Ayden's Secret

by Cara North

  * * *

  Charlie finally woke up a few hours later and felt much better. She cut the little stitches in her foot and pulled them out with tweezers. If they were still there tomorrow, Ayden would no doubt make her go to the hospital to have them removed.

  He was such a devil in the mornings. Charlie smiled and wished Stephanie was still there to talk to. Ayden had pulled out so many emotional stops on her at once having an outside view would have been helpful. She would have to call her later.

  The doorbell rang.

  “Hi.” Evelyn smiled.

  “Hey.” Charlie was glad to see a friendly face.

  “So the guys are at work today, I thought I would see what you were up to.” Evelyn began searching the countertop.

  “Are you looking for something?” Charlie sat at the kitchen table and watched her.

  “You don’t have any cookies here, do you?” Evelyn put a hand on her hip. “Funny thing is I tried to make some, and they made me sick. But I still want some cookies.”

  “Noel left some in the freezer. I can heat them up for you.” Charlie moved to get the cookies. “Does Joshua ever drive you crazy?”

  “Every minute of every day.” Evelyn sat at the table. “It’s tough for women like us. Independent, strong. It’s frustrating to learn that you can’t program a man to understand what you’re trying to say or do.”

  “So what do you do?” Charlie turned on the oven and pulled out a cookie sheet.

  “I read.” Evelyn rolled her eyes. Then laughing told her something more useful. “Well, I try to remember that we are both headstrong and have our own ideas about how things should be done. Joshua challenged me from the moment I met him. Up until then I had only feared two men, my stepfather and the Wolf.”

  “You were afraid of Joshua?”

  “Well of course, I mean I spent my whole life hating men. Then I fell in love, and I tell you I didn’t know what hit me. I chased him with such fury I almost chased him away. In the end, I realized it was love. But when you’ve never been in love with anyone, you think it’s infatuation or a phase. He’s my angel.” Evelyn smiled in bliss at the thought before turning her attention back to Charlie. “Ayden driving you crazy?’

  “He’s a puzzle all right. Every time I think I know what’s going on in his head he tears off in a new direction.” Charlie went to the stove and pulled out the cookies. “He wants me to go to Tennessee this week.”

  “Wow.” Evelyn was honestly surprised. “That’s a really good thing, Charlie.”

  “I had a plan. Now everything is so off that plan.” Charlie put the cookies on a plate. “Milk?”

  “Nah.” Evelyn took a cookie from the plate. “How is it off plan? I thought your plan was to be with Ayden.”

  “It is.” Charlie took a cookie.

  “Then what’s the problem?” Evelyn pulled the plate closer.

  “I’m scared.” Charlie rubbed the arm again unaware she was doing so, but it still stung.

  “What the fuck is that?”

  Evelyn was on her feet, and her hand grabbed Charlie’s wrist so fast she didn’t see it coming.

  “Uh.” Charlie swallowed hard. She didn’t know what to tell her.

  “Did Ayden do this?” Evelyn felt her heart pounding in her ears. There was no way he did this. No, no, no.

  “In his sleep, Evelyn, he didn’t mean to do it.” Charlie placed a hand over Evelyn’s and tilted her head to get a better look at the woman. “I brought nightmares, apparently I always have.”

  “Explain.” Evelyn was queen of the one word commands.

  “When he found Michael, she was dying. Ayden interrogated Preston Bates, the man who did it. I have no idea what he said, but in that dream, Ayden had his hand around his throat and threatened to kill him. I know that because he had a death grip on my arm and spoke out loud to the back of my head.” Charlie watched Evelyn sit calmly and spin the cookie plate around. “You okay?”

  “No.” Evelyn shook her head. “But I will be. Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” Charlie smiled a soft smile. “I know he would never hurt me on purpose, not emotionally and definitely not physically. He’s bound to me for the rest of his life apparently.”

  When that didn’t lighten her mood, Charlie tried another tactic.

  “He’s had nightmares before.” Charlie shrugged. She didn’t want to freak Evelyn out.

  “When?” Evelyn was mentally sorting things.

