"Who is Cindy?" Aidy asked as she perched herself up on the counter and watched Aiden practically tear open the bag of popcorn and throw it into a bowl.

  "I don't know, sweetie."

  "You gotta come see the fort Gus Gus built for me."

  She grinned at her niece and envied the ease in which her young mind could let go of the unknown. There was no reason for Aidy to fear the future and Aiden prayed there would never be a reason.

  Aidy started in on a very thorough explanation about every part of the fort they had built, but Aiden's mind wasn't in the room. It was in that bedroom where Gus was speaking with another woman on the phone. A woman who had no reason to think Aiden was a threat because Gus had clearly stated she was a friend.

  Aidy started in on the popcorn and focused on the cartoon playing on the television. Aiden started to laugh to herself. A painful laugh that caused the agony she was feeling to spread over every limb until even the tips of her fingers hurt. Until the only thing left to do was sob, if she could only take one breath. She deserved this for the way she had acted over the last several weeks. She'd finally found clarity. She had finally found what had been missing in her life all along, only the timing was horrible because she had fallen.

  No, she had crashed and burned.

  Just as she expected she would.

  Time to move on, Aid.

  She thought of the waiting messages on her dating profile - a profile she was planning on deleting until now - and decided that the very next morning, she would respond. Maybe she could get a date and spend a night thinking of anything but Fergus Brannock.

  The next ten minutes were spent focusing on her niece and debating on whether to head back to her apartment or suck it up and put on her big girl panties.

  Footsteps sounded from the hallway and Aidy giggled as they hunched under the blankets and shoved popcorn into their mouths. Aiden was anxious, but she was ready to face whatever happened next with neutrality.

  Even if it killed her.

  Chapter 10

  Gus

  Sleep was impossible. I couldn't get that look on Aiden's face when she handed me the phone out of my mind. The bleakness in her eyes… it ripped my heart out and confused me at the same time. She was the one that wanted to be friends, not me.

  It had been a moment of weakness when I responded to a message from Cindy that same morning. She had been a good friend when we dated in the past so I didn't want to be a dick and ignore her, but I wasn't interested in pursuing anything more with her. Apparently, answering the text had been enough encouragement for her to call me out of the blue just to catch up.

  If I had any doubts before, the hour we spent talking with my family together cleared them up. Aiden fit so perfectly into my family and there was no way I could move on from her, no way I could let her go. I loved her and I would do anything to keep her in my life.

  Mom had always said we would find that one woman that we would give up everything for if we had to, I just didn't realize how true that actually was.

  I would quit my job and find another one if it was too much for her. I would die for her.

  When I told Cindy I wasn't interested in revisiting anything with her, she was disappointed and surprised, but understood.

  "Don't string that woman along," she'd told me before saying goodbye.

  I wasn't trying to, but for some reason, that is what was happening.

  Aiden unsuccessfully played it off as nothing for the rest of the night and hardly looked at me when all I could do was stare at her. Giving her space wasn't working.

  Aidy had fallen asleep on the floor between us, surrounded by pillows and my Red had turned away and pretended to sleep. I could only assume it was to avoid a conversation we just couldn't have at the moment with Aidy there.

  I was finally drifting off when my phone started ringing. I quickly crawled out of the fort we had built and moved to my bedroom. My alarm clock said it was four in the morning. Sleep quickly left me when I saw Captain Payne's name on the screen.

  "Brannock."

  "Detective, need you to come in right away."

  "Please tell me we got the fucker."

  Payne sighed and my hope was washed away. "No. But we're closer."

  I heard movement out in the hallway and turned to find Aiden in the door of my bedroom, worry all over her beautiful face.

  "I'll be there soon."

  "Is everything okay?" she asked when I threw my phone on the bed. Her voice was tired and husky from just waking up. So damn sexy that I had to turn away from her to face my closet so she wouldn't notice the tenting at the front of my sweats.

  "Not sure. I have to go in now," I muttered as I yanked a shirt off of its hanger.

  "I'll make you some coffee while you get ready."

  I absently removed the t-shirt I had attempted to sleep in and smiled at her. "Thanks, babe."

  Her eyes widened and she took a quick step back. I looked down at my naked torso and was never so grateful for the hours I had spent at the gym staying in shape. When I looked back up, she was gone.

  I dressed quickly and walked out to the kitchen where she was filling a thermos full of fresh coffee. Aidy was still lights out in the living room and I caught a glimpse of her tiny feet poking out of the makeshift fort.

  "Will you text me later and let me know you're okay?" Her voice was filled with distress and the avoidance she had been working on so hard was completely gone. At least for now.

  "Yeah. I will."

  She handed me the thermos, but before she could pull away I grabbed onto her wrist and pulled her against me. She came willingly, but cautiously. I set the thermos on the counter and cupped her face in my hands. She closed her eyes tightly and my chest tightened.

  "Look at me, Aiden."

  I waited, the feel of her soft skin doing a number on my desire for her. There wasn't time to clear up the call from last night or to even begin to explain what she meant to me, but there was one thing I could do to show her what I wanted. Then tonight, I'd make her mine one way or the other and I wouldn't take no for an answer.

