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Aiden dropped his head and closed his eyes. I took the opportunity to discreetly wipe the tear from my cheek as I looked around, hoping no one had overheard me.
“When Mom told me Hadley had gotten hurt, and you and Dad took her to the ER, I…I hung up. I didn’t even give her a chance to tell me what happened. I panicked.” His head lifted and our gazes caught. “She’s all I have. I can’t lose her.”
My arms folded across my chest. “I understand that, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat me like this. Accidents are going to happen, Aiden. She’s going to get hurt both physically and mentally at different times in her life. If you’re going to use me as a punching bag?—”
My words were cut off when Aiden rushed forward and covered my mouth with his.
Instantly, my entire body melted against his. The kiss was soft yet urgent, like he was trying desperately to tell me something but wasn’t sure how. My mouth opened to him, and our kiss deepened.
Then his words from that awful night and the following morning came flooding back.
This kiss meant nothing. He was just upset and clearly not thinking right. He felt guilty for accusing me of not watching Hadley.
Lifting my hands, I placed them on his chest and pushed ever so slightly, causing him to pull his mouth away. Aiden leaned his forehead against mine and fought for breath.
“I would never hurt you, Emma. Ever.”
His words settled into my chest and felt like a warm blanket on a cold winter night. “I know.”
“No, you don’t, because you just said?—”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
His eyes closed as he whispered, “Did he hit you?”
Keeping my voice as steady as I could, I replied, “You should get back to Hadley.”
Aiden let his hands fall to his sides as he took a step back. He stared at me for the longest time before he finally spoke. “I’m sorry I did that. It…it was the only thing I could think of to keep you from inferring I’d ever use you as a punching bag. I wouldneverlay a hand on you, Emma. Never.”
I nodded and wrapped my arms around my body. I should have known that was why he’d kissed me.
“Emma, I’m not sure I’m able to…I mean…my head is so mixed up.”
“Don’t,” I whispered, my eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t do this to me again. Just go to your daughter and let’s move on.”
He took a step closer, and I backed away, causing him to instantly stop.
“I understand you loved your wife, and you’re not ready. I honestly wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone. I truly wasn’t. I’m not trying to replace Lisa in any way, for you or for Hadley. I’ll talk to Rose about looking for another nanny to replace me.”
“What?”
Any additional words I wanted to say seemed to be stuck in my throat.
Aiden ran his hand over his face and sighed before speaking. “I don’t want another person to take your place. You’ve brought a new light into our world, Emma. I just…I need to focus on Hadley right now and figure a few things out.”
“You don’t want me to leave after what happened to Hadley?”
“No! It would break Hadley’s heart if you left.”
An instant pain hit me in the chest. The fact that he didn’t sayhisheart would be broken felt like a knife had been thrust into my body.
Stop it, Emma. Stop it now.
“Aiden? Emma? The doctor is back,” Lance said from the other side of the waiting room.
Quickly turning and walking in the direction of his father, Aiden disappeared around the corner.
I took a few moments to settle my erratic heartbeat. Aiden and I were clearly going to have to sit down and talk about things. Maybe the best thing for everyone concerned would be for me to move, find an apartment or a small house to rent. At least that way, I had no reason to be at Aiden’s house so much. Once he was home from work each night, I could leave and give him the space he wanted.
