Aiden ~ Melanie Moreland

by Moreland, Melanie

  I pushed the damp hair away from my forehead, remembering the feel of Aiden’s lips as they brushed along my skin. I hoped he was all right this morning. I wished I could check on him, but I knew he would either ignore me or get annoyed by my concern and be brusque if he responded.

  Louisa was staring me expectantly.

  “Oh yeah, ugly day.”

  “You should have an umbrella.”

  I wanted to snort at her words, but I only shrugged. I had learned Louisa didn’t have much of a sense of humor. We were in a class project group together, and I’d discovered she had a habit of pouting when she didn’t get her way and was often passive-aggressive. She barely spoke during discussions, but then she would email everyone with long, detailed explanations of why she didn’t like something we had discussed or planned. I assumed she was shy and felt more comfortable addressing her thoughts via email, but it got a little annoying.

  Still, she seemed like a kind, somewhat lonely person, and I did my best to be friendly, although she didn’t make it easy at times. She sought me out, no matter how often I tried to dissuade her without being rude.

  “I guess I lost it.”

  She dug into her bag and handed me a small umbrella. “Use this one.”

  “What about you?”

  “I have another one.”

  “Thank you,” I said sincerely. “I appreciate it.” I turned, sliding the umbrella into my locker for later. My keys fell out of my locker, and before I could move, Louisa bent over and picked them up. My keychain glittered in the light, the leather and crystals spelling out my name.

  “That’s pretty.”

  I smiled in acknowledgment. “Emmy made it for me.”

  Her smile fell, and she shoved the keys into my hand, tugging her book bag higher on her shoulder.

  “She’s like your best friend or something?”

  “She is my best friend.”

  “Oh.” She scowled, glancing down.

  Perplexed, I went back to digging in my locker, looking for a set of pencils I wanted. I shoved things around, finally locating them. I shut the door and turned to see Louisa staring at me hopefully. Obviously, she was waiting for an answer to something, and I had missed her question.

  “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  “I asked if you would have coffee with me tomorrow?”

  “I’m swamped,” I stated, stalling. I didn’t want to have coffee with Louisa. We didn’t have enough in common to be friends the way I thought she wanted to be.

  “You kind of owe me,” she replied, her voice terse. She cleared her throat. “I mean, it’s just coffee, right?”

  “I owe you?”

  “You said you’d come to my birthday party, and you never showed. You said you’d make it up to me.”

  I passed a weary hand over my face. Her birthday party had been when Emmy was kidnapped. I’d forgotten about everything else during that time and the few days that had followed it, except what was happening with Emmy. I never told anyone what had occurred, and Emmy never discussed it. People thought we’d both been ill with the flu. It was too private to discuss with casual acquaintances.

  “Sure,” I agreed, wanting to get it over with since I knew she would keep asking. “Coffee tomorrow.”

  “Okay, I’ll text you tonight and confirm!” She spun on her heel and hurried away.

  I shut my locker, muttering to myself as I hurried to class.

  “Yep. Great.”

  Aiden

  BENTLEY ARRIVED AT the office, striding in dressed in one of his dark suits. His tie today was gray, and I was certain his socks were the same black they usually were. No happy Emmy socks today.

  I had come in hours earlier, busy at my desk working through the documents. After dropping Cami at home, I couldn’t concentrate and instead tried to sleep, which was an epic failure. The nightmares had been stronger than ever, and I was more exhausted than I could remember feeling in my entire life.

  Bent had refused to let me come get him with Frank, insisting it was unnecessary, and I was too tired to argue with him. He sat down in front of me, frowning.

  “You look like I feel.”

  “Awesome, you mean?”

  “Like shit.”

  I waved my hand. “How’s Emmy’s ankle?”

  He rolled his eyes at my deflection.

  “A little tender, but fine.”

  “Good. We’ll try again next week. Maybe you can convince her to stop self-teaching shit off the internet.”