  “When he was in Vegas.” Charlie thought about it and remembered him complaining about it a couple times over the years. He just never told her it was her case that haunted him the most. “A few other times, and then before the final chapter in the Blade case. He complained about nightmares a lot at that last meeting.”

  “Will you tell me if he continues to have them?” Evelyn knew she only had them when something big was about to happen. She didn’t realize that until the confrontation with her stepfather was over and she was safe with Joshua and nightmare free, until last night. Especially now that Charlie said, they would be traveling. “Especially while you’re in Tennessee.”

  “Don’t tell him I told you, please,” Charlie pleaded. “He’s very private, and I only told you because, well, I can’t lie about the mark. I will wear a sweater tonight though. I don’t want anyone else to jump to conclusions.”

  “I won’t tell him, and please don’t let Neal see it. Like most young men he worships Ayden.” Evelyn picked up her plate of cookies and headed for the door. She had to call Joshua. Something was off, and she didn’t know what, but it centered on Charlie, and she didn’t like it. “You really came here just for Ayden?”

  Charlie felt her gut wrench. “Yes.”

  * * *

  Evelyn nodded and left. Charlie felt sick to her stomach. Evelyn knew. Somehow, someway she knew. Her nerves began to jump, and she paced the living room floor. She was safe, nothing to worry about. No need to tell Ayden anything. The phone rang, and Charlie almost jumped over the couch.

  “Hello?” she answered.

  “Hello, darlin’,” Ayden replied.

  “What’s wrong?” Charlie was surprised to hear from him.

  “What’s right you mean? I don’t have to take out Leon’s cousin, and Neal called me to reschedule with you. He has duty tonight, found out this morning.” Ayden smiled into the phone.

  “Did you get that poor guy duty?” Charlie put a hand on her hip.

  “Honey, I’m good but I have no influence on the Marine Corps duty assignments.” Ayden laughed.

  “Well why didn’t he call the house and tell me?” Charlie smiled. She was happy Ayden wasn’t going out with another woman tonight.

  “Because the number next to my name on the studio’s roster is my cell number,” Ayden answered. “So, you feel like dinner and a movie tonight?”

  “Won’t you be tired?”

  A knock sounded on the door.

  “Hang on, someone’s at the door.” Charlie walked to the door. It was strange that they knocked. Most people used the doorbell.

  Charlie opened the door and saw him standing there dripping with mischief. He flipped the phone closed and stepped inside. Her face must have given her surprise and relief away.

  “Leon came in. Apparently, he got the date mixed up. His anniversary is next month. After his wife handed him his ass, he decided he’d be safer at work.” Ayden pulled her into his arms and inhaled her scent. “I love the way you smell.”

  “What about his cousin?” Charlie smiled. Did he say love?

  “He won’t be needing a few hours alone tonight, but I will.” Ayden dipped her back and kissed her.

  Charlie dropped the phone and surrendered. Evelyn was right. Why was she fighting this? She wanted Ayden. He loved the way she smelled. That was one step closer to loving her completely. Besides, he had his moments, like now, when he could sweep a girl right off her feet.

  “You should get out of these clothes,” Charlie rasped.

  “Excuse me?”
Ayden pulled her upright and placed his forehead against hers. “I haven’t taken you out on a proper date yet.”

  “I don’t care.” Charlie pulled his shirt loose.

  “You did this morning.” Ayden tucked it back in. “Well I don’t now.” Charlie pulled it out again.

  “Are you going to kill me, Charlie?” Ayden left the shirt out and smiled a full tooth smile at her.

  “What?” She took a step back. That was a weird question, also a little creepy after this morning, and Evelyn’s conversation and reaction to nightmares.

  “It’s the only logical reason I’ve come up with.” He patted her behind and stepped into the kitchen. “Did you give Evelyn the rest of my cookies?”

  “Uh.” Charlie was torn between the conversations. The man had a way of talking about two things at once. “Yes, I gave Evelyn your cookies. No, I’m not here to kill you.”

  “You sure about that?” Ayden opened the refrigerator and grabbed a can of soda.

