Ayden's Secret by Cara North Read Free Book Online Page A

investigator again. It was strange having her around like this. They were familiar with each other but not intimate. They had shared intimate moments in the past, like when she cried herself to sleep in his arms, but they had never kissed or fooled around. That made him think. “Man troubles?”
    “In a manner of speaking I guess you can say that’s true.” Charlie waited while he formulated his next question. His body was starting to relax, and she knew he was gaining control. Then she said it was man trouble and his left bicep flexed.
    “Who? Did he hurt you?” Ayden was cool and even in his tone, but he could feel his muscles twitching, itching for a fight.
    “No, just broke my heart a little.” Charlie left on that note, leaving him to think about that one. Maybe he could figure out it was him.
    In her room, she dressed for the day. She had just slipped her feet in the sandals when he knocked on her door.
    “It’s open.” She stood in the mirror applying mascara.
    “I called and told Evelyn we would be going out for breakfast instead.” Ayden leaned in the doorway. She smelled like vanilla, like cookies almost.
    “Why?” Charlie turned to face him. He was showered, shaved, and dressed.
    “I thought we could catch up. I missed our annual talk remember?” Ayden missed more than the talk.
    He wasn’t prepared to admit that yet. He didn’t know how the day got away from him. He enjoyed seeing her every year. This year he missed it, and this year she needed him. Charlie never talked about a man in her life though he was sure in the course of ten years she had to have seen someone. Apparently, that bastard broke her heart. Ayden wished he could kick the guy in the ass. Couldn’t he see how special she was?
    “There isn’t much to talk about.” Charlie shrugged. “At least on my end. I’ve been doing the same thing as last year. Same show, same apartment, same life. That’s why I had to change. I’ve been dancing all my life, performing on stage. I want to be real again, a real woman, not a fantasy.”
    “You are a real woman, Charlie. This guy, the one who broke your heart, he was a fool, darlin’. You deserve a good man, one that can give you everything you want in life.”
    “I think so, too.” She smiled and looked him over from head to toe. She knew she deserved him. He, however, didn’t know he deserved her. Ayden was always too humble, not realizing his power over women, over her. Maybe that meant she had a power over him. Maybe Evelyn was right. “So, you don’t mind me staying here a couple weeks?”
    Ayden shrugged. “Don’t see why not.”
    “Well, I figure I have thirty days. If I can’t accomplish my goal in thirty days, I’m leaving.” Thirty days should be enough time for a man who has known her more than ten years to make a decision.
    “What’s your goal, darlin’? Maybe I can help.” Ayden decided she may just need a new start. Hell he did. When he was seventeen, his mother signed the release for him to join the Navy right out of high school. At nineteen, he was creeping into foreign countries. At twentyfive, he was tracking down a serial killer, and the last ten years he had been dealing with the horrors of humanity. He knew about needing a fresh start.
    Charlie blinked at him a couple times trying to gather her thoughts. She didn’t want to come right out and say it. Luckily, a knock sounded on the door downstairs, and she didn’t have to explain anything for now.
    “I’ll be downstairs, darlin’. Take your time.” Ayden turned and headed down the hall. He wanted to fight away the smile on his face. Thirty days. She would be here a month. He could really get to know her in that time. Maybe they could find a start together.
    ***
    Ayden opened the door and found Stephanie arms crossed foot tapping.
    “Hey there.” He gave her a quizzical look.
    “Is Charlie here?” Stephanie entered the room looking around for her. “I need to talk to her. I can’t talk to