Around the World in 80 Men Series Boxed Set 1-10

by Brandi Ratliff

  He smiled down at the top of her blonde head. “Goodnight, Morgan.” Then he kissed her before leaning back again on his pillow, and closed his eyes to welcome sleep once again.

  *****

  The storm that had taken hold of the area boomed loudly and Morgan sat up quickly and looked around. “Aiden?” She was alone and the room was still somewhat dark from the black clouds that had blocked the sun.

  She got out of bed and made her way to the hall. “Aiden?” Where was the man? She looked both ways then turned toward the stairs, taking them quickly as the storm released two more loud cracks on the way down. Morgan finally found him in the kitchen where he was sitting quietly with a cup of coffee. He looked up and smiled when she walked in, and she stopped in her tracks.

  I wasn't imagining it, he's fucking gorgeous! “Good morning!” She found her voice and joined him at the table. After accepting a cup of coffee, Morgan saw the wall clock and she nearly spit her drink out. “I'm sorry! It's after three in the afternoon! I'm so sorry!” Aiden laughed and told her that it was fine and that he had only been up for an hour, which was the truth.

  Two cups of coffee and some uncomfortable small talk later, Aiden finally had to break the news to Morgan. “I...uh...I'm sorry that I had you come here. The truth is..” she watched him struggle with his words as he looked down at his hands instead of at her. “It's...I'm not ready for this...” he moved his hands between the two of them... “and I'll take you back to the airport and send you anywhere you want to go when the storm eases up.”

  Morgan instantly felt like the ugly girl in class, the one that nobody wanted to take to prom or even on a Friday night date. It's me. “I'm sorry.” She put her head down too, then started to stand. “I'll get my things together, I'm sure Julianne can find someone else.” She turned to leave and Aiden stopped her by grabbing her wrist.

  “No! It has nothing to do with you at all! Please, sit down, I'm not good with....talking.” He convinced her to sit, then continued after taking a few deep breaths. “I've been alone for awhile now. Almost a year.” He hesitated for a long time, but Morgan waited quietly. “My wife died...and....I thought I just wanted someone for a...well....physically...without hurting anyone. I couldn't just pick up a woman..or..,”

  “Aiden, I'm so very sorry.” She understood and her heart broke for him just as Julianne's had. Morgan walked to his side and put her arms around his shoulders. “Look, I'll do whatever you want. I can leave now, or I can stay and we can just talk.” His silence made it clear that his decision had been made.

  The change in plans wouldn't be a problem for her, it wasn't that big of a deal, but seeing how badly he was hurting and in need of human contact of some kind, that was more difficult for her to accept. I have to help him. She removed her hands from his shoulders and walked back to her side of the table to take her seat again. Before she could speak, another loud crack from storm made them both jump.

  Morgan laughed as she put her hand to her chest. “If this storm keeps it up, I'm going to be forced to start yelling back.” She saw his lip twitch in a near smile and her heart warmed slightly at the possibility of breaking down a few of his walls. Hmmm so he has a funny side? I can do funny. “In fact, I'd like to start with the mud puddle that pulled me to my butt last night.” There it was again, the twitch that he was having trouble controlling. Falling on my ass is funny, huh? “I'm probably the only person in the world that can get their ass beat by someone's yard.” A full smile spread across his face as he continued to look down at his lap. “Oh, that's funny? I get a surprise late night mud bath, my boot is still on the porch where it's probably filled with rain water, and I get no sympathy? I guess when you're so freaking gorgeous, you don't have to be a gentleman.” Her words finally brought his head up, and he looked into her smiling face.

  “You think I'm...gorgeous?” His bashful tone made her squeeze her hands together on her lap. When she opened her eyes wide and nodded her head, he looked back down. “It's been awhile since I've heard a compliment from a lady.”

