Chapter06
Aiden applied mousse to his hair and ran his fingers through the dark strands, trying to style it in a way he’d worn it before Sally. Before he’d become too busy as a father to worry about such things like looking good and dating.
Not that he was dating. He’d enjoyed his day with Mia, but he’d been a fool to hold her hand and wrap his arm around her delicate shoulders one too many times. He would need to be more careful as he didn’t want to send out the wrong signals and confuse her.
Even though he’d liked touching her.
Exhaling, Aiden turned from the mirror. He slipped his wallet into his pocket and eyed the painting he’d stood against the wall. It had been nice of Mia to buy it for him. He’d resisted because he really couldn’t afford to spend frivolous amounts of money on useless items. His spending money whilst in Bali was thin as it was. And even though accepting such a gift had felt awkward, he hadn’t wanted to offend Mia.
Besides, he could think of her whenever he looked at it. So, he’d accepted the gift and he’d find something to give to her to make him feel like they were even. Maybe he’d buy her ticket to the show tonight. Yesterday, they’d stumbled across a magic show at the theatre down the street. Mia had brightened the moment she’d seen the sign, so they’d decided to give it a go.
He left his room and headed for the lobby. He arrived before her, but didn’t get a chance to sit before she strolled through the door. He paused with his body lowered halfway into the chair. His breath caught in his throat.
She wore the same denim shorts she’d worn the previous nights and an off-the-shoulder white top that clung to her slender torso. She’d left her hair out, allowing her long blonde waves to tumble down her back and over one shoulder. Good God, she was beautiful.
He straightened and swallowed the knot that had lodged in his throat. ‘Hey. You look great.’
Her cheeks pinked. ‘Thank you. So do you.’
‘Thanks.’ He continued to stare at her. Silence fell. When Mia bit down on her glossy lower lip, desire curled in his belly. Suddenly, he wanted to swoop down and…
Aiden blinked. Mentally shook himself. What was he thinking?
He stepped back and forced a smile to his face. ‘Shall we go?’
‘Yes.’ Her exposed shoulders relaxed and she returned his smile.
They left Beach Club and walked down the main street towards the theatre. She put up a bit of a fight when he offered to buy her ticket, but accepted and said thank you. It was a miniscule cost in comparison to the painting, but he felt a little better.
‘Where would you like to eat?’ he asked as he followed her down the stairs and back onto the busy street.
She glanced left, then right, and bit down on her glossy lip again. His belly clenched. Why was that alluring?
‘How about over there?’ she suggested, pointing across the road to an Italian restaurant.
‘Looks good.’
They browsed the menu, agreed to eat there, and were seated on the breezy terrace at a round wooden table with a green, white, and red napkin holder—the colours of the Italian flag. The restaurant itself was built around a Hindu temple and boasted stunning features.
Aiden opened his menu and tossed up between the choices of pasta or meat. Because most of the beef in Bali was imported, it was more expensive than the other choices, but reasonable when he thought about it in Australian dollars. He understood why everyone said Bali was cheap. So he ordered the beef tenderloin in mushroom sauce with potatoes while Mia chose the grilled chicken breast.
The waiter left and Aiden relaxed into his wicker seat, glancing at the beautiful woman opposite him. Her blue gaze moved about the terrace, soaking in the beauty, and an ache built around his heart.
He swallowed, gripped his hands in his lap, and tried to settle on something to talk about. After another amazing day together, he was out of conversation topics. On the drive back to Beach Club he’d shared his most entertaining anecdotes about working as a vet, then she’d asked more questions about Ella. Mia had wanted to know everything about his daughter. How he’d felt when she was born. When she’d taken her first steps. Her first birthday party. But he didn’t mind telling her the stories because he could talk about Ella all day.
He also liked the glitter in Mia’s eyes when she asked her questions. She didn’t seem concerned that he had a history, baggage, and a daughter with another woman. He might not plan to date, but he had been afraid it wouldn’t be easy to date as a single father. He was afraid women might be hesitant to get into something so messy. But not Mia. She oozed zest, fun, and had a big heart. Spending time with her had helped him realise the depth of the rut he’d actually been in. He knew he hadn’t been his best self these past twelve months and had thought he’d been doing his best. But while he might be content watching cartoons and moulding Play-Doh, he wouldn’t find true happiness in being a homebody. He might not like interacting with other people, but he loved trying new things and being outdoors, and Mia had inadvertently reminded him of that.
