Terms of Agreement

17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Charlotte

A iden had remained stoically silent after I’d embarrassed myself over the nickname thing. I cringed as we neared the entrance to the manor. I’d allowed myself to get so wrapped up in my romance novels and the kinds of things that book boyfriends did, that I hadn’t realised what an ass I was making of myself in front of my actual boyfriend—fake boyfriend. But in any case, everything I’d said had been true. Becky had been the one to point out that boyfriends and girlfriends were typically physically affectionate towards one another and, after only a minor meltdown on my part, I’d agreed to bring it up with Aiden.

‘Besides,’ she’d taunted mid-meltdown, ‘have you never wondered what it’d be like to kiss him?’

That had brought my head up from where it’d been hanging between my knees to shout a loud ‘No!’

I had. Of course, I had. I was inexperienced, not blind.

My stomach dropped, bottoming out somewhere near my knees, as we stepped through the manor’s stone archway. All of my breath leaving me in a whoosh the moment my shoes had sunk into the plush paisley carpet that lined the foyer. Stepping forward into the foyer, I let my hand fall from where it had been clinging to Aiden’s bicep.

The walls were a rich creamy colour with wooden accents that perfectly matched and drew one’s attention to the massive staircase on the right. The walnut-coloured wooden banisters rose gracefully to the second floor and were covered in hundreds of white roses.

Turning in a slow circle, I had to tilt my head back to take it all in—pretty sure my mouth was open, but I didn’t care. I’d never seen anything like it. Stepping away from Aiden, I ran my fingertips over the mantelpiece, feeling the worn grooves of the soft wood.

‘This place is amazing,’ I said in the hushed tone typically reserved for libraries. Aiden’s head was tilted to the side as he studied me, brow raised and mouth upturned on one side. My cheeks warmed as my eyes found his across the room, but, emboldened by the otherworldliness of the venue, I didn’t look away.

Aiden looked so effortlessly handsome in his tailored navy blue suit. Like, stupid handsome. And the way it accentuated his muscular frame and drew attention to his broad shoulders? Well, it was distracting. So distracting that I’d stopped looking where I was going to watch where I was going—too preoccupied with thoughts of shoulder kinks to keep an eye out for dips in the tarmac. Naturally, my toe had caught on something, and I’d nearly gone flying.

Looking at him now, though, I couldn’t help the feeling of relief that washed over me. We might have come together, but with him standing alongside the bride and groom for the ceremony, no one would assume as much until the reception. Meaning I had a couple of hours before people started wondering how someone like me could end up with someone like Aiden Walsh.

A booming shout from the landing broke the moment that hung heavy between us, allowing both time and reality to come crashing back in. Following the direction of the sound, my eyes landed on a handsome man who was leaning over the railing at the top of the banister and grinning down at Aiden.

When I looked back to Aiden, my heart stuttered in my chest at the sight of the beaming smile that crinkled the corners of Aiden’s eyes.

‘Aiden!’ the man hollered again, bounding down the steps and launching himself at Aiden, his arms wrapping around Aiden’s broad shoulders and pulling him into a hug.

‘Good to see you too, Ed,’ Aiden chuckled. Ed. Right. The groom.

I watched as their hug transformed into a handshake and some general how-do-you-dos. I was still smiling at the pair when the man, Ed, turned to me, his cheeks ruddy with excitement and his blue eyes gleaming.

‘And you must be Charlotte.’ He held out a hand and walked towards me.

‘Hi, yes.’ Meeting him halfway, I slid my hand into his outstretched one and gave it a shake. My smile grew as Ed pumped my arm up and down enthusiastically. ‘Thanks for having me and congratulations.’

‘Not at all!’ Ed replied, finally releasing his hold on my hand and clasping his own together in front of his chest, wringing them as his eyes darted around the room excitedly.

‘Charlotte,’ came Aiden’s low voice as he stepped towards me, drawing my attention. ‘I have to take Ed and head upstairs to the getting ready room. I should also pop in and say “hello” to Tilly while I’m at it.’

‘Oh, that’s fine,’ I said, my voice forcefully cheerful. I waved at his concerned expression and continued in what I hoped was an easy-breezy manner, ‘Go do your thing. I’m a big girl. I can entertain myself for a couple of hours.’ Aiden frowned, his gaze sharpening as he studied my face, and my confidence wobbled a little.

