“But do you like me?”
I took a breath and let it out. “Yes. Are you happy now?”
His hands moved up my body in slow motion until they found my face. He stepped back enough to let his gaze penetrate mine. “Very. And by the way, you could have had me for free.” His smile was sexy and annoying.
“Shut up and kiss me. And make sure to make it worth all the money I just spent on you.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he barely got out before he pulled my head toward his and his hungry lips captured my more than ready lips. His hands glided back down and strategically landed on the cutouts and my bare skin. His touch had me pulling him closer and falling against the nearby wall. His mouth invited my lips to part, and then he showed me he was worth every single freaking dollar I’d just spent, and more. I couldn’t get enough of his taste, of him. I savored every second and then minute. He was urgent and then tender, holding on tight, afraid I might let go. Maybe when I’d had more time to think about what I had just done I would, but in that moment, I only wanted to be in his arms. To feel his kisses on my neck and face. To hear the words he whispered in my ear of how much I meant to him. To feel his warm hands on my body. My fingers wanted to stay wrapped up in his hair and for his slow hands to feel their way through mine. I wanted to be alone with him for the rest of the night, but there was a room full of people wondering what had just happened, and my best friends came out to see what the results were.
Jessie cleared her throat. Aidan groaned against my ear. I turned toward my friends, not willing to let go of Aidan. He obviously felt the same since he didn’t move an inch.
“Can we help you?” I didn’t really want to see their happy faces right now.
They both snickered.
“Do you want us to call it a night for you?” Jessie asked.
Abby’s eyes were pleading with me to say yes. It was then I remembered the most important reason I agreed to do this shindig in the first place.
With deep regret, I pulled away from Aidan but took his hand. “No, this is Abby’s night.”
“Are you sure?” Abby asked. “Because I would say it was yours.”
Aidan held up our clasped hands and kissed mine.
I had to ignore the urge to go find a closet with him. “You’re doing this.”
Abby turned a shade of green. “Okay,” she squeaked.
“We’ll be right there.”
“I suggest fixing your hair before you come back in.” Jessie grinned before grabbing Abby and heading toward the stage.
As soon as they were out of sight, Aidan turned toward me and smoothed out my hair. “I hate undoing my handy work.”
“You can do some damage later.”
“I plan to. I told you I was leaving with you tonight.”
“You think you’re so smart.”
Mischief danced in his eyes. “I hedged by bets.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What does that mean?”
“Jessie and Abby may or may not have blackmailed Veronica to bid on me with some photos Felicia provided.”
“What?”
“She was told to go as high as she needed to.”
“Who was going to pay for it if she won?”
His finger glided down my cheek leaving a trail of heat. “Me, of course, but I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
I pulled on his jacket and gripped as tight as I could. “You have no idea how much your deviousness turns me on, Aidan Bates.”
He brushed my lips. “This is only the beginning.”
Shivers ran down my body. “You better not disappoint me.”
He pressed his lips to mine one more time. “Let’s get this thing over with so you and I can be alone.”
That worked for me, but a shiver of fear stopped me. “Aidan.”
His eyes smiled into my own like he knew what I was thinking. “I know you’re scared. I am too, but we’ll figure it out together.”
I leaned my forehead against his. “Are you promising that?”
“On my life, yes.”
“You know this is going to be the hardest thing you’ve ever done?” I warned him.
“I would be disappointed if it wasn’t.”
“Okay.” I breathed a sigh full of emotion. “Let’s go make Abby shine.”
We met Abby and Jessie backstage. Abby had a tinge of green to her, and Jessie was watching to make sure she didn’t escape.
“You’ve got this, Abs.” I pulled both of my friends to me. I needed them more now than ever. I still couldn’t believe what I had done.
“We believe in you,” Jessie encouraged her.
“I’m going to make a fool out of myself.” Abby countered our good vibes.
“I don’t think so, but even on the very off chance you do, I’ll kill anyone that makes fun of you and then we’ll go shove our faces with ice cream.”
Both women laughed at me.
“Plus, I told Aidan I wouldn’t make out with him anymore if he screwed this up, and he really doesn’t want that to happen.” I winked over at him standing nearby. I hadn’t really told him that, because no matter what he was kissing me after this.
Jessie and I squeezed the crap out of her.
“I’m going to do this.” Abby was trying to be brave.
“And you are going to knock ’em dead.” I hugged her one more time before heading to Aidan. I kissed him once. “Thank you.” Those words were so hard to say.
“My pleasure.” He kissed me once more.
I walked back out on stage to the gaping stares of everyone. Each set of eyes wanted to know what had happened moments earlier. I neither confirmed nor denied. And really, did I have to? This was Merryton, after all. Everyone would know before the night was over that I had bid on Aidan and that we’d had a hot make-out session afterwards. One thing they wouldn’t know, and that was that it was the scariest thing I had ever done and how much it still frightened me.
I was happy to say that everyone was shocked when I announced Abby’s name as our special entertainment, especially her husband. I supposed he was here to stay.
