Chapter 10

No matter how hard he tried, Aiden was unable to slow his pulse. Across a glass-topped poolside table from him, Kendra’s sleek, dark frame occupied a cushioned chair of swooping steel. With an umbrella flapping overhead in a gentle warm breeze, the woman radiated both a unique intensity and mind-boggling beauty.

Larial was wrong; if she was aging, Aiden couldn’t tell. Wrapped in a tight brown leather dress that left her arms and toned shoulders bare, coal-black skin gleamed. Although her hair was up, she’d kept a few wispy sable strands loose, and they stuck to bright red lipstick.

Once more, the beautiful woman, eyes flooded with deep intelligence, had a profound effect on him, releasing him from that morning’s burdens.

First, Gina, nervous and prancing around in nothing but black lace and her collar, breathing ever quicker as he readied to meet Kendra. It didn’t take the ring to know she remained unsure. Almost asked her to accompany him, but there’d be plenty of time for that in the future if things worked out. The sudden flash in her eyes as his hands bent her over the couch and eased her panties aside said she’d gotten the message. Just to be sure, he’d hammered it home, leaving her sweat-slick curves trembling as she whimpered, sending bubbly drool onto the cushions.

Second, Catherine. Reconciled, sure ... and then some. The previous day, they’d shared a final kiss once Cindy went upstairs. Her hungry moans had met his groaning, and with the enticing woman’s slender physique twisting in his embrace, new promises had been forged. The temptation to drive her to her knees had been so damn strong, and she knew it. Except both had looked toward the staircase. Another promise for the future. He’d left with his head spinning at the incisive intelligence of her—their—daughter.

Third, and most unsettling of all. The entire time, the ring had remained silent, as though unable to offer guidance, letting him decide his fate. Just as Larial had only proposed options.

Oh, and then there were the others; he owed the trio left at home explanations. But what to say? What to send on those curling wisps?

All of that chattering in his skull had clunked to a halt as soon as Kendra opened the front door to let him inside. Yet, when her gorgeous black eyes had found his tremulous grin, he’d felt like a heel. Never should’ve ... abandoned her.

Gone was the woman who’d squealed with surprise at his call from Gina’s place. Instead, the slender beauty had grown silent, watching him as he helped carry a simple lunch onto the expansive patio. They’d sat, and mind flooding with pleasant memories, his view had surveyed the pool, glittering in the sunlight. When he’d returned to her, his pulse had begun to race.

Motionless, she was staring at the sandwich before her. That wasn’t what had his heartbeat skyrocketing. No, it was the single glossy trail from her eyelash, daring to mar one perfect, regal cheek. Plus, the slow peeling apart of those perfect waxy lips.

He thought he was braced, had told himself just that as he’d left the rideshare to march up the front walk. But he wasn’t, and when her eyes met him, both long lashes flooding, and that sleek figure shook, his world became only her.

“I miss him so much. I want him back.” As words flew from her, she balled both fists on the table either side of her plate. “It’s not fair! It’s not ... fair. Why did he have to ... Aiden, why?”

“I don’t—”

“Tim loved you. He tell you that?” Before he could reply, she continued, “Loved me so much, too. Everything ... He wanted me to be happy. He gave me everything. He was my everything. I’m nothing without him. Nothing.”

When her voice became a low keening wail, he moved. One second, he was sitting; the next, he had her shaking frame up from the chair and tight to his chest. As the crying woman’s body quivered, and tears soaked his shirt, Aiden found a wide, cushioned chaise lounge. Amid stronger sobs, she let him drag her to it, and while lying down, he kept her tight to him.

For the longest time, he held her as she bawled, stroking silken dark hair with one hand while the other roamed her leather-wrapped spine. Although the sun slid behind billowy clouds, the wind continued to be warm, and he found himself scanning the pool’s tiny shimmering waves.