  Her eyes finally opened, chocolate swirls that I swear I could stare at forever. I bent my head slowly, our eyes locked together. Her breath hitched, but she didn't protest, spurring me on. When my lips touched hers, I lost it. The tender kiss I was planning to give her was suddenly forgotten and morphed into something desperate. It wasn't going to be enough. I wouldn't be able to leave without ensuring her sugary taste would stay with me the rest of the day.

  But just as quickly as it started, it was ripped away.

  "Aunty Aiden? I'm thirsty."

  Aiden pulled out of my grasp faster than lightning and turned away with a quiet whisper, "I can't."

  Can't?

  It was my turn to ask the two words that had changed so much for me over the last week, but I did it silently.

  Why not?

  She slipped into the fort with Aidy, leaving me standing there speechless and broken.

  No. Not broken.

  Confused as hell, but not broken.

  Not when I knew I had given her all the time in the world to stop that kiss, and she hadn't.

  ***

  Work was the continuation of a shit morning. The captain brought everyone on this case into a meeting, going over all the evidence and facts as a team and it brought to light a lot of points. One being the fact that everyone hadn't been on the same page as Lincoln and me when it came to how we were going to locate this guy. Several people thought we were just waiting patiently.

  Linc had to hold me down in my seat so I wouldn't shoot those lazy pricks in the knees. Our job wasn't to just sit around on our thumbs and wait.

  It didn't help that Aiden had been on my mind all morning and by the time Linc and I left the station for lunch, I was sure he wanted to shoot me. Where was Con and Luke to slap me in the back of the head when I needed it most? I told Linc everything that happened and he just shook his head and told me to man up.

  He was right. I was done being silent. Hell, I'd never been silent before, why the fuck was I doing it now?

  I just needed the right opportunity to talk to Aiden, to sit her down and risk everything by telling her how much I needed her and I needed to do it soon. The knowledge that she was slipping through my fingers was clawing at me.

  I headed home for lunch and to clear my head. Honestly, I just wanted to see her again and hoped to run into her and finish that kiss, make her see that this was right. I had only been home five minutes when Lily showed up at my door looking stressed and exhausted.

  "Hey, I've been looking for Aiden for the last couple hours. Is she here with you?"

  "No, she isn't. I just came home for lunch." Panic started to flood my chest thinking something had happened, but Lily quickly squashed it.

  "Don't worry. She was fine when I picked Aidy up. I'd bet you a million dollars that she just forgot her phone. She was so distracted this morning so it probably slipped her mind to take it with her. She did say she was going to be working on a couple of pieces, I just wasn't sure when."

  Relief washed through me, "She's probably at the studio. I can go get her."

  "That's okay. Will you actually have her call me? I wanted to run something by her, but Aidy gets out of preschool soon so I really can't stay long."

  "Yeah. I'll take her some lunch and have her call. You need someone to watch Aidy? Because if she can't, I'd be happy to as long as work allows it."

  "Oh my God, I think I love you, Gus."

  I laughed and gave her a hug, "Of course you do. What's not to love?"

  "So modest," she giggled. "No, it actually includes both of you and Aidy, but I need to check with my sister first."

  "Sounds good."

  We said our goodbyes and I promised to have Aiden call her the minute she was available. I packed a quick lunch, hoping she was hungry and willing to be in my presence for more than a minute, then made my way across the street to her studio. Being surrounded by what she loved most always made it easier to talk to her. She always looked so peaceful when she painted. I needed her calm for what I was about to tell her, needed her in her happy place so she could make a rational decision. If she argued, I was going to argue back. Until that talk with my dad, I hadn't wanted to push her, but there was no choice now.

  I'd take the risk if there was any chance of making her mine.

  I walked into the small apartment and looked around. Her paintings were everywhere, from bright and colorful to dark and depressing. The variety always surprised me. The woman could put any emotion on a canvas and make you understand it. Pictures were stacked on the counter to the point of falling over and nearly tumbling to the ground.

  She had organized her supplies on a bookshelf standing against one wall and everything had its place. This was what she was born to do and I hoped she never gave it up.

  My eyes searched her out until I saw the top of her red hair peeking over a huge canvas. Her entire body was hidden from view except for her bare feet that were tapping against the cloth covered floor. Her toes were covered in drips of every different color paint and it looked sexier than the perfectly painted toenails I saw on other women.

  What I wouldn't give to help her clean that paint off every single day. The ideas running through my head would certainly make her blush from her bright red hair to her paint covered toes.

  I shut the door, but she didn't hear it and was completely unaware that I was even there. I didn't want to startle her, but smiled at the opportunity to sit and watch her work without her knowing. Creepy? Maybe.

  I quietly set the bag of food on the ground by the door and stepped closer. I shifted enough to the side so I could see everything but her face. She was humming softly and I noticed the ear buds in her ears and the iPod sitting on the small table next to her.

