"I thought so too until I got a closer look."
She takes a step back, her cheeks blushing. "Sorry about that."
"About what?"
"About, you know..." She laughs a little. "Attacking you like that."
"I didn't mind." It comes out sounding flirtatious, which is not what I intended.
She smiles and looks down. "I just didn't want you to, um, take it the wrong way."
"And what way is that?"
Her eyes slowly rise to mine. "You have a girlfriend."
I nod. "I do. And you have Tanner."
"I—" She stops, then nods.
What was she going to say? I want to ask but I don't think she'll tell me. I think we're both holding back how we feel until we're no longer with other people. But there's definitely something between us. Like just now, holding her like that? It felt right. I'm not even dating her and yet holding her in my arms felt natural, like I've been doing it for years.
"Ready to keep going?" I ask.
"Yeah, but maybe you should go first, to scare away the snakes."
"It was a shoelace." I go past her down the trail.
"I'm sure there are real snakes out here."
"There's a lot more than snakes."
"I'm not worried about other animals. Just snakes."
I glance back at her. "How'd you grow up in the country and end up afraid of snakes?"
"I got bit by one as a kid. It wasn't poisonous but I had to go to the hospital. Ever since then, I've done everything possible to avoid snakes."
"So no desert vacations," I joke.
"No. Never."
Our conversation continues with more stories from her childhood. It's the kind of childhood I would've liked, with lots of camping and fishing and biking around town with your friends. Living in a big city with parents who didn't like the outdoors, I didn't do any of those things. The only time I even came close to doing that stuff was when I went to Maine in the summer, but we never went camping and I didn't have a bike.
Sophie talks almost the whole way back while I just listen, enjoying the sound of her voice. She has a soft sweet voice that rises when she says something that excites her.
"Wait." I put my arms up, stopping her. We're near the end of the trail and the inn is just up ahead.
"What is it? Why are we stopping?"
"Look." I point to a few feet in front of us. A coyote is crossing the trail, taking his time as if he doesn't even notice us.
Sophie steps behind me, gripping the back of my shirt. "What do we do?"
"Just wait."
We watch as it stops a moment and looks up, like it heard something. Then it runs off into the trees.
"Okay, we're good." I start walking again.
"What if there's more?"
"Then we'll stop and let them pass."
She comes up beside me. "I'm surprised."
"By what?"
"You. I thought a city guy would be afraid of wildlife."
"I live in the city. That doesn't mean it's who I am."
"So who are you?" She stops in front of me. "Who is the real Aiden Mills?"
"Still trying to figure that out."
She stares at me a moment. "I totally get that."
"Meaning what? You haven't figured out who Sophie Chambers is?"
"I think I know but sometimes I doubt myself."
"Nothing wrong with that. We're all a work in progress."
"So true." She turns and continues beside me along the path.
"I need to clean up," I say as we go in the inn. "You want to meet for a drink before dinner?"
She smiles. "I'd love that. Meet in an hour?"
"Sounds good."
In an hour it'll be six and our dinner reservation isn't until seven. I was thinking we'd meet a few minutes before seven. I didn't think she'd want a whole hour for drinks but I'm happy she suggested it. I want more time with her. The afternoon went by too quickly. Soon it'll be tomorrow and we'll be heading back. And then what? When will I see her again?
At six, we meet at the bar. Charlie is there, serving up drinks with a smile. He's one of those guys who doesn't seem to have a care in the world. I'm sure he knows about the situation at the inn but he doesn't seem bothered by it.
The past few months Tom and his wife have been overwhelmed with medical bills and more will be coming in the months ahead. They've been forced to borrow from the equity they've built up in the inn. Combine that with a slow summer tourist season caused by unusually cool weather, and Tom is being forced to consider selling the inn.
When I came here a few weeks ago to meet with Tom, he wasn't ready to sell. He's emotionally invested in the place, which I totally get, but if he doesn't have money to keep the place running, Charlie and the other inn employees won't get paid.
I've been trying to work out a deal with Roger, my boss, to acquire the inn and give Tom the best price possible, but so far nothing has happened. Roger's been tied up with another deal, a much larger investment property that could yield us millions a year in profits if we get it. Until that's settled, I doubt I'll get an answer about the inn.
"Ready to cash out?" Charlie asks, just before seven. "Or do you want it added to your dinner bill?"
"We'll cash out." I get out my wallet.
Sophie searches through her purse.
"You know you're not paying, right?" I say, handing Charlie my credit card.
"Aiden, you can't keep paying." She takes out her wallet. "It's not right."
"Just like it wasn't right for me to let papers fly out my window, blinding the person behind me and causing her to be sentenced to forty hours of trash cleanup?"
She softly smiles. "Okay, you win."
As she puts her wallet away I take a moment to look at her. She's wearing a red wrap dress that fits her tiny body perfectly. When she showed up at the bar I couldn't take my eyes off her. She wore her hair down and straightened it, a look I haven't seen on her before. Usually her hair has a wave to it, which I like, but I like this look too.
