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

them, you know. But I think I can talk to her.”
    “She’s upstairs. Can you talk to me?” Ayden didn’t like the desperate look on Stephanie’s face, like she was frustrated, maybe even mad.
    “Ha!” Stephanie glared at him. “You wanna explain to me why my fiancé hauled ass out of my bed last night when I offered him sex?”
    “Charlie!” Ayden called for her. “Go on up, honey.”
    Ayden knew breakfast was out of the question now. “Tell her I went to Evelyn’s to eat. You guys are welcome to whatever I got here. Take your time.”
    “Thanks.” Stephanie looked defeated. She headed up the stairs to talk to the one person who wasn’t related to her. The only other person being rejected by the man she loved. If Charlie had been dealing with Ayden for years, surely she had a plan. Maybe Stephanie could use that plan on Malcolm now.
    ***
    Ayden approached the house down the street to find Malcolm on the porch stairs head in his hands. When he looked up, Ayden knew immediately the man had not slept a wink. “Rough night?”
    “Damn couch.” Malcolm groaned straightening his back. “I could have slept in the bed, man. I could have just snuggled in and held her, but oh no. No. She decides last night was the night. After two years. Her brother finally trusts me one inch, and that girl tries to run me a mile.”
    Ayden laid a hand on his shoulder, nodded, and then sat next to Malcolm on the stairs. “Women!”
    “I didn’t know what to do. If I stayed, she would regret it. So I left, and now she’s pissed.” Malcolm put his face back in his hands. “Joshua has been trying to catch me all morning. He knew Evelyn said I could stay with her, but I was on the couch when the boys came down this morning. Little monsters put cheerios in my nose.”
    “Kids tend to take advantage like that.” Ayden laughed. “So did she say yes, or did she just try to get in your pants?”
    “Pants!”
    “I don’t know why you’re complaining. I’d love to have a woman trying to bed me down.”
    “You do.”
    “Who?” Ayden looked seriously at the kid.
    “Charlie. Stephanie explained in great detail how the woman has been waiting ten years just to touch you.” Malcolm stood. “She came here for you.”
    “Well I’ll be damned.” Ayden scrubbed his own face now. Shit. “She still thinks she’s in love with me?”
    “Yep.” Malcolm was ready to go crawl in Stephanie’s bed and take a mid morning nap. “So, how do you feel now?”
    “Pretty fucked up.” Ayden laughed. He did feel all messed up inside now. He had definitely noticed Charlie this time around. Hell he always noticed Charlie, but he would never hurt her. She didn’t know him. She knew the FBI guy, but he could change that and hold her at bay until he knew if she was safe to touch. Damn, he was the fool, and she let him believe it was someone else. Or maybe it was someone else and they were both fools. That he had to find out.
    “There you go. It feels great to be wanted. God, after two years I’m chomping at the bit to touch her. But, I know how important it is to her to wait till she’s married.” Malcolm ground his teeth. “I’m a fire fighter, but Stephanie seems a little too hot to hold right now. She may just consume me. Make me forget all the promises I’ve made the last two years. Not a good way to start a marriage.”
    “I agree. A man has nothing if he doesn’t have his word.” Ayden respected the kid. Malcolm was a good man. “But that said. You don’t have to do it all to get the job done.”
    Ayden winked and smacked him on the back as he entered the house. His stomach was growling, his eyes were dry from lack of sleep, and Charlie wanted him. She was probably formulating a plan. He’d wait and see what she came up with. One good thing about being from the south, he had patience. A lot of it. His step dad was a real good man and taught Ayden how important patience was when he didn’t force a relationship with him. The