He might be a dad, but he was also a man and he needed to enjoy the things he liked doing and help his daughter explore them too. He also needed to welcome other people into his life, so he’d take Mia up on her offer to visit her animals as he was lucky to have found a friend delighted to include his daughter.
‘This is a lovely restaurant,’ she said, jolting him out of his thoughts.
‘Yeah. It is.’
He resisted a grimace as silence fell again. He wanted conversation, but having talked about himself too much already today, he brought up the first topic that continued to tug at his curiosity. ‘Have you thought more about if you’ll study teaching?’
Mia sipped her drink. ‘Not really. I’ve been having too much fun!’ She grinned, then placed her glass down with a sigh. ‘But I guess I’m still not sure.’
He picked up his own drink. ‘Why not?’
‘I don’t know. It’s just…’ She shook her head, blonde hair shimmering in the lantern light. ‘I think the whole concept of going to university and studying scares me a little. I hadn’t really thought about it, but now I’m not sure how I’ll manage.’
‘It’s a big adjustment. Studying takes up a lot of time and is hard work. Especially, I think, if you plan to do it online.’
‘Exactly. And to do it online would take me five and a half years. I’ll be almost thirty-one! It’s such a long time. I’m not sure how I’ll juggle study and work. Or what I’d even do for work.’
‘You can’t work part time at the bank?’
She shrugged. ‘I can ask. I guess…it’s just a big change and change is scary.’
‘It is.’
‘I’m sure I’ll be excited once I start uni though. I might even start on campus, just to get used to it.’
‘So you’d drive into Townsville every day?’
‘It’s not that far. Hopefully I can group classes together so I only have to go a few days a week.’
It sounded like a reasonable plan. ‘It’d be easier than moving and working out what to do with your animals.’
‘Yeah.’ Her mouth twisted a little. ‘When I wanted to go to uni, I didn’t really think about that stuff. I can’t exactly leave Charters Towers. Not like I could have if I’d gone after high school.’ She paused and sipped her drink. ‘But Michael did his first semester driving in and out every day until he got a job in Townsville and a room in a share house. It’s only an hour and a half drive. And a good one at that.’
‘It is an easy drive,’ he agreed. ‘And you’re right. You’ll feel much better about it once you start.’
‘Yeah. I’m sure I will. And teaching still sounds like the best option.’
But then she bit down on her lip again, clearly unsure.
Aiden reached for his beer and took a long drink, not sure what to say. He understood her uncertainty. He wasn’t sure himself why she wanted to go to university. If she desperately wanted to be a teacher, it would make sense. But it still seemed like she was chasing a missed opportunity more than a specific career.
But it wasn’t his place to tell her that. Was it? He was her friend. And friends told each other the truth. So…
‘I think you’d make a wonderful teacher, Mia. As long as that’s what you want. But you know, there are plenty of great careers out there that don’t require going to university and committing yourself to years of study. Uni isn’t the only way to get a good job.’
‘Yeah, I know.’ She tossed her hair over her shoulder and crossed her forearms over the table. ‘I also know that I could stay at the bank.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘And would that be a bad thing?’
As far as he could tell, she had a good job at the bank. It was secure. Monday to Friday. Nine to five. She didn’t need to work weekends or public holidays. She worked in a customer service role that assisted her town and the community. It was a good, solid job that was needed.
But if she didn’t like it, then he supposed that was reason enough to pursue other options.
Mia pursed her lips as she considered his question. ‘No…it wouldn’t be so bad. I do like my job. I see value in it and I like the people I work with. It’s just—’ she shrugged ‘—it’s not what I dreamed of doing. And I feel like I’ll let myself down if I don’t explore other options.’
Their dinner arrived and Aiden thanked the interruption. What Mia said made sense. He might think that she had everything she needed—a good job with a steady income and a home she owned with the animals she loved. But if she wanted more, who was he to stop her? This was her chance to pursue more in life. After sacrificing the years she’d spent caring for her mother, she deserved that. If she wanted a new career, then it was a path she’d need to take.
But what about the other path she wanted? The path that would lead to her true dream—motherhood?
Aiden’s chest tightened as he cut into his beef tenderloin. If Mia started a university degree, would she sacrifice achieving those other dreams of marrying and starting a family? Of course, she could have it all. It didn’t need to be one or the other, despite what Sally might have thought. Aiden knew that.
