Hot Christmas Nights by Farrah Rochon Read Free Book Online

caught her eyes and held them. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
    It took some effort to tear her eyes away from his. Nyla pulled in a shaky breath.
    “I, uh, I do have a couple of places that are off the beaten path that I think you’ll enjoy,” she said. “If we have time we should check them out.”
    “We should make them a priority,” he said in that same low voice. “If you think I’ll enjoy them, then I know I will, seeing as you know me as well as just about anyone.”
    Nyla tilted her head to the side, considering his words. “Why is that?”
    He didn’t answer, just continued to stare at her. She decided to press him on it.
    “You once told me that you were always home studying because you didn’t like opening up to people, but you always seemed to open up to me. Why?”
    After several moments passed, he finally said, “You made it easy.”
    He set his food on the nightstand between the beds and folded his hands over his flat stomach.
    “You never treated me like I was weird just because I preferred looking through a telescope instead of watching a basketball game or doing other things that ‘regular guys’ did. You
got
me. You understood me better than my own family did.” He looked up at her and, with a grim smile, said, “You can probably do without my poor, neglected son monologue.”
    A sad smile formed on her lips. “It couldn’t have been easy living in Cameron’s huge shadow.”
    He shrugged. “It wasn’t so bad.”
    Nyla wasn’t fooled by his nonchalance. She’d observed early on how differently Aiden was treated from his older brother.
    “I love Lynda and Russell, but I could tell from early on that they had crowned Cameron the golden boy. I’m smack in the middle of five kids, so I know about having to grab whatever attention you can, but with it being just you two boys, it’s so obvious. Having them dote on him the way they do must be hard for you.”
    “I’m used to it,” he said with another lift of his shoulders. “My earliest memories are of spending countless hours at Cameron’s elementary-school basketball practices. The focus of the Williams family has always been about nurturing Cameron’s talent and his career.”
    “Even though his career only lasted a few years,” Nyla said.
    By the time she and Cameron started dating, his NBA career had already been cut short by injury. He’d transitioned to the business side of things, working as a scout for Atlanta’s professional basketball team, where she’d worked as a senior account executive in the corporate ticket sales department. Even though he was no longer on the court, Cameron’s larger-than-life personality kept him in the spotlight.
    The shadow he continued to cast was far and wide, leaving very little light to shine on all Aiden had achieved in college and graduate school. His tolerance of his family’s disregard of his many accomplishments made him that much more extraordinary in Nyla’s eyes.
    “You really are special, you know that? Most people would be bitter, but you’re not.”
    “Not
too
bitter. I have my moments,” he said, a wry grin tipping up the corner of his lips. “I can’t really complain, can I? Just look where I am.” He gestured to their surroundings. “I’m spending the holidays in Rome. And I’m with you.”
    His penetrating gaze locked on her, making the confines of the small hotel room even more apparent. “Seeing Rome at Christmas is one thing, but having the chance to spend the holiday with you—anywhere—means even more. I know I’ve said it already, but I can’t say it enough. Thank you for doing this, Nyla.”
    “You’re welcome,” Nyla said, her voice suddenly huskier than it had been a minute ago. She averted her eyes, concentrating on her dinner. She glanced up to find that, thankfully, Aiden had gone back to his. He picked up his drink, took a sip and started choking.
    “Good God!” He held the bottle out and stared at it. “What the