AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Trepidation tripped lightly across my skin. I did my best to ignore it and said, “So what did you want?”
“It’s way past time we sat down and had a serious discussion about our relationship and intentions, don’t you think?”
His tone was dry, and I smiled, though my heart beat so fast it felt like it was about to escape my chest. This is what I’d wanted, but it was also what I feared.
“Definitely way past time.” I hesitated again. “You could come back to the café. It’s not like I’m going to sleep now anyway.”
“You sure?” He touched my cheek, a light caress that felt like flame. “You look tired.”
I stood my ground even though my muscles quivered with the need to step into his arms. To have him hold me, kiss me, like he used to. “I’m fine. Besides, I have to be up at six anyway to get things ready for the day.”
He hesitated. “I need to log and store the samples first, so I probably wouldn’t be there until five.”
“That’s fine. I’ll make us both a bacon sandwich.”
“Deal.” He hesitated again, his gaze briefly dropping to my lips, then smiled and stepped back. “I’ll see you soon.”
I nodded, spun around, and quickly retreated.
“So,” Monty said as I did up my seat belt. “What was that little tête-à-tête about?”
“You told me to talk to the man, so I did.”
“You actually listened to a bit of advice from me? I’m shocked.”
I rolled my eyes. “Idiot.”
He chuckled softly, reversed around, and followed Aiden’s truck out of the forest. It was a much slower—and saner—drive back, so by the time we arrived at Castle Rock, it was well after four. The faintest hint of color was just beginning to touch the fluffy undersides of the few clouds to be seen, but I nevertheless suspected it was going to be another wretchedly hot day.
Once we reached Monty’s, I jumped into the driver’s seat and headed home. The café felt stuffy and hot, so I opened all the windows to let some fresh air in. I’d close them down and turn the air-con on once the sun fully rose, but for now, that hint of a breeze was lovely. It wasn’t like anyone could take advantage of the place being open—not even an ill-intentioned gnat could get through the basket weave of magical protections that surrounded this place.
I put the kettle on and then headed upstairs to grab the laptop. For at least the last six months, Belle and I had been electronically scanning the library her grandmother had left her, not only as a fail-safe against the High Council discovering we had it and subsequently confiscating it, but also against the possibility of fire. Castle Rock was located in a high-risk zone, and aside from the emotional attachment Belle had to the books, the library was too good a source of information to risk losing it inanyway. We still had a good third of the library to convert, but we’d fully catalogued the indexes, which made searching for information a whole lot easier.
I’d barely made it back downstairs when my phone pinged. I tugged it out of my pocket and glanced at the screen. Aiden was on the way. My heart did a series of little skips that were part hope, part fear.
Which was silly, given he’d hardly need to talk to me if he was going to make our breakup permanent. Besides, his actions tonight were not those of a man intending to walk away. Aiden was many things, but he wasn’t cruel, and he didn’t tease. Not for something as serious as this.
I placed the laptop on the table and headed into the kitchen to make our breakfast. A little more than five minutes later, the small bell above the door chimed merrily, and the scent of musk and man brushed past my nose.
I plated up our bacon sandwiches, added them to the tray already holding his coffee and my tea, then picked it up and walked out.
He met me at our usual table and sat down opposite me. The cool breeze drifting in from the nearby window teased the back of my neck but failed to ease the heat washing my skin. It couldn’t. Not when that heat was caused by the sheer force of Aiden’s gaze.
I did my best to ignore the inner tremble and concentrated on emptying the tray. After resting it against the table leg, I sat down and picked up my sandwich, more to have something to do with my hands than for any real need to eat it right now.
Though Iwashungry. I was always damn hungry these days.
He didn’t say anything. Not for the longest of moments. He just stared into my eyes, his gaze hungry, determined, and yet also holding a touch of fear.
He was afraid of my reaction. Of me walking away yet again.
And that really did ease some of the inner turmoil.
This wasn’t a break-up-forever meeting, even if what itactuallywas had yet to be defined.
“Eat,” I said softly. “A bacon sandwich is always better hot than cold.”
He laughed softly. “My taste buds are a little less refined than yours.”
