Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Slowly, I made my way over to him. I stopped inches from his body and placed my hands on his chest. I watched as he closed his eyes and drew in a shaky breath.
“You need to forgive yourself, Aiden. You need to let go of the past and all the guilt and focus on the future.”
His eyes opened, and we stared at one another.
“Have you let go of your past, Emma?”
My voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m trying.”
His hand moved up the side of my arm, leaving a trail of tingles that felt both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. “There is no way on this Earth we found one another on our own.”
“Aiden,” I whispered as a tear slipped free, and he watched it roll down my face.
When he cupped the back of my neck, I lifted onto my toes. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Emma Middleton.”
His mouth pressed to mine, and we slowly let ourselves get lost in the beautiful moment. I’d never been kissed by a man the way Aiden kissed me. Never felt my entire body come to life with such a burning, erotic need.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I sighed when Aiden lifted me up, holding me against his body as we deepened the kiss. When we finally drew apart, he kept me in his arms, his forehead pressed to mine. Each breath was deep and rushed.
“I don’t want to let you go,” he whispered.
A part of me wondered if he meant his hold on me…or something else.
“Do you hear me, Emma? I want to hold you like this all night. I want us to fill all that emptiness…together.”
I searched deep inside my heart for the right words to say, but nothing would come. I was overwhelmed from being in his arms and from his kiss. I felt dizzy with a need I’d never experienced before in my entire life.
So, I did the only thing I could do. I held on to him tighter.
CHAPTER TWENTY
AIDEN - TAKE THE LEAP
She was in my arms. I was holding Emma in my arms and it felt perfect.
God, this feels so right.
When she held onto me tighter, I wanted to walk her over to the bed and lie down with her. Press myself against her body and stay there all night. I would have if Hadley wasn’t home.
“Hadley?” Emma whispered, as if she’d read my mind.
I knew I needed to let her go. There were so many things we needed to talk about, but for this moment, I didn’t want to think of any of them.
“Mom’s with her.”
Her hold on me loosened, and I slowly let her body slide down mine. I didn’t let go of her until her feet were firmly on the ground, and even then I waited a few extra seconds.
“We need to talk about this,” I said softly.
With a nod, she replied, “Yes.”
“Not tonight. Let’s just…” My voice trailed off.
“Be there for Hadley.”
“Yes. It was a bad sprain, but the doctor said kids tend to bounce back faster than we do.”
She smiled. “She’s a strong little girl.”
“Yeah, she is.”
Emma rubbed her lips together, then said, “Let me change and I’ll be right over.”
“Okay.”
I wasn’t sure if I should simply walk away or kiss her, so I followed my heart for once.
Cupping her face in my hands, I bent closer and kissed her. It was a soft, tender kiss. Her hands gripped my forearms as she kissed me back.
“See you in a few,” I whispered.
Her smile nearly left me breathless. “Okay.”
After making my way back into the house, I saw my mother in the seating area in the loft upstairs. The look she gave me made me pause.
“What?”
“Did you find out why she left the hospital and how she got home?”
“She left because she ran into Nancy.”
My mother groaned. “Enough said on that. How did she get back?”
“Earl saw her and asked her if she wanted to come to his place for dinner.”
“That was nice of him.”
I nodded. “Where’s Hadley?”
“Picking out some stuffed animals. She didn’t want my help getting them. However, she does want to spend the night out here in the loft.”
With a grin, I replied, “Like a campout.”
My mother stood. “Yes. Good luck with that. Her Tylenol pills are on the kitchen counter. Emma knows this as well, but rest, ice, and elevation. I better get back to the church and help clean up.”
“It’s getting late, Mom. Why don’t you just head home and not worry about the church.”
Walking up to me with a grin, she kissed my cheek. “I’m a grown woman, Aiden. Besides, your father is waiting for me there. Tell Emma I said goodnight, and I hope you two can work things out.”
I sighed. My mother always did have a way of knowing more than she should. “Mom,” I warned.