Only His Touch: Part One (The Untouched Series Book 4)

by Lilly Wilde

  “Well, if you ever change your mind.”

  “I know who to call,” he said.

  Well, that didn’t work. Maybe a different approach would fare better results. “Your dad was here,” I said.

  He paused before picking up his cuff links. “Really? When?”

  “Last night.”

  Aiden clasped one sleeve and then the other. “What did he want?”

  “Why don’t you tell me?”

  “What?” Aiden looked at me, the guise of confusion on his handsome face.

  “He seems to think you have something going on that’s all top secret. Any idea why he’d think that?”

  “Not at all.” Aiden lifted his watch from the valet on the dresser. “What did he say?”

  Aiden was playing this cool, perhaps too cool. Typically a vein pulsed in his forehead when the subject of his dad came up. “Something about dishonesty not suiting me, and that I should tell him before you do something foolish.”

  “And?”

  I shrugged. “What could I possibly tell him? I mean, I had no idea what he was talking about.”

  Aiden placed the jewelry on his wrist and then reached for his jacket. “It was probably nothing. Just Dad being Dad. I’ll talk to him.”

  I cocked my head, squinting as I assessed Aiden’s demeanor. “Unless there was more to it. I mean, think about it. Why would he come to me? I can’t imagine him approaching me about anything at all, unless it involved Raine Industries.” Aiden didn’t break eye contact as I expected he would. I was sure his deceptive façade came from years of practice. “So does it?”

  “How would I know?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.” I slid out of bed and walked over to him, panic flickering inside me as I realized I’d stumbled onto something. “But I get the feeling you do.”

  “Don’t worry over things that don’t exist. Like I said, I’ll talk with Dad and find out what his latest paranoia is about, and that will be the end of it. And good morning,” he added, kissing me on the cheek.

  Would there ever be an end to this? “Good morning to you, too. And when you do speak to Connor, promise me that you won’t let him get a rush out of you.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Connor knows what words to say…he knows how to push your buttons.”

  “Yeah, and I know how to push his.”

  I was quiet for several seconds as Aiden turned to the dresser to grab his phone.

  “He threatened me.”

  Aiden froze.

  “Well, he said it wasn’t a threat, but it was obvious that he was issuing a warning.”

  Aiden spun around, and the pulsing vein that was oddly absent a few moments ago grabbed my attention. “What did he say to you, Aria?”

  “I’ve told you. He was fishing for some information he thought I had. That was pretty much the extent of it, since I had no idea what he was talking about.”

  “And the threat?”

  “He said it would be a shame to see us break up.” I took a seat on the edge of the bed.

  A flash of anger crossed Aiden’s face, but he quickly rearranged his expression, and slipped his phone into his pocket. “I’ll handle him. He won’t be coming to you again.”

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “Didn’t you ask me that a few minutes ago?” The air of irritation was clear in his tone. “Do you think my answer has changed?”

  “Don’t take your frustration out on me,” I said, standing to leave the room.

  “Aria. Wait. I’m sorry,” he said. “Nothing’s going on. It’s just Connor being Connor. How about we meet for dinner?”

  “Do you think you’ll have time?” I asked dryly.

  He stepped toward me and placed his hands on my shoulders, sliding his palms down my arms and then grasping my hands. “Yes, I will. I’m sorry about lunch.” He lifted my hands to his perfect lips and kissed each one. “Why don’t you arrange for Dianna to keep our little man, and you put on something special, and we meet at Alinea for dinner? If six o’clock is good for you, I’ll have Brooklyn make a reservation.”

  “Six is fine.” Something still didn’t seem quite kosher. I traced my palm over his jaw as my mind started to wonder. He was definitely keeping something from me. The last time he’d done this, all hell had broken loose. If my hunch was correct, I could only imagine what lay in wait for us this time.

