“Baby, I’m so sorry,” he says, taking me into his arms and brushing a kiss into my hair. Aiden slides his hand protectively to the back of my head and nestles me against his broad chest. I close my eyes, relishing the feel of his soft hoodie against my cheek and the familiar scent of his citrus cologne on his skin. This feels so good. I love being wrapped up in his arms like this. I feel so cared for. Warm.
Safe.
I’ve never felt like this with anyone else.
“I know, I look horrible,” I murmur into his chest.
Horrible might be putting it nicely. The knot is still there, and it’s starting to turn a lovely shade of purple now.
Aiden drops another sweet kiss on the top of my head. “You’re still beautiful. You just lost a fight with a frozen iguana,” he says, kissing me one more time.
I move back from him, and I see the concern is still present in his eyes when he looks at me.
I love this about him. Aiden’s concern isgenuine. He’s texted me a lot today, asking how I was feeling, if I needed anything, and if I was keeping an ice pack on the knot. He wanted to see me straight after practice, but Dad called Mom, and I spentmost of the afternoon with her. As soon as she heard about the accident, she insisted that she come over and monitor me for a concussion. I argued with her, but seeing that she was determined to mother me, I gave up. I let her come over and bring me lunch, so she could see that, yes, it was just a stupid accident that left me with a goose egg on my forehead and nothing more.
But now? I’m happy to let Aiden take care of me for the night.
“I have my stuff ready,” I say, inclining my head to the overnight bag on the sofa. “Just let me get it.”
“Nope,” Aiden says, moving past me and picking it up. “I’ve got it.”
Such. A. Gentleman.
“Is your camera in here?” he asks.
I furrow my brow. “No. Why?”
“Go get it. I want to see the pictures you took at practice today.”
“Why? They’re practice pictures. And they were taken after I was hit in the head, they’re probably crap.”
“Would you just get your camera?”
My heart flutters. Aiden really wants to see my work, and I never knew that mattered to me until now.
“Okay, let me grab it.” I head into my bedroom and retrieve my camera bag. I stop to say goodbye to my babies, then head back out to the living room.
“Okay, I’m ready.”
We go downstairs to his car, and Aiden opens the door for me first, then places my bag in the back seat.
I slip into the luxurious leather seat and immediately notice there are two drinks in the cup holder.
“What’s this?” I ask as Aiden slides behind the wheel.
“One is a hot peppermint matcha. You didn’t get to drink your matcha this morning, so I didn’t want you to feel cheated. Hot because it’s still chilly out.”
“Aiden?”
“Yeah?” he asks as he backs out of the parking spot.
“You’re not an acquired taste. You’re the kind of man who ruins all other men who come after you.”
“I hope,” Aiden says, his voice low as he keeps his gaze straight ahead, “I’m the kind of guy who makes you not want anyone else.”
Ooh!
My heart leaps excitedly in my chest as those words hit me with all the intensity he wanted them to have when he dared to speak them.
