Tending Their SECRET (20 page)

I turn to see Aiden standing with his fists
clenched, while my brothers are surrounding him. “Fuck,” I say,
pushing my way through the crowd to get to them.

* * *

Aiden

I told Ellie I could handle whatever her
brothers and dad want to dish out, but this could get ugly fast.
They aren’t interested in talking—they just want to kick my ass.
They’re looking out for their sister, and I think my dance may have
made a few of their wives happier than they liked, too. I didn’t do
it for anyone but Ellie, but I know I got a few other women riled
up. The guys should be thanking me, not looking like they wouldn’t
mind going to jail after killing me.

“Hey guys, what’s up?” Ellie asks, breaking
through their little circle, to stand next to me.

Would it be inappropriate for me to drop to
my knees and kiss her feet? This having your woman protect you
thing is turning out to be a great idea. I mean, I know I could
take her brothers, but I don’t want there to be any bleeding at her
birthday party. I didn’t see any other way out of this, but she
came to save me.

“We’re just having a conversation with your
young man,” her dad says.

“Conversations usually happen with beer and
a table to sit around. Or at least some chairs. You look like
you’re planning to jump him like this is some gang initiation.
Which would go very badly for you.”

“He can’t fight us all.”

“Actually, he probably could. He was Special
Forces. Plus, his best friends would help him out. You remember how
excited you were to meet Nate Anderson? He’s best friend number
one. Matt Corrigan is bestie two. Shall I move on to Jake
Mason?”

“Shit. You hang with those dudes?” one of
the brothers asks. No one introduced themselves, so I don’t know
his name.

“Yeah. They’re my guys.”

“Oh, and did I mention that his dad is the
Vice President of the United States?”

“Seriously?” her dad asks, and I nod.

“And none of that’s even why you should be
worried. You should be worried because if one of you so much as
lays a hand on him, I’ll kick your ass myself.”

“Ellie Bear.”

“Don’t Ellie Bear me, Daddy. I love him, he
loves me, and we’re going to get married one day. That’s all you
need to know.”

“He hasn’t asked me.”

“I didn’t officially ask her yet, Sir.”

“But you plan to?”

“If that’s okay with you, yes. I mean, if
it’s not okay, I’ll still ask her, but I’d rather have your
blessing.”

Her dad looks me over, and then nods before
holding out his hand. “You have my blessing. I’ve never seen my
daughter happier.” He doesn’t let my hand go right away. “But, I’ve
also never seen her sadder than she was before you did your little
dance. I have a feeling both emotions belong to you. Don’t let me
ever see her cry over you, because I don’t care who your father, or
your friends are, I’ll take you down all the same.”

“Understood.”

“Go on, and eat some food. The cake should
be out soon. I’ll keep my wife away from you. I’m sorry she was
trying to molest you earlier, but that dance was sure something
else.”

“I promised Ellie I’d dance for her one day,
and while I was planning to do it in private, I needed a grand
gesture for her.”

“I get it. Just try to keep your pants on
from now on.”

“While we’re in public,” Ellie says.

“I do not want to know about your private
time. Ever. Now run along.”

Ellie hugs each of her brothers, and then I
take her hand again. “Thanks for saving me.”

“Always. I’ll always save you. While you’re
saving me.”

“Speaking of that, let’s try and find a
quiet table so we can talk.”

“That sounds ominous,” she says, loading her
plate up with a burger, potato salad, and mac and cheese.”

“It’s not. I just want to see how you’ve
really been doing.”

“Okay. We can sit on the pier.”

“Perfect.”

We get settled, and then I take her hand.
She’s not looking at me, so I know it’s been pretty bad for her. I
lift her chin up so we’re eye to eye. “I know I hurt you. Both when
I flipped out at my dad’s house, and also when I grabbed you and
said the things I did at the bar.”

“Yeah. You did.”

“Walk me through what happened.”

“We don’t have to do this, Aiden.”

“Yes we do. Nate has been really open with
Matt and me about his therapy. I know there’s no quick fix for
him—or you. I need to be involved in your recovery. Whether it’s
just to support you, or if you want me to go to some therapy
sessions with you. Whatever you need, I’m here.”

