"It's just my opinion," he says, stopping at the check-in desk, "but I think you should stay."
I do too, but I don't know if I can. Last week when I asked Bianca about my promotion, she said it's on hold until I prove I can do the job. I thought I'd already proven that, but she said Beverly, the owner, wants me to handle an event on my own, without Bianca's help, before she'll promote me.
I wish she'd told me this sooner. I'd love to manage an event on my own. I did it all the time at my old job. I haven't at the new one because Bianca's such a control freak she hasn't let me. She keeps insisting I'm not ready.
Without that promotion I won't have money to keep living in New York. I did a budget last week and even if I never go out, and live on peanut butter sandwiches, I still won't have enough money to pay my bills.
"Look who's back," Tom says, coming out of the office to behind the counter. His kind smile instantly makes me feel better. I really love this place, and I love the owners. Tom and his wife remind me of the people back home. Maybe that's why I like it here so much.
"Hey, Tom," Aiden says, shaking his hand.
"Any news?" Tom asks, raising his bushy white brows.
"Not yet."
"News about what?" I ask.
Tom looks at Aiden, then shakes his head. "Nothing." He opens his check-in book. "Just one night?"
"Yes, but please, let me pay for it." I get out my wallet.
"Put that away," he scolds. "I told you it was on me, and I don't go back on my word. As for you," he says to Aiden. "Pay up."
Aiden laughs and hands him his corporate credit card. Why is he using his business card instead of his personal card? Does he get to charge personal expenses to his card as a perk for dating the boss' daughter?
I can't believe Aiden works for Celine's dad. I didn't find that out until I overheard Celine telling Bianca that at their initial meeting. Aiden never mentioned it. The night we had dinner, he talked all about his job but left that little detail out.
"You're all set," Tom says, handing us each a key. "Too bad your girlfriend couldn't join you," he says to Aiden. "But this one's not too bad for company." He looks over at me and winks.
"She's definitely not," Aiden says, smiling. "In fact, I'm looking forward to spending more time with her."
Why does he keep doing that? Making comments that sound like he's flirting with me? Or am I just imagining it?
"I'm going up to my room," I say to Aiden. "What time should we meet for dinner?"
"Maybe around six?"
"The restaurant's booked until seven," Tom says. "The leaf peepers made reservations months ago and they tend to eat early."
"Is seven okay?" Aiden asks me.
"Yeah, see you then." I turn and head to the stairs, noticing Aiden right behind me.
"I'm on the second floor too," he says.
We continue up the stairs and down the hall to my room.
"Looks like we're neighbors," Aiden says, opening the door next to mine.
"Guess so." I struggle with the key, unable to get it in the lock. Knowing Aiden is staying in the room next to mine is making me nervous. What if something happens? Wait—what am I saying? Nothing is going to happen. We're just friends.
"Let me help," Aiden says. As he takes the key from me our hands brush. We pause for just the briefest moment, but long enough for us to recognize there's somewhere there. Something neither of us is willing to acknowledge, at least not to each other, but it's definitely there. A feeling. A spark.
"Thank you," I say as he opens the door for me.
He hands me the key, then goes in his room.
Dropping my bag on the floor, I walk over to the bed and collapse on it, taking deep breaths as my heart returns to normal. Why does Aiden have this affect on me? And why can't I make it stop?
My phone rings and I check it before answering, hoping it's not my mom calling to tell me she's getting my room ready for me to move back. I could totally see her doing that. I love my mom, but I wish she'd support my decisions. I know she only wants me back there because she misses me, and I miss her too, but I need to have my own life.
It's Macie calling, not my mom. "Hey, Macie."
"Hey. Your mom just called. She told me you got community service."
"Yeah," I say with a sigh. "Forty hours."
"What are you going to do? Forty hours is a lot, especially when you don't live there."
"I'll have to do it on weekends, if they let me. I have to call and find out how it works."
"What about your job?"
"Bianca's going to have a fit when she finds out. She's already angry at me for missing two weekends of events. I guess I should've driven back tonight but I was so stressed about today I just wanted to relax when it was over. And it's so gorgeous here, Macie. I wish you could see it. The fall color is unlike anything you've ever seen. And this inn I'm staying at is so beautiful. I feel like I'm living in a postcard."
"Then just relax and enjoy it. Don't worry about work. I'm sure you'll figure it out."
"I will, but it might be too late."
"What do you mean?"
"Macie, I need to tell you something but I need you to promise not to tell anyone, especially my parents."
"What is it?"
"I didn't pay rent this month." I pause. "I didn't have the money."
"What about all that money you saved?"
"It's gone. I don't make enough at my job to cover my bills so I had to use my savings. And now I have to keep renting a car to drive up here for community service. If I have to stay overnight, I'll have hotel costs too. I'll have to charge it, but my credit card's almost maxed out."
"How much money do you need? I can send you some."
"Macie, you don't have money. You just bought a car. And you have a house payment."
She bought a house last year. It's small, but adorable, and she has a yard out back with trees and a little flower garden. Her house payment is half of what I pay to rent my closet-sized apartment.
