Fierce - Aiden (The Fierce Five Series Book 2)

by Natalie Ann

  The last one. That was it. That was the one she was the most excited about. Being a normal couple.

  Sure, it was her idea to keep this all a secret, and even though his family knew, she wasn’t ready to make it known elsewhere yet. It was too early, in her eyes. She just wanted to enjoy the time they had together. That wasn’t too much to ask, was it?

  “A deli,” she said. “You’re bringing me to a deli for dinner.”

  They’d dropped their luggage off and then started walking around the city. She gladly followed him around, looking like the tourist she was with her head swiveling in every direction, trying to not get run over by someone walking by her fast with their head down looking at their phone.

  He laughed. “Best deli in the city. I ate here at least twice a week for lunch back then. Come on,” he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her inside. It smelled wonderful. There were dried meats hanging behind the counter, more kinds than she could name. Even though it was the end of the day, the tangy scent of fresh loaves of bread still hung in the air. It was bringing back so many memories of working in a family-run business as a kid.

  “What’s so great about this place?” she asked, even though she knew. Family. When they owned and operated businesses like this, everything came from the heart. Came from the soul. Served to you like you were sitting at their dinner table on a Sunday afternoon.

  “Abe,” Aiden said, walking forward and shaking hands with the man behind the counter.

  “Aiden. It’s been years! Do you want to come back and help?”

  “No, no, Abe. I’m here as a paying customer. First place I’m stopping though. Nic, this is Abraham Wiesemann. He was the first person to teach me the proper way to cure meat.”

  “Didn’t you learn all that stuff in school?” He went to one of the best culinary institutes in the world, yet he was saying he’d learned the proper way here?

  He laughed at her. “School doesn’t teach you life experiences. You should know that better than anyone.” She knew that, so stupid to question it. But it seemed like all she did was question her life lately.

  Abe looked at her and said, “You’ve got a good Italian bone structure. You can’t tell me your granny didn’t teach you a thing or two.”

  “Moretti,” she said, reaching her hand out to his. “Nicolette.” It might be the first time she’d ever said that to someone, but in this instance she was a little proud of the name.

  “Well, Nicolette,” Abe said, “Aiden wasn’t top of his class for nothing. He interned his way around New York City. Free labor for all of us if we’d teach him our trade.”

  She looked over at him sharply. He tossed her a grin and a wink, then said, “Abe. I’m dying for a pastrami on rye made the way only you can do it.”

  “Coming right up, Aiden. How about you?” Abe asked her.

  “I’ll take the same.”

  “Let’s grab a seat and get out of the way. He’ll call my name when it’s ready.”

  They were sitting at a small table in the back. “Did you really work for free all through school?”

  “I did. I felt I was behind everyone when I got here. The best way to get ahead is coming in knowing more before it’s taught.”

  That was something she never expected. That deep down Aiden might have had a fear that he didn’t measure up, then worked twice as hard. Maybe they had more in common than she ever thought.

  All the Nerves

  Monday morning, Aiden walked through the front door of the Food Network headquarters. Nothing looked the same as it did years ago, yet it all felt so familiar. Gut-wrenchingly familiar.

  His nerves were racing today, just like they did that first day so long ago. Back then it was excitement; this time it was more annoyance and maybe a bit of fear, but he’d never admit that.

  There were old memories and people he’d like to forget about here. Experiences that shaped him into the success he was today. He should be thankful, but instead was just ready for it to be over.

  There’d been so much to learn. The wonder of it all. So many things he couldn’t wait to experience. And when it was all said and done, the crushing reality was that it just wasn’t for him.

  He’d never be able to handle giving up control enough. He’d never be able to be so far away from everything and everyone he’d ever loved anymore, either.

  His hand was on Nic’s lower back—both for comfort and guidance—as he ushered her down the hall to the room they’d be waiting in. Was the comfort and guidance for her or him? Probably both. He was itching to hold her hand, but held back, not wanting to look juvenile.

  And there he was again, worrying what everyone thought of him. The kid from down South being thrown into the big city. He wasn’t a kid anymore, but he still felt like he was being thrown to a pack of wolves.

  This time he was prepared. This time he had more experience. Life experience. This time he was a man, and one with his own mind and the ability to speak it.

  Correction, he spoke it back then, but he just wasn’t heard…until he made himself heard by his actions and his skill.

  “How are you doing there?” he asked when he held the door for Nic to proceed.

  She looked around, her eyes a little wide. He knew that feeling well. “This is amazing. It’s like all those things you see on TV.”

  He laughed. “I’m going to be on TV.”

  “That’s true. It just doesn’t seem real to me.”

  It was, but he didn’t say that. “Do you want a drink?” He walked over to the pitcher of ice water with several razor-thin slices of lemon floating through the machine-produced ice cubes.

  “I’m good.”

  His throat was drier than the Sahara, so he poured himself a glass. “We could be sitting here for a bit. If you get hungry, just help yourself.”

  She walked over and looked at the fruit, cheese and cracker platter. There were bowls of nuts and a jar of candy. A little bit of everything. “Do all the rooms have setups like this?”