Tom appears, forcing my eyes off Sophie. "Your table is ready."
"We're being seated by the owner?" I kid, getting down from the barstool. "That's service."
Tom smiles. "Only for my best customers."
"I'm hardly the best," Sophie says. "I'm not even paying for my room."
"Hey, about that," I say to Tom. "Going forward, when she stays here, it's on me. I'll give you my card before I leave."
"Wait—what?" Sophie looks at me. "You can't pay for my room."
"I'm paying for it. I'm the reason you have to come back." I turn to Tom. "Don't let her pay."
He nods. "Understood. Let me show you to your table."
Sophie keeps her eyes on me as Tom takes us to a small table by the window. It looks out at some shrubs that are decorated in tiny white lights. I don't remember the lights being there before. Tom must have added them to match the downtown lights.
Tom hands us the menu. "I'd suggest the pot roast." He winks at us. "But that's just me."
When he's gone, Sophie leans toward me across the table. "You can't pay for my room."
"Why can't I?"
"Because..." She looks around, then back at me. "What would Celine think?"
"What does Celine have to do with this?"
"I don't think she'd be too happy having you pay for a woman's hotel room."
"It's my money. I don't need to ask Celine's permission to spend it."
"It's not about the money. It's about..." She lowers her voice. "You know what it's about."
"If Celine has a problem with me helping a friend with an issue that I caused, then she'll just have to get over it. I don't even plan to tell her."
"You don't?"
"Why would I? She doesn't tell me what she spends her money on. And besides, Celine and I are—" I stop before I tell her. I should tell Celine this before I tell anyone else.
"You're what?" Sophie leans back in her chair and looks down at the table. Some
thing's bothering her but I'm not sure what.
"The point is, I'm paying for your room. I've done enough damage. I need to at least try to make it up to you."
She doesn't respond. I'm not even sure she heard what I said.
"Sophie?"
Her head jerks up. "Sorry. My mind drifted."
"Want to tell me where?"
She glances down, then back up at me. "Are you going to propose to Celine?"
I cough on the water I just attempted to drink. "Propose? No. Why would you think I'm proposing?"
"You keep stopping yourself every time you're about to say something about you and Celine, like it's a secret you're not supposed to tell. I thought maybe you were getting ready to propose."
I set my glass of water down. "I'm not proposing. Not even close."
"Oh." She nods. "Okay."
I should just tell her. I trust her to keep a secret. And she wouldn't have to keep it for long. I'm going to end things with Celine this week, maybe even tomorrow. I can't keep putting it off. It isn't fair to her, or to me.
"I'm going to tell you something," I say, "but I need you to keep it between us, at least until other people know."
"Of course." Concern crosses her face. "What is it?"
"I'm breaking up with Celine."
Chapter Twelve
Sophie
I stare at Aiden, wondering if he really said what I think he said. Is he really breaking up with Celine? Why? And why now? Did I have anything to do with this decision? I hope not. I don't want to break up a relationship. I've been trying the best I can to hide my feelings for Aiden, and I've avoided him, but it hasn't changed how I feel about him.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Aiden asks.
"I guess I'm just surprised." I glance down at the napkin in my lap, smoothing the wrinkles that aren't even there.
"Well, what do you think?"
"Aiden, it doesn't matter what I think. This is your decision."
"I actually made it last summer. I just haven't done anything about it."
Last summer? Hearing that, I feel some relief. His decision had nothing to do with me. Their relationship had issues before I even came along.
I look up at him. "Why did you wait?"
He shrugs. "I just kept hoping things would get better. I even went online and read articles about how to fix a relationship."
"But they didn't help?"
"She wouldn't even read them. She thinks our relationship is fine. I started thinking maybe she was right and that I was expecting more from the relationship than I should. But then..." He shakes his head.
"Then what?"
The waiter appears. "Ready to order?"
I haven't even looked at the menu. Dinner is the last thing on my mind. My focus is on Aiden and his news about breaking up with Celine. I might actually have a chance with him!
I thought for sure he was going to propose to Celine. She made it sound like that's where they were headed. She's going to be shocked when he tells her it's over. I feel kind of bad for her, but she had to know it was possible. It sounds like Aiden told her last summer that things weren't going well and she brushed him off.
"I'll have the pot roast," Aiden says.
"Me too." I hand the waiter the menu.
"I'll be right back with some rolls."
When he's gone I look back at Aiden. "So what happened? What changed your mind?"
"I'd rather not say. We should talk about something else."
"Aiden, I won't tell anyone. I promise. This is just between us."
He doesn't respond.
I nod. "I understand. It's private. I shouldn't have—"
"It's you." He looks me in the eye and I feel my pulse racing and a flutter in my chest.
"What about me?"
He pauses. "I met you. And I started to see things differently."
"What do you mean?"
"I just..." He looks down, then back up at me. "I think you're a really good person. You're easy to talk to, easy to be around. You see the best in people. You're able to find the good in even the worst of situations, like what happened in court today."
"I appreciate you saying that but I don't know how that affects you and Celine."
