Unraveled (Love in Salem, book 2) by Emma Delaney Read Free Book Online Page B

ready for.
    After descending the stairs, he took her back through the living room to the kitchen/dining room combo.
    “Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a kitchen this big.”  Atayla commented as she looked around through inquisitive eyes.
    It was Aidan’s turn to blush for a change.  “Ah, yeah, um.  It was actually one of the main selling points for me.  I love to cook.” 
    Atayla laughed.  “I can’t boil water without burning it.”  She said with a smile.
    He loved that she wasn’t the least chagrined about her lack of cooking skills.  The women in his family, and even the women he dated, thought of learning culinary skills as a rite of passage.
    He also loved, as chauvinistic as it was, that he as a man could provide for her in a way she could not.  Call him old fashioned, but he had a need to be the protector, the provider.  It was in his genetic makeup.
    “Oh yeah?  I’ll have to cook dinner for you sometime.  I usually hold all the family cook outs here at my house.  Sunday dinners are at Mom and Pop’s of course, can’t take all the glory away from Mom.”  He said affectionately.
    “It must be nice to have such a close family.  I don’t think I’ve even spoken to my mother in at least eight years.”  She looked thoughtful for a moment.  “Yeah, it would have been right after I graduated from Harrison-Graham.”
    He cocked his head to the side, disconcerted.  “What about your father?”
    “I’ve never spoken to him.”
    “I’m sorry if I’m being too intrusive, but why not?  I can’t imagine living my life without my family close by.”
    “My mother won’t tell me who he is.  I’m not sure she even knows.  She’s a drunk and has been my whole life.  She married my stepfather because he had a lot of money, but he never had time for a family.  He sent me off to Harrison-Graham so he wouldn’t have to deal with me.”
    The thought angered him.  Atayla spoke of her childhood as though it were a normal fact of life.  She really had no idea how families were supposed to be, how children were meant to be loved and cherished.  He ached for the little girl that had to endure that kind of abandonment.
    “You’re angry.”  She said hesitantly.  “Did I say something inappropriate?”
    Taking a deep breath to calm himself he replied.  “No.  Well, yes.  I’m not angry at you.  I’m angry at how you were treated.”
    “Well, it could have been worse trust me.”  She smiled at him and changed the subject.
    “You have a hot tub?”  She asked while looking out his patio door.
    “I just put that in last fall, so I haven’t been able to get much use of it yet.”  The lustful look in his eyes was enough to reignite the arousal she felt earlier.  “Maybe you might be amenable to breaking it in with me.”
    “I might be persuaded.”  Her voice had taken on a husky quality.  “What’s down that way?”
    “Come.”  He smiled salaciously. 
    She had no doubt she would.  He took the hand she offered him.  Jolts of awareness pulsed through her body.  The sexual attraction between them was like a living thing demanding attention.
    Walking the short hallway off the dining room, Aidan opened the first door on the right.  “A half bath.”  He turned and opened the pocket doors on the opposite wall revealing an alcove storing a washer and dryer.
    “What is that room?”  She pointed to the door down from the bathroom.
    “Just a small room I use to store my band equipment.”
    He watched while Atayla opened the door to peek in.  “Small room, huh?  It’s bigger than my kitchen.”
    Chuckling, he opened the door across the hall, walked over to the nightstand and turned on the lamp.  Turning, he waited patiently as Atayla crept into the room.  Slowly, as not to spook her, he ambled towards her.
    “This is the master bedroom.”  Grabbing her hands, he lifted them to his mouth and laid a gentle kiss to each palm before kissing her