CHAPTER 4
AIDEN
The last time I was able to be near Greylin was two days ago at Dexter’s, but I couldn’t even enjoy it.
Not when I knew that Dad and York were planning to implement their next stage of attack.
My guilt over the whole thing was so bad that I couldn’t even pull Greylin over earlier when I saw her leave work.
She didn’t use her turn signal. Again.
Not only would it have been shitty of me to hit her again with the same infraction, but I have to be careful with her points. It’s still early in the year and I have to ration shit out.
Maybe this year will be different. Maybe you won’t be pulling her over just to get a few minutes of her time.
I can’t even express how much I wish it were true. How much I want to make it true. And I realize that the only person really standing in my way is myself.
Dad barely tolerates me and York isn’t the man I thought he was.
He indulges Dad and his crusade against recreational cannabis and, more pointedly, a business four locals have started and are running well.
Sometimes I wonder if York gets a kick out of the whole thing or if he feels just as stuck as I do.
I’m tired of feeling like I can’t do the right thing. It goes against who I am and my job.
York was right when he pointed out that Dad’s actions haven’t caused physical harm or done any outward damage. But the situation is right on the edge. Which is why I’m standing in front of Greylin’s door right now.
But I’m going to be honest, I plan to use my visit and the information I have to my advantage.
It’s possible I’m not as good of a guy as I thought. But I might never get this chance again and I think it’s the only way to get a little bit of time with her. I just need a fucking chance.
I close my eyes and knock, holding my breath until the door swings open. My eyes pop open and I look down to find Greylin staring up at me with wide, round eyes. Fuck, she’s gorgeous.
And clearly not expecting someone to show up on her doorstep. That does something to me and some of the knot in my gut eases. Not much, but it’s enough. Her hair is piled on top of her head in a big plop which is far more adorable than it should be.
I’ve always loved her hair. It’s brown, but in the summer, there are golden strands to be found, and in the winter, there are threads of red. It’s mesmerizing. I want to touch it, to pull it free of whatever contraption is holding it up and run my fingers through it.
Thankfully, I’m able to keep my hands to myself.
From the look on her face, now annoyed and no longer surprised, she wouldn’t appreciate me touching her. I yearn for a time when I can reach for her and know she’ll reach right back.
I clear my throat, “Good evening, Greylin. I hope I’m not stopping by too late,” I offer her the words and barely stop myself from wincing.
What the fuck am I talking about?
“Aiden, why are you here?” The question is full of exasperation, which is fair. “I’m not even in my car right now,” she huffs, her hand going to her hip as she cocks it, challenging me with her eyes and her tone, “and you’re off duty.”
“Exactly,” I respond cryptically before nodding behind her and deeper inside her home, “can I come in? I need to speak to you about something. It’s important.”
She stands up straighter before stepping aside. “Okay?”
I understand why she’s not sure what to make of the situation. We aren’t friends, as much as I hate not even being at least that. We don’t even have each other’s phone numbers. I pull her over, that’s when we interact.
We might pass each other at the store or at something going on around town. She usually shoots fire at me with her eyes the entire time.
As I walk past her, my arm brushes her shoulder, and I have to clench my hands into fists to stop myself from hauling her against my chest. Forgetting that I’m supposed to have manners, I head right over to the couch and sit down, leaning over my legs and resting my elbows on my knees.
“Aiden,” her voice is softer this time and when I look into her crystal blue eyes, there’s concern there, “what’s going on? Are you okay? I mean,” she swallows hard and shakes her head, “did something happen?”
I don’t know why I do it, but I hold my hand out to her. The need I have for her to take it, for her to give me just a little bit of trust, rushes through my veins. Every second feels endless, but then she slides her palm over mine.
The contact has both of us gasping and I can’t tear my eyes away from our joined hands. Has anything ever looked better?
Has anything ever felt this right?
When I give her a little tug and lead her around the coffee table toward the seat next to me, she allows it. The dazed look in her eyes makes me wonder if she’s even aware of what she’s giving me as if it were natural.
“I’m fine. Nothing happened,” I wince because it feels like that’s not entirely true.
A lot has happened.
“You’re lying,” her accusatory words feel like blows.
“No,” I rush out, “I’m not. I’m not here because of some traumatic thing that is going to end with you crying.” I look at her and hold her gaze so she can see the sincerity in my words. “That’s what you were asking, isn’t it?”
“Oh,” she breathes out and swallows while nodding slowly, “yeah, that’s what I was asking. I’m sorry.” Her eyebrows furrow together like she’s not sure how she feels about apologizing to me. “Then why are you here?”
“I think I owe you an apology as well.” When I lick my lips, her eyes dart down to my mouth. Interesting. I’ll fucking take it. “I’m sorry for all the times I pulled you over for the smallest infraction. It was childish.”
“Yeah,” she agrees, “why have you even been doing it? I mean, is this because of your dad? Is he trying to run us out one by one or something? York loves antagonizing Mayer,” she muses.
“No, it’s nothing like that,” I assure her. “He has never asked me to use my job, my position, against you or Green Mountain High.”
She studies me and it feels like being under the lens of a microscope. I want to squirm, but I force myself to stay still. I’m not even surprised that she’s considered the option and wondered.
Fuck, the idea of her thinking that I’m that guy guts me.
I swallow hard. “Greylin,” her name feels like a dewdrop on my tongue, “I promise that’s not why I pulled you over.
” Fuck, I’m an asshole, but I can’t get into that right now and it’s not why I’m here anyway.
