Aurora’s voice is more muffled, but I still hear her words, and they shatter my fucking heart.
“JD didn’t want me. He didn’t love me enough. He left and found another woman. He had a child with her. I wasn’t enough for him.”
Fucking hell.
If only Aurora knew the truth. I’m going to lose her again before I even get the chance to tell her. She doesn’t get it. Aurora is everything,everything, to me. I’m more determined than ever for us to talk tonight.
I jump back when the office door suddenly opens, and Aurora walks out. She jumps when she sees me.
“Jackson. You scared the shi…crap out of me.”
Austin walks out behind her.
“I’m supposed to meet Fallon up front.”
“Oh, that’s right. He told me this morning. Come on, we’ll walk with you.”
The three of us walk side by side, me in the middle. Aurora is wearing a blue wrap dress that matches the color of her eyes and falls just below her knees. Her hair is down today in gentle waves that swish around her shoulders each step she takes. The sound of her low heels clicking on the hard floor fills the corridor.
“I wanted to thank you both again for inviting me and Connor on the boat yesterday. He had a great time. Hasn’t stopped talking about it.”
Austin gives me a terse, “You’re welcome,” at the same time Aurora says, “Where is Connor this morning?”
“He’s at childcare while I have my meeting with Fallon.”
“You met Brenda then. She’s great and so good with kids.”
I don’t want this to be the only time I see Aurora today, and Austin can go screw himself if it bothers him to hear me ask her, “Are we still good for dinner tonight?”
I can see his scowl in my peripheral vision.
“Um, I need to let Knox know, but I don’t see why not. I would stick around and give you a tour, but I have a meeting I need to get to. Can I text you later?”
We arrive at reception but no Fallon yet. Austin kisses her cheek and makes an excuse to leave. As soon as he does, I turn to Aurora.
“You can text or call me anytime, Aurora. I hope you know that. I told Connor you may be coming for dinner. He asked if I could make you my famous meatballs and spaghetti.”
“You cook?” she asks me, her eyes crinkling at the corners as a grin appears.
“I can do lots of things now, especially make a mean bowl of the best homemade spaghetti and meatballs you will ever eat. Had to learn to cook once Connor was old enough to eat solid food. That boy can eat his weight and then some at every meal.”
“Spaghetti sounds delicious.” She types out a text on her phone, I’m assuming to Knox, and the spike of jealousy I feel has me clenching my jaw. Her phone dings a reply, and she looks up at me. “Dinner is a go. Can I bring anything?”
“Just yourself. Connor and I will take care of the rest. Be prepared for him to want to show you every toy he owns when you arrive.”
She laughs, and it’s such a breathtaking, beautiful sight, I can’t stop my hand from rising to her face nor my thumb from caressing her cheek. Her laughter dies as her aquamarine eyes lock onto mine and her lips part like she’s waiting for me to kiss her. All the sexual energy sparking between us feels like it will consume us both until there’s nothing left but burning cinders and ashes. I ache so badly to be burned by it. To be burned by her.
The doors into the facility whoosh open and she takes a step back. That damnable poker face falls into place and she waves at Fallon.
“Hey! Great timing. I need to meet Sheila,” she tells him.
Fallon has his head cocked at her. “Uh huh,” he tells her then holds out his hand to me. “Nice to see you, JD, and welcome to our family,” he says, looking directly at Aurora now and not me.
Her eyes grow big when Fallon welcomes me to the family. Then her eyes narrow at Fallon as the two of them have some kind of silent telepathic sibling conversation.
“I’ll see you later tonight then,” she says to me and whirls around, basically speed-walking out of the building.
“Give her time,” Fallon nonchalantly says. “Now, let’s get you set up in your office. Follow me.”