  Morgan could go the route and tell him that he deserves to be complimented every day because he is, in fact, incredibly sexy, but she kept it simple instead. “Yes, I do, and speaking of gorgeous, how about I watch your gorgeous backside while you cook us up something to eat. I'm starving and I don't do cooking.” Morgan giggled and set her chin on her fist, awaiting his answer.

  “Well, I would. I don't do cooking either.” He brought both hands to his chin and stared back at her. “But I'm starving too. Hmm. Chinese?”

  She thought it was actually kind of cute that he admitted to not being able to cook. For the past few months, she had either had the man, or their assistant prepare her meals. Morgan also found it a bit heart wrenching that his wife had probably done all of the cooking and he probably hadn't had a home cooked meal in ages. I wish I could cook! Then again, I wish he wasn't trying to push me out the door.

  “Mmm, I can always go for Chinese food!” Well, at least she had until the rain kept up. Maybe she could convince him to let her stay before then.

  They looked over the menu and Morgan picked out her choices, then he made the call, but the news following wasn't exactly what they wanted to hear. “They're not delivering because of the storm. I'm going to go pick it up,” Aiden explained when he hung up the phone.

  “Oh, no, you can go out in this!” As if on cue, a flash of lightning lit up the room, followed by a loud crack that made them both wince. “No, I won't let you. Do you hear it out there?”

  Aiden chuckled and shook his head back and forth. “I'm going. You're starving, I'm starving and there's nothing here worthy of a meal.” He had dude food; cereal, macaroni and cheese, hotdogs. Any given day, he'd be happy with throwing some tuna on a piece of toast and calling it a day. It wasn't exactly gourmet living.

  Morgan knew she wasn't going to win. Aiden was already tying up his boots before she could argue. “Just...be careful.”

  He laughed again and told her that he would. “It's just a little....rain,” he spoke though another thunderclap. Aiden grabbed his keys from a hook by the door and he was gone.

  “Guess I should get dressed,” Morgan spoke to the empty room. “But I guess I won't unpack anything.” Saying the words out loud made her a bit sad. She was seriously looking forward to spending the week with the handsome hunk, but with a long sigh, she walked down the hallway to the bathroom where her bags still were.

  “Oh, Tanner!” Her blinking phone caught her attention and she read the first message on the list. How's Mr. Zealand? You better not be having more fun with him. She sent a message back, and told him the situation. His wife passed away, and he's not ready for...this. So, he's thinking of sending me away on the first flight of out of here when this storm lets up. But he's very sweet and I want to help.

  She set her phone on the sink and by the time she found her outfit for the day, her phone vibrated with a reply. If anyone can help him, it's you. But don't help too much.

  Her response told him that she'd try not to over help and she also told him that she would be turning her phone off so she'd write to him at the airport. She had learned her lesson with Tanner. Even though she wasn't upset with him, she didn't want anything to get awkward like that again. She told all of her other messages the same thing; that she wasn't dead and she'd write to them when she was free. All of her other messages consisted of Kole, Sean, Angel and Angela. Surprisingly, there was no message from Finlay, and she was actually disappointed with her discovery. Out of curiosity, she clicked on his name, and his last message popped up on the screen. It was exactly as Tanner had told her, but she still felt bad as she read it for herself. Oh, you boys!

  “Time to turn you off for the week!” She held down the red button until her phone dimmed, then went black. There was a chance, a small one, that she wouldn't get her way and she'd be on another plane by morning, but as far as she was concerned, she wasn't going to let it be an option. “Yep, I'll
be here all week!” The young girl got dressed and made her way back to the front of the house and walked outside to the front porch. The cool breeze brushing her skin and the sound of the rain hitting the roof in melodic downpours was very comforting.

  She decided to sit on the front swing and wait for her client to return, and she didn't have to wait long. Aiden's truck pulled up slowly into what the rain had turned his mud-puddle splotched yard into a massive mud pool. The water kicked up from the tires, spraying his entire deep metallic blue truck with light tan streaks. She watched him park the truck and jump out, slamming the door behind him. When he began running toward the house, Morgan opened the front door for the wet man with full hands. Except...he didn't make it to the door.