“I called my shrink as soon as I got back to
the townhouse in D.C. She stayed on the phone with me for hours
while I cried. Jade, Isa, and Faith came over and stayed with me,
too. I-I wanted to just disappear, Aiden. Just be gone from the
world. I don’t think I could’ve killed myself, but I didn’t want to
exist anymore.”

“Fuck.”

“It wasn’t just you, though. It was what I
went through, and just not knowing what would happen in my future,
not knowing if I could go back to working as a functional member of
the Society. Plus, even though I contemplated getting some cats, I
didn’t really want to be alone for the rest of my life. I had just
barely started being okay with you touching me, and I really
couldn’t fathom having another man’s hands on me. It was a big
jumble of me figuring out how to keep my friends if I didn’t work
with them anymore, and how to one day be happy as a cat lady.”

“I have to say that I’m glad you didn’t want
another man touching you, but damn. I need you to know that I never
stopped thinking about you, or worrying about you, even when I was
being the planet’s biggest asshole.”

“I wish I could say that it would’ve
mattered if I’d known, but I need to get better for me, and not
you. I’m sorry if that’s harsh, but it’s the truth. I need to do
this for me. Yes, it will help our relationship, but if I do this
for you—or anyone else—it won’t be real. Or right.”

“I get it. All I want is for you to be
happy. I meant what I said about being here for you however you
need me to be.”

“Even if I need you to tie me up?”

I nearly spit out the bite I just took of my
burger. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“But you did, and it made me think about
things. I may freak out, but I want to try. We used to have so much
fun. I want to have fun with you again.”

“You don’t need to be tied up for us to have
fun.”

“Which is why I want to try it—because you
won’t ever ask me again on your own.” I start to protest, but she
puts her fingers over my mouth. “Don’t. We both know how much you
like to tie me to your bed. I used to love it, and I want to see if
I can at least like it now.”

“Okay, we can try. But if you are even a
tiny bit uncomfortable, you need to tell me.”

“I will. I don’t want to be scared. I’m
starting to finally accept that I don’t have to always be strong,
but I also know I have to set boundaries for myself, and for
us.”

“Whatever you need. You just tell me, or
show me.”

“I have something I want to show you.”

“Okay.”

She slips off her flip flop and holds out
her foot to me. I see a little semi-colon tattoo. It’d been hidden
by the strap of her sandal. “I saw them on the internet. People get
them to show that their life isn’t over, even though they’ve been
depressed or suicidal. Nate and I went in together to get
them.”

“Wow. That’s cool. I wish I could’ve been
there with you.”

She shakes her head. “We went alone. Jade
didn’t even go. We did it for ourselves.”

I nod. A part of me still hates that my best
friend can help Ellie in ways that I can’t. But the bigger part of
me, the one who loves them both, is so damn grateful that they have
each other. I would never wish what they went through on my worst
enemy, but I’m glad they have each other.

“I get it.”

“Do you?”

“Yeah. Thank you for being there for my
friend, and thank you for letting me finally love you the way you
deserve to be loved.”

“Are you trying to make me cry again?”

“No. Well maybe, if it’s a good cry,” I tell
her with a laugh. “Were you really going to buy a bunch of
cats?”

“I sincerely hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
I’m not a cat person.”

“Good thing I got you a puppy then,
huh?”

“Yep. You did good. With everything. Just
please no more stripping in front of my mom.”

“No problem there. I promise to only strip
for you in private from now on. It was pretty good, though,
right?”

“Totally epic.”

The rest of the party goes by pretty
quickly. Ellie blows out the candles on her giant cake, and then we
grab the puppy and a blanket. We cuddle up together as the
fireworks her parents ordered explode overhead. This is the best
night of my life, but I know there will be better. I have Ellie in
my life now, after all.

