Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
F rom the moment Aiden opened the door to the moment the reception was over, he and June were “on.” They flitted, floated, flirted, smiled, laughed, and danced. Long after their marriage of convenience was over, Aiden would remember the dancing.
Erica had chosen their first dance song. It was morose, more so since her abandonment. It was the part of the day Aiden dreaded most because he wouldn’t be able to fake it. He would remember how many times they’d practiced, how many times he’d held Erica in his arms, imagining their special day. In the end, June took care of everything.
As soon as they arrived at the reception, after taking a series of awkward and stilted pictures with their combined families, she summoned her brother and whispered something in his ear. Denver, who was practically giddy with the turn of the day’s events, was eager to do her bidding. Aiden didn’t know what it was until it was time for their dance and then, instead of the melancholy number Erica had selected, “Singin’ In The Rain,” by Gene Kelly began to play instead.
For a flicker he worried he wouldn’t get the dance right. He had never been able to do it with Erica. But with June dancing was easy. So easy that he smiled and laughed his way through their number, even adding a little hop every time he spun her, much to her amused delight.
At last it was time to go. June’s father and brother would be staying behind to help clean up, to the surprise and appreciation of Aiden’s family who, with the exception of Beth, kept darting them awkwardly suspicious glances. June kissed them goodbye, gave a tentative hug to Aiden’s family, everyone but Starla who dove for her and clung, and stood by while Aiden said his goodbyes.
“I hope you’re happy,” his mom said softly, pressing her palm to his cheek. His mother had seen through his pretense and was therefore confused over the day’s outcome. How could he be in love with Erica, his intended, and yet marry June, a stranger? There was no way to explain it, mostly because Aiden didn’t understand it himself.
Aiden held the car door for June, closing it gently once she was safely inside, then bustled to his side of the car and closed himself in. Then he sat there, staring straight ahead as reality began to intrude.
“I don’t know where to go, June,” he admitted. He had given up his place. June lived with her father and brother. The new house wouldn’t be ready until they signed the papers tomorrow.
June rested her hand on his arm. “You and Erica weren’t doing a honeymoon, right?” she asked.
“Right,” he agreed. They had postponed a trip, due to the immense amount of money they spent on the house. They planned to spend one night in a hotel and then hole up for a few days in their new place, unpacking, decorating, settling in.
“Let’s go to the hotel, Aiden,” June said, giving his arm a squeeze. “We both need sleep.”
Her tone was so gentle, so kind, and yet lacking pity. They were conspirators in their ordeal, Aiden for being jilted and June for being sold to the highest bidder. And she was right; they did need sleep. Suddenly Aiden was exhausted.
He drove across town to the hotel and registered for the room while June stood by, staring curiously around the lobby. “May I have a toothbrush?” she interjected, reminding Aiden she had no luggage. The clerk handed one over, lashes fluttering when June gave him a radiant smile.
“You stunned him,” Aiden noted. “I should probably go avenge you. I mean, it’s our honeymoon, after all. Men aren’t supposed to be looking at you that way.”
June smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. “This must be the weirdest honeymoon in history.”
“I bet Mary and Joseph had it worse,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
“You’re nice, Aiden.”
“Not nice enough, apparently,” Aiden said, his tone sinking. Now that the adrenaline of the day was over, he could begin to think and feel about the fact that his longtime girlfriend, the woman he planned to spend his life with, left him at the altar.
“Not yet,” June said, squeezing his arm. “It’s not time. We’re not prepared.”
He studied the top of her head. What did that mean? He was half curious and half too-tired to care. All he knew was that she had given him permission to pause his grief, and he was happy to take it.
He pushed open the door to their room feeling suddenly awkward. The honeymoon suite. June, however, seemed to feel no awkwardness, only curiosity as she sauntered inside and turned in a slow circle, studying the room.
“I think this will do nicely,” she said at last.
Curiosity jolted him out of his temporary pall. “Do for what?”
