Chapter 15Aiden
Chapter Fifteen
Aiden
The weight of the day crashed down on me as I flopped into my chair in the quiet of my office. The last patient had left, and the clinic grew silent as my staff left. My hands, steady from years of medical training, now betrayed a slight tremor as I rubbed my face, trying to wipe away the exhaustion.
I thought about Mrs. Jonas, the seventy-year-old dynamo who used to organize neighborhood block parties during my childhood. Time hadn’t been kind to her. She’d hobbled into my clinic today, a shadow of her former vivacious self and her face lined with pain. But at least this second conversation about her hip had gone better than the first. She finally agreed to see a surgeon in Marathon about a hip replacement.
“You know best, Dr. Aiden,” she’d said with a trust that felt like a warm blanket on a cold night.
As I stared at the darkening sky through my window, my mind wandered. Once upon a time, I might have been the one performing her surgery. But life had had other plans, and here I was, in this small-town clinic instead of a chilly surgical suite. If things had turned out differently… I shook my head, trying to dislodge the what-ifs.
Nearly every day, my interactions with patients made it clear that I wasn’t the only one who had changed in the past fifteen-plus years. Unfortunately, most of their changes weren’t for the better. Informing them of bad news was a part of the job, but one I’d struggled with more than I thought I would. But dealing with loss was inevitable for a small-town doctor who saw patients through all phases of life. And I was learning to let the victories outshine the more troubling interactions I had with my neighbors.
The clock on the wall ticked, and I needed something—anything—to lift my spirits. Which of course sent my mind racing to Stella. And the feel of her lips under mine. A smile rose on my face to find I was stroking my mouth with one finger. She had taken my confession as well as I could have hoped for, and my soul now felt lighter for the telling. As a grown man with the experience of many years behind me, the stupid boy I’d been seemed inexplicable.
Indefensible.
Yet Stella had listened, and a new beginning had been formed. A week had passed since that night. We’d seen each other several times, going to Key West one evening where Stella showed me all the local haunts, and spent a morning on Big Pine Key. Our nights together had been like rediscovering a lost treasure, though our different schedules made getting together a bit of a juggling act.
Unable to resist, I reached for the phone and dialed Stella’s number, once again in my contacts where it should be. “Hi there,” I said as soon as she picked up, pleased my voice betrayed none of the heaviness that clung to me like fog. “Just checking in. How’s your day going?”
“Good. I’m in my office working on my catch of the day idea for tonight. I’m almost there but haven’t figured out the missing ingredient yet. ”
That made me smile, taking my mind off my day. “I didn’t realize so much thought went into fish specials.”
“Oh, yes. More than any other dish, the catch of the day is the chef’s signature, especially at a destination restaurant like Orchid. And since the catch changes every day, the recipe needs to also. Citrus for a light flaky fish, a hearty sauce for a meaty dorado—stuff like that.”
I could listen to her voice for hours. Now I needed to get that passion aimed at me and not her kitchen. Give it time. I need to be patient here… “I had no idea. Guess that’s why you wear the chef’s coat.”
“Especially for me, trying to make a name for myself at Orchid. The daily catch is what I’m trying to make our signature dish. It’s what keeps me on the right course.” She laughed. “Sort of like a compass for you. But enough about culinary dreams. How was your day?”
And my smile fell as I told her in general terms about the conversation with my patient. “Thanks for listening. It helps.”
“Of course. And if I’m being honest, pouring over my recipe is serving as a distraction for me. My day hasn’t been so stellar either.” Stella’s voice floated through the line, now tinged with annoyance. “Someone stole our antique lanterns from Orchid. The ones outside near the patio.”
“Damn.” I straightened in my chair, concern swamping my own troubles. I couldn’t remember exactly what they looked like, but that wasn’t the point. “Isn’t this the second thing that’s gone missing? You were at the market replacing missing orchids.”
“Actually, it’s the third theft. We lost some lawn edgers not long ago.”
“Shit. It sounds like you guys might have a problem.”
“Yeah, and Ben Coleridge is always lurking somewhere,” she replied. I could picture her rolling her eyes, a gesture so quintessentially Stella it made my lips curve upward despite everything. Obviously, the Markham-Coleridge feud hadn’t dimmed over the years .
“We kind of got into it today,” she continued. “I asked him if he knew anything about the thefts, and of course he was all innocence.”
“You confronted him? Stella! Maybe I should swing by and give you a gentlemanly escort home from work…” I trailed off, hoping she didn’t think I was overstepping.
“Thanks.” The soft warmth in her tone told me she appreciated my concern as much as her words did. “I’ll be fine. I think Ben got the message loud and clear today. Just another day in paradise, right?”