  Chapter Seven

  “Aiden!” The man was spread eagle on his back before she registered that he was falling. He had hit a slippery patch and went down in less than a second. “Aiden!” she yelled again. Oh, she wanted to laugh..and she wanted to help...but she wanted to laugh more. Instead, she ran out into the rain and grabbed the bags from his hands. “I've got this! I'm here to help!” She doubled over in laughter, hardly able to walk, let alone talk.

  “Now who's got jokes!?” he yelled over the pounding rain. “It's not funny!”

  “It is!” she yelled back and before he could could grab her ankle and pull her down with him, she managed to find her legs and run into the house with the bags of food. She was still giggling when the sopping New Zealander walked though the front door.

  “Is....not.” Those were his only words, and even though he tried to keep a straight face, Morgan could see the tug of a smile threatening.

  “IS!” she yelled back as he stomped up the stairs. His hair was plastered to his forehead and he dripped a trail of water and mud all the way up to the second floor. Morgan set the bags of Chinese on the counter and grabbed another outfit from her luggage as she went back to the first floor bathroom to get dressed for the second time in half an hour.

  “You look cozy.” Aiden came down the stairs to find Morgan sitting at the kitchen table in a pair of pink sweat shorts and matching light pink sweat jacket. His white tee shirt and jeans made him look utterly edible.

  “Well, I don't have to woo you, so my plan is to look like a bum until you send me away.” The man finally laughed as he joined her at the table.

  “Morgan, I don't think you could ever look like a bum. And as far as wooing.... you wouldn't have to do that either.” He picked up his plastic fork and opened his container of chicken fried rice. He laughed again when Morgan asked why she wouldn't have to. “Because you already have, now eat.”

  “You like me....you like me...” her sing-songy words broke down another wall as he laughed again while motioning to her meal.

  “Yeah, I guess I do. You're different then I expected.” Morgan understood, as it seemed like most of the women were expected to show up looking perfect and do their job...perfectly. She had tried that briefly with Finlay and she found that it just wasn't her style. She also found that men liked it much more when a woman could be herself, at least to a point.

  “Does that mean I'm staying?” She spoke between bites and wiggled her eyebrows in an ancient old flirting style.

  “No.”

  “I so am! I see you smiling under there!” Morgan reached for his face to tilt it up but he dodged her hand.

  “No.”

  “Liar!” They laughed again but Morgan didn't get her final answer.

  Just as the argument was getting good, a loud crack jolted both of them and the house went dark.

  Morgan stopped chewing and tried to adjust her eyes to the near black room. Aiden was already up searching for candles before Morgan could find her own hand. “Aiden?” He answered her from the other room, then she saw a soft glow followed by a tall frame enter the kitchen again.

  “Let's take the food to the living room, I'll start us a fire.” She agreed and helped him carry their meal.

  He worked on the fire while Morgan placed their meal out like a picnic in front of the fireplace. In no time, they were sitting in front of a large warm fire as their shadows danced across the walls behind them.

  They ate slowly and Morgan asked about his farm, and what he had there as she hadn't noticed any animals, and more about his family's hotels. Aiden eagerly answered her questions, and she kept him talking as she could see that he probably hadn't spoken to anyone new in quite some time.

  She tried not to show her sadness when he told her that he had gotten rid of all the animals after his wife died. The two of them had raised horses together, just for their own farm, but after she died he couldn't even go to the barn anymore. He did the right thing and found them a new home so that they would be properly taken care of.

  “I think I need a nap.” Morgan stretched across the large oval rug that they were sitting on and yawned loudly. “I think it's the fire, it's so relaxing.” She sat back up and scooted closer to the flames, her legs stretched out before her while she leaned back on her hands.

  “I'll be right back.” Aiden grabbed their candle and ran up the stairs. He was back within minutes with his hands overflowing with pillows and a large quilt.