  He shrugged. “I highly doubt it, but I’ll try.” He narrowed his eyes. “We picked Cami up a couple of blocks from her place this morning. She looked remarkably similar to how you look today. Is that a coincidence?”

  Cami looked tired? I felt a spark of concern in my chest at his words.

  Was she unwell? Had I upset her last night, and she couldn’t sleep?

  I cleared my throat. “I have no idea. We had some tacos, and I drove her home.”

  “You had dinner together?”

  “We had tacos. Just a couple of friends having tacos on a Tuesday. No big deal. We were already there when you texted. It seemed stupid not to eat.”

  Before Bentley could respond, Reid sauntered in, a huge grin on his face. He flung himself in the chair beside Bentley. “Hey, morning.”

  Bentley eyed him with disdain. “Don’t I pay you enough for you to come into the office not looking like an unmade bed?”

  I snickered. Reid was a good-looking kid, but he didn’t seem to care about his appearance. He was tall and lanky, almost as if he hadn’t grown into his body, his thick, dark hair too long and in constant disarray. He brushed it off his face, a constant habit I was sure he was unaware he had. He wore thick, black glasses, which highlighted his hazel eyes and heavy brows. His normal state of dress included torn jeans and a vintage rock band T-shirt, a total deviation from the normal dress code of the office, but for Reid, Bentley allowed it. Today, though, his hair was wilder than normal, there was stubble on his chin, and his clothes looked as though he had slept in them. He was a mess, but his expression was filled with excitement.

  “I didn’t come into work, Bent. I never left. I was up all night talking to one of the guys over at Unwired about the cool stuff we’re working on for the condo towers. This is gonna be epic shit, man. These places are gonna be sick with the things they can do once we’re done. Security, music, lighting, even which shower heads you want to use, everything at the touch of a button. No wires, no shit to deal with. We started talking about a new idea, and I had to start writing the code for the programs.” He shook his head. “Epic shit.”

  Bentley and I shared an amused glance.

  Reid was an untapped genius I had been lucky enough to stumble across. Because of his criminal record, no one would touch him, but there was something about him that made me want to have him on our side. He had been forthcoming, open, and honest in his initial interview and even more so in his second. He impressed both Maddox and me, even with his oversharing of some personal details, and we had been correct in our instinct he would be a good fit here. We had grown closer, and I knew his entire history now, which only made me more protective of him as I would be with a younger brother. He had proven himself invaluable to us, to Bentley, especially, and he had secured a lifelong contract with our company. Reid, the little shit, took full advantage of it.

  “Glad to hear my money is being well spent,” Bentley stated dryly.

  Reid stood and scratched his stomach, not remotely concerned about Bentley’s tone of voice.

  “Yep. In fact, I’m gonna go to my office and take a shower in that private bathroom you made sure I had. Damn thing is bigger than my apartment, I swear. I’ll even change into clean clothes. I think Sandy brought my laundry back yesterday, so there must be some stuff in the closet.”

  “Sandy does your laundry?” I sputtered. “That’s not her job.”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t ask her to, but she said something about boys being boy
s and me needing looking after.” He grinned. “Who am I to argue with her?”

  “Do not take advantage of her kindness,” I warned. “Sandy deserves our respect.”

  He became serious. “Those flowers on her desk are my thanks every week. I bring her coffee, and also upgraded every computer in her house and installed some wicked speakers in her kitchen. For an old broad she has awesome taste in music.”

  Then he turned and left, waving over his shoulder.

  I looked at Bentley. “The kid has no boundaries.”

  He smirked. “The kid is twenty-five. Same age as Cami. Do you think of her as a kid?”

  I shook my head. “She’s way ahead of him. I guess he’s still growing up. I wonder if his time in jail figures into that.”

  “I think women are always ahead of us, maturity wise. As for the jail time, I imagine it does. It must affect a person in some profound way.” He paused. “You were right, though. He’s a great hire. Despite his casualness, he’s a good addition.” He tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. “The two of you are similar in some ways.”

  “Yeah, we are.”

  “You like him.”

  “I do. He’s had it rough, and I understand that.”

