Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Maya stood in the hallway, fighting to draw in a full breath, her heart racing in her chest. This had all seemed like a good idea an hour ago. Now, though, she wasn't so sure. She told herself a hundred times on the way over that she would follow through with it.
Her psychologist had told Maya that the feelings would eventually go away. Her anxiety had recently been through the roof, and together they’d devised a plan for Maya to try something new once a week. She was supposed to do something the “old her” would have done without a second thought.
Well, this was definitely new.
She didn't even really know Aiden, yet here she stood outside his apartment. She was literally setting herself up for the exact same situation she’d escaped a year ago.
She should be terrified.
Maya was nervous. Worried.
But not scared.
Deep down, she knew Aiden would never hurt her.
She still couldn't explain what precisely had prompted her to get into the car and drive over here. Even when she’d entered the lobby after one of the tenants held the door open for her, she hadn't really expected to find herself on Aiden's doorstep.
But now she was here, and she had to decide what to do.
Go in or turn back?
She threw a glance at apartment 7B. What she’d thought was just a turn of phrase, he apparently had meant literally. The door stood wide open, waiting for her to make her decision.
He’d never made any untoward move, never come on to her, yet months ago he’d handed her a card with his personal information written on the back in scrawling black ink.
If you ever want to reach me, he’d said.
Had he suspected she was attracted to him and hoped she’d contact him?
She was about to find out.
Summoning every ounce of courage, she stepped inside.
Aiden had changed and was now relaxing on the couch, one foot propped up on the coffee table. For all intents and purposes, he looked completely at ease. But she knew better. The lines around his eyes and mouth were tight with tension, probably because he was worried about what she was going to do.
She slowly closed the door, then locked it behind her, cringing inwardly as the metallic click filled the air. Her heart beat faster, and her limbs trembled with nervous energy before she finally forced herself to turn around and face him.
The TV played softly in the background, and Aiden smiled as she warily ventured closer.
He tipped his head toward the opposite end of the couch. “Make yourself comfortable.”
She jumped when the buzzer rang, and Aiden threw a small smile her way as he pushed to his feet.
“Pizza’s here. I’ll be right back.”
Her heart raced as she watched him hit the button to admit the delivery person, wondering not for the first time what the heck she was doing.
This was crazy.
Aiden grabbed his wallet from a small side table, then offered the deliveryman a tip before taking the pizza and locking up again. He strode toward her and slid the box onto the coffee table.
“What would you like to drink?”
“Whatever you have is fine.”
Aiden grinned and tipped his head. “Come on.”
She rose, wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans, and followed him into the kitchen. His back was to her as he opened a cupboard and pulled down two plates. She couldn’t help but notice the way his broad shoulders filled out the plain T-shirt, rippling and shifting beneath the fabric as he moved.
“Take these, would you?”
She ripped her eyes away, her cheeks flaring hot as he passed the plates her way. If he’d caught her staring at him, he didn’t say a word.
Aiden moved toward the fridge and grabbed two bottles of water. “Good?”
She nodded, and he snatched two paper towels from the roll before leading the way back to the living room.
He set the waters on the table, then flipped open the box. Her mouth watered even as her stomach twisted, and she handed a plate to Aiden, who loaded it up.
She reached in with shaky fingers and withdrew a slice of cheesy pizza. Aiden relaxed into the cushions and returned his gaze to the TV.
She forced herself to chew and swallow, all the while watching him from the corner of her eye. But he never moved.
Unlike a lot of other people, Aiden didn't scrutinize her. He didn’t check on her every two seconds to make sure she was eating or watch for the smallest sign of an impending breakdown.
He was just… there.
She slowly began to relax, and they finished off half the pizza in comfortable silence.
He didn't interrogate her, didn't watch her like a hawk to see how she was handling being in a locked room with him.
She appreciated all of that more than she could say, and it solidified her opinion that Aiden really was the good guy he seemed to be.
He left to put the remainder of the pizza in the kitchen, and she pushed to her feet, then drifted toward the window. His apartment overlooked a park, and she stared sightlessly at the lush green trees below.
A hundred emotions rioted inside her stomach, and she felt like a fool for coming here. What was she thinking?
He'd been polite, but he didn't seem remotely interested in her—not the way he had that day at the coffee shop last year.