  * * *

  I wrapped up my RPH work at four o’clock and headed upstairs to spend some time with Lyric before my evening with his father. I hadn’t really thought much of it until now, but my time with Aiden had become less and less over the last couple of weeks. Was there anything to our conversation this morning? Or was it simply a case of an overactive imagination on my part? But if Connor was right, and Aiden was up to something, it had to involve R.I. And if that were the case, Aiden would definitely hide it from me. But secrets were a source of a lot of pain for us. Aiden wouldn’t do that again, would he? No, he wouldn’t. I was certain of it. I dismissed my suspicions. My brain was just conjuring a wrinkle in our relationship. A wrinkle we definitely didn’t need.

  As I watched Lyric, I recalled my conversation with Connor. I knew then that it would be impossible for me to shake my apprehension without having the facts. I needed to know more before I jumped to the wrong conclusions. I placed Lyric in his bouncy gym and then grabbed my phone. I tapped a message to Nicholas, asking when he and I could meet for lunch. Maybe he had the answers I couldn’t get from Aiden.

  * * *

  I arrived at Alinea promptly at six o’clock. I was sure Aiden would already be there, but was shocked when the maître d said otherwise. He showed me to a table and I ordered a glass of wine for Aiden and myself and then waited.

  I’d finished my wine before I realized it, and since Aiden was nowhere in sight, I started on his. What was keeping him? Had he forgotten? I started to get annoyed, so I quickly tapped out a message to him.

  Where are you? Did you forget about dinner?

  I sipped the wine and looked at my phone for a response from Aiden. When I didn’t get one, I called him. It went directly to voicemail. I shoved the phone into my purse and was about to leave when a man approached the table.

  “Excuse me for being presumptuous, but you look as if you’re waiting on someone who won’t make it.”

  I looked away from the stranger and then followed his gaze to the second wine glass and let out a sigh. “It appears I’ve been stood up.”

  “Who could possibly forget someone as beautiful as you?” the man asked.

  “Stranger things have happened.”

  “May I?” he asked, motioning toward the seat.

  I looked toward the entrance, again wondering what was keeping Aiden.

  “If you plan to wait a bit longer, maybe I can keep you company until your date arrives,” he said.

  “I don’t think so,” I replied.

  “You don’t remember me. Do you?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’m Miles Larson.”

  “I’m sorry. That name doesn’t ring a bell.”

  “I’m with Goubert Books.

  “So, you’re in publishing?”

  “Yes. We were introduced a couple of years ago at a release party for one of your authors, Chase Martin.”

  “Oh, that was quite a while ago. Please have a seat.”

  Miles beckoned the waiter, who took his order and also topped off my wine. Miles and I were soon in deep conversation about the latest traditional publishing statistics. I’d forgotten how much I missed interacting face to face with others in the industry.

  I was laughing at something Miles said when someone approached our table. I looked up to see Aiden glowering down at me.

  He had some nerve.

  “I’m sorry. I had a late meeting.” He was talking to me, but his gaze rested on Miles.

  “And you couldn’t have cal
led or replied to my text?” I asked.

  “Can we discuss this later?” he asked. He extended a hand to Miles, who’d stood politely upon Aiden’s arrival.

  “Aiden Raine, right?” Miles asked.

  “Yes. And you are?”

  “I’m a colleague of Aria’s. I’m Miles Larson, with Goubert Books,” he added.

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Well, Aria, it would appear that’s my cue to leave. Thank you for the pleasure of your company, and I do hope we can start on the collaboration we discussed,” he said, passing me his card.

  “I’ll be in touch,” I replied.

  Aiden cleared his throat, an obvious attempt to rush Miles along.

  “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Raine,” he nodded, and then he was off.

  “Is it okay if I sit? You’re not expecting anyone else are you?” Aiden asked, with a hint of sarcasm.

  “Sit. Stand. Whatever.”

  “You’re upset. I’m sorry,” he said. “There was a last minute addition to my schedule.”

  “So does that mean phones suddenly stopped working?” I asked.

