They weren’t even a thought in Mayor Caswell’s mind. Aiden had spent thirty minutes with the man and not once did he ask about his granddaughter. He could understand his disregard for Marina, but his own flesh and blood? All the man cared about was his position in the community.
He replayed the whole night over and over in his mind. It had been perfect until the mayor and his wife showed up. Was it a coincidence that they’d picked the same restaurant? He couldn’t say. McKinnon’s Steakhouse was the best place to eat in Copper Creek, but it wasn’t the only place.
He finished his beer and went into the house to climb into his empty, cold bed. The same bed he should have been making love to Marina in. He’d had plans for her. Plans that included lots of pulse-pounding pleasure, slow kisses, and words of love.
As his lids grew heavy, he made a final promise to himself and to Marina. He’d fight to get her back.
“Who pissed in your Wheaties?” Mark asked. “I thought it would be a great day after your date last night.”
Aiden kicked against his desk, forcing his chair to roll back against the wall. “The date was great. The rest…not so much.”
Mark widened his eyes. “Hey, man, we all have poor performance days.” He chuckled and shuffled the papers on his desk.
“Screw you. I’m not talking about my sex life with you.”
“You mean your lack of a sex life.” Mark went to the mini-fridge in the corner to get a bottle of water. It had been a hot day with more record heat expected in the weeks to come.
“You remember the restraining order you found while you were snooping?”
Mark twisted the cap from his bottle and took a long drink. “You mean the records I found that you said you wouldn’t look at but somehow got filed in your drawer? Yes, I remember that.”
“He’s not abiding by the order.”
Mark plopped back into his chair and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “So let’s arrest him.”
“Can’t. He’s out of our jurisdiction, and there’s no way his brother will put him in jail.”
“Never thought about that. So basically the restraining order is useless. Just a meaningless piece of paper.”
“Exactly. Marina knows too much about that family.” Aiden wouldn’t give the details to Mark because that would be a breach of trust. “I think they have a be-on-the-lookout for her.”
Mark leaned forward. “No way, the town has a BOLO on Marina? For what purpose?”
Aiden shrugged. “Can’t say.”
His deputy gave him a suspicious look. “You mean you won’t say.”
“Kind of the same thing in this case.” He told Mark about how he’d paid the mayor a visit and how the mayor and his wife showed up for dinner at the same place. He also talked about Craig showing up at the place where Marina was with Kellyn and everything else he could share without breaking his trust with Marina.
“You have so much sucking up to do.”
“Says the man who doesn’t date.”
“I date.” He looked around the room like he wanted to escape. “It’s just I’ve got my sights set on someone.”
Aiden chuckled. “Better not be Poppy Dawson. Her dad came in and said he didn’t want you near his daughter. What’s the problem there?”
“The guy is crazy. He holds a grudge against my family.” Mark looked at the empty desk in the corner—the one Poppy sat at when she was here. “Hard to avoid someone you work with.”
“That’s pretty much what I told him.”
As if their conversation had conjured her presence, Poppy walked in. She stared at Mark for a moment before her attention returned to Aiden. “Is there anything special you need done?”
Aiden slid a pile of paperwork her way. “These need to be filed, and can you organize things around here?” He looked at Mark. “His system of filing isn’t all that effective.”
She faced Mark. “What’s your system?”
Poppy had dressed extra nice today. Normally she wore slacks and a shirt, but today she was in a pretty sundress. Could be the heat, but that didn’t explain the rest. While Poppy wore little makeup, today her cheeks were rosy and her lips shined.
“Yeah, Mark, why don’t you tell her what your system is?”
Mark let out a disgruntled huff. He pointed to the first pile on his desk. “I’ve got a now pile.” He set his hand on the second pile. “This is a later pile.” He straightened the third and largest pile. “This is the if-I-ever-get-time pile.”
She breezed over to his desk and swept off the stacks into her hands. “I’ll sort them out, then prioritize and alphabetize.”
Aiden rose and picked up his hat. “Now that sounds reasonable.” He strode to the doorway. “See you kids later. Call me if you need anything.”
“Happy sucking up,” Mark teased.
Aiden heard Poppy ask what that meant before he walked out. Mark would never tell. He was a good man and could be trusted.
Out of the corner of his eye he caught the flash of Marina’s white SUV down by the park. He wasn’t sure if she’d had enough time to get over her anger, but he needed to see her.
He sat in his cruiser for several minutes, watching them play on the swings. When Kellyn jumped off to join the Williams kids in the sandbox, he joined Marina under the big oak tree.
She shaded her eyes with one hand and looked up. “I was wondering if you would sit there all day.” She pulled her damp T-shirt away from her skin. “It’s a hot one out here.”
“We barely have a breeze.” He pointed to the space beside her. “Can I sit down?”
“You’re asking? I thought maybe you’d just do what you wanted.”
By her response, she wasn’t over being angry with him. He took a seat and leaned against the trunk of the tree. “I deserve that. I’m sorry.” He pulled a wildflower from the ground and plucked the petals off.
“You don’t have to get to the end to know she still loves you.”
