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My heart felt heavy. He was saying and doing all the right things, but I didn’t want to be alone with him. I didn’t trust myself not to revert to that nineteen-year-old Fiona who loved him with all her heart. I would have gone anywhere for him, done anything. But he’d turned me down. He hadn’t wanted me then, and it hurt to be around him now.
I followed him to the landing on the second floor. “There’s a party in the ballroom tonight, but it’s on the third floor. You might hear some music, but we make sure it’s quiet by eleven.”
“That won’t be a problem.” Ever since I was passed over for a promotion, I’d had trouble sleeping.
Aiden paused in front of a door at the end of the hall where another tree, decorated in green velvet ribbon and gold ornaments, stood in front of a large window. “The inn is beautiful.”
“When Gram died, Marley inherited the inn. Instead of selling, she renovated it and opened it for business.”
“I thought Marley moved to California to start her own business.” I’d looked her up from time to time, wondering if she mentioned where Aiden was stationed because he didn’t have a social media presence.
Aiden unlocked the door, then pushed it open. “She still owns a home there but spends most of her time here. She’s engaged to Heath Monroe.”
He motioned for me to precede him into the room.
I stepped inside, surprised to see a queen bed with a quilt, garland and a candle on the window ledge, beautiful wood furniture, and an adjoining bathroom.
“When Marley renovated, Heath added closets in all the rooms and ensured that most rooms have an adjoining bathroom.
I wandered around the room. “She did an amazing job with the renovations. You can feel the history with the furniture and wood details, yet it feels new.”
“She wanted to preserve the history of the inn. She loved the ballroom and refused to convert it into more guest rooms when her Realtor suggested it.” Aiden pulled a rack out of the closet and set one suitcase on top and one on the floor. “Will you need anything else?”
My heart jumped into my throat. Was this it? After all these years, we could act like we barely knew each other. I couldn’t resist stepping closer to him. “You look good.”
He sported a closely shaved beard, and his body had filled out since we’d dated.
He swallowed hard. “You do too.”
Is that what we’d become? We’d exchange awkward greetings when we ran into each other? I licked my lips and then forced myself to ask, “Are you on leave?”
Aiden shook his head. “I retired from the military.”
“Oh? I kind of thought you’d be a lifer.” He’d talked about duty and responsibility when he’d told me he’d enlisted. That it was something he had to do, and I got the impression it was a permanent kind of thing.
“I thought so too.”
I wondered if there was a story there, but I shouldn’t have. Aiden wasn’t mine anymore. He’d made that abundantly clear when he’d broken things off. I’d offered to go with him, to marry him, but he wasn’t interested.
Pain shot through my chest, but it wasn’t as acute as when I was nineteen. I’d get through this just like I had my mother’s death. There was nothing I couldn’t handle. I just needed to be strong.
I shrugged off my jacket and let it fall to the bed.
Aiden perused me from head to toe. “You should come to the dance. You’re already dressed for it.”
The promotion was announced at my company’s holiday party. I’d gone outside and called my dad. When he suggested I come home, I booked the first flight I could find and told my boss I was taking the vacation time I’d accrued over the years. He’d been surprised but hadn’t tried to talk me out of it.
“Are you sure I’m invited?” I asked, wondering if I was bold enough to accept his invitation.
“It’s Marley’s annual holiday party. She invited all her friends. I think you’re a part of that.”
I laughed without any humor as I sank to the edge of the bed. I couldn’t wait until Aiden left and I could kick off the heels and sleep forever. “I was never a part of your circle.”
When we dated, we’d kept our relationship a secret. Aiden was friends with the Monroes, helping at the farm from time to time, and he didn’t come from a good family. I didn’t want anyone to tell me I couldn’t see him. At first, there was a thrill from dating the bad boy, but I quickly realized there was a lot more to Aiden. He was sweet and thoughtful and felt so many things. His mother’s toxic barbs ate away at him.
I’d wanted to take him away from his family, and he’d promised to wait until I graduated college. He didn’t want to interfere with my education. Then we’d get married and start our lives together.
I’d made him promise me that he’d wait. I’d made him hook his pinky finger through mine and recite the childish rhyme. Unfortunately, he hadn’t kept his promise.