“I had dinner with Dad and York recently,” I start, a little unsure of where to go from here.
She jumps in, her free hand gesturing wildly, “Let me guess, they were plotting the demise of Green Mountain High.”
Greylin giggles softly and looks at me expectantly, like I’m going to join in on the joke.
I’m not.
When I don’t laugh, or smile, or fucking breathe, the amusement on her face drops.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she deadpans.
“I wish I was.”
Does she even realize we’re still holding hands?
“Are you here to tell me what he’s up to outright or do you have some ulterior motive?” The way she’s eyeing me is suspicious as hell.
And sexy.
My cock throbs behind the fly of my jeans and I can only hope she doesn’t notice. It’s uncomfortable but I try to ignore it as best I can. It’s nearly impossible with her sweet lemon verbena scent wrapping around me.
It’s everywhere and I want to roll around on this damn couch to cover myself in it.
But that would be weird and this whole situation is strange enough.
Some people would say this is the last place I should be. They would be wrong.
I’m right where I’m supposed to be. The realization slams into me and I’m quite sure the only thing holding me up is Greylin’s presence.
“I definitely have an ulterior motive,” I husk the words and her cheeks pink slightly.
It’s good to know I affect her, and I haven’t been imagining the pull between us. The ache in my chest eases slightly.
Greylin scoffs and rolls her eyes. The pout of her lips makes me want to kiss her. Fuck, I bet she tastes good.
“What do you want, Aiden?” The question is a challenge. To not push too far. To not ask for too much.
And to remember who we are to each other.
But my aim is to change that. Permanently.
What the future holds for us crystalized in my soul the moment we touched. The contact was simple and innocent, but it sure as fucked packed a punch. I can make her mine; nothing is holding me back. Whatever hissy fit Dad wants to throw, he can do it without me as an audience.
Everyone has been paying for sins that don’t belong to us for far too long.
I grin at her and arch an eyebrow, challenging her right back. “I want a date, Greylin.”
Her mouth drops open for a moment before she snaps it closed. “You can’t be serious,” this time there’s a whine in her voice that has me chuckling.
“I’m very serious,” I assure her even though it’s unnecessary. She knows.
“So, I’m buying your loyalty with my body?” She screws up her face, the look in her eyes is pure disdain.
I match it with one of my own and bark, “No. I’m bargaining for some of your time. A date.”
Her eyes soften and my heartrate slows slightly. “You know this is kind of fucked up, right?”
“Maybe,” I acquiesce, “but a man has to use what he’s got, and I can recognize an opportunity when I see it. And it’s not illegal,” I make sure she knows.
“I don’t know,” there’s a tease in her voice, “I feel more than a little coerced, that doesn’t sound legal.”
I shoot her a look, one that tells her how ridiculous she’s being. We both know I’ll tell her what I know even if she doesn’t agree to these terms. Even though I might be willing to try and get something out of the deal, I won’t hold her over the fire. Come on now.
When I give her hand another squeeze, she pulls it free and gnaws on her bottom lip for a moment. I hate the loss of contact; hopefully, she does too.
“Okay,” she whispers and gifts me with a small smile, one that tells me it wasn’t all that difficult for her to agree.
As much as I want to jump up and down, I can’t. This is only step one and there are more steps than I would like ahead of me.
“But I have conditions,” her tone is all sass.
“I would be surprised if you didn’t. Lay them on me, but I can already tell you that I’ll agree to them.” I don’t even care if I sound like I’m gone for this woman already.
I am.
“We can’t go out in public,” she blurts out the words and regret passes over her face.
“As much as I would love to take you out on a proper date,” I admit, “I get why it can’t happen right now. One day.”
She looks at me like she doesn’t believe such a day will come, but I know it will.
One way or another.
“I’d like to cook dinner for you at my place,” I tell her.
What I don’t tell her is how deeply I need her in my home. I hope her scent embeds itself. I take a deep breath and feel the muscles in my shoulders relax just a little bit more.
Hopefully, I can keep my hands to myself during our date.
“I’m not sure if I’m more surprised that you cook or that you want to do it for me,” she muses.
“A man has to eat, and I can’t always get stuff to go from around town, especially depending on what shift I’m working.”
She nods, her face serious as if she’s committing what I just told her to memory. I should be so lucky to have her care so much.
“That makes sense,” she concedes. “So, dinner at your place. I’ll drive myself there.”
My shoulders slump and I gripe, “I’m really sucking at this date stuff. Not even picking you up?”
Greylin grins and chuckles. I’ll take it, even if it is at my expense.
She reaches over and pats my hand, “I think these are extenuating circumstances.”
I tease her, “Now who’s talking cop?”
Her cheeks turn pink as she smiles, “I might be known to watch a cop drama or two, or all of them.”
With a shake of my head, I lean toward her and lower my voice, “Real life isn’t like TV.”
“I know,” she sighs, “they pretty much always find the bad guy and all the drama is solved in a neat package and in a limited amount of time.”
As I smile at my woman, I can’t help but ask, “How about Thursday night. Does that work for you?” She nods and her gaze darts down to my mouth. “Seven?”
“Okay,” she breathes out.
As much as I want to kiss her, and everything in my body is screaming at me to do it, I don’t. Instead, I give her my faith and tell her everything I know about what Dad is planning and how York blew me off when I lodged my concerns.
The soft away she looks at me while I fill her in on what I know tells me she’ll show up on Thursday.
Now I just need to figure out what to make.