Love notes by Avis Exley Read Free Book Online Page A

began spinning.
    “Take me back to the hotel,” she
demanded, suddenly claustrophobic and needing to get out into the
fresh air. “I need to get out of here.”
    Without waiting for Aiden, she
hurried outside, leaving him to throw some money down onto the
table and follow her into the car park. He found her leaning
against his car, bent double and drawing in deep breaths of icy
air, shaking so violently he put his arms around her to steady
her.
    “Don’t touch me,” she warned,
pushing him away with a strength born out of fear. “How could you
do this to me?”
    “I’m sorry. There was no easy
way to tell you.”
    “Then why tell me at all? Why
turn up out of the blue and blow my life apart?”
    “Because you need to know. And
you also need my help – whether you like it or not.”
    Erika pushed him squarely in the
chest, almost knocking him off balance. “You have no idea what I
need. You lost the right to interfere in my life a long time
ago.”
    “Listen to me.” Aiden shouted,
catching her wrists to stop her struggling and forcing her to
regain some control. “We may have broken up a long time ago but
that doesn’t stop me caring about you. Have you looked in the
mirror lately?”
    “So?” She didn’t need Aiden
Almighty telling her she looked terrible.
    “You’re exhausted. Seriously
underweight and fit to drop. You’re even in danger of losing your
voice.”
    “Touring’s tough.”
    “Marty’s working you to death
and you need to stop before it’s too late.” He raked his hand
through is hair in frustration and reached to pull her into his
arms, but stopped himself. “I’m worried sick about you. I can see
the way you’re heading and I don’t even want to think about where
you’ll end up.”
    “I don’t see what you can do
about it.”
    “I can break your contract.” He
made it sound inevitable. “I’ll make Marty hand back your money.
Give you the freedom to choose your own work.”
    It was too tempting a prospect
to hold out in front of someone on the point of exhaustion. But
then Aiden would have considered that and used it to his
advantage.
    “It’s no good. I can’t think
straight,” she told him. She needed to shut herself in her hotel
room and give herself time to think.
    Putting some distance between
her and Aiden wouldn’t do any harm either. He stood far too close;
his powerful body overwhelming her, and stirring up too many
memories that she didn’t have the power to deal with right now.
    “I want to go. I need space to
think.”
    Seeing it was useless to argue,
Aiden unlocked the car and climbed in, turning up the heater to
ensure Erika kept warm. They drove back in virtual silence with
Erika flicking between the radio channels until she heard one of
her own songs and switched it off, cursing under her breath.
    Instead she stared out of the
window, her breath fogging up the glass and the countryside passing
in a blur that mirrored the confusion inside her head.
    Her world had shifted and turned
inside out in the space of a day, stranding her in unfamiliar
terrain with an uncertain travelling companion. She had no idea
whether it was safer to go forward or back – and no one she trusted
enough to ask.
    At some point she drifted off to
sleep, lulled by the sound of the engine, a heavy lunch and far too
much fresh air for an adopted Californian to cope with. The car
slowing down to take the turn into the hotel gateway woke her and
she rubbed her eyes, yawning widely.
    Aiden pulled into a parking bay
and turned off the engine before smiling uncertainly across at her.
“Feeling better?” he asked. “You’ve been out cold for over an hour.
I drove the long way round to let you sleep.”
    “Thanks.” His kindness touched
her. “The jet lag’s hitting me harder than I thought.”
    “Then let me buy you a coffee to
perk you up. I could do with one myself.”
    “I’d rather not.” She was afraid
she sounded ungrateful rather than unwilling and let her