  “Explain please?” Charlie leaned her hip on the counter.

  “Well, when I try to behave, you try to take my clothes off. When I try to take your clothes off, you tell me to behave.” Ayden took a sip of the soda. “I plan on taking you out tonight on a proper date. I’ll pick you up at your room in a few hours. I need a nap.”

  “Do you want me to do anything?” Charlie realized that he was just as confused as she was and that she had been throwing out just as many mixed signals. In her head it made sense, seemed like a plan. Obviously, it wasn’t a good one.

  “Yes. Think about what you want tonight.” Ayden headed up the stairs and toward his room. That’s when he noticed it. He stepped into her room and looked at the stack of money on the top of her dresser. He didn’t touch it, and he wasn’t about to count it, but he had a good idea of how much was there.

  * * *

  “Charlie?” Ayden came back to the kitchen.

  “Yes?” Charlie was hopeful he changed his mind about the nap and decided on a little afternoon delight instead.

  “Why is there a stack of money on top of your dresser?” Ayden leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “You going somewhere?”

  “I came here.” Charlie gulped. She forgot to put the money back in the drawer. “I’m listening.”

  “I had an account at a local bank in Vegas. I closed it. I sold off or donated everything I had except what I arrived here with.” Charlie wasn’t lying to him. He would be able to tell. It’s what he did for a living.

  “So why haven’t you put it in a bank here?” Ayden lifted a brow.

  “Because I don’t know how long I’ll be here.” Charlie let him chew on that for a minute.

  “Long enough to open a bank account I hope.” He sure didn’t want to think of her leaving him. Charlie was apparently dead set in her plan to leave if things didn’t work out the way she wanted them to. He needed to make a phone call and check out how far she had already planned ahead.

  “I’ll make you a deal. When you marry me, I’ll open an account. As of yet, we haven’t even been on a date. Until then, where I keep my money, is my business.” Charlie pointed at herself. She wasn’t about to tell him she didn’t want to have any traceable accounts for a while. That would set off alarms.

  “Except this is my house, and married or not, you are my business.” Ayden lifted off the counter. He wasn’t afraid of marriage, certainly not afraid of marrying Charlie, but she wasn’t pinning him in before everything was solid between them. “I have a small safe you can use. I’m sure your panties are a great distraction, but in the event anyone ever got in here I’d feel better if your valuables were in a safe.”

  He opened one of the many kitchen cabinets, pulled a small fire safe out and set it on the counter. Once he punched in the code, he removed the hand gun and bullets and punched more numbers on the key pad.

  “Come over here and put your own code in.” Ayden cleared the weapon.

  “You keep a gun in the kitchen?” Charlie knew she had no choice, so she punched in a new code.

  “Ground level is often the easiest access and the least defended.” Ayden lifted the safe after she stepped away. “Any place in particular you want it?”

  “Put it back under the cabinet. If no one would suspect a gun there, they sure as hell won’t look for my life savings there either.” Charlie shrugged. The man was always prepared for anything. “Are you expecting to open the Bed and Breakfast soon?”

  “No, as a matter of fact I’m not going to open it at all.” Ayden put the safe back. When he stood up, he could see her face and knew she had a million questions. He still wanted a nap. “It’s too dangerous. I had my business license cancelled and all traces removed. No one’s finding me online so easily again.”

  “You’re not opening the business because of me?” Charlie felt horrible. Now she had upset his retirement plan. She wondered what else she was wrecking in his life. It seemed so simple to come to North Carolina, tell him she loved him and move on. The problem was, Ayden didn’t refuse her this time. She didn’t move on. She was there in the middle of his world messing everything up.

  “If you wanted to make it up to me, you would come rub my back.” Ayden headed for the stairs. He was shameless in his attempts to keep her close to him, but it worked.

  “You’re really not opening it because of me?” Charlie followed him to his room where he promptly sat on the bed and removed the boots.

  “Put that in the top drawer, will you?”

  “It’s not safe for me to leave money in a drawer, but you can leave a weapon and ammunition in one?” Charlie placed the gun in carefully. She hated guns. The only time she ever held one was that one night in Vegas.

