Page 129 of His to Cherish
My heart hurt.
Leaning forward, unable to help myself, I wrapped my arms around Aidan and buried my head in his neck. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
—
With the waves from Lake Michigan bouncing the boat, my fingers curled around the railing where Aidan and I were standing near the back, a quiet corner with a semblance of privacy.
Aidan was behind me, trying to keep me warm from the chilling breeze and the cold water that occasionally splashed up and over the sides of the boat. He had one hand covering mine on the railing, and his other hand was playing with my hair at the back of my neck.
His slow movements along my skin made goosebumps flare all over my skin. I was wearing only my spring jacket over my Cubs T-shirt and skinny jeans, and the setting sun and quickly cooling air wasn’t helping anything.
I shivered, moving back into the wall of warmth behind me, and laughed as Aidan nuzzled my neck with his nose.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered. He’d been quieter since we left the Ferris wheel and got on one of the boat tours. I let him have his time with his memories, not minding that while he was thinking of Derrick, he was keeping them to himself. We all needed that personal space. “After Mandy, I never knew if I could really trust a woman again.” His chin dropped to my shoulder, pinning me in place when all I wanted to do was turn around and look at him while he talked to me.
Instead, I kept my eyes on the water in front of us, knowing somehow that he needed this slight space between us to say whatever he was thinking.
“I know I told you that I didn’t date much and it’s true. Between trying to finish college, taking care of Derrick, and trying to take over my dad’s company after he died, I had too much on my shoulders and not a lot of time for fun. It doesn’t mean I haven’t been with women over the years, but it wasn’t frequent, either. I want you to know how sorry I am that I took advantage of you at the beginning…those first few weeks when I showed up at your house.”
My breath lodged in my throat, remembering the first time we’d had sex after Derrick’s birthday, and Aidan’s drunkenness the night before. I had known then that at least a part of Aidan was using me.
“But I’m so damn thankful you gave me that time, Chelsea. I needed it. I needed to be around someone who didn’t need anything from me, or wasn’t expecting me to move on. The guys have been great, don’t get me wrong. They know me better than anyone, they knew Derrick almost as well as I did, but being around them is hard. I think…I know this has all happened fast, and I know sometimes you have to wonder if what I feel for you is real—”
“I don’t,” I croaked, needing to reassure him. Not anymore, I didn’t.
“Regardless,” Aidan continued. “I think because you understand in a small way what I’m going through, what I’ll always grieve and miss, being around you is helping me in a way no one else could.”
“Aidan,” I started, but he shushed me and pressed his lips against my jaw.
“Don’t. Just let me finish this.”
I nodded, and then I twisted in his arms so the railing was at my back. Aidan’s hand that was in my hair dropped to my hip and he gave me a slight smile.
“God, I love you.” His eyebrows twitched and his eyes widened as if he had surprised himself with his admission.
I couldn’t help but grin and I reached out, stroking his cheek and his jaw with the palm of my hand. He had started keeping his jaw a bit scratchy and scruffy when I told him how much I liked running my fingernails across it. Somehow it was relaxing.
“I know,” I finally said in a whisper. “I heard you last night.”
His lips twitched, fighting a smile, and I fell even more in love with him when his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“And you need to know that I love you, too. I’ve never been more in love with anyone in my entire life, and I don’t care how slow we need to go. I want to be with you, for whatever you need. I want to be there with you when you need to laugh and when you need to cry. I want to stand silently next to you while you remember Derrick even if you don’t tell me what you’re thinking.”
His forehead brushed against mine and his breath fell from his lips in a harsh exhale.
“God, you’re perfect and beautiful and I want you, Chelsea. Stay with me and let me love you.”
“Of course. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
His lips crushed into mine forcefully and his hands moved to my cheeks. He stole my kiss like he’d stolen my heart—quickly—and before I knew it, it was gone.
When he pulled back, our breath mingled in the minute space between us. His shoulders heaved as he gasped for breath and I smiled, loving the effect I had on him.
“Someday, I’m going to give you your dream house. We’re going to move in together, and whatever happens after that…we’re going to go through it together.”
My lungs froze as I registered his promise.
“Aidan.”
