Here Comes The Bride (11 page)

Walking back into the bedroom, I
made sure to keep my gaze straight ahead. Okay, so I peeked a little, but he was no longer there. Stopping in the middle of the room, I looked around, he wasn’t anywhere. Probably back in his study.  With a heavy sigh, I climbed into bed.

It was about twenty minutes later when there was movement next to me. Keeping my eyes closed, the warmth of his body caressed mine. My skin absorbed it like I was in hypothermal shock. His closeness heated my center and dampened my underwear. As I tried to resituate myself, his arm came around my
waist. He wasn’t sleeping, he'd just gotten into bed, and I didn’t know if he knew I was awake. After he snuggled against my back, I quickly fell asleep.

Aidan was gone the next morning when I woke. Viola arrived at nine in the morning
; we were going to tour through the children’s home.

There were so many kids in the home and it hurt to know that they were physically or mentally handicap. To top it off
, they were either abandoned by their parents or had lost them. My heart ached. Nothing made me happier than visiting them.

I’d sat down in the middle of a room where some
of the kids were watching TV. A girl with Down's Syndrome turned to me.

"Are you Mrs. Viola’s daughter?" I shook my head. "Oh." She looked confused. "Do you work here now?" I shook my head and smiled at her. "I like when you visit." She smiled brightly.

"I like visiting with you." She wrapped her arms around me and hugged tightly.

"Do you like things?" She asked without looking up.

"What kind of things?"

"I like peanut butter and jelly." She sat up looking at me.

"I love peanut butter and jelly." I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. "I also like lemonade, a lot."

She shook her head. "Lemonade makes my tummy hurt, but I like cherry drink." I couldn’t stop smiling at her.

"I like to read books."

"Me too," she exclaimed and then got up, running away from me. "She likes to r
ead too," she yelled to no one.

I was talking to a boy when she returned with a book in her hand, Romeo and
Juliet. I smiled broadly.

"I love Romeo. I’m going to marry him."

"Are you Juliet?"

"No. I’m Amanda." She giggled.

"Why don’t you read to me, Amanda?" I leaned into the couch we’d been sitting on.

She shook her head. Embarrassment colored her cheeks bri
ght red.

"How about I read first and then you can take over?" Putting my hand out for the book, she handed it over with a big grin.

I started reading the story. Soon the TV was silenced and the kids gathered around Amanda and me. I continued with the story, trying to change my voice with each character. My poor acting skills made a few kids laugh, but I didn’t care. Their giggles gave me warm fuzzies.

"Okay, Amanda, your turn," I held the book out to her. Her eyes widened.

"I-I can’t." Her eyes dropped to her lap.

"Sure you can, I want to hear you read it to me." She shook her head. "You read a couple of pages for me and then I’ll read some more, deal?" She nodded and took the book.

As Amanda was reading, I looked around at the kids, catching a glimpse of Viola in the doorway. I smiled at her, which she returned warmly, and turned my attention back to the kids.

"You okay?" Viola asked with concern on her face.

"How do you do it?" She looked at me confused. "Leave them?" I answered her silent question.

She smiled.

"I know I’ll be back." Viola started hugging a few people. Amanda ran up to me and hugged me tightly.

"Will you be back?" Her eyes were pleading with me.

"Of course," I exclaimed and pulled her to me. Looking over at Viola, she winked, smiled, and then spoke.

"That’s how I do it."

Viola insisted that we go to dinner before heading back to the house. It was nice being out with her and, in all honesty, I wasn’t looking forward to being in the empty mansion by myself.

"Lilli, I want you to consider becoming more involved with the foundation." Viola sat with a serious look on her face.

"I would love to help you more. Going to visit the –"

"No, I mean I want you to become a part of the foundation." She took a sip from her wine glass. "I would like for you to work with me."

My mouth opened twice and closed before I knew what to say.

"I know that you’re finishing up college, which is
wonderful, and you should, but I want you to consider working with me at the foundation."

"Um…I’ll…I’ll think about it."
I instantly started to go through the pros and cons. "Thank you, Viola."

"Oh, don’t thank me
. You’re amazing with the children and I can see how much you care. It’s written all over your face the moment we make plans to visit." I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the kids.

"See," she motioned to my face, "just thinking about them gives you th
at look. That’s how I knew I wanted you to work with me."

We continued to discuss the foundation
along with what she was offering me. Viola wanted me to make an informed decision. I hadn’t realized exactly how much went into Viola’s daily work. It was a great deal. She saw my concerned expression and assured me we would work side by side so I could become familiar with everything.

Again
, my thoughts returned to the pros and cons. The pros were a given; the kids, having a rewarding job, and working with great people, like Viola. The cons were more complicated. I was only an Iverson because of an agreement. Said agreement was only for four years. Staying with the foundation after the four years, and my marriage to Aidan, was over sounded like a huge complication. I don’t think Viola was thinking that far in advance.

Viola and I were in the middle of another conversation when my phone beeped. I grabbed it knowing what
it was and silenced it quickly.

"Sorry," I apologized to Viola.

"Please, if you need to answer it," she motioned for me to do so.

"No, it’s a reminder notification." I shook my head and smiled.

"Reminder?" Viola was curious.

I really didn’t want to get into the details of my reminder to take my birth control pill. That probably wouldn’t be received wel
l.

"Yeah, I use my phone to remind to take care of things."

"Do you need to go?" Viola sat up straight with genuine concern.

"No, no. It’s fine
, really." I thought quickly, though I hated to lie. "I just need to make sure to check the menu for the week when I get home. I’ll just reset the reminder." Picking up my phone, I just that.