One month later

Ellie

Tonight is a big Corrigan & Co.
Foundation fundraiser. Aiden’s dad is attending, and I can’t wait
to see him. Aiden spent a week with him and the guys after my
birthday, fishing at his cabin. They needed to reconnect. Even
though Tim knew what Andres was doing, and had time to come to
terms with everything, his death was still hard on him. It left him
without closure, despite me telling him what Andres said about
Aiden. He hadn’t said much about Tim, and that left a lot of
questions.

I’m glad Aiden could be there for his dad,
but I was happy when he came home to me. We still haven’t
officially decided exactly where “home” is yet. We trade off
sleeping at each other’s apartments. Since they’re in the same
building, it’s not a big deal. If one of us forgets something, we
just run over to the other place. We’re supposed to talk with Chloe
Griffin next week to make a final decision, and tell her how to
mesh our styles together. Or really, how to mesh my style into his
minimalistic one since he has nothing in his apartment except for
furniture and the other things Chloe put in there for him.

I’m getting dressed at Stella’s apartment
with all of the other women. She picked out a really cool black
dress for me. It has one lacy black strap, is lace on top, and then
goes asymmetrical as it covers just what it needs to on the bottom.
There is a sheer layer with a few lace pieces that goes all the way
to the ground. I absolutely love it, and I know Aiden will,
too.

He comes to get me with the other guys. I
bet they got ready together, too, although they’ll never admit it.
He looks beyond hot in his custom tux. I want to just eat him
up.

“You didn’t wear your hair down,” he says
with a pout when he sees me.

“Is that all you have to say to me?”

“Yes?”

I smack him on the arm as he laughs. “You
know you look gorgeous.”

“You should tell me.”

“You look gorgeous, Ellie.”

“Hmm. Whatever.”

I know I shouldn’t push it, but really? I
had to practically force him to tell me I look good. All her cares
about is my hair being up. Like I could wear it down tonight. It
almost reaches to my waist, and this is a fancy ball. Idiot.

“Elletra, you are more amazing and beautiful
than any other woman I’ve ever met, or will meet, in my life.
You’re a modern goddess, and no one can compare to you. I was so
blinded by your beauty when I saw you that I was rendered stupid.
Please forgive me for not paying tribute to you as soon as I walked
in.”

I can’t help but smile. “Thank you, Aiden.
You look mighty fine yourself.”

“I’m forgiven?”

“If you kiss me now, then yes.”

“Deal.”

We kiss for a few minutes, while our friends
all do the same. Well, except for Audrey, but she’s just smirking
at us when I look over at her. I know there’s a story there. One
about why she never tries to have more than one night with a man,
but she’s refused to share it with any of us. I vow to step up my
game, and get her to spill what happened to her. She’s always there
for every one of us, and I want to be there for her, too.

That’s a thought for another day as Matt
tells us the limos are here. We all head downstairs and split up.
I’m with Matt, Reina, Nate, Aiden, Jake, Isa, Brayden, and Darcy in
our stretch Hummer. It’s really more like a party bus, and all of
us could’ve probably fit in here. It’s nice to split up, though.
While I’m close with everyone, these are our best friends. It’s a
fun, but short ride to the hotel where the fundraiser is
happening.

Aiden and I are seated at a table with his
parents and some other big donors. I wish Jade was here, because I
feel out of my element with these fancy people who are not hiding
their disdain due to the fact that my family are bar owners.
Multi-millionaire bar owners, but bar owners just the same. Aiden,
Tim, and Heather make sure I’m included in the conversation, and
I’ve had to squeeze Aiden’s hand more than once to stop him from
jumping across the table to defend me.

“It’s fine, Hawk,” I tell him after one
particularly snarky comment is directed at me.

“The fuck it is.”

“I don’t care what they think of me. The
daughters are just jealous because they want you. And the parents
are mad because you’ve made it clear that you only want me.”

“I think they need a refresher,” he says,
cupping my face and kissing me again.

“I hate to break this up, but I was hoping
for a dance with Ellie,” Dave says, standing behind us.

“Her dance card’s full.”

“Oh come on, man. You’re not worried that
she’ll leave you for me after just one dance, are you?”

“I wouldn’t leave him after a million dances
with you, but I’m not interested in even one,” I tell him.