I stood in the wings watching Abby and Aidan do their thing in the most fantastic way possible. Even though I could see her trembling from where I stood, she stood courageously and belted out her numbers. Her duet with Aidan gave me chills, and it gave me an idea. We were sticking around until everyone was gone and I was getting my piano fantasy. Yes!
But first I watched my best friend take her bow, and there I saw her find herself, her strength, her courage. She was always there all along. In that moment, I realized I had always been there too, but it was time for me to find my courage again and to face my fears, all of them. But this time, I wouldn’t try to do it alone.
Chapter Thirty-Five
I rubbed my bare arms. Breathing in and out and in and out some more. My breath was visible in the cold mountain air.
“It’s nice and warm in here.” Aidan ran his wet hands down my smooth legs. The steam from the hot springs rose around him.
It was a feat I had made it this far. My legs dangled in the water while I worked up the courage to jump in the pool where Aidan’s arms awaited me. He was a great incentive, but I wasn’t sure even he could get me all the way in. So I sat shivering on the edge.
“What did your therapist say again?”
“Shhh. Don’t spread that crap around.”
He looked to his left and then to his right. “There isn’t anyone here we know.” There was hardly anyone there at all. It was December and frigid; not many people frequented the hot springs this time of year, even if the water would more than keep you warm. It was the getting in and out that was the issue. Or for me, it was the getting in.
“Haven’t you learned that Merryton’s grapevine is far reaching?” Even though we were four and a half hours from home, I didn’t trust that it wouldn’t get back that I was seeing Jessie’s therapist in Evergreen. Dr. Ames was helping me work through my fear of the water. She felt like it was time for m
e to put that demon to rest. What did she know?
“I’m sorry.” He took my hands and intertwined his fingers with mine. “I’m just anxious for you to join me.”
“Why? You’re getting a full view from where you are.”
His eyes roved over every inch of my body. I did him a favor and wore my one piece without the cutouts. I didn’t need him reading his Bible any more than he already did. “It is a spectacular view, but it makes it hard to do this.” He let go of my hands and pushed himself up against the edge of the pool and stole a kiss before submerging himself back in the water.
He was tempting. Very tempting. I knew what those lips could do. I took another deep breath.
Aidan started spouting off the properties of water and about buoyancy. My therapist had recommended I learn all about water. And guess who had come to every one of my therapy sessions? Yeah, this guy. The one with the amazing chest and fantastically wet hair that I was dying to run my fingers through right now. The guy that held my hand during every session and coaxed me to go even though I kicked and screamed almost every time. But there were so many things I wanted to do with this man, and I needed my leg to fully recover.
“Visualize outside the water, you can get out anytime you need to.” That was more crap from my therapist, Dr. Ames.
I closed my eyes and focused on the outside, me in the dressing room, me safe. Me in Aidan’s arms. I felt better. I opened my eyes and found Aidan’s, which were already locked on mine.
“You’re just going to have to do it.”
I knew he was right. The only way to go forward was to run right through it.
He held his arms out. “You don’t have to do it alone.”
I knew that. Sometimes, even a lot of times, I still wanted to be alone. The old me had showed up a lot the past two months trying to hold on to the notion that alone was better. That maybe Aidan wasn’t who he had shown himself to be. I knew better, even when Bible boy got on my nerves.
One last deep breath, and I jumped into Aidan’s waiting arms, sliding silkily down his body. For a second that made me forget I was in the water up to my chest. But then I remembered the last time I had been that deep in water. I was going to die. I clung to Aidan.
He stroked my hair. “Breathe, Cheyenne. You’re safe. I’m here.”
I nodded, taking courage by keeping focused on his eyes.
He kissed me, letting his lips linger. “This is much better.”
His kiss did make me feel better. The tightness in my chest eased a tad. I let my head fall against his shoulder. I was trying to take pleasure in the warmth of the water and being so close to Aidan.
His hold tightened. “I could get used to this.” He moved us away from the edge.
That had me tensing back up. “Don’t let go.”
“I never plan to. I love you,” he whispered in my ear.
My head popped up. And the fear of the water was replaced by something far more frightening. I met his gorgeous eyes and tried to process what he had just said. I couldn’t, not yet. “One fear at a time, buddy. One fear at a time.”
Epilogue
Seven Months Later
Aidan was right—he could dance. Not as well as the caramel god, but he was good, and any time in his arms was time well spent. Even if it was the Mayor’s Ball. I knew everyone in Merryton adored it, but it was the same thing every year, though it was better now that Andrew was the mayor. Andrew brought in good bands, and he kept the yapping about the town down to a minimum. This year his speech was especially short since he thought it was a good idea to bring his babies to the party. He carried them around like they were show dogs. I would give it to Andrew and Rachel, they had an A+ recipe when it came to baby making, but he didn’t need to show them off at every turn. They were a good mixture of both parents. One had Rachel’s dark hair and Andrew’s amber eyes, the other one had Andrew’s sandy brown hair, but Rachel’s violet eyes.
