Page 161 of Pretender

Aiden breathes slowly, waiting for me to answer. I find his steel-blue eyes and I know I don’t have to decide right now. He says he’s okay either way, and I trust his words.

“I’m not sure,” I admit, and share the thoughts that just went through my head, my concerns about work and not wanting to repeat history.

“I understand,” Aiden says, his eyes flitting between mine. “Things are different for us, though. I have enough investments and properties, I don’t need to work full time. I could be a stay-at-home dad.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’d love to. I never liked the admin side of running a company, and I think my Mayfair playgrounds, as you called them, will need someone else to take over soon enough, regardless. I want to enjoy my time with the people who matter the most to me, and I have the privilege to do so.”

“You might need to start thinking about your spending, then, will that bother you? Maybe taking the train to Italy instead of a private plane?”

Aiden grins. “I don’t splurge too much, coming from moderate means and all. I only have the one flat, and a garage space with a handful of cars I can sell.”

“And you can move into my house, it’ll be our house, although it’s a bit small for a family, isn’t it?”

“No, your house is everything it needs to be.”

“I would have to change the shoe room back to a bedroom.”

Aiden chuckles. “Don’t make any rash decisions now, I love that room. We could buy the house next door and knock down the wall between them.”

I gape at him before I jump up, fullness and tiredness forgotten. “That’s a brilliant idea!”

I clamber on top of Aiden, kissing every inch of his face, and he laughs that beautiful rumbling sound.

“You know,” I say, straightening my arms, gazing down on him, “I’m full of food, but I am suddenly very hungry for your cock.”

Aiden bursts into a laugh, and I study him, waiting for it… When I don’t move, he finds my gaze and then he does what I was hoping he’d do. He tucks his smile back in, nibbling on his full lower lip, making that dimple pop.

“I love when you do that.”

“I know,” he says, stifling another smile. “I didn’t dare read into it at first, all those months ago, but your eyes give you away.”

“Aw, I thought I was so subtle, mentally drooling over you behind my professional mask.”

“As subtle as a foghorn.”

I tilt my head back, laughing, and I know that whatever we decide he will always make me feel like this. Fully and completely loved.

SIX MONTHS LATER

AIDEN

I’ve been carrying this box around for the last month, but even I think I might be moving too fast. Linnea’s been married before, and we’ve not entirely unpacked whether she wants to get married again.

Not that we have to marry, really.

We’ll still be together forever.

Maybe it’s Rey and Mark’s upcoming wedding that’s made me think about marriage this much. Or just the extreme certainty that I want to spend the rest of my life with Linnea.

I’ve officially lived with her for four months now and I’m waiting for my offer on the twin house next door to be accepted—such a painful process, even with the best of solicitors.

Whatever the reason, I yearn to make her my wife. To be her husband. The kind that she deserves.

As Mo drives me down the street to our house, the box feels like it weighs more than it needs to. I should broach the subject at least. Then I’ll know for sure how she feels about it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from the past year’s events, and monthly sessions with Dr Carter, it’s that talking about it is always the better option.

“See you next week, Mo, say hi to the missus,” I tell my driver and he returns the sentiment. He seems a lot happier after I changed my habits to working fewer evenings and no weekends. Yan, my new managing director for The Orion and Millefleuré is doing well. They’re an excellent addition to the team, and I can actually relax, knowing my staff and my clients are in their capable hands.