  Her cut off shorts and white tank top were covered by a dark green apron with splotches of paint all over it. Her hair was pulled into a bun at the back of her neck, frizzy and wild, so damn sexy in the sunlight streaming in from the window. That light was placed so perfectly and was so bright, I could see specks of dust floating around her, giving the scene an ethereal glow.

  My eyes devoured every inch of her as she leaned back to observe the area she had just colored. She must have seen me out of the corner of her eye because she nearly toppled off of her stool in the next moment and her eyes widened as she focused on me standing there watching her.

  "God, Gus! Make some noise next time would you!"

  I chuckled and moved toward her to get a good look at the painting she had been working on.

  "No! Stay back. You can't see this one until it's done." She hopped off her stool and rushed over to me.

  "Okay, fine. I won't look."

  "Why are you here?"

  "I brought you lunch," I replied and pointed at the bags of food still by the door. "And Lily wants you to call her."

  "Why didn't she just call me?"

  I narrowed my eyes at her and she paled, just now realizing what she had done. "Oh shit!"

  "Yeah, oh shit is right. You forgot your phone. You promised you would be careful, Aiden."

  "I'm sorry, okay?" she snapped, taking me by complete surprise. Looked like Red was wanting to come out and play. Well, I was ready and there was no way she was going to get out of this.

  "What if something had happened, huh?"

  "Nothing did happen as you can see, so get off my back about it. I won't forget my phone again. Plus, it's not like I would have time to call anyway if someone busted in here."

  Panic flared when the image she painted took shape. The thought of someone hurting her… I would fucking lose it.

  "Don't say shit like that, Red. You said yourself you've felt like someone was following you. Just don't be so ignorant next time."

  "Ignorant? I'm the one being ignorant?"

  I started to ask her what the hell she meant by that but my phone rang and she huffed and walked away to clean out her brushes. Lily's name flashed over the screen.

  "Hey, Lil. Aiden is right here and was just about to call you."

  "Oh good, I realized it would be better to ask you both while you are together so put it on speaker."

  I looked over at Aiden who was angrily organizing her brushes and sighed. "Yeah, okay. She wants to talk to both of us, Aid," I said gently. She dropped her things and stomped over with her arms folded over her chest.

  She was furious and so fucking exquisite. If Lily didn't sound so nervous about what she needed to ask us, I would have tossed the phone away and kissed her like the starving man I had become.

  I covered the phone before placing it on speaker and quietly whispered, "The minute this call is done, we need to have a talk."

  She paled once more, but didn't refuse. Let her be nervous. I was done waiting for her to come to her senses.

  "Go ahead, Lil."

  "Okay, so Chad wants to spend time with Aidy and get to know her and I was going to wait a little longer before I did something like this, but he practically begged me and I thought it would be so much easier if you two were there as kind of a buffer, ya know? So…" she paused and then rushed out, "would the two of you please come over for dinner tonight?"

  "I can't," Aiden replied instantly.

  "What? Why not?" Lily cried.

  "I have a date."

  Silence.

  Blood rushed to my head and I felt my fists clench, the plastic of the phone still in my hand, creaking viciously. Aiden refused to look at me. This had to be some kind of a joke, just a way to get out of dinner or make me feel guilty for being so stern with her. She had to be getting back at me. But Aiden wasn't that kind of person. When it was something as serious as this, she wouldn't do something so juvenile. Right?

  "A date?" I breathed.

  "Who the fuck are you going on a date with?" Lily screamed over the phone, seeming even more pissed off than I was.

  Aiden gaped, obviously shocked that her sister had used the 'F' word. It didn't even register to me because it was the exact same question I was screaming in my mind. I couldn't speak, couldn't even move, so I just listened to the two sisters argue about the one thing that could destroy me.

  "I answered a message on the site this morning and he asked me to go to dinner tonight."

  "I thought you were deleting your account!" Lily shouted. "And why the hell do you think it's okay to go out with the guy after talking to him once? That's just stupid, Aiden!"

  "Seems like everyone thinks I'm stupid today, so why not give them a real reason to," she bit out.

  "Aiden…"

  "No! I'm going and neither one of you should try to stop me. You both tell me how much you want me to be happy and to just live my life. Well, this is me living it." She finally looked at me, her angry glare softening when she saw me already staring at her. "I'll be careful. I just need to move on with my life."

  "Move on from what?" I spit out.

  Her eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. "I think you know, Gus."

  I wanted to throw the phone against the wall and pretend like none of this had actually happened. I wanted to tell her she wasn't going out with some dickhead she just met and she was going to listen to me if it killed her. I wanted… so many things, but I couldn't do a God damn thing because in a way, this was all my fault.

  "We'll talk later, Lil," I said quietly and ended the call, refusing to take my eyes off of her. She stood there like a statue, bold and beautiful and ready for anything I had to throw at her.

  "Move on from what, Aiden?" I repeated gently.

  Her unshed tears quickly dried up and the Red I had known from the very beginning was all that I saw. Only this time, I was so in love with her and so extremely jealous that I couldn't see clearly. I needed to leave before I said something I would truly regret.

  "I don't know why you even care, Fergus. You're obviously dating and living your life, so why can't I?"

 

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