Touched (The Untouched Trilogy #2)(60)

“Why is that?”

“It just never felt right, especially when I see how the other half lives. It’s excessive.”

“Is that why Sloan said that you’ve always been the challenging one of the bunch when we were in St. Barts?” I asked.

He laughed. It was a rich guttural sound. I loved when he laughed. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“You know, it’s actually quite awesome to think of it the way you do; it’s impressive all things considered,” I said.

“Don’t get me wrong, I do call in favors or do what I need to when the time calls for it.”

“Oh yes, I’ve observed that a few times and I’ve found it to be quite impressive as well as intimidating.”

“So I still intimidate you?” he asked.

“You’re atypical. It would be difficult to find someone who wasn’t intimidated by you, especially when you have that don’t f*ck with me thing going.”

“What?” he asked.

“Dane and Tiffany come to mind.”

“Does that bother you?” he asked.

“No, not really. It’s just silencing. I don’t know how to take it. It makes me wonder more about you.”

“You don’t need to wonder, just don’t leave and you’ll have a chance to know anything you want.”

“I think I will,” I said.

“Good.”

I sat quietly thinking about the pieces of information that I’d sorted out about his family. “You know it sounds as if you long for normalcy.”

“More often than not,” he said, wistfully.

“It also seems as if you’ll never have it.”

“Yes, I suppose that’s true. But you, you make me feel normal.”

“How?” I asked.

“You don’t treat me like I’m some prodigy or this greater than life rich guy. You don’t really take my shit.”

“Yeah, well you don’t take mine either.” He was wrong, I did take a lot of his shit, more than I had ever taken from anyone but I supposed he wasn’t accustomed to any resistance at all. I was glad to know that he saw me as not succumbing to him as others did.

“We’re good together Aria and we could be so much better if you really let me in.”

“I have,” I said.

“Not completely,” he countered.

The last time I thought I had let him in, it f*cked my world pretty badly. I wanted to take it a lot slower this time around but that was rather challenging with a man like him because he really was this greater than life guy, whether he chose to buy into it or not, he was … and he was the kind of man that would make the most sensible and controlled woman lose her shit.

“I know Aiden, but you’ve got to let me do this at a pace that is not so terrifying for me.”

“I will but only if you promise not to run again.”

“I promise.”



*****



The Raine Industries jet landed in Chicago shortly after 11 o’clock. We stepped from the jet into a beautiful autumn morning. The cool, brisk wind blew harshly against my face as I looked up smiling at the bright sky. The clouds, having engulfed an enormous helping of the cool Chicago air, were happy and full. They lay content against the perfectly-painted baby blue backdrop. The sun was shining brightly casting its stamp of approval on our day. A car was waiting for us on the tarmac. I kept happily in step with Aiden as he pulled me alongside him. I stole a glance at him to find that he was smiling expectantly at me, his brown hair slightly tousled by the wind.

We discussed our afternoon plans as we enjoyed the short drive to his home. His excitement was tangible. I wanted to bottle it and keep it under lock and key for those days when this part of him was hidden. The only thing that could place a damper on my day was the less than welcoming reaction I was sure to receive from Aiden’s parents. I wanted them to approve but I knew they wouldn’t. I would be tolerated, I knew that much but I wanted this to be more than that. I wanted them to like me. I wanted this to be easier for the both of us this time.

I didn’t know how Aiden’s family would react to my intruding on their weekend so I was nervous. Aiden had reassured me that it would be fine but that was of little to no comfort. After thirty minutes or so, the car turned down a long tree-lined drive and stopped at a towering, formal gated entry. The gate slowly opened and we continued down the drive. I looked out the window and gasped. I didn’t know what to expect but the mansion was enormous. I wondered what social dramas had occurred within the walls of this massive estate.

Its opulence was intimidating and beautiful; two words that I had come to associate with Aiden.

“It’s quite large,” I said, stating the obvious.

“Yes, that’s a word for it,” he replied.

“Do you not like it?” I asked.

“I didn’t say that. I grew up in this house so as you can imagine, it’s quite different for me than it is for someone seeing it for the first time.”

“I just can’t imagine what anyone would do with so much room. Exactly how large is it?”

“Five stories, fifty or so rooms,” he said.

“Or so?”

“It changes as they feel the need for additional wings. A couple of years ago, a beauty salon and additional screening room were added,” he said.