  “They used to, so I’m thinking they still do.” It was one of the things he did as an intern. Set up different foods while people waited. Some guests had requests and he made those foods as specified, then set it up. Others, like him, didn’t care and just circled the choices on the generic forms that they all signed before they agreed to be on television.

  He was smart enough to hand it all over to Cade this time before coming. Not that he wanted to, or even needed to, but Cade knew what he was doing and it was better this way. Better to avoid another fight if he’d done something he shouldn’t have. Something to put Fierce in jeopardy.

  She grabbed a small plate and put a few grapes and crackers on it. “Do you want anything? I’m just going to sit here and watch a show.” There were still TVs mounted broadcasting their station.

  “I’m good.” He was glad she was so happy right now. She looked like Dorothy being thrust into Oz, but was going with the flow, which was more than what he could say he was feeling.

  There was a knock at the door, then it was pushed open. All the nerves and the licks of fear exploded like Pop Rocks candy in his mouth when the platinum blonde popped her head around the door. He was feeling like Cade on a rollercoaster right now, and forced back the rise of his breakfast.

  “Aiden,” she said in her raspy voice. He knew it was practiced and wasn’t surprised she still used it. She walked into the room and over to him. She was going to hug him, he knew. She always did, so he braced himself.

  “Crystal.” He returned her hug, barely, just patting her back. He was treating her like a rattlesnake ready to strike, then tried not to cringe when she held on longer than appropriate, her hand sliding down his arm more like a caress then a “hello” touch. “Nic Moretti, this is Crystal Star,” he said, giving himself more breathing room than normal when she finally stepped back.

  Nic held her hand out to Crystal. What a world of differences. Nic was down to earth in skinny jeans, ankle boots and a blazer. Crystal was adorned in a fi
tted green-and-black dress showing off all the curves of her body that she used to get her way. Some were more accentuated than before and he wasn’t surprised in the least there either.

  There was a moment of recognition in both of the women’s eyes. Past and present lovers assessing each other and the situation. But Nic just smiled and said, “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Same here,” Crystal said, then ignored her and turned back to him. “You look wonderful, Aiden. Running the family business agrees with you.”

  He wanted to snort but didn’t. It was more than a family business and she knew it. She’d been badgering him for years to submit a pilot. Just waiting to sink her fangs into him. “I didn’t know this was your show I was coming to.”

  “It’s not. I figured you’d say no if the invitation came from me. I really wanted you here for a number of reasons.” Her eyes roamed over him in a sensual browse that had sent his blood curling years ago. Now it set it boiling…and not in a good way.

  “I would have.”

  She laughed, the throaty sound of it making him want to run as if a clown were chasing Mason. “Always so honest. That was your downfall.”

  “I’d say we both ended up exactly where we wanted to be and honesty had everything to do with it.”

  She tilted her head to the side, giving him a sexual smile that had tugged at him so much before. Now it didn’t do much at all. “Don’t be bitter, Aiden.”

  He laughed. There was no fear now. There was no nausea either. There was just relief that he’d learned his lesson back then. Or one of them. “Not a bitter bone in my body, Crystal. You got what you wanted. I realized that then. I’m where I need to be.”

  “Well, not exactly what I wanted, but this is long term. As we know, show business might not have been.” She turned to Nic. “I wanted my own show. Aiden and I interned here together. Both had the same plans for our lives. He changed his mind. I realized there was more power behind the camera than in front of it.”

  “Crystal enjoys power,” Aiden said to Nic.

  “Power gets you what you want in life. You never realized it.”

  “I knew. I don’t operate that way.”

  “Which is why you went back home and I stayed here. But,” Crystal said, waving her hand, “there’s no time to reminisce about fond memories. I just wanted to stop in and give you my card. Now that we got you here, maybe you’ll consider coming back. Submitting that pilot to me?”

  He took her card. “I doubt it, but I’ll pass this off to my brother Cade for safekeeping.”

  She laughed and shook her head. “Always did have to go back to your family before you could make any decisions. Guess some things never change.”

  He looked her in the eye. “I can see that myself.”

  Crystal walked out the door and he breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad she made her appearance first. It was out of the way and he could just enjoy what came next. Or as much as he wanted to without being in his own kitchen.

  “Is her name really Crystal Star?” Nic asked him, her lips twitching. She had more control than him, because he’d laughed himself silly the first time he’d heard it too.

  “Sadly it is. Her parents wanted that for her. She’d do anything to get it.”

  “But she didn’t?” Nic asked.

  Aiden didn’t really want to talk about it but figured he’d better. It’s not like it wasn’t just thrown out in Nic’s face like a cold glass of water. “She wasn’t good in front of the camera. Too rehearsed they’d said time and again.”

  “Gee, I would have never guessed that.”

  “Come here,” he said, pulling her forward into his arms. She was exactly what he needed. Exactly why he wanted her here. To remind him of where he came from and what he was going home to. “She was too smooth and polished. No one wants to watch that on TV.”

  “I bet you were a natural.”

