the football—that, he liked. It was acting like a selfish pig—that may have been Pat, but it wasn’t Aiken.
Mary dashed to-and-fro in black patent pumps, an apron around her red slinky dress, a glass of wine perched on the kitchen counter.
“You’re sexy and glowing! And I don’t mean your outfit, which is hot, by the way. I mean your whole freaking face.” She sipped her wine and ran her gaze down my bright orange silk blouse, black skinny pants, and leopard-print ankle boots.
“Shhh, where are your kids?”