  “I’m not going to leave it there, and I’m not going to leave you in this house with strangers. Ever. I didn’t really want to open a bed and breakfast anyways. I wanted to be near Evelyn, and this gave me an excuse.” Ayden pulled his pants off and tossed them in his laundry basket that was now empty. “Did you wash my clothes?”

  “Yes.” Charlie watched him and wanted to jump on him, tackle him to the floor, and have her way with him. She would wait until tonight. Then at least it would seem like she thought about what she wanted. The fact that he would change his plans for her made her feel special.

  “Thank you.” He fisted his shirt and pulled it over his head. Tossing it in the hamper, he teased her again. “You feel guilty enough to rub my back or what?” “I am going to rub your back, but not because I feel guilty.” Charlie climbed into the bed and sat on his butt straddling him.

  Ayden growled as she pressed her hands along his spine from his lower back to his neck. He exhaled in deep satisfaction. “You should let me do this for you sometime.”

  “Shh. You’re supposed to be taking a nap.” Charlie bit her lower lip and rubbed. She enjoyed massaging him as much if not more than he enjoyed getting massaged. She was used to being pampered. Ayden wasn’t. The fact that he asked her to do it meant he truly enjoyed it the first time.

  Charlie worked her magic, and in no time, he fell asleep.

  * * *

  Charlie took the opportunity to call Stephanie in New York. They laughed for at least an hour, and the relief Charlie felt by the time she hung up the phone was comforting. After hearing about how Amelia Young, Stephanie’s mom, had treated Evelyn and Malcolm, Charlie wasn’t worried about meeting Ayden’s mom anymore. She had two hours to get ready, and since this was their first official date, she decided to combine the old style with the new and just hope she could pull it off.

  Chapter 16

  Ayden awoke to the sound of his Elvis alarm. He had slept for four hours. Charlie had eased away his restlessness and recharged his spirits. He pushed out of the bed and headed for the shower. He wondered what she had decided on doing tonight.

  Charlie looked herself over again in the full length mirror on the bathroom wall. The black peasant skirt was loose and flowing, but the pink T-shirt was fitted. She grabbed a ligh
t soft sweater. Since they were going to dinner and a movie, she would need it. Charlie slipped into the black sandals and headed to her room to wait for Ayden.

  Funny, he was just stepping across the hall, but he was nervous. Charlie was right. They had never been on a date before. He knew that now. He had never felt so anxious in his life. He tapped on the door. She was really going to make him play this whole thing out.

  Charlie felt butterflies when she heard the tap on the door. This was it. An official date. It seemed absurd to be nervous about it, yet here she was, giddy as a school girl and tripping over her own two feet again.

  “Hi.” She opened the door.

  “Hello.” Ayden tried not to blush. He could feel his entire body burning, and it was headed straight to his face.

  “So this is it.” Charlie couldn’t help blushing. He looked so good in his jeans and black T-shirt.

  “This is it.” Ayden held a hand out and then led her down the hall. “Where do you want to go?”

  “That depends on what you want to see.” Charlie had discovered that the area had scattered theaters and most of them were small. Nothing compared to the huge ones in Vegas, though she hadn’t been out to see a movie since Michael was alive.

  “I haven’t been to the movies in years, darlin’.” Ayden stopped in the kitchen. “You’re beautiful, Charlie.”

  She tripped. “Oops. Sorry.” She readjusted her shirt and skirt though nothing was out of place. Ayden normally affected her with his touch. Being thrown off balance by his words was new. He didn’t hold back compliments, and he didn’t keep his distance anymore. “Well, they have this one, but it’s a chick flick.”

  “Okay. Where’s it at?” Ayden didn’t care what they saw just as long as he got to see it with Charlie.

  “Emerald Plantation?” Charlie shrugged.

  “On Emerald Isle, come on. we’ll eat in Swansboro.” Ayden led her out the door and locked it. He didn’t even try to fight the smile. He felt like a new man. Not an agent, though he would feel like an agent again soon enough. He pushed that aside for now and opened the door on the truck for her.