But did Mia?
Did she really want to be a teacher? He wasn’t so sure.
Sighing, he bit into his potato. ‘Good food,’ he said conversationally.
‘Yeah. Very nice.’
Aiden focused on enjoying his dinner. He had to stop questioning Mia’s motives. It wasn’t his problem.
But what if she makes the same mistake Sally made?
No! Stop. Just stop.
He gritted his teeth and ate.
***
When they arrived at the theatre, they found props in the lobby where they could pretend to be magical and take photos. Mia didn’t hesitate as she dug into her bag for her camera, super keen.
She loved magic.
At the first prop, Mia settled herself cross-legged on the small, padded seat connected to a black board dotted with shiny silver stars. The man operating the contraption pressed the button and the seat began to rise. Mia laughed and flapped her arms gracefully, grinning at the camera where Aiden was filming.
She was flying!
The rest of the props were just as fun. She sat on a bed of nails, levitated cross-legged while holding a cane, had her torso separated from her body, and slipped her head onto a table where the rest of her body vanished. Pulling startled faces, the photos came out brilliantly, and Aiden was just as entertaining.
‘Oh, that was fun,’ she said, flopping into her seat inside the theatre.
‘They’ll be great photos to post on social media.’
‘Yeah.’ She slipped her camera into her bag and glanced at him. He looked as gorgeous as ever in the same dark jeans he’d worn the previous nights. A dark red polo stretched across his chest, and she welcomed the flutter in her belly. It was a nice sensation. ‘So, are you a believer who likes to be surprised or do you know the secrets behind magic tricks?’
He lifted his shoulder in a nonchalant shrug. ‘It’s not something I’ve really thought about. I haven’t seen a magic show since I was a kid.’
Her eyebrows shot up. ‘Seriously?’
‘Yeah. What about you?’
She grinned. ‘I spent five nights in Las Vegas, Aiden. I’ve seen them all!’
Las Vegas had been perhaps the most amazing city Mia had ever visited. She wasn’t the drinking, gambling, or partying type, but that was the least of what Vegas had to offer. It was like visiting the entire world on one street. In one day, she’d gazed upon the Eiffel Tower, taken a gondola ride through Venice, and ridden the roller coaster at New York New York. She and her mum had loved their time there and Mia wouldn’t hesitate to return. But while the Grand Canyon had been their main reason to visit Las Vegas, they’d extended their stay there to see as many shows as possible—the magic ones in particular.
She told Aiden all about the magicians she’d seen, rattling off the biggest names in magic. Clearly, he wasn’t a magic buff as he’d only heard of David Copperfield.
‘I actually got called up on stage at his show! I got to press the button at random to make the other participant stop and perform the trick. It was awesome. His magical hand touched mine!’
It was an experience that Mia would never forget, and she was chuffed that Aiden was suitably impressed. ‘Wow, that is cool. So how do you think this will compare?’
‘Hey, he may be a local guy, but as long as he’s entertaining and makes me believe, I won’t judge him just because he doesn’t have a show in Vegas.’
The show at the little Kuta theatre was sensational. Well presented with good music and clever tricks as the young magician performed all of her favourites—dismemberment, metamorphosis, and sawing a woman in half. Mia left the theatre feeling thoroughly entertained.
‘That was fantastic,’ Aiden said, glancing at his watch as they meandered in the direction of Beach Club. ‘But it’s still early. Would you like to get a drink or dessert?’
Mia considered his suggestion as she glanced down the street bustling with traffic and illuminated by the flashing signs. Chatter and music drifted from the crowded bars and considering the warm evening, she wouldn’t mind a drink. Ice cream also sounded good. But she wasn’t particularly keen on a loud bar.
‘How about we get an ice cream and a drink and take it back to the hotel? We could sit by the pool where it’s quiet.’
‘Sounds good.’
They entered a convenience store on the corner near Beach Club, where Mia grabbed herself a cold drink and a plain chocolate ice cream. Aiden chose a more decadent ice cream, then they hurried back to the hotel before their dessert melted.
She sat cross-legged on a padded sunlounge by the glistening pool. Lights illuminated the pathways and surrounding buildings, but otherwise, darkness enveloped them in a warm peace and quiet. Much better than a crowded bar and the perfect place to enjoy dessert.
She bit into her ice cream.
‘Good?’ he asked.
She nodded. ‘I don’t eat ice cream much, but God, it’s yummy.’