  “My phone was in the car, and to be honest, I’d lost track of time until Brooklyn reminded me,” he said, as he unbuttoned his jacket and took a seat.

  “So you just forgot all about me?”

  “I could never forget about you, Aria. Don’t be ridiculous. I was buried in work.”

  “For the charity?” I asked.

  “What else?”

  The feeling I had this morning, that inkling of something that made me question Aiden’s story, was pulling at me. Something was going on. Connor wouldn’t risk alienating me had his suspicions been groundless. And for whatever reason, Aiden was keeping me in the dark.

  “I can’t believe you left me here waiting on you,” I said.

  “From the looks of what I saw when I came in, you didn’t mind half as much as you seem to now.”

  I grabbed my purse and stood to leave. He was beside me before I could take a step.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “Why don’t you take a wild guess?”

  “I apologized for my tardiness. I had a meeting with some additional investors I hadn’t anticipated.” He glanced over my shoulder and then briefly surveyed the room. “Don’t make a scene.”

  “I think you should tell yourself that. Now let go.” I pulled away. He eventually released my wrist, and I left him standing at the table.

  * * *

  I had a horrible night’s sleep and ended up waking before Aiden the next morning. I turned over and looked at him as I recalled our discord last night. After a while, I slid out of bed, crept over to his side, and grabbed his cell. I didn’t want to be the type who checked her man’s phone, and normally I wouldn’t, but I had to figure out what he was keeping from me. I started scrolling through his messages, and saw one from Chicago Bryant. I recognized his name so I clicked on the message.

  Connor stopped by my office yesterday.

  “See anything interesting?”

  I jumped, startled to see Aiden had awakened and was watching me. I tossed the phone at him and started toward the bathroom. After having washed my face and brushed my teeth, I went to the nursery to check on Lyric.

  I was sitting in the rocker feeding the baby. His eyes were wide and focused on my face. He looked so much like Aiden. Your father is keeping secrets from your mother. Why would Aiden go down this road again? Chicago Bryant was on the Raine Industries board. Why would he contact Aiden? And what did it matter that Connor came to Chicago’s office? Was Aiden back at R.I. in a capacity that would upset me? Was he worried I’d feel betrayed? Was that the reason he didn’t tell me?

  Aiden typically fed Lyric each morning. Perhaps that was why Lyric wouldn’t eat very much now. I set his bottle aside, and placed him back in his crib after I’d dressed him.

  I stepped into our bedroom and saw Aiden coming from the closet. “Another day with a suit?” I asked.

  “Good morning, Aria. Are you trying to ask me something?”

  “No. Just wondering why you’ve suddenly changed your routine.”

  “I told you why—”

  “I know, to meet with investors. That’s your answer for everything lately. What the hell is going on?”

  “Just making sure some things get off the ground. I’ve told you that.” His face was impassive—he gave nothing away.

  “Yes, that’s about all you’ve told me.”

  Aiden disregarded my comment. “I’m glad to see you’re speaking to me. I hate that you wouldn’t let me touch you last night.”

  I rolled my eyes and pulled my nightie over my head.

  “I hope you’ve forgiven me,” he said. “Have you?”

  “No,” I said, and walked into the closet.

  “Why?” he asked, following me.

  “Because I’m still pissed at you.”

  “I came to dinner. You’re the one who walked out on me.”

  “And you’re lucky that’s all I did,” I replied.

  “I can’t believe you.”

  “Well, believe it.” I grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt. “I’m upset, and I have every right to be.”

  “Why? Because I’m not perfect? I told you a long time ago I couldn’t give you one-hundred percent of me. Just as you can’t give me one-hundred percent of you. No one can do that…and you know it, yet you still expect it from me, and when I don’t measure up, I’m the bad guy.”

  “I didn’t think that expecting your boyfriend to show up for a date—one he requested I may add—was asking too much. Silly me. Guess I should be fine getting stood up.”