“I don’t know about that,” I said. “Calypso Key has always been so safe. Maybe it’s time to look into more security around the resort.”
“Actually, I talked to Hunter about it today.”
Last night, we’d cautiously caught up with each other, and she’d given me updates on her siblings. Including that the tall, weedy boy I’d once known had grown up to become a mammoth Special Forces Marine. My forehead creased with concern. “Didn’t you say he’s all the way in South Beach? How does that help?”
“Aw, are you offering to be my Dr. Knight in Shining Armor?” Stella teased, a playful lilt in her voice.
“Hell yes,” I said as all traces of levity left me. My heart thudded against my ribcage. “You needed me once, and I let you down. I’ve regretted it. Every. Single. Day. Since.” The words hung between us, heavy and fraught.
There was a pause, a hitch in her breath that told me my confession meant something. “It means a lot to hear you say that,” she finally murmured. “But I don’t have a long walk after work. That’s one of the perks I negotiated.” Her laugh came down the line, making me smile despite my concern.
“Then at least text me when you get home?”
“I’ll do that. I need to get going. We’ll get together soon, okay?”
“Okay,” I replied, giving in before reluctantly ending the call. As soon as I did, a deep desire to see her coursed through me. Her voice coming through the phone, no matter how seductive, paled in comparison with the real thing.
And hell if I’d just sit by this time .
I hardly tasted the sandwich I wolfed down for dinner, my mind already halfway to Calypso Key. After scraping my plate into the trash, I grabbed my keys and headed out into the warm evening.
The drive was short, the roads nearly empty as I drove over the two-lane Calypso Causeway that separated the two islands. When I parked in the main resort lot near the lobby, my stomach tightened as I exited my car. Taking a quick glance at the softly lit grounds, I blew a low whistle. Stella had mentioned a recent remodeling, and what I saw before me bore little resemblance to the resort I’d known as a teen. Gabe was serious about his renovations. I hardly heard the low voices of guests enjoying the evening as I strode toward the pale pink structure hugging the edge of the island. The area around the back door was deserted, and as I approached, the anticipation within me built to a crescendo. Stella slipped out the back door, her silhouette graceful and familiar, and stopped before a potted orchid.
“Stella,” I called softly.
She whirled, eyes wide and surprise lighting up her face. “Aiden? What are you doing here?”
“I wanted some company, and only you will do,” I admitted, offering her a hand. “You sneak out for a break?”
She nodded. “I insist everyone take theirs, no matter how nuts the night is. I figured I’d better practice what I preach. And it gives the crew confidence that I believe in them to handle things without me for a while.”
I pointed toward the path with my head. “Walk with me?”
Her smile brightened the night as she slipped her hand into mine. Together, we strolled toward the beach, the landscaping lights casting long shadows on the sand. Caution tape surrounded a long trench where the landscapers had dug up the ground, reminding me of the theft. That was the last thing I wanted to think about, so I raised my eyes upward. The moon had begun its ascent, a crescent of silver in the dark sky.
“Isn’t this a bit out of your way?” Stella asked, her voice teasing but her eyes searching mine .
“I decided a text wasn’t enough.” I squeezed her hand gently.
Our slow walk led us down the beach, then to the paved path toward Orchid. The sound of the waves had been a soothing backdrop to our meandering conversation, but now, as we approached the end of our interlude, tension threaded through the air. I could sense Stella’s reluctance to return, mirroring my own.
“I’m glad you came by.” Stella’s voice was soft, her gaze fixed on the cement beneath our feet.
“So am I.”
At the same time, we halted at the edge of the path a short distance from Orchid. She faced me, and the world seemed to still around us. The manicured trees arched overhead and provided a measure of privacy, though I couldn’t see anything but the woman before me.
Her dark, liquid eyes caught mine, holding me captive. Her normally tan face was bathed in pale moonlight, her sharp cheekbones softer. We were silent as words became unnecessary, superfluous. Without thinking about it, I leaned down, my lips meeting hers. The kiss started out tentative, an expression of two people who weren’t quite sure where the boundary between them lay.
I was sick of being restrained.
As I tilted my head, I clutched a handful of her hair, pulling her closer. Stella responded with equal passion, her hands finding their way to my shoulders and yanking me closer. Every nerve ending in my body ignited in a wildfire sparked by her touch. When she pulled back, her breath came in quick gasps that matched my own. Our eyes met in a mixture of desire and uncertainty. Questions danced unspoken in the air.
What does this mean? Where do we go from here?
“I have to get back to work,” she whispered, regret lacing her tone. “I’ve already been longer than I should.”