From Aidan’s arms, I had a good view of the room. Abby and Shane were dancing nearby, but not too close to us. Shane still wasn’t my favorite person and I made sure to remind him often with my withering stares, but tonight I watched him hold his wife close and sway off beat with her. She was happy, and as much as I disagreed with it, he was her choice. I supposed he was doing better.
They were still going to couple’s therapy. He was also back at home. Aidan kicked him out not long after we started dating. You see, Aidan had a piano at his place, and yeah, it had gotten some use. Sometimes Aidan even played it for me. At least Abby wasn’t forgetting about Abby. Sure, she was still PTA president and she ran kids around like crazy, but she was working on getting her teaching certificate and she was still rocking the red hair at my insistence. I think Shane found it sexy. Whatever.
Shane also found out some other things. Like how much he had taken his wife for granted. And how to iron his own shirts. I think the hardest part for him was finding out how much damage he had to repair with his children. Connor and Avery were still not sure of their feelings for him, so much so, the whole family attended a counseling session once a month. At least Abby felt more comfortable in her own skin and, oddly, more comfortable in their relationship. She confessed that in a weird way, the experience helped her be able to open up and be more vocal to him about her own needs and wants. For her sake, I hoped it lasted.
Then there was Jessie and Blake on the outside of the dance floor pretending to dance, but making their way out. I could see in Blake’s face he was about ready to grab Jessie and make a getaway. I hoped they had fun. I knew her parents had Tristan, and Maddie was out with Connor. Not sure what would happen to the young pair since they were both leaving for college next month and to separate schools. I hoped they cooled it down. They both needed to see who they could be without each other.
Taylor and Easton were making the rounds, talking to everyone at each table. Taylor laughed with such grace, and Easton couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
Rachel stood with Andrew fussing over the babies. She was looking more rested now than she had been, and more at peace. She’d had a bout of postpartum depression, and for a couple of months she couldn’t even leave the house. I’d been brought in to do her hair a couple of times during that period. She seemed better now.
Then there was the goofiest pair alive, Nate and Kristen. Nate was spinning Kristen around like no one was watching, but we all were. They were so weird, but because of Aidan I spent more time with them than I ever thought I would. Not at church, of course. I did come when they unveiled the new kitchen and food pantry that was stocked with enough food for months, thanks to the fundraiser. But that was as churchy as I was getting, well maybe. That was a big maybe. I will say Kristen was looking pretty good in the soft pink dress I picked out for her. It accentuated her new size C chest nicely. She couldn’t bring herself to go for the D cup.
I focused back on Aidan and kissed his lips. He gave me his half-smile and pulled me closer. “I love you,” he whispered in my ear, waiting for me to say it back.
“How many times a day do you have to hear that? I said I loved you this morning after our run.” And I did love him. I still had a hard time admitting it sometimes, but I couldn’t help myself. I loved him more than I ever knew I could love somebody. “I love you.” I made sure no one could hear me.
“Marry me?” he whispered.
I pulled away from him, irritated. I should have known it was coming. He’d been asking me for the last few months to marry him, and it had been a few weeks since he’d pulled out the pear-shaped sparkler he wanted me to wear on my left hand. I’m not going to lie, the ring alone was almost worth saying yes for. It was three carats of perfection, and it looked fabulous on my finger, but marriage?
“No.”
He took my hand and pulled me outside to the courtyard of The Pavilion, where we could be alone. It was a perfect Colorado night. Clear and warm, but not too warm. A breeze played in the air. He sat me down on one of the benches near the blue hydrangeas. He
reached into his pocket and knelt in front of me. Great. He was begging to have someone come out and catch him in the act. That’s all we needed. Not like everyone didn’t already know. Word got around. Heck, there were still people wondering when I was finally going to have the baby.
He placed the ring on the ring finger of my left hand again.
I stared at it. It was still as gorgeous as ever. He was, too.
“So, what’s your excuse this time? Last time it was you didn’t want to change your last name.”
That was true. Cheyenne Bates didn’t sound nearly as good as Cheyenne Fairchild. It was one of the only good things my dad had done for me, giving me a great last name.
Aidan caressed my hand and with all sincerity said, “I told you I don’t care if you keep your last name. And you even agreed to hyphenate.”
“I said I might consider it.”
He grinned. “And are you still considering it?”
“Maybe.”
“So what now? We already covered children.”
That was the first reason I said no. I knew he wanted them, and I wasn’t going to have them. I did agree we could adopt one or two older children. He actually liked the idea. That wasn’t what I expected.
“You could still find a woman willing to pop one out for you.”
“No.”
“And she would probably go to church with you.”
“You said you would go with me once a month.”
“Did I? Was that the time you asked me after I’d had a couple glasses of wine?”
“No. That was the second time I asked you, and you were completely sober. You’re thinking about the time I asked you and you said no because you didn’t want to give up your zebra-striped couch, and I told you that you didn’t have to.”
“Well, what if I wanted it in the living room, because you suggested we could put it in the loft? That is, if we decided to move into your house, which I’m still not sold on.”
“Woman! We can move into your place, or even build a place. I don’t care where we live as long as it’s together.”
Cheyenne (The Women of Merryton Book 4) Page 23