"I could send you a hundred dollars," she says. "Would that help?"
"I need a lot more than that, but thanks for offering."
"What about your parents?"
"You know I can't ask them. They'll just tell me to move home." I get up and walk to the window, looking out at the fall color. "I'll just have to figure something out."
"Is that guy there again?"
"Aiden? Yeah. He got off with a fine. Apparently a water bottle is a lot worse than paper when it comes to littering."
"Is he sticking around?"
"Yeah. His girlfriend decided not to come but he already had the room so he decided to stay. He's in the room next to mine."
"That's convenient," she says with a smile in her voice.
"Nothing's going to happen. He has a girlfriend."
"Who would rather stay home than go on a romantic weekend with her boyfriend. Doesn't sound like the best relationship."
"Maybe not, but it's none of my business. And besides, I'm dating his friend."
"You're still dating that guy? I thought you were going to break up with him."
"I was going to give it more time but now I'm thinking I just need to end it. I don't see it going anywhere."
"Oh, shoot, I'm late for a meeting. Can I call you tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Bye." I remain at the window, gazing out at the gorgeous scenery. The sun is out and there isn't a cloud in the sky. What am I doing inside on such a nice day?
I get my duffle bag and bring it to the bed. I take out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and change out of the dress I had on. I pull my hair up in a ponytail, put on a baseball cap, and head out of the room.
As I'm walking to the stairs, I stop and turn back. Should I invite Aiden to come along? He's probably busy. I'll just go alone. But maybe I should ask him where to go. He said there were hiking trails around here but he didn't say where.
Going back down the hall, I stop at his room. I lift my hand to knock, then pause, second-guess
ing my decision.
Why am I making such a big deal out of this? There's nothing wrong with asking him a question.
I knock a few times. "Aiden?"
He doesn't answer. He might've left, although I didn't hear his door open.
"Aiden?" I knock again.
The door swings open and Aiden's standing there with wet hair and a towel around his waist. He must've been in the shower.
"Oh, sorry," I say, trying not to stare at his muscular chest and the outline of his abs, but my eyes can't help but look. I've never been this close to a guy with a body like Aiden's. I've dated guys that are in good shape, but not like this, not with muscles you can actually see.
"Did you need something?" he asks in that tone that I swear is flirtatious.
"Um, yes." I force my eyes back up to his face. His mouth is turned up in a slight grin that I find incredibly sexy. "I just had a question."
"Go ahead," he says, leaning against the door frame.
"I'm going on a walk and I wanted to ask about the trails you went on. Last time you were here you said something about hiking trails?"
"You mean the ones we planned to go on together but then you ditched me?" he asks in a teasing tone.
"I didn't ditch you. I just had to leave. I had to get back to the city."
"I think you owe me a re-do."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean we go together. Just let me get dressed." He closes the door, leaving me standing there confused and wondering what just happened.
Did he just invite himself to go with me? I don't mind if he tags along but I think his girlfriend would. Now I sound like my mother. Why am I being this way? I can take a walk with Aiden without it meaning anything.
We're just friends. Friends out taking a walk, at least that's what I'm telling myself.
Chapter Eleven
Aiden
"What do you think?" I ask, standing next to Sophie as we look out at the colors that fill the landscape as far as the eye can see.
"It's amazing. I tried to describe it to my mom but couldn't. This is something you have to see to believe. It doesn't even look real. It looks like a painting."
"Yeah, it's pretty spectacular. I'm kind of used to it, growing up around here, but seeing it with you reminds me not to take it for granted."
"I don't think I'd ever take it for granted. It's so beautiful."
I love that she sees beauty in nature. I do too, but it's never looked more beautiful than right now. There's something about seeing it through someone else's eyes—someone who truly appreciates it—that makes it even better.
Sophie and I took a trail that goes behind the inn and winds through a wooded area up a steep hill to a lookout point. It's a couple miles each way so I made sure she was up for it before I took her here. When I hiked on my own I took a different trail that was flatter and not as scenic. This route is better. The views are incredible.
"I don't want to go back," Sophie says with a laugh.
"Back to the inn?"
"Back to New York." She turns to me and smiles. "I'm kidding. I just love it so much here. The cool, crisp, clean air. All the beautiful trees. The quaint little town. It's so completely different than New York."
"Like night and day."
She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. It gives me a chance to look at her. She's so incredibly beautiful. I shouldn't be looking at her this way but I can't help it. When she's around me, I just want to look at her. I'm drawn to her in a way that I don't quite understand. I've never experienced this before and I'm not sure what it means. Am I feeling this way because I'm trying to convince myself to end things with Celine? Is my subconscious trying to connect with another woman to prove I'm with the wrong one?
That can't be it. Things between Celine and me have been off for a long time. I almost ended things with her before I even met Sophie. So how do I explain this? Why am I so taken by this girl? Why does she find her way into my every thought? Find her way into my dreams at night?