He tossed the half-spent flower aside and threaded his fingers with hers. “By her, I’m hoping you mean you.”
“You got another her that might love you hanging around in the background?”
He looked at Kellyn playing in the sand. “Maybe, but she’s never told me.”
Marina leaned her head on Aiden’s shoulder. “Yet, but she’ll get there.”
He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I really am sorry. I was trying to help. I realize that I should have asked you if you wanted help. I assumed it was my job to protect you.”
“Aiden, it’s not that I didn’t want your help, but I know these people. Don’t think for a second that the mayor didn’t know Craig was harassing me. Hell, Craig used his father’s phone to call me.”
Aiden had forgotten about that. “I messed up, but I promise I won’t step into your business. It’s hard for me to stand back and watch them intimidate you. I see the fear in your eyes when their names come up.”
She gripped his biceps and hugged him tightly. “I have to save myself. If I don’t, then I’ll never find my power. At the ball pit, I did it. I stood up for myself. That was a first for me. It was an empowering feeling. I didn’t make a scene because I didn’t want Kellyn to see him.”
“How did she not see him?”
“She buries herself under the balls for minutes.” She shook her head. “I can’t imagine what’s under those things—how many petrified burgers and fries are on the floor, but she likes it. There are so few glorious moments in her life that I embrace it.”
“She’s lucky to have a mom like you.”
“I’m the lucky one.”
“No.” He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “I’m the lucky one. I’m so sorry I was shortsighted. I don’t want this to come between us. Can you forgive me?”
“Already done. I think maybe we were just moving too fast.”
His heart stopped and then thudded back to life. “You want to take a step back?” He didn’t. He wanted to go full steam ahe
ad. He held his breath, waiting for an answer.
When she frowned, he knew it was coming. “I’m a mess, Aiden. I’ve been telling you that since the day we met.”
He cupped her cheek. “And I’ve been telling you you’re a beautiful mess. You’re my mess, Marina. Please don’t push me away. I need you as much as I hope you need me.” He turned toward Kellyn. “I need her too.”
“I don’t want to step back, but I think we could slow it down.”
It was a compromise but hell, weren’t most things in life? “What does that mean?”
She smiled. “It probably means that we shouldn’t be picking out our china patterns this week.”
He wrapped his arms around her and tugged her into his lap. “I can wait another week for that.”
She gave him a playful punch. “You’re impossible.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that, but I’m your impossible, and that makes everything possible.”
They sat in companionable silence until Kellyn looked up and saw him there.
She wasted no time in running straight into his arms.
“Hey, Sprout, are you having fun?”
Kellyn buried her head in his neck and held on to him like he might disappear. When she pulled back, she nodded. Her hand came to her lips in her sign language equivalent to I’m hungry.
“I should feed her.” Marina looked at her phone. “It’s way past our normal lunchtime.”
Aiden stood with Kellyn in his arms. “I’d like to take you to the diner. If we hurry, we can catch them before they close.”
“You’re always buying us food.”
“I like taking care of you. It gives me purpose. What do you say?” He said a silent prayer that the answer would be yes. He knew the minute Kellyn nodded he’d won, because if Kellyn was communicating, she’d get what she wanted. Then again, she didn’t ask for much.
“It’s a date,” Marina said. She lifted on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips. Kellyn pressed one to his cheek.
Aiden was overwhelmed with happiness. “Let’s take the cruiser, and turn on the lights and siren.”
Marina widened her eyes. “Are you sure that’s wise? What if she always wants to ride with the lights and siren? Besides, it’s so close we could walk.”
“It’s so little to ask.”
Marina sidled up to him. “What do I get?”
He didn’t miss a beat. He shifted Kellyn to his hip and leaned down to whisper in Marina’s ear. “A do-over for last night. I had so many plans.”
They got Kellyn’s booster seat from the SUV.
“I’m sorry, Aiden. I really screwed it all up.”
He opened the door for Marina. “No, you taught me a valuable lesson.”
She pulled on her seatbelt while Aiden buckled Kellyn in. “What was the lesson?”
“That I don’t always know what’s right. I should ask before I assume.”
“You should also know that I don’t want you to stop caring.”
“Never, sweetheart.” He climbed inside and started the engine. “Are you ready?” He flipped the switch, and the sirens and flashing lights turned on.
Kellyn smiled and clapped her hands. It took so little make her happy. By the look on Marina’s face, she was happy too.
Chapter Twenty-One
Had it really been ten days since their failed date?
Marina packed a few more items into the picnic basket. Today was the grand opening of the new fire station and she had promised Kellyn they could visit and then go to the movie in the park.
She shoved in as many drinks as the container would hold. They’d been in a heat wave for almost two weeks and she didn’t want to risk dehydration.
Without air-conditioning, the only relief they got was the gentle evening breeze that moved through the open windows to cool off the house. She hated to leave them open, but there wasn’t much to steal. Aiden reminded her that criminals weren’t picky, but it was a choice between letting someone steal what little they had and dying from heat stroke. The options weren’t great.
