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“I don’t know, Aidan.”
“I’m not ready to let you go.” He rubbed his nose against my throat as he inhaled. “You don’t have to decide this right now. You still have time. Just think about it. Okay?”
“Okay. I’ll think about it.” I knew my answer pleased him because his lips were on mine instantly. He kissed me like he would never see me again, and it made my chest hurt. I was finally able to pry myself away from him in order to get into my car. As I drove away, I watched him in my rearview mirror and honestly wondered if this would be the last time I ever saw him.
Aidan didn’t make me wonder because he called me as soon as I got to the main road and talked to me the entire forty-minute drive to my house. He was so easy to talk to and I loved the sound of his voice. I looked to see that he was driving behind me because he had to go to work, too. I tried to keep my focus on the road, but every now and then I would allow my eyes to travel to the rearview mirror. I could see him clearly, wearing his blue Secure Point Systems button-down and a pair of sunglasses. We parted ways once we reached Louisville, and I’d gotten to my house first. We were just about to end our call as Aidan was making me promise to see him tonight. I readily agreed because I wanted to.
That was the moment I decided to stop resisting and go with my heart.
“Yes, but I’ll come back to your house so that Ziggy can be let out.”
“Okay, I can pick up something for dinner. What about—” Aidan’s words were cut off as I stepped closer to the house, where I heard my security alarm sounding, and noticed that the front door was slightly open.
“Aidan, something’s wrong.”
“Shit. Don’t go in. The cops should be on their way to you.”
I had no idea why, but I walked into the house even after Aidan told me not to. As soon as I stepped inside someone grabbed my arm, and I was yanked inside which caused me to scream and drop my phone ending my connection to Aidan.
“Shut it off,” Derek growled.
“Wha?.?.?.?what?” I stared up at him, clearly shocked.
“Shut the damn thing off. The code isn’t working.” He waved a hand at the control panel. I walked over and punched in my code silencing the alarm.
“What the fuck, Derek!” I yelled as I whirled around. “You scared the shit out of me! How the hell did you get in here?”
“I didn’t know that you’d changed the damn locks, but I knew you well enough that I eventually found your new hiding spot for your spare key, but I couldn’t figure out the alarm code.”
“Well, it’s not creepy at all for you to break into my house,” I called over my shoulder sarcastically as I stormed away from him. I saw grocery bags on the counter in the kitchen. When I looked up at him, his face reddened with embarrassment.
“I came over to cook you breakfast?.?.?.?and talk.”
“Cook me breakfast and talk?” I repeated as I stared at him incredulously. “Are you serious right now?”
“I came by every day since Saturday, but you weren’t home. Where have you been?”
“Living my life.”
“JoJo.” He took a step forward, and I took a step back. I heard my name being called from the front door and two police officers were rushing into the kitchen. Just as I began to explain everything and to assure them that I was fine, more yelling came from the door.
“Josie! Baby?” Aidan sounded frantic as he rounded the corner and entered the kitchen. His face and shoulders visibly relaxed as his eyes landed on me. He hurried forward and pulled me into his arms.
“I’m fine, Aidan.”
“What the hell happened?” he asked as he looked around the room, and that’s when he finally noticed Derek standing there. Both men glared at each other as the officers took my statement and confirmed that Derek’s entry wasn’t a criminal act. Yes, he was unwelcome, but I didn’t want him to get in trouble so I let them believe that he was allowed to enter, and I gave him the wrong code by mistake.
When the police left it was just the three of us standing in the kitchen in awkward silence. Aidan tightened his hold on me, and Derek’s eyes narrowed at his arm around my waist.
“Derek, you should probably go.”
“You want me to leave?” Derek asked through clenched teeth. I’d never seen him angry before and it was quite a shock.
“You heard her.” Aidan spoke before I could answer. I looked up to see his jaw clenching and unclenching as he stared coldly at Derek.
“Hang on a minute. Who the hell are you supposed to be?” He glared over at Aidan.
“Derek. Stop it,” I said with more confidence than I felt. Here I was in the arms of a man who was completely perfect for me, but my heart was still undecided about Derek. “Just go. Please.”
