Page 86 of Townshipped
“I’ll take the handset in case the kids wake.”
Aiden hooked up monitors in the children’s rooms before they arrived. They run to the same receiver as the monitor he has out in the goat pasture. He told me he wanted to be able to go out into the barnyard in the early mornings or at night after Ty and Paisley fall asleep while still keeping tabs on the two of them.
It made me realize he’s planning to raise them alone eventually. Of course he is. But, if I’m being honest, I like imagining he’d never have to—that I could stay here indefinitely and make a life with the three of them. It’s not realistic, but the alternative feels empty, especially the more time passes without anyone searching for me.
Granger follows Aiden out the back door. I sit at the island, watching the two of them walk out. Indecision claws at me for a few minutes. Should I give Aiden his space? Or should I make myself available and coax him into spilling whatever’s obviously wearing on him?
I finally can’t resist the urge to be near him. At least I’ll give him a chance to share his burdens. What’s the worst that can happen? I put on my coat and step into the chill night air, making my way across the nearly frozen ground toward the goat enclosure.
Aiden’s mingling through the herd, immersing himself in examining each goat. Granger trots along behind him, having seemed to warm up to Aiden after a few days boarding at the Whites’.
I stand at the fence line, barely admiring the way Aiden’s jeans hug him as he turns to bend toward the next goat. Okay. Okay. I give him a proper once-over. And he passes with flying colors. Who wouldn’t stare at Aiden right now? He’s all gruff and focused. Manly, yet under the surface there’s this tender vulnerability as he murmurs to the flock and gives each goat his undivided attention. It’s a picture of farming hotness. Pass me the ice water, please.
I remind myself why I came out here in the first place. Then I let myself in the pasture and secure the gate behind me. Walking to the covered stack of hay bales at the edge of the barnyard, I push myself up with a little hop and a shove. Aiden senses my presence and looks up. Through the darkness I scarcely make out the lift in his lips as he smiles over at me.
“You decided to come out?”
“I did. I thought you might need someone to talk to. And I felt a little antsy sitting inside.” I draw in a cool breath of air and let it out. “There’s something about coming outside that clears the mind.”
Aiden strolls over toward me, brushing his hands together as he walks.
“I’ve got some things to tell you, Em.”
He props his elbow on the hay bales and leans a little, looking serious. He’s the epitome of sexy farmer right now—if that’s even a thing. It’s definitely a thing now, because look at him. If I thought he looked good mingling with the flock, this man in front of me just knocked that other image out of the running.
The chiseled lines of his profile, surrounded by dark tousled hair, the camel jacket, lined in sheepskin, the denim jeans that hug his toned legs just right, and his well-worn boots all add up to an iconic image that tugs at something primal in me. The animals all look to Aiden as he casually inclines against the haystack, acknowledging him as their provider and leader. All that hotness aside, this is Aiden. I know the heart of the man behind the rugged good looks.
“You want to tell me something?” I ask, regaining my focus and forcing myself to speak like a normal human being despite the dizzying effect he’s having on me.
The air is cold, but I’m warmed by his nearness. I have this deep knowing, regardless of my lack of memory, that no other man has ever affected me the way Aiden does.
“Yeah. I’ve got things to say to you,” he says.
His eyes search my face.
“Me too. But you go ahead.”
Aiden turns so his back is toward the hay bales, places both palms flat on the surface behind him and, in one easy movement, hoists himself up so he’s sitting next to me. He picks at a piece of straw that’s popping out through the tarp until it comes loose.
He twirls the wisp in his fingers as he searches for what he wants to say.
“I … um …” He starts speaking, but then looks off in the distance.
Granger comes over, having satisfied himself by sniffing his way through the herd, and drops to the ground below our feet.
Aiden straightens his shoulders and looks at me. “You mean so much to me, Em. I’ve enjoyed having you on the farm. You know? You fit right in.”
He looks away. I don’t know where all this is coming from. Aiden kissed me during our two accidental middle-of-the-night rendezvous. He’s protected me and provided for me, but he’s never outright said anything close to what he’s saying right now, letting me know I mean something to