Page 68 of Hard Knock Hero

He leaned forward to kiss me again, but I was busy yawning. I clapped a hand over my mouth. “Sorry.”

He chuckled. “You need rest.”

“I want to do more than that.” But my body wasn’t cooperating. Plus, Trace was downstairs, and that would be awkward. The walls were thin.

“We have one more night after this,” Aiden murmured in my ear. “We can make it count.”

“You promise?”

“I’m not a big fan of making promises. But for you? I’ll make it happen.” He gently gripped my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “I promise.”

We crawled beneath the covers. Aiden held out his arm, and I snuggled into him, finding that perfect spot between his chest and shoulder to lay my head. He stroked my hair the way I liked. Just a couple of days since he’d first touched me, and he’d unlocked me like a key. We’d clicked together as if we’d always been meant to fit.

But on Friday, he’s walking away.

“I’m glad you were there with me tonight,” I said into the quiet. “Or last night? It’s turning into a blur.”

“No kidding.”

“Not gonna lie, I was nervous outside the warehouse. But I wasn’t scared. I kind of loved it. I was out doing something, bringing the fight to Jeremy and the Rigsbys. You have no idea what that meant to me.”

“Now who’s the adrenaline junkie?”

“I don’t know about that.” I rested my hand on his firm stomach. “I like a safety net.”

“I’m glad I could be that for you. Even though I hated you being in danger.”

I was braver with Aiden beside me. And yet, I also felt moremyself. Vibrant and alive. Like I could do all the things I’d imagined. Things I’d always wanted. Maybe even going to Paris and taking real French pastry classes. Building the restaurant and hotel on Refuge Mountain…

I could make those dreams into something real.

Aiden would be gone soon, and that was going to hurt. Hurt so damn much. But I was determined to hold on to this bold, fearless feeling all the same. To be enough on my own, after Aiden and even Trace had gone. I wanted the life that I’d dreamed of. And I finally had a fire within me that said,Yes, Jessi, you can go out and get it. I could do more than just survive day to day. I could haveeverything.

Everything except Aiden.

I burrowed into him, getting as close as I could. Aiden held me. His leg nudged in between mine, and I felt his erection, hot and thick against my thigh beneath the cover of his boxers. Iwanted. More than I ever had in my life.

But I was also falling asleep.

Aiden kept humming contented sighs, as if this closeness was exactly what he needed right now. Just cuddling, listening to each other’s heartbeats and breaths. Soft kisses and touches as we both drifted toward sleep.

One more night wasn’t enough. I doubted another month of Aiden would be enough.

I was in way over my head with this man, but I didn’t want to come up for air.

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

Jessi

Thursday.Aiden’s last full day.

We slept later than I’d intended. When I went downstairs close to noon, I found Trace asleep, sitting in the booth in the far corner with his back to the wall.

I grabbed the coffeepot and filled it under the tap. I’d decided not to open the diner. With my brother’s arrival and all the developments since yesterday, there was too much going on. Or maybe that was an excuse. I wanted every minute with Aiden that I could get. I wanted him to bemine, as long as that lasted. He was still asleep, and I planned to get the coffee going. He’d made breakfast for me yesterday, so now it was my turn.

While he was in Hartley, Aiden was my man. Was it wrong to want to spoil him the way he’d spoiled me?

“Morning.” Trace wandered into the kitchen. He looked just as tired as he had last night. Dark circles under his eyes, a weariness to his face that had been carved into the lines around his eyes and on his forehead. He looked far older than thirty-two.

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