  “I was. We all took our turns in front and behind the cameras. We did grunt work, we cooked, we ran around, we did what they asked. But under it all, they were looking for a new face. A fresh one. I had it, they wanted it. I didn’t.”

  “Why?” she asked. “Not that I don’t think you’re pretty special, but what was it they wanted so badly?”

  She said he was special. He felt like a schoolchild now watching his latest crush from across the playground.

  “Aside from the uniqueness of being a quintuplet, they liked that I was down to earth. I talked about my family and growing up, generational recipes and stories, things that made people laugh. I was told I reached test audiences and that was what they wanted. But I wanted to be known for my cooking, not being part of my family. Or because of my family.”

  It was an identity issue for him. It all went back to being compared to his siblings as he’d told Nic before. He loved his family and they were a huge part of him and his success, but it wasn’t what he wanted to be known for. It wasn’t what he wanted to be wanted for.

  “I get it,” she said. “You know how I feel about being compared to my mother. It had to be hard to walk away from it though, knowing you could be successful.”

  “It wasn’t hard at all.” He had greater things at home and knew that all along.

  “What happened between you two?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  She laughed at him, then cocked her head. “Aiden? Please. If I weren’t in the room, she would have grabbed that cute butt of yours. I think she was still tempted, but she saw me cross my arms and give her the stink eye. I don’t care if she is taller than me, I was ready to knock her down and mess up her coiffured hair.”

  “God, you’re so good for me.”

  “You didn’t answer my question,” she said, tapping her foot at him now. He might be a tiny bit afraid.

  “You’ve got an Italian temper there, don’t you?”

  “I do. You don’t want it unleashed, do you?”

  “Hell yeah, I do. In the hotel room tonight. Maybe wearing something a little sexy,” he said winking at her.

  “You’re trying to change the subject.”

  “It was worth a shot.” He sighed and walked over to the couch to sit down and patted the cushion next to him. Once she was seated and some of the fire was out of her eyes, he said, “I don’t think I need to tell you that Crystal and I were complete opposites.”

  “No, but that didn’t change the fact that you had a relationship with her.”

  “Looking back, it wasn’t much of one. We were the top two of our class. It was our junior year. Both of us were hand-selected for that internship and leaned on each other for support during it. She was from a small town out West. Me, the South. Charlotte is big, but as you know, it wasn’t like I did much more than spend time with family and work at Fierce most of my life.”

  “So you found comfort together?” she asked.

  “Something like that. She had all these ideas and thought I did too. She knew right away she wasn’t going to make it. It wasn’t a big secret. She had kick-ass skills in the kitchen, but not in front of the camera. That was all she wanted. She didn’t want to be a chef in a restaurant. She wanted to be a star. She saw potential in me and wanted us to team up.”

  “She wanted to ride on your coattails?”

  “I guess. By then, I already knew it wasn’t for me. You have to want something like this and I didn’t. I’d made a promise to my family. I’d made a commitment to building Fierce into what we all envisioned it to be. I couldn’t turn my back on that.”

  “I get the feeling they would have understood.”

  They would have, he knew that. But when it came down to it, he never even told them it was what he’d thought he wanted when he made the trip here to start his schooling. He was glad it ended up being what he hated.

  “They would have. They wanted me to come and do this guest spot too, but said it was my choice and they wouldn’t have pushed if I was adamant that I wanted no part of it.”

  “So you came for them?”
>
  “For all of us. I knew all along it was Crystal that pushed for me. It was the show I’ll be judging that gave it away. She knew what I was thinking back then.”

  “What’s that? You said this was a Thanksgiving special.”

  “It is. But it’s taking traditional foods from all over the world and putting them together for an American Thanksgiving meal.”

  “Oh. Like you do at Fierce. How you change your menu up to feature cuisine from around the world. Do you ever repeat dishes?”

  “I do. It’s hard to always have something new. But Ella knows what sells well, and what doesn’t. She has spreadsheets and analysis for everything. I get reports and then figure out what to bring back and when.”

  “I guess I never realized what went into the success of Fierce. It’s not just about serving beer and good food.”

  “No. It’s a family business. We all have to work at it. We all have to carry our weight. And we are stronger together than apart.”

  “And Crystal didn’t like knowing your family came first?” she asked.

  “Bingo. And when she realized that, she moved on to someone else and then someone else again. She was good at finding the right people to get her up the ladder.”

  “I’d ask if you were hurt over that, but I think I know the answer.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “You probably told her to go find another horse to saddle up on when you wouldn’t do what she wanted.”

  “More or less.” He wasn’t quite as polite as everyone always said he was. He’d said harsh words, called her some nasty names associated with digging for gold and wanting a free ride. She’d laughed and said that was the only way to get anywhere in life. He wanted to feel bad for her, but realized it was wasteful breaths.

  He was right when he told Crystal they both got what they wanted. He looked over at Nic and realized that he’d known all along—there was someone there for him in his world. It just took this long for him to find her.

  Something Special

  Nic was sitting in a chair off to the side watching the taping of the show. They’d be here today and tomorrow. She never realized everything that went on behind the scenes. All the people, all the cameras, all the lights.