  “A common bond.”

  “Yes.”

  “I think he’s here for the long haul.”

  “He is. Did you know about the laundry?”

  “Yes. Sandy told me he was helpless, and she is very fond of him. She says he reminds her of us at that age, except he’s worse. I think she likes to mother him a little since he is on his own. She uses the machines downstairs and leaves the clothes in his closet once a week. She thinks she gets the better deal. Apparently, the speakers rock the old broad’s world.”

  I started to laugh. The kid had no filter.

  “What would we do without her?”

  “No idea.”

  Maddox walked in, laptop in hand.

  “Do without whom?”

  “Sandy.”

  He sat, crossing his legs. “I don’t even want to think about that happening.”

  “Neither does Reid.”

  He grinned. “Our resident troublemaker. I saw some of the code he was writing earlier. He explained the concept. The kid is brilliant. Fucking brilliant.” He chuckled. “Even if he looks like a monkey’s ass most of the time. He’ll grow into himself. We all did.”

  He was right; we did. Each in our own way.

  Bentley rapped on the desk. “Okay. Enough of boy wonder. Back to the business at hand.”

  I flipped open the folder. “Everything looks good. Did you get my email, Maddox?”

  “I did. At four in the morning,” he added. “Ever heard of sleep?”

  “I was in bed early,” I lied. “I woke up and sent this out. Do you have numbers?”

  He rolled his eyes, opening his laptop. “We can afford to buy all three pieces of property. Even if we carry them for a few years, we’re fine. We’ll make money, no matter what we decide to do. We barely have to dip into our holdings for it, actually—which is good, considering the money we’re soaking into Ridge Towers.”

  “Are we over on the project?”

  “Nothing out of hand. I always pad the numbers, expecting some unforeseen issues.”

  Bentley looked over the documents I handed him. “Should we offer this as an investment-potential project?”

  “I know a few people who would jump at the chance,” Maddox stated. “Some calls and I could secure financing so none of our money is tied up.”

  “No,” I exclaimed. “I want this to be ours. In fact . . .” I drew in a sharp breath. “I want to buy one of the pieces myself.”

  “What are you talking about?” Maddox demanded.

  “I’ve been thinking about it all night. I liked it there. I’d like to keep a small piece and build something for myself.”

  Bentley closed the file and set it on the desk. He crossed his leg, swinging his foot as he stared at me. I prepared myself for his refusal. Instead, he shocked me.

  “I said the same thing to Emmy last night. What piece were you interested in buying?”

  Maddox gaped at us. “What the effing hell?”

  I ignored him. “Mrs. C’s property. It’s the smallest and it’s all I’d need.”

  “I was thinking about Mr. Wilcox’s place.”

  “So, what, leave the middle piece—the most valuable—and do what with it?” Maddox interrupted, his voice hard. “Leave it to rot so you two have some sort of weekend getaway? BAM isn’t going to invest in worthless land.”

  Bentley frowned. “Relax, Maddox. I still plan to develop it. A small, exclusive resort or maybe some high-end rental cottages.”

  “We could fit in six, plus a main building,” I said matter-of-factly.

  “We can double or triple that with the other properties,” Maddox snapped. “It’s crazy to use that for personal shit. Find another piece of property if you have to, and leave this one like we discussed.”

  Bentley’s voice was deceptively soft. “Let me remind you, I have the final say on what BAM does or does not do, Maddox. We went in thinking we were only going to buy the one piece. If I decide to purchase one piece and Aiden the other, then nothing is lost here. Our original idea is intact—or BAM could buy it all and lease the parcels to Aiden and me. There are lots of ways we could work this concept.”

  Maddox didn’t back down. “What if I want a piece? Did you ever think of that?”

  “Is that what’s upsetting you? Then we can buy it all, rezone, and rethink. Build to a smaller scale. BAM will own what we don’t want personally.” Bentley met my confused gaze.

  The outburst was out of character for Maddox. “I suppose I didn’t think you were interested in a cottage by the water, given how much you love urban living,” Bentley said.