  “Oh, I didn't mean for you to do all of that!” Morgan stood and started to explain that it was just a figure of speech, but Aiden just smiled and dropped everything on the floor.

  “It's no trouble, I like sleeping down here...especially during a storm.” He started to pick up their empty containers and Morgan helped him. When they went back to the living room, they arranged their pillows and quilt on the floor.

  Aiden sat down first and pulled his long legs up slightly, giving Morgan the perfect seat between his jean clad legs. She walked slowly to his side, then stepped over his legs until she was standing between his knees. “Mind if I sit?” She smiled as she lowered her body and turned around to face the fire.

  He stared at the back of her head that was only inches from his chest. His fingers curled into his palms as he tried to fight the urge to wrap his arms around her waist. He shouldn't be sexually attracted to her, but he was, and his torment started to return all over again.

  Morgan could feel the tension around her but she had to push him, just enough to make him realize that he wasn't doing anything wrong. She also knew that if she touched him first, he would back away and probably make her leave that night.

  As if her problem had been noticed by a higher power, a loud crack made her jump and she ended up pressed against his body with the back of her head smashed against his chest. “Oh my god, is it getting worse out there?” She stayed where she was but curled her body up sideways to get her legs against his.

  She could hear the strain in his voice when he answered. “It might be.” He put one hand on her arm, and she smiled when his other hand reached gently around her waist. Morgan relaxed a little more and turned her head up to look at him.

  “This is nice.” He smiled down at her and nodded. Even if he wasn't ready for a woman in his life, he had to admit, even to himself, that he was more than enjoying her company. The feel of her body against his chest was more comforting than anything he had felt for the last year and as they sat in front of the warming fire he actually had to give it serious thought whether he wanted her to stay. Well, wanting her to stay wasn't the problem. Of course he wanted her to stay, he just didn't know if she should. He decided he'd think about it in the morning because it seemed as if Morgan had already fallen asleep.

  “I guess you did need a nap,” he whispered with a smile. Aiden lowered his body onto the pile of pillows and Morgan wiggled a bit repositioning herself, using his leg as her own pillow.

  *****

  When the light of day broke though the large windows, Morgan was the first to stir. At some point in the night, she had found her way up to Aiden's chest, where she woke to find her head. She laid there for a moment, with her head rising and falling with with each of his breaths. Now, that's nice to see whe
n ya wake up. She just couldn't get over how friggin' gorgeous he was.

  Morgan sat up slowly, trying not to wake Aiden, but he was a light sleeper and his eyes opened slowly with her movement. “Good morning,” he told her, stretching his arms above his head.

  “Good morning, studly,” she replied, doing a stretch of her own. “So what are you making me for breakfast?” She smiled down to him and he couldn't help but smile back.

  “Who said you're staying for breakfast?” he answered, still smiling.

  “You did!” she gave him a little pop on his nose with her finger and quickly stood and ran down the hallway. She wasn't going to wait for him to argue...even though he wouldn't. He had already decided he wasn't going to fly her out, not unless she wanted to leave.

  When she came back out of the bathroom, she saw the handsome man rooting in his cabinets for anything edible. “Do you like boiled eggs? It's about the only thing I can cook.”

  Morgan giggled and told him that she hadn't had boiled eggs in years and she would love some. She sat herself at the little table and after he got the water boiling, he sat down, handing them both a cup of coffee. “You're staying,” he told her after a short silence.

  “I know,” she took a sip of her coffee. “I knew you couldn't resist me.”

  “Don't push it.”

  “Yououou like me...yououou like me,” Morgan sang loudly.

  “Maybe a little.” Aiden held his index finger and thumb an inch apart and laughed as he stood from the table to check the eggs. He liked her company, he knew that much, and he was thankful that he hadn't backed out of the database again. He was also thankful that she wasn't at all how he thought 'paid company' might be. He knew guys who had paid for hookers...Morgan was not a hooker. She had never once made it feel like that.