As I put my phone back into my purse, I quickly popped a pill from the pack I carried with me. When I was sure I could slip it into my mouth without too much notice
, I did.

             
Viola dropped me off at home and I dragged myself upstairs to the bathtub. I filled the Jacuzzi tub with hot water and soaked in the jet action for thirty minutes before finally climbing out to get ready for bed.

I checked
the time, ten o’clock. I didn’t think Aidan was home, so I climbed into bed. Once again, I couldn’t sleep. My mind was in overdrive. Thinking over Viola’s offer and college, I rationalized that I could change a few of my classes to subjects that would be helpful while working with the foundation.

Clearly I was not going to be able to fall asleep any time soon. Climbing out of bed, I headed toward my sanctuary, the library.

I finished ‘Little Women’ a couple of nights ago and moved on to Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’. I lounged on the couch in the dimly lit library, back against the arm of the couch and knees bent up. I was in the middle of an intense scene in the book, when Dracula first lays his eyes on Mina, when the couch shifted. My heartbeat kicked up a notch and I gasped in a harsh breath.

Aidan chuckled and I threw the throw pillow at him.

"You scared the crap out of me!"

He laughed louder and held his stomach
, trying to speak.

"I...couldn’t…
help it!"

This time I tossed my book at him.

"I hate you," I pouted, trying not to laugh.

"You know that was great!" His laughter was subsiding. "You said it yourself. Paybacks are a bitch."

"You’re such a loser." Narrowing my eyes, I tried to pretend to be mad, but couldn’t keep the straight line of my lips. They curled at the edges on their own.

"Couldn’t sleep again?" He lulled his head back on the couch.

"Nope," I shrugged.

"Everything okay?" he looked up with concern.

I was about to answer him when his appearance caught my attention. He was still in his suit pants and the top three buttons on his white dress shirt were undone. Then there were the glasses. Oh God, the dark rimmed glasses framed his emerald green eyes. My pulse quickened and warmth built in my stomach.

"Lilli?" I snapped out of my
lust induced haze.

"Oh, sorry…spaced for a minute. What did you ask me?"

He grinned.

"Is everything alright? You said you couldn’t sleep again."

"Oh uh…yeah, it’s fine. My mind just wouldn’t settle down, that’s all." His face twisted in confusion.

"What’s on your mind?"

My mind screamed, “the fact that I want to lick you from head to toe – leave on the glasses please”. My mouth said, "Viola asked me to start working with her at the foundation, but –"

"She asked you?" His tone worried me. Maybe he didn’t want me to get involved.

"I know it’s probably a bad idea, so I was just trying to think of how to tell her –"

"Why is it a bad idea?" His lip rose at one side of his mouth, knitting his eyebrows together
.

"Well, I guess, well you know…in four years…" I trailed off.

"Oh," he sat up straight. It was uncomfortably silent for a few moments before he spoke. "I think you should consider it. If it’s something you are interested in doing." His body relaxed into the couch.

"Really?" I wasn’t convinced.

"Yes. Why would I think it’s a bad idea?" He shrugged and rubbed his face. "Viola hasn’t asked anyone to help or work with her, so for her to come out and ask you…well, that says something." He turned his head toward me and, once again, I was hit with his beauty. Those damn glasses were doing horribly wonderful things to my girl parts.

I simply nodded and quickly tried retrie
ving my book to distract myself from the throbbing heat between my legs. Oh, and the urge to lick his neck.

When I laid my hand on the book
it inadvertently brushed against Aidan’s thigh. Clenching my eyes tight, I latched onto the book. As I pulled the book up from the couch, Aidan’s hand was on my wrist.

My eyes snapped open and I turned to him. His face was serious for a moment before it relaxed and he turned to look at me. I stopped breathing.

"You ready for bed yet?"

"Um…not..." licking my bottom lip, I finally took a breath, "not yet." Forcing a smile
, I battled my lust.

"Ugh…come on. I don’t want to have to come back down here in fifteen minutes to carry you to bed," he teased and poked his finger into my side.

"Stop," I cringed away and giggled, thankful for the moment of distraction.

"Are you ticklish?"
An evil grin crossed his face. I scooted away.

"Don’t do it
, Aidan," I warned, "I mean it." He attacked my sides with his fingers. "Stop," I screeched in laughter. "Oh God…stop! Please!" I cried.

Aidan laughed like a little kid.

"Who’s the best?" he taunted.

"Ahh….stop!" I laughed. "Uncle! Uncle!" I shouted in defeat.

"Who’s the champion? Say it, Lilli!" He chuckled and stopped tickling for a minute.

I gasped for air.

"You’re the champion. Now stop…please?" I laughed and pushed his hands away.

"Hmmm…not yet." He attacked again.

"Jesus, Aidan…stop it!" I choked out in the middle of my gurgled laughter.

He let up, his one hand resting against my thigh as I lay back trying to catch my breath.

"This is great information to have about you," he smirked at me.

The fiery tingle from his touch, the cocky smirk, and those sexy black rimmed glasses pushed me to my limit. A quiet moan escaped my lips.

"Fuck it," I growled.

In one fluid motion I pulled myself up from lounging and slid over his lap. Aidan’s eyes widened larger than I’d ever seen, his hands clenched the leather cushions of the sofa. I licked my lips,
sucking on the bottom one, as my breathing picked up. Our bodies this close was the last straw.

"I’m tired of trying to stay away from you…" Whispering, I stared into his black framed eyes.