"I realized she's not the girl for me. I knew it last summer but I wasn't sure why. Celine had me convinced there was nothing wrong with us. She said it's normal for couples to like different things, have different interests. And she's right, but it was more than that. Our personalities just don't click. We're attracted to each other physically, but beyond that, there really isn't anything more to our relationship."
"And you realized that because you met me?" I ask, still trying to understand what he's saying.
"I realized there are women out there who share my interests and actually want to spend time with me. Women who would love coming to a small town in Vermont and spending the weekend at a country inn. Women who could throw on jeans and a t-shirt and go hiking on a dirt trail."
He's talking about me, but not in a personal way. It's more of an ideal, the type of woman he's looking for. He's listing out traits, instead of saying I'm the woman he wants.
"I'm sure that woman is out there," I say. "You just have to find her."
He gazes at me a moment. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
"Homemade rolls," the waiter says, setting them in front of us. "Enjoy."
I grab a roll as he leaves. "I've missed these. Go ahead and grab one before I eat them all."
"Hungry?" he says with a smile.
"Starving. That hike really gave me an appetite."
The conversation never returns to Celine or his relationship or what he's looking for in a girl. Instead we talk about work and our families and other safe topics.
As Aiden's paying the check, my phone dings with a text from Tanner. Can I take you to dinner tomorrow? New Thai place just opened by my apartment.
"Let me guess," Aiden says as he signs the receipt. "Your boyfriend?"
"I'm not sure I'd call him that, but yes, it's Tanner."
"Go ahead and text him back."
"I'll do it when I get back to my room."
"I was going to suggest we go downtown and check out the lights, like last time."
I'd love to stroll down Main Street with Aiden and look at the lights but I don't feel like I should. Even though he hasn't come out and said he wants to date me, things are feeling more intimate between us after spending all this time together. The hike. Lingering at the bar over drinks. The candlelit dinner. It's felt like a date even though we're acting like we're just friends. Going on a romantic stroll with him might be enough to tempt us into doing something we shouldn't. Even on the walk today, I almost held his hand. I wasn't thinking. It just felt like the natural thing to do, until I woke up and realized he's not mine.
When he breaks up with Celine and I end things with Tanner, things will be different. I can finally tell Aiden how I feel and not have this guilt hanging over me. We'll be free to do what we want.
"I think I'll just head to my room," I say. "It's been a long day and I want to get a good night's rest before having to drive back tomorrow."
"What time are you leaving?"
"Probably around nine."
"You sure you don't want to stick around? We could go on another hike."
It's another thing I'd love to do, but not now. Not yet. We both need to be single before we see each other again.
"I need to get back to New York. We have an event tomorrow night. Oh, I need to tell Tanner that. He wanted to go to dinner tomorrow." I get my phone out and text him.
"How are you guys doing?" Aiden asks. "Things going well?"
"They're going okay." I set my phone down. "We haven't been out much. He likes going out on weekends and I always have to work."
"He'll adjust. He's good about being flexible. It's one of the things I like about him."
"He's a really great guy. Always checks in with me during the day. Calls every night."
"He really likes you, in case you haven't figured that out."
"I have." I force out a smile, wishing I felt more for Tanner.
"He talks about you all the time. He's never been that way with anyone else. He's had serious girlfriends, but with you it's different. It's like he—"
"I'm ending it," I blurt out.
"You're what?"
"I'm ending things with Tanner," I say with a sigh. "I like him and think he's a nice guy. I just don't feel a spark with him. I think we'd be good as friends but I can't see him as anything more."
"Then why are you still dating him?"
"I thought I needed to give it more time. Sometimes you need to get to know someone before you feel anything. But it's been two weeks and still...nothing."
"When are you going to tell him?"
"Hopefully next time I see him. I don't want to tell him over the phone."
"I'm surprised." Aiden leans back. "I thought you guys were good. Tanner makes it sound like you and him are doing great. He's going to be crushed to find this out."
I cringe. "I know. I feel really bad, but I can't keep dating him if it's not going to work."
"You really felt nothing for him?"
"I think he's attractive, and if things were different, maybe it would've worked between us."
"Different how?"
I choose not to answer, because the answer is him. If I'd never met Aiden, I wouldn't have known I could feel this way about a guy. When I didn't feel the same way about Tanner, I lost interest.
"I need to get to my room." I stand up. "After all that food, I'm falling asleep."
We go out to the lobby.
"I'm going to take a walk," Aiden says. "You sure you don't want to come along?"
"I'm really tired. I'm just going to go to bed."
"See you at breakfast?"
"Maybe. No, actually, I think I'll just head out. I have a lot to do tomorrow."
"Wait, so this is it?" He steps closer to me. "When will I see you again?"
"I don't know. You have my number. Just text me when you're um, free."
The way he's looking at me, I can tell he gets that I'm not talking about his schedule being free. I'm talking about being free of his relationship. I don't want to see him again until he's single. Until we're both single. I can't keep seeing him and pretending we're just friends.
Falling for Aiden Page 11