Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
He looked mad.
Lance stood up and stretched. “We’re waiting on the X-rays, but the doctor is almost positive it’s just a sprain.”
Aiden glanced at his father and nodded. Then he turned to me. “I’d like to speak with you in the waiting room, please, Emma.” Aiden’s voice was filled with more anger than his expression.
After he handed Hadley to his father, he turned and walked out of the room. I rubbed my hands together in a nervous manner. Following him, I remained quiet.
The second we were standing in a quiet corner, Aiden went off.
“What in the hell happened? How could you let her get hurt?”
My mouth fell open, and I struggled to find my voice.
“When she isn’t with me, she’s in your care. You were responsible for her. What if she’d broken her arm?”
I stared at him, my own anger building now. “You don’t even know what happened, Aiden. Yet you instantly assume it was my fault?”
He started to talk, but I put my hand up to stop him. My days of letting men get in the last word were over.
“We were at the church; she was standing behind someone who was climbing off a ladder. He didn’t see her, backed into her, and she fell over the wagon display. She caught herself with both hands, but most of the fall was caught on her left hand. It was an accident, you jackass!”
His eyes widened, and he took a step back.
“If you don’t think I’m capable of taking care of your daughter, then tell me now. I’ll leave effective immediately and you can explain to Hadley why you had to find someone else to deal with you.”
Aiden just stood there with a stunned expression on his face.
“I don’t need this. I don’t need someone blaming me for something I didn’t do. Something I had zero control over. For an accident. I dealt with that for enough of my life, thank you very much.” My voice cracked, and I could see Aiden’s throat bob.
“I didn’t mean—”
“He didn’t mean to either, Aiden. But he did it anyway.” I fought to keep my tears at bay. “Over and over again. I will not stand here and be yelled at or belittled or accused of being neglectful. There was nothing I could have done, even if I’d been standing right next to her.”
Aiden dropped his head and closed his eyes. I took the opportunity to discreetly wipe the tear from my cheek as I looked around, hoping no one had overheard me.
“When Mom told me Hadley had gotten hurt, and you and Dad took her to the ER, I…I hung up. I didn’t even give her a chance to tell me what happened. I panicked.” His head lifted and our gazes caught. “She’s all I have. I can’t lose her.”
My arms folded across my chest. “I understand that, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat me like this. Accidents are going to happen, Aiden. She’s going to get hurt both physically and mentally at different times in her life. If you’re going to use me as a punching bag—”
My words were cut off when Aiden rushed forward and covered my mouth with his.
Instantly, my entire body melted against his. The kiss was soft yet urgent, like he was trying desperately to tell me something but wasn’t sure how. My mouth opened to him, and our kiss deepened.
Then his words from that awful night and the following morning came flooding back.
This kiss meant nothing. He was just upset and clearly not thinking right. He felt guilty for accusing me of not watching Hadley.
Lifting my hands, I placed them on his chest and pushed ever so slightly, causing him to pull his mouth away. Aiden leaned his forehead against mine and fought for breath.
“I would never hurt you, Emma. Ever.”
His words settled into my chest and felt like a warm blanket on a cold winter night. “I know.”
“No, you don’t, because you just said—”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
His eyes closed as he whispered, “Did he hit you?”
Keeping my voice as steady as I could, I replied, “You should get back to Hadley.”
Aiden let his hands fall to his sides as he took a step back. He stared at me for the longest time before he finally spoke. “I’m sorry I did that. It…it was the only thing I could think of to keep you from inferring I’d ever use you as a punching bag. I would never lay a hand on you, Emma. Never.”
I nodded and wrapped my arms around my body. I should have known that was why he’d kissed me.
“Emma, I’m not sure I’m able to…I mean…my head is so mixed up.”
“Don’t,” I whispered, my eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t do this to me again. Just go to your daughter and let’s move on.”