‘I’ll come find you,’ he promised.

***

The manor was big—very big, so big that it toed the line between grandeur and ostentation—but it didn’t take long to find the library. I might have let out a soft squeal when I’d found the small room hidden behind the masterpiece of a staircase. Okay… I definitely squealed. But no one was around to see me, so it didn’t count.

Walking past the old chesterfield sofa, I jostled and shoved one of the armchairs near the window until it faced out towards the acres of land that surrounded the manor. And, letting out a small sigh of contentment, I sank into the stuffed cushions of the leather armchair.

I’d been forced to bring my work phone with me. Okay, forced wasn’t the right word, but after a week spent putting out fires in the office, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving it at home. Scrolling through my notifications, I was pleased to find nothing that called for my immediate attention. With a happy sigh, I switched over to my personal phone and pulled up the Kindle app—not my favourite way to read, but seeing how a book didn’t fit in the delicate beaded clutch I’d brought with me—trust me, I’d tried—it would have to do.

I’d fully intended to spend the few hours before the ceremony reading, but my eyes kept drifting to the gardens beyond the window. And when the sun broke through the light cloud cover, I was a goner. I smiled, rested my head against the tall back of the armchair, and basked in its rays.

That was how Aiden found me.

‘Photosynthesising?’ He asked, leaning against the doorframe to the library, his arms folded across his chest and a wry smile playing on his lips.

‘You could say that.’ I reached my arms up above my head, stretching towards the ceiling before turning towards him, a sleepy smile on my face. ‘Personally, I prefer the term “basking.”’

Aiden’s smile grew and his gaze lowered to a spot on the blue paisley printed carpet in front of him, shaking his head slightly.

‘Is it time to go?’ I asked, uncurling my legs from where they’d been tucked up beneath me, slipping my feet back into my shoes. I tried to keep my eyes on Aiden as I tied the straps of my shoes, but after a few fumbled attempts, I had to drop my gaze to concentrate.

‘Time to go?’ Aiden rasped from somewhere on the other side of the curtain of curls that had fallen over my shoulder to separate us.

‘The wedding?’ I stood and ran my hands over the skirts of my dress, smoothing out the satin.

‘Uh, yes,’ Aiden said with a cough. ‘The reception is in the Blue Room, or so I’m told.’

‘I surmised as much,’ I said in mock seriousness and made my way towards him. ‘The rose arch at the end of the aisle was a bit of a giveaway.’ Aiden gestured for me to go ahead of him, but quickly took his place at my side as we made our way across the foyer and towards the open double doors on the other side.

‘I thought it best to get you settled before going to stand up there with Ed,’ Aiden said, pointing to where the rest of the groomsmen stood at the top of the aisle.

I smiled at him and nodded, inhaling sharply when I felt his fingers press against my elbow and slide down my forearm before he laced his fingers through mine. I did my best to mask my surprise. I hadn’t expected him to dive straight into the PDA, not after he’d seemed so unwilling in the car, but I guess the groomsmen were right there. So hand-holding made sense. My skin tingled where he’d touched me, but his gaze remained focused on the altar ahead of us as he manoeuvred through some of the other early arrivals and towards a seat a few rows from the front.

‘Is this okay?’ He gestured to one of the golden chairs at the end of the row.

‘Yes,’ I squeaked, blinking my way back into the moment and out of my head. ‘Yes, it’s great.’

Offering Aiden a quick smile of reassurance, I picked up the thick, ivory-coloured programme that had been left on my seat and sat down, stowing my clutch beneath the seat in front of mine.

He looked down at me for a moment, his brown eyes boring into mine in that way that made me feel exposed and vulnerable. Oddly enough, I didn’t hate it. I was on the verge of asking him if anything was wrong when he bent forward, his gaze slipping to my mouth. Was he about to kiss me? My eyes flitted to the head of the aisle, where Ed was talking animatedly to one of his friends.

His face was nearing mine, and my stomach clenched in anticipation. But just as my eyes fluttered shut, I felt a warm hand land on the exposed skin of my shoulder. My eyes shot open in time for Aiden to pat my shoulder. Once. Twice. Before spinning on his heel and walking away from me.

My eyes met Ed’s confused frown over Aiden’s retreating shoulder and I shrugged at him, offering him a smile and a thumbs up for luck before I dropped my gaze to the programme that was clenched in my hands.