Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Neither do I,” she replied, then looked down at Hadley.
“I’m scared to let you in, Emma, because the thought of losing you is something I don’t even want to contemplate.”
She glanced back up to meet my gaze. “Do you feel my hand in yours?”
“Yes.”
“Do you feel the connection we share?”
I nodded.
“I do as well, and I’m just as scared, Aiden, because I vowed I would never let another man into my heart. But we have to have faith that what we feel together is a gift that’s been given to us, even if we weren’t looking for it. If we walk hand in hand, we won’t fall. I truly believe that.”
I swallowed hard. “Are you worried about what people will say if…well…if something more happens between us?”
Emma laughed softly and shook her head. “For years I hid the real me because I was so afraid of what people would think. I refuse to live my life that way anymore. So, to answer your question, no, I don’t care what anyone says or thinks. I care about how it affects Hadley’s life.”
A warmth spread over my entire body. This time, I squeezed her hand. “Will you tell me sometime, Emma? What happened?”
Her eyes watered, and she nodded. “Yes. Just not today.”
When she scooted down to lay on the pillows, she rested her head on the arm that was outstretched, still holding my hand. Her eyes closed, and I watched as her breaths became slower and slower. Her lips parted slightly, and Emma drifted off to sleep. And I still couldn’t look away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
AIDEN - SNUGGLING
My body felt warm. Relaxed. Most likely because I’d gotten the best sleep I’d had in months. Who would have thought sleeping on the floor would have given me such a restful night?
“So…what’s going on?” sang a voice from above me. Tammy’s voice.
“Go away. Why are you at my house so early?”
Then I realized I was holding someone in my arms. And that someone was trying to get out of my arms. Frantically.
Opening my eyes, I saw Emma attempting to get up.
Pulling her back against me, I snuggled my face into the back of her hair.
“Aiden, let me go,” she softly hissed.
Lifting my gaze, I saw both Tammy and Dalton were standing over us, both wearing smiles that went from ear to ear.
I smiled back and asked, “S’up guys?”
“Aiden!” Emma said, still trying to wriggle out of my arms.
“Where’s Hadley?” I asked, pulling Emma even closer. She stilled, and I instantly knew why.
Crap.
My current situation below the belt was pushing into her rear.
“Well, when we got here, Hadley was in the kitchen trying to make you and Emma breakfast. She told us the two of you were up here, still sleeping.” Dalton tilted his head and raised a brow. “Whatcha doing now?” he asked with another grin.
“Nothing,” Emma insisted, but this time she didn’t try to move. “I mean, we all slept up here, and when Hadley left, he moved closer.”
“I moved closer?” I asked, lifting my head to stare down at Emma.
Emma rolled onto her back with a sigh, clearly admitting defeat. She turned her head to look at me. I was hit so hard in the stomach by the sight in front of me that I couldn’t move. I wasn’t even sure I was breathing.
She was staring at me with one brow raised, her beautiful blue eyes sparkling and her lips twitching as she attempted not to smile.
My God. She is stunning.
Everything about her left me speechless.
“Yes, you moved closer. I’m clearly still on my side of the pillows.”
I still couldn’t talk. The only thing I could do was stare at her beautiful face.
Dalton waved his hand in front of my face. “Dude, you forget how to talk?”
Closing my eyes, I shook my head and finally sat up, keeping the blanket over my lap. Looking up at Dalton and Tammy, I said, “Nah, I’m good. Sorry, Emma.”
The second my friends shifted their attention to Emma, I stood and quickly left the loft. Making my way down the steps, I hurried toward my bedroom. I heard light footsteps behind me, and there was no denying it was Emma.
Stepping into my bedroom, I attempted to shut the door, but she put her hand out.
“No. You’re not running. No more running, Aiden.”
I could feel my face heating as I stood in the middle of my bedroom, Emma just a few inches from me. “I’m not running,” I managed to say.
She took a step closer. “If anyone should be running, it’s me. I promised myself I would never open myself up to anyone hurting me again, but you managed to sneak your way in, Aiden. Waking up this morning with your arms around me, it only made me realize that I’m truly falling in love with you. I don’t want to pretend it didn’t happen.”