“To seduce you,” June said and everything in him went still. Was she saying… Then she burst into laughter and waved her hand as if clearing the air. “Oh, Aiden, as if. My goodness, it’s the worst day of your life. I’m not going to add to it by putting a trip to the hospital in there. No need to try and kill you on top of everything else. But it is a nice room. Come look at it from here.” She was only three feet from him, but he allowed her to take his hands in hers and lead him forward, to the center. “See that view?” she faced him toward the window where there was, in fact, a beautiful view of the city. “And the TV is huge, we’re definitely going to make use of that. And the bed.” She tugged his hand again and bounced onto the bed, jumping a few times for good measure. “Up, please.”
He shook his head. “I’m a grown man, a doctor, I’m not going to…”
“Join me,” she commanded, tone suddenly stern. With a sigh, Aiden climbed onto the bed. June took his hands and started to bounce. He halfheartedly joined in and then a laugh bubbled out, first from June and then from him. And then both of them were laughing uncontrollably, possibly madly, as they jumped impossibly higher and higher until, inevitably, one of them lost their footing and flopped onto the bed, taking the other down with them. They landed in a hard crunch of bodies, Aiden smashing June into the mattress.
“Are you okay?’ he asked, amusement and concern mixing in his tone.
“It takes more than falling into a mattress to break me, Aiden, as you well know,” June said, burrowing away enough to breathe. She didn’t go all the way away, for which Aiden was thankful. His arm was around her waist, and they were nose to nose, smiling at each other.
“Now what?” he asked. Somehow he knew she was in charge of this whole dire evening, was trying valiantly to divert his attention from his own wounded emotions.
“This is nice for now. Human contact is highly underrated,” June said, burrowing closer and clutching his lapels in her hands. “Thanks for bouncing with me.”
“Thanks for not giving me a choice,” he said. His hand reached up to push the unruly hairs away from her face. Half of it had sprung free during their bouncing and her cheeks were still flushed, eyes bright with fun and laughter. Beauty truly was a balm because June was beautiful and somehow staring at her made him feel better, like being in nature or an art gallery.
“Jumping is a good endorphin booster.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. You know what else works?” he asked.
“Hmm.”
He eased forward and kissed her. Like before in the closet, she kissed him back. Kissing June was nothing like kissing Erica. It was like the difference between eating a hearty beef stew and a light and airy citrus soufflé, June being the soufflé, of course. But thoughts of Erica would intrude, making him feel disloyal. He broke off and rested his head on hers. “Hey, you didn’t die,” he noted.
“Because it’s not real,” June whispered. “None of it’s real right now, Aiden, I know that, and it’s okay. We are having fun tonight. We’re pals, and we’re here for each other, in whatever fashion that entails. What are a few innocent kisses between friends? Also, you’re a super good kisser, all light and gentle and teasing. I never get the sense you’re trying to push it into something else, it never feels like you’re mining my mouth for cavitations. You keep it light and fun, as it should be.” She patted his cheek approvingly, and he laughed.
“Oh, June. Only you could follow up a kiss by talking about cavitations and somehow not have it be gross,” he said, touching his nose to hers.
“I liked it when you did that before at our,” she paused and cleared her throat, “wedding. It felt like something that was only ours.”
“It was, is . We’re friends, June. I don’t want to do anything to ruin that, only to enhance it.”
“I am in total agreement. This arrangement doesn’t have to be awkward or miserable. It can be fun. We’re going to be roomies and buddies and all will be well.” She gave a definitive nod, and he laughed again when another hank of her hair flopped over her eyes. He pushed it away.
“What do you want to do now? Are you ready for sleep?”
“Are you?” she countered.
“Part of me wants to sink into oblivion and forget everything. Part of me knows the minute I close my eyes it’s all going to come rushing back and I won’t actually be able to sleep.”
She pounced, rolling him onto his back as she straddled his chest. She captured his hands in hers and held them over his head. “Well, then, doctor. We need to get you good and worn out.”
“What, ah,” he paused when his voice cracked, “What did you have in mind, June?”
In answer, she wagged her brows.