  “I didn’t stand you up, Aria. I was late. You’re conveniently discarding that distinction to prove some point.”

  “I don’t have any point to prove.” I shook my head as I watched him button his jacket. “This is precisely the reason…” I trailed off.

  “Precisely the reason for what?”

  “You want to know why I haven’t replied to your letter? This is why. There are at least three or four versions of Aiden Raine,” I said, and walked past him. “And the Aiden who wrote that beautiful letter to me isn’t the same Aiden who stood me up.”

  He followed me back to the bedroom. “Will you stop saying that?” he demanded. “I didn’t stand you up!”

  “Okay. Fine. You didn’t stand me up. But you were exceptionally late, and you’ve never done that to me before. So I know something isn’t right, Aiden, and you won’t tell me what it is.”

  “There’s nothing to tell. How many times must I say that? I’m starting to think you actually want to argue with me. You’re going from one preposterous topic to another.”

  “Why would I want to do that? Who in their right mind would ever want to argue with you?”

  “I can’t speak for other people, but maybe you’re doing it to avoid what you just mentioned…replying to my letter!”

  “Well, if that’s what you think, I’ll reply now. No. My answer is no. I don’t want anything more with you than I have right now! And quite frankly, I’m questioning my judgment on that at this point!”

  When Lyric started to cry, Aiden tore his eyes from mine and glanced at the baby monitor. “I’ll get him,” he said.

  I saw the hurt in Aiden’s eyes when he turned to leave. “Aiden, wait. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

  He didn’t respond. He didn’t look back. He simply walked out of the room.

  I picked up the monitor, sat on the edge of the bed, and watched as Aiden entered the nursery and went over to our son.

  “Hey, little man,” Aiden said, as he lifted a bawling Lyric from the crib. “What’s all the fuss about?” he asked, and gently bounced the baby in his arms. Aiden reached into the crib for Lyric’s favorite stuffed animal, Mr. Bunny, and then sat in the rocker nearest the bottle warmer. Aiden held up the little rabbit and wiggled it in front of Lyric, and I
laughed aloud when Aiden started speaking as though he were Mr. Bunny. Mr. Bunny went on to tell Lyric about a new song he’d written, and that it was a very special lullaby. The baby babbled as though he was talking back to Mr. Bunny, and then he grabbed it and started flinging it back and forth until finally dropping it to the floor.

  I could have watched the two of them all morning. It was as though he and Lyric were best friends already—something I knew they’d be in the future. I came terribly close to crying as I continued watching them.

  Lyric cooed and giggled with Aiden for a while longer, and then he became fussy. “Do you miss your mommy?” Aiden asked. “I know how that feels, and it’s no fun at all, is it? But Mommy’s right down the hall. She’ll always be here.” He cradled Lyric’s head in his palm and then kissed his forehead. “In the meantime, how about you let your dad feed you? I know it’s not the same as Mommy’s breast—trust me,” he murmured, as Lyric started to suck.

  I placed the monitor back on the stand, and finished getting dressed. Several minutes later, I went to the nursery to apologize to Aiden, but he was gone. Dianna was there, and she told me Aiden had left just a few minutes ago.

  He’d left without saying good-bye.

  Just as I was about to call Aiden, my phone rang. I felt a tinge of guilt when I saw Allison’s name on the display. I briefly considered sending it to voicemail, but thought better of it because she and I hadn’t spoken in a while. Once I’d finished my call with his sister, I’d fix things with Aiden. I didn’t want whatever business plans he had in the works to cause an issue between us.

  Chapter Eight

  I’d been so preoccupied with Lyric, Aiden, RPH, and the move that I hadn’t made any effort to reestablish my friendship with Allison.

  “Hello,” I answered as I headed downstairs for breakfast.

  “Hi, Aria. I was hoping we could have lunch today,” Allison said.

  “Sure. Any special reason?” I asked.

  “Other than trying to make sure we’re still sisters, nope,” she replied, as I grabbed a protein shake from the fridge.