  Maddox stood, snapping his laptop shut. “It wasn’t something I thought you’d be interested in either, so I guess we’re both surprised.”

  “Is that what you want?”

  “It’s not the point. I don’t like being out of the loop on plans.”

  I spoke up, hating the tension that had descended on the room. “There are no plans, Mad Dog. We’re discussing an idea. There was something about that view yesterday. It made me question if it was something I would like for the future, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized I did want it. If it’s an issue, I’ll find somewhere else. I’m not sure I’m even ready for a cottage or what I’d do with one, to be honest. It’s just . . .”

  Bentley finished my thought. “That view. The peacefulness of the place.”

  “Yeah.”

  Maddox shook his head, his annoyance obvious. “You two let me know when you decide. We can take it on fully or the one piece only. Either way, we’re good.”

  Bentley stood as well. “Where are you going?”

  “Back to my office.”

  “We’re not finished here.”

  “I am. You two let me know what you want.” He strode out, shutting the door behind him with a firm thud.

  Bentley sat down heavily. “What was that all about?”

  “I have no idea. I’ve never seen or heard him so defensive.” I snorted. “Maybe over me teasing him about what he’s wearing, but not over a piece of property.”

  “I should go talk to him.”

  “No. Leave him. He’ll come to us when he’s ready.”

  “What do we do in the meantime?”

  “Make an offer, but for all three parcels now. We can decide later on what to do with them.” I chuckled. “He can upsell to me if that’s what he wants. Make us a profit.”

  “We’re solid. I saw our month-end numbers. We made a record profit last year, and we’re on track to beat it this year, even with the expenditures for Ridge Towers.”

  “I know. It’s not money worrying him.”

  “What is it, then?”

  I shrugged. That was the mystery. One we would have to figure out.

  I en
tered Bentley’s office, my arms full of blueprints. He was on the phone but waved me in. He scowled into the receiver.

  “Really? Are you sure that’s what you want, Emmy? You know we could go—”

  Emmy had obviously cut him off. Resting his head on his hand, he listened to whatever she was saying then nodded.

  “Okay, baby. I’ll pick you up in forty-five minutes.”

  She responded, and her words made him smile.

  “I love you too.”

  He hung up, tossed his phone on the desk with a groan, and leaned his head back.

  “Problem?”

  “Emmy wants to go out for dinner.”

  “You love taking her out.”

  He cracked one eye open. “To Swiss Chalet.”

  I tried not to laugh. Swiss Chalet was one of my favorites too, but it didn’t rank up there for Bentley.

  “I could afford to fly her to Paris, have dinner, and be back in time for school tomorrow, and she wants Swiss Chalet.” He paused, rubbing his temple. “Plus, she has a coupon that expires today. She insists we use it.”

  “Nothing wrong with a coupon.”

  “That’s what she says. ‘Just because you have a lot of money, Bentley, doesn’t mean you should waste it,’” he quoted. “As if a dollar fifty is going to break me.”

  I sat down, unable to stop my laughter. “She keeps you on your toes.”

  “That she does. Constantly challenging me. Speaking of which . . .” He indicated the door with a tilt of his head. “Has Maddox been out of his office all day?”

  “Nope.”

  “What should we do? Send Sandy in to talk to him? He always listens to her.”

  Sandy walked in, carrying a six-pack of Guinness and a pizza box. “Do not even try, young man. I brought this for you, Aiden. You, Bentley, have a date with your girl, and Aiden, you are marching yourself into that office and talking to Maddox. How the two of you haven’t figured this out yet is a mystery. For such smart men, you are exceedingly obtuse.” She placed the pizza and beer on the desk. “Frank is waiting for you, Bentley.” She pointed at me. “You have a job to do. Now fix this, Aiden.”

  After glaring at us, she marched out.

  Bent and I exchanged glances. He stood, adjusting his sleeves. “We have our instructions. Although I think I’d take Maddox over Swiss Chalet.”