Her heart twisted, and deep in thought, she didn't hear him when he stepped back into the room.
“You okay?”
She jumped and whirled toward him, her pulse racing in her veins and thundering in her ears.
“S-sorry,” she stammered. “I didn't hear you.”
He smiled gently but didn’t move, and she shifted uncomfortably.
“I, um… I wanted to thank you.”
He gave a little nod. “You're welcome.”
“Not for the pizza,” she clarified. “I mean, that too, but… for not interrogating me.”
His head tipped to one side. “I would never do that.”
She was beginning to understand that.
“I know,” she said softly. “But I always feel weird when I'm out in public. Everyone wants to know what it was like, how I escaped… This was the first time in forever that I felt like I could just… relax. It was really nice.”
The tension was back in his face, and his tone was tight when he spoke.
“You shouldn't have to put up with that.”
She gave a little shrug. “People are curious. It's…”
“Rude,” Aiden cut in.
There was that.
She nodded. “I'm just so tired of reliving it over and over, you know?”
“I’m sure,” he murmured. “I'm glad you decided to eat with me.”
Heat flared over her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze to the floor.
“Would you be interested in having dinner with me again, for real this time?”
She snapped her eyes up to meet Aiden’s.
“Like… go out?”
“Or stay in.” He shrugged. “Whatever you want is fine with me.”
She was momentarily floored. He knew everything that had happened, yet he willingly wanted to go out with her?
“Are you sure?”
Aiden smiled. “I know I'm a year late, but I was hoping I hadn't missed my chance with you.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I just…”
She trailed off, and Aiden sobered.
“If you don't want to go on a date with me—”
“No, I do,” she stated firmly. “I’m just surprised, is all.”
Aiden's dark eyes stared into hers.
“I wanted you a year ago, and I want you now. Nothing will change that.”
Heat flared around her heart, but she couldn’t shake the nagging sense of unease. It all seemed too good to be true. There were a dozen emotions roiling in her stomach, and she couldn’t begin to decipher all of them at the moment.
She needed some time to think.
She gestured toward the door.
“I’m sure I’ve taken up enough of your time. I should probably get home.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
Aiden nodded, then headed toward the door.
“I’ve got a break between cases right now. How about I pick you up tomorrow around seven?”
She smiled. “I'd like that.”
Maya watched as he grabbed his keys, then locked up behind them before leading the way down the stairs. The whole way, he stayed half a step ahead, and irritation flared briefly before realization dawned.
He wasn’t being rude by walking in front of her—he was protecting her.
The sound of his voice jerked her from her thoughts.
“Where did you park?”
“Second row.”
She pointed, and Aiden headed that way.
“You don't have to walk me to my car,” she said softly. “I'm a big girl.”
“I know.”
He smiled at her.
“But I want to.”
She used the key fob to unlock the door, then slid into the driver’s seat. Aiden stared down at her, one hand on the door, waiting until she’d started the engine before speaking again.
“See you at seven.”
“See you then.”
Aiden closed her door, then stepped back and shoved his hands into his pockets. She shot a little wave his way, then shifted into gear.
She risked a glance in her rearview mirror as she pulled out of the lot, and her heart leaped in her chest.
Aiden stood in the exact same spot, watching as she drove away.
Back at her apartment complex, she parked in her designated space, then glanced around before climbing out of the car. She continued to scan the lot as she made her way toward the building, and she hung back as a man exited.
All the while, she watched him from beneath her lashes as he moved down the steps and away from her. Once he was gone, she let out a little breath and headed inside.
Inside her apartment, she locked the door and slid the three deadbolts into place. She checked all the windows, then stepped into the shower.
She soaped up and rinsed off, thinking about tonight and what tomorrow would bring. He'd asked her out when he didn't have to.
That meant something, didn’t it?
She wasn't sure she could give him her heart yet… but she knew he would wait for her, just as he'd promised.
Maya left the bedroom door open, then climbed into bed. She couldn't stand the thought of being confined, and she felt immeasurably better knowing she had an avenue of escape, as irrational as it seemed.
This was her apartment, but Jeffrey Wainwright had stolen her sense of security.
As she lay there in the darkness, though, she realized something.
It was slowly coming back.
Thoughts of Aiden filled her mind as she fell into the first good night of sleep she'd had in more than a year.