‘It’s one of life’s pleasures,’ he agreed, biting into his own. The chocolate coating cracked around the fluffy vanilla centre and stuck to his top lip. A quiver raced through her heart as she watched him lick it off.
What would it feel like to have his mouth on hers?
Mia pressed her lips together. Her chest constricted and warmth filled her belly. It’d been so long since she’d been kissed. It seemed like a different lifetime, and the thought made her heart sink. How had she let herself get this far in life without indulging in such simple pleasures?
Resisting a wince, Mia bit into her ice cream. She knew how. Fear. Avoidance. Aiden was the first man who’d tempted her in so long. He was the only man she’d spent any actual time with since high school.
High school…Noah…the fear of being rejected by her very best friend.
Was she heading down that path again?
Sighing, Mia stared at her softly melting ice cream. The only love she’d experienced was the pain of unrequited love. For six long, miserable years. Why hadn’t she told Noah how she’d felt? Why had she tried to be subtle? Coy? Why had she thought that dressing pretty and smiling would make him seize the day and declare his feelings for her?
Because she’d been a young, na?ve schoolgirl, that’s why.
Aiden leaned forward from his perch on the edge of the sunlounge and rested his elbows on his knees, holding his ice cream aloft. God, he was sexy. If only he wanted to be more than friends she might risk being a little bold.
But she wasn’t bold and feared she never would be. Especially not with Aiden. He’d drawn the line in the sand. Friends only. She’d be a fool to try for anything more. Besides, she had other priorities as university would take up much of her time over the next few years. She didn’t have time for dating. Marriage and babies would just have to wait until…
Mia stilled. Ice cream dripped onto the ground, echoing the chill that shuddered through her body. Oh God, would she have to wait? Could she manage studying and getting her life together at the same time? Of course, she’d like to think she could. But she knew herself, and she’d always been a one-thing-at-a-time type of girl.
Heart sinking, she dropped her gaze to her ice cream and took another bite. Her plan was supposed to have been easy. She would apply to university, study, and obtain her degree. But after these past few days, she’d realised…it wasn’t that simple, was it? It could be, but not without sacrifice.
Hadn’t she sacrificed enough?
Heat crept into her cheeks. Panic rose. Dammit, she was a real right fool.
‘Mia?’ She glanced up to meet Aiden’s concerned gaze. ‘Are you okay? You seem to have zoned out there.’
Wincing, Mia ran her hand down her face. ‘I was just thinking about uni again. About juggling it all.’ What she’d said was true, she didn’t know if she could do both—work and study. ‘And realised I hadn’t considered the other factors.’
‘Which are?’
She soothed her frustrations with another bite of ice cream. ‘I know I can’t relocate. It’ll be far too difficult without giving up the animals, which I simply will not do. So I’ll be stuck in Charters Towers working by day, studying by night, and I’ll never get out there and start dating.’
She could see it happening. She’d seclude herself on her property, pour her focus into study and hardly speak to another soul. She knew herself well—introverted to the core and her own best friend. She’d sit back and hope that love would stumble across her, like she had with Noah. And if she wanted to have children, she had to stop letting herself do that.
‘Dammit.’ She dropped her head onto her hand. ‘What was I thinking?’
But before she could wallow in self-doubt, Mia found her hand prised away from her face as Aiden took it gently in his. Alarm and compassion warred in his azure eyes. ‘Don’t discourage yourself, Mia.’
Her shoulders slumped. ‘But I feel like I’m chasing a foolish dream.’
‘It’s not foolish. If it’s what you want—’
‘But is it?’ An ache spread through her chest. After their discussion at the hot springs, she’d realised she didn’t want a career that would take her away from home. Over dinner tonight, she’d been worried about how she’d manage it all. But she’d still been optimistic.
Now, she was certain that if she took this path to university that she’d forgo her dreams for love and family.
She couldn’t have babies and study. Could she?
Dammit, she should have gone to university straight out of high school. But then…
Mia groaned. She finished the last of her ice cream before it melted and placed the stick beside her. ‘I’m full of uncertainty, Aiden. And honestly, I don’t know if I want to be a teacher. All I know is that I want children in my life, which is why I thought it’d be a good job for me. But now…’
She shook her head. What was she going to do?
Aiden reached over, took her other hand in his, and squeezed them both gently. Everything stilled.