“Of course,” I managed, feeling the loss of her warmth instantly. My lips felt cold. Wrapping an arm around her waist, we walked to the kitchen door where we’d started. “I’d still like that text tonight. ”
That made her smile like I’d hoped as she promised she would. Reluctantly, I released her and watched her slip back into the building, her silhouette briefly framed in the doorway before vanishing. I stared at the closed door after she disappeared. My heart pounded a fierce rhythm, urging me to stay, to not let this night end. Slowly, I turned around and walked to my car, only to stand beside it, keys jangling in hand. Unable to drive away.
Instead, I returned to Orchid. I found a carved wooden bench nearby, under a palm tree swaying gently in the night breeze. Easing out a sigh, I stretched my legs and crossed my feet at the ankles. I settled in to wait.
Hours passed, but I didn’t mind. The sounds of the warm, welcoming night lulled me into a reflective state. Thoughts of Stella danced through my mind, replaying the feel of her kiss, her laughter carried by the wind, and the way she fit so perfectly against me. And distracted me from thinking about my eight o’clock patients tomorrow morning.
Just after midnight, she emerged from Orchid once again. This time her face was etched with the fatigue and relief of a shift now complete. Rising from my bench, I approached her silently as a small smile stretched my lips.
When she saw me, surprise flickered across her face. But it was quickly replaced by a radiant smile that outshone the moon above. “You waited? I guess texts really aren’t enough for you.”
“Couldn’t let the night end without making sure you got home safely. I recall someone saying something about me being a doctor in shining armor.”
I offered her my arm, and she looped hers through with a laugh. “This is very sweet. Thank you.” Her words teased, though her eyes shone with something softer, warmer.
“You’re welcome. ”
“No early patients tomorrow?” Stella asked, a hint of concern edging her question.
I shrugged, dismissing the thought. “I’m used to working on little sleep—I did it all through residency. And right now, I’m much more interested in tonight.”
As we climbed the gentle hill toward the Big House, Stella’s arm with mine, I felt the pull of something undeniable between us. The garden next to the grand old structure spread out like a green sea, its edges defined by the vibrant red and yellow hues of bougainvillea hedges. The blooms stood as silent sentinels, creating an intimate alcove that seemed to invite stolen moments. As it had all those years ago. Our first awkward, fumbling sexual encounter had been right here. But tonight, instead of filling me with regret, the sight brought a powerful wave of nostalgia. Not to mention renewed desire.
I stopped to take it all in. “It looks exactly the same. All these years later.”
“But we’re not, are we?”
I lifted her hand to my lips, brushing a kiss over the soft skin. “No, I think we’ve both learned a thing or two since then.”
“Gabe and April got married here a few months ago,” Stella said as her gaze swept over the serene expanse. “No need to change a setting that’s so perfect.”
My focus shifted from the garden to her profile illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. The way she bit her lower lip, a hint of anticipation in the curve of her mouth, stirred something deep within me. The grass beneath our feet smelled like summer, and as we ventured nearer to the edge of the garden, the sounds from the nearby sea became muted whispers. We stopped, surrounded by the fragrance of flowers.
Without another word, I closed the gap between us, pressing my lips to hers in a kiss that spoke volumes of years lost and longing reignited. As our mouths moved together, tenderness quickly gave way to passion, to an explosion of desire that had simmered below the surface for far too long. We became a clash of teeth and tongues, each searching. The sensation of her was familiar and yet completely new, all at the same time.
I pulled back slightly, breathless, my hands framing her face. “This.” I managed to say between pants. “This is what I’ve thought about for years. Being with you.”
“Then don’t stop,” Stella whispered back, her fingers tracing the line of my jaw before pulling me into another deep, consuming kiss. “I think we can do a much better job this time.”
My arousal was a fierce, rhythmic current that threatened to sweep me under. With every touch, every sigh that escaped her lips, my desire grew. Her hands slipped under my shirt, and her fingertips grazed my skin. Everywhere she touched lit on fire.
“God, Stella,” I groaned, pressing her closer against me. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“You make me feel alive.” As she spoke, the heat of her breath sent more pulsing waves rocketing through me. Her hand skipped down my abdomen, stopping to palm me. I twitched, gritting my jaw at the intensity of sensations flying through me. I pressed hard into her hand and raked my mouth over hers.
“I don’t want to stop. Not now. Tell me you’re prepared,” she said between gasps, her voice a sultry whisper that was almost lost in the breeze around us.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got a condom in my wallet. I always keep one.”
Her lips curved into a smile, full and swollen from my kisses, a silent message of intent that sent blood pounding through my body. With a swift motion, she tugged at my hand, pulling us both down onto the soft, fragrant grass that seemed to welcome us into its embrace.
“I’m very glad to hear that,” she purred, her eyes alight with desire. “Because I plan on making this night unforgettable.”