He’d invited them to stay in his home, but she didn’t feel right sleeping with Aiden in front of her daughter. Kellyn still didn’t speak, so she couldn’t be certain she’d understand that dynamic of their relationship. Hell, she didn’t understand it. All she knew was her life was better because Aiden was in it. As silly as it seemed, she was in love with him. He was the one for her. She knew it bone-marrow deep.
“Hey, Ladybug, are you ready?” she called from the kitchen. “Aiden said he’d see us at the fire station.”
Kellyn came out wearing khaki shorts and a brown T-shirt. On her head was one of Aiden’s old sheriff hats. She’d become his mini me. If he was gardening, so was she. If he was swinging, so was she. If he was trying to kiss Marina, so was she.
“You look very professional, Sheriff.”
Kellyn adjusted her cap and smiled.
“Is Mrs. Beasley coming?”
She shook her head. She’d been leaving her emotional crutches behind one by one. It was such a beautiful sight to see her grow and become confident in her new world.
“Let’s hit it.” They climbed into the SUV and drove to the fire station, which wasn’t far from the park.
It looked like all the kids from Aspen Cove were there climbing on the new fire truck. Chief Mosier supervised while his crew gave fire safety demonstrations and handed out plastic firemen hats.
Aiden and Mark had the cruisers open so people could see inside. The kids had a blast turning on the sirens and lights. Just before they closed the doors, they invited everyone in to slide down the pole. There weren’t many adult takers, but the kids had fun.
Marina, Aiden, and Kellyn walked to the park, where they found a perfect spot in front of the inflatable screen that Samantha and Katie had rented. It was a double feature with two kids’ movies playing back to back.
Kellyn made it through the first movie and half of the second before she fell asleep.
Aiden carried her to the SUV while Marina was in charge of the empty picnic basket. At home, Marina left Kellyn in the car while she said goodbye to Aiden. They had plans to go to Copper Creek together tomorrow.
Craig hadn’t been seen or heard from since the day she’d stood up for herself. Maybe Aiden’s influence with the mayor had helped.
She understood his desire to go with them to Kellyn’s dentist appointment. Craig was unpredictable, and unpredictable was dangerous.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” Aiden tugged her tightly to his chest and gave her a kiss that warmed her insides. They hadn’t been able to schedule their do-over so it was stolen moments like this that whet their appetites, but in no way sated their needs.
“I’ll be out front waiting.” She leaned forward and breathed him in. She loved the smell of him. His citrus scent gave her strength. She made sure to rub against him every night so his cologne was fresh on her skin and locked into her senses when she went to bed. She’d almost asked him to spritz her pillow but didn’t because it felt silly when he was only next door.
“I love you,” he told her. She loved the way he said it several times a day so she could never forget how much he truly meant those words. He’d told Kellyn too. Each time he said the words, she pressed her hand to her chest and then to his. There was no doubt she reciprocated the feelings.
“I should get her into bed. She’s wiped out.” How could she not be after playing for hours?
“You want me to carry her inside?”
Marina shook her head. If he came inside, she knew she’d invite him to stay. Each time they said goodnight it was harder to walk away and close the door.
“No, I can get her.” She gave him another kiss before she got Kellyn and made her way into the house.
Thankfully it was cool. A soft breeze blew the curtains. She breathed in and stopped cold. There was a smell on the air that was frighteningly familiar. She looked around the living room to see that everything was normal.
&nbs
p; She shook off the feeling and pressed her nose into Kellyn’s hair. She also smelled like Aiden. “Let’s go, sweetheart, it’s time for bed.”
She walked into her room to find Mrs. Beasley sitting in the center of the bed. It was an odd placement since Kellyn was usually so adamant she sit in the rocker, but she’d been excited to leave the house today so maybe Kellyn hadn’t taken the time to put her away.
Marina laid her down and moved Mrs. Beasley to the rocker. She returned to her daughter with pajamas in her hand. It didn’t take long to get her changed and tucked into bed. Her tired little eyes opened long enough to convey her happiness.
“You’re right. It was a great day.” Marina tucked the sheet under her chin and gave her one last kiss. “See you in the morning.” She left the room, closing the door halfway behind her.
Marina made her way to the kitchen to clean up from the lunches she’d made. She took a beer from the refrigerator and walked into the living room. Once again the smell of Craig’s cologne washed over her. She knew it was ridiculous. She hated that she gave his memory life in her mind. He didn’t deserve even the tiniest bit of thought.
She’d just flopped onto the couch when the hair stood up on the back of her neck and she knew it wasn’t her imagination.
“Did you really tell him you love him?” His voice echoed from the dark corner of the living room. Vicious intent dripped from each word. The curtains billowed, and he stepped from behind them. “You can’t love him if you love me.”
Her fear turned into rage. She swallowed a lump of hysteria big enough to choke her. Victor, not a victim. Victor, not a victim, she chanted to herself. She tucked her nose into her shoulder to breathe in Aiden.
“Yes,” she said with conviction. “I love him.” She jumped from the couch, knocking her beer bottle to the ground, and sprinted to the door. The sound of broken glass moved through the silent house. She prayed that Kellyn was so tired she wouldn’t hear it.
One Hundred Excuses (An Aspen Cove Romance Book 5) Page 14