‘Don’t throw the idea away, Mia. This isn’t a decision you can make while on holiday. If we used travelling to decide what we wanted out of life, we’d never be grounded.’
She managed a laugh. ‘So true.’
‘Don’t stress yourself over it. Stick to your plan. Enjoy Bali. Go home and enjoy Christmas and the New Year. Then make your decision. It won’t hurt to give university a go. Even if you do a semester and decide it’s not what you want, at least you can say you tried.’
The pressure inside her eased. ‘I guess that’s true…’
‘But can I offer you one piece of advice? Listen to what your heart tells you, Mia. Don’t pay attention to anything else. Don’t go to uni because you think it’s the right path. Go because you genuinely want a career in your field of study.’
Mia nodded slowly. He was right. She was only considering university because she’d always thought she’d go. Now was her chance.
But did she want to go?
Dammit, she had to stop asking herself that. Like he’d said, she had plenty of time. And right now, she just wanted to enjoy her holiday in Bali with Aiden—the only part of her future she was certain about. She wanted him in her life. His kindness and generosity. His friendship.
Maybe one day his love?
Because that’s what she wanted. Love. Family. That’s all that was important. And if he was ready for love himself…
‘You’re right,’ she said, shoving her fantasies from her mind. ‘I have plenty of time to decide. But I don’t want to keep forgoing a love life because I do want children, and I don’t want to wait forever.’
His eyes warmed, his mouth quirking in an odd smile. Just admitting that out loud strengthened her spine and spirit. And Mia was very aware that he was still holding her hands… Again!
‘Life’s like that, I guess. You can try to plan these things, but that plan doesn’t always turn out the way you’d like. Sometimes we need to work with what life throws at us.’
She held his gaze as a flicker of light and grief passed through his eyes. Aiden hadn’t planned Ella, but he’d made it work for him. She admired the fact he’d married Sally. Even in today’s society, Mia liked tradition. If she were to have babies with a man, she’d want to marry him first and bring those children into a happy home filled with love.
Aiden had thought he’d had that, but the rug had been pulled from beneath him. Yet, he loved Ella and would do everything he could to ensure her happiness. Even avoid bringing another woman into their lives for the fear of breaking their hearts…
‘I guess we do,’ she agreed softly. ‘I never imagined I’d lose my mum so young. I wanted her around for decades yet. But when she was diagnosed, we took it all one step at a time. I finished school. I didn’t even think twice, Aiden. I just decided I wasn’t going to uni.’
‘But you don’t regret that.’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t. But in hindsight, I probably could have managed to do both.’
His mouth curved wryly. ‘Hindsight’s annoying, isn’t it?’
‘Yeah. I mean, there’s been a few times where I thought I still could have studied. I could have gone back and forth to Townsville and still been there for Mum.’
His thumb brushed the back of her hand. ‘Yes, you could have.’
‘It’s not like I had to work. Mum worked until eight months before her death. She’d paid off the house. I didn’t need money to provide for us.’
Aiden nodded. Silence fell and Mia’s belly twisted.
‘But if you hadn’t been working, you wouldn’t have been able to afford all those trips together.’
She smiled. He sure had a way of reminding her what was important. ‘That’s true. And I’ll always treasure those memories. It was a sacrifice, yes. But I can’t afford to live with regrets.’
He shook his head. ‘Living with regret is painful. When Sally left, part of me regretted marrying her. I regretted waiting around for her to “be ready.” But then I reminded myself that if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have Ella.’
Mia’s heart lightened. ‘No one could regret that adorable face.’
His mouth twisted. ‘Well, one person can.’
She pressed her lips together. Right. Sally. ‘Sorry.’
‘It’s okay. Like I said, the past doesn’t matter. Sally might have given Ella up, but that’s something she needs to live with. And even though I don’t know how I’ll ever explain it to Ella…’ He took a deep breath. Let it out slowly. ‘I know I’ll work it out because I’m the lucky one. I’m the one who gets to watch her grow up. Who gets to take her to the wildlife sanctuary and share in her joy.’
Aiden’s eyes glistened and Mia smiled softly. ‘Yes, you are lucky. It might be a struggle to do it alone, but I know you can. And Ella’s lucky to have you too.’
‘Thank you, Mia. I mean, I think Sally’s actions will always baffle me and it kills me to know that she doesn’t even want to know how Ella is. But I hope that by letting go of that pain, Ella won’t feel it as strongly.’