She lets out a breath and slowly opens her eyes. I can barely see them from under her baseball cap. She looks so adorable in that hat. And hot. Adorable and hot is a rare combination and happens to be my favorite look on a girl. When Sophie showed up at my door earlier wearing jeans, a tiny white t-shirt, and baseball cap, my body reacted as if she'd shown up in lingerie. The jeans and t-shirt look has always been a turn-on for me. That's why I hurried to shut the door. I didn't want her to see how she affected me.
It never should've happened but my body does what it wants and apparently it wants Sophie. If we were both single, I'd want that too. I'll be single soon but Sophie won't. Because I set her up with my friend. I can't believe I did that. Seeing Tanner flirt with her that night at the bar made me want to wring his neck but he was only doing what any guy would do. I can't be angry at him for asking out a beautiful woman who's also smart and kind and has a great sense of humor. I'm surprised all the guys didn't ask her out that night. Talking to them later, I found out they wanted to, but Tanner beat them to it.
Sophie looks up at me. "Thanks for taking me here. I wouldn't have hiked up here by myself."
Looking into her dark brown eyes, I want to tell her how I really feel. I want to tell her how she stirs something in me, something I don't remember ever feeling with anyone else. I want to tell her how I'm drawn to not only her beauty, but her spirit. Her bright, hopeful spirit that lightens my mood whenever I'm around her. I want to tell her how she's awakened my passion for my job. How she's reminded me why I ever went into property investment. It isn't about making money. It's about preserving the past. Preserving memories. Memories like the ones I have of my grandfather's inn.
I want to tell her how I haven't been able to stop thinking about her since the day we met, when she stormed up to my car in a fit of rage that I found irresistible. Even when she's angry, her kind and compassionate soul shines through. She almost instantly forgave me that day, admitting it was just an accident. Most people would've been calling their lawyer, preparing to sue me.
I want to tell her so many things, but I can't. Not yet. Not when I'm still with Celine, and not when Sophie is dating one of my friends. I'm not going to steal her from Tanner. If the two of them end up together, I have to accept that. I won't like it, but I'll have to accept it.
"You want to head back?" I ask. I'd rather stay here but it's getting harder to be alone with her and not act on my feelings, especially when we're in such a romantic setting.
"Could we stay a few minutes?"
"We can, but the sun will start going down soon. I'm guessing you don't want to walk back in the dark."
"Just a few minutes," she says, walking to the edge of the lookout point.
"Hey, watch it." I take hold of her arm and pull her back a little.
"Are you worried about me?" she asks with a smile.
"Yes. So stop getting so close to the edge."
She lowers down to the ground to sit. "How's this? Feel better now?"
"You're still too close."
"Sit down with me."
The ground is covered in dirt but Sophie doesn't seem bothered by that. Celine wouldn't dare sit on the ground. She hates the outdoors and hates getting dirty. Being around her so much, I was starting to be that way too so I hesitate before sitting down.
"What's wrong?" Sophie asks.
"I only brought one pair of jeans. If I sit there I'll have dirt all over me."
She laughs. "You're afraid of dirt? It wipes off, you know."
I sit beside her, realizing how much I've changed over the years. Those summers in Maine, I used to play in the dirt and the sand and think nothing of it. Now I'm one of those city people whose lost all touch with nature and doesn't spend time outdoors.
"My grandpa had a farm," Sophie says. "My brothers and I would go there and play in the fields and get our clothes all dirty." She laughs. "Drove my mom crazy."
“Are your brothers still in Kansas?“
“No.
They're both overseas in the military. That's why my mom is always trying to get me to move back. She misses her kids and my brothers rarely get to come home." She gazes out at the landscape. "I could look at this for hours."
"We should've come up here sooner."
"Except we were in court."
I turn to her. 'I'm really sorry about what happened. If there's anything I can do, don't hesitate to ask."
She shrugs. "It is what it is. Maybe it was supposed to happen." She looks up at the sky. "Maybe someone out there decided I needed a break from city life and knew the only way I'd get it was if I was forced out of the city."
"To pick up trash."
She laughs. "It could be worse. At least I get to pick up trash surrounded by pretty scenery. And I get to spend time in this town that I love, and be around nice people. Tom and Lois are starting to feel like family. I like that I'll be able to see them again."
I love how she's able to stay positive. Most people would be cursing me out for landing them in this situation but Sophie's decided to make the best of it. I don't think even I could do that.
"We should get going," I say, getting up. "The sun's starting to set." I offer her my hands and pull her to standing. "You want to go first or you want me to?"
"I'll go first." She steps in front of me and continues along the trail. "Such a great view," she says, referring to the landscape.
The view I'm looking at is even better. Her cute little bottom in those jeans. The curve of her hips. Her tiny little waist. I wish I could take her in my arms and feel what it's like to hold her.
"Snake!" she screams, turning and jumping into my arms.
When I said I wanted to hold her I didn't think it'd actually happen, and at this very moment. I guess wishes really do come true.
"Where?" I ask, keeping my arms around her.
"Right there." She points to something black and squiggly on the ground.
"I don't think that's a snake."
"It's not?" She loosens her grip on me and stares down at what I'm thinking might be a shoelace.
"Let me see." I reach down and pick it up. "It's a black shoelace."
She laughs. "It looked just like a snake."
Falling for Aiden Page 10