‘It might help,’ she said gently. ‘I know it’s not the same, Aiden, but one of the hardest things about growing up without a father was knowing how much Mum missed him too. But her love for me and Michael is what softened our heartache. So as long as Ella knows you love her, I think that’s the best you can do.’
She hadn’t planned on telling him that, the words had just slipped out. But he seemed to appreciate it as he smiled softly and squeezed her hand.
‘Thank you, Mia. And I know now that I can’t just let life pass us by, either. I need to do the things I like to do again and share them with Ella so that her childhood is full of fun adventures.’
‘Yes, that will make you both happy.’
‘It will. Because I can be enough for her, even though…’ He paused, his blue eyes searching hers. Then his lips pressed together and his face sobered. ‘I know that closing myself off to love probably isn’t the best for me long term, Mia. Or Ella. But I just can’t…’ He shook his head. ‘I can’t let another woman walk out on us. Or to choose her life or career over my daughter.’
Mia swallowed. ‘That’s why Sally left?’
‘She decided she couldn’t do it all. I was keen and wanted to have another kid, but Sally had a neurology fellowship she wanted to pursue in Sydney.’
‘So she took it…’
He nodded. ‘She said she couldn’t be the doctor she wanted to be if she stayed in Townsville and was saddled with more children. She had her regrets. In the end, she chose career over family. Instead of family.’
Mia grimaced. ‘I’m sorry, Aiden. That must have been terrible.’
‘Yeah. And I just can’t…’
She shook her head. ‘I understand, Aiden. If you were to let another woman into your life, you need to know that she’ll be there for you, for Ella, and any other kids you have. You want to have a family first.’
He nodded. ‘I do.’
And so did she.
Mia’s heart began to hammer. Did Aiden not see that? She could be the type of woman he needed if he were willing to take the chance. She liked him. A lot. Ella was an added bonus as far as Mia could see. She longed to meet the little girl and read her fairy tales before bed. And if Aiden…
He straightened and released her hands. They fell limply into her lap. Her fantasy shattered once again.
‘Anyway,’ he said with a small shake of his head. ‘These things all come to us in time.’
Mia stared at him, a lump forming in her throat. ‘Yeah, I guess…’ she muttered, rubbing her now cold hands against her thighs. She avoided his gaze by reaching for her drink, condensation having formed a ring on the concrete. Blinking away the emotion welling inside her, she twisted the cap off the bottle and took a long sip of the warming soft drink.
She had to stop with her wishful fantasies. They confused her. All day, she’d been aware of her and Aiden growing closer. She might be inexperienced, but she’d seen the desire in his eyes. Felt tenderness in his touch.
Was she only imagining it?
Probably. He didn’t want a relationship and she needed to remember that. Maybe then, she wouldn’t feel dejected and a little hurt. She certainly didn’t want to ruin what they had with wishful thinking. She didn’t want to make things awkward. She couldn’t risk her heart by hoping. Not when they still had dolphin hugging and Waterbom to enjoy.
She wanted to be his friend.
So she met his gaze and forced a smile to her face. ‘Like you said, we can’t plan these things.’
He laughed softly. ‘True. Sometimes the best things just happen. Like this.’ He gestured between the two of them and Mia’s heart leapt.
‘What?’
‘You and me. Meeting you has made my holiday and I’ve really valued your friendship these past few days, Mia.’
Stupidly, her heart swooned. ‘Meeting you has made mine too. And you’ve really helped me think things through about uni, for which I’m grateful. I don’t have that many friends…’
It was a sad fact, but it wasn’t any less true.
‘Neither do I. Thankfully, we don’t live too far apart.’
‘No, we don’t. And I meant what I said too, about you bringing Ella to visit my animals. I think she’d love it and I…I’d love to meet her.’
His mouth curved further. ‘I’d like you to meet her too.’
Silence fell again but this time, it was a comfortable one. Mia took another sip of her drink. Her heart felt fuller.
He exhaled and placed his hands on his knees. ‘Maybe we should turn in.’
She nodded, and they both stood. It was getting late and this conversation pulled too deeply on her emotions.
‘Thanks for another great day, Aiden. I’ll see you for breakfast.’
They arranged when to meet and said goodnight. Mia started in the direction of her room, watching him go as he strode around to the other side of the pool.
Her heart sang and wept at the same time. If only Aiden could see it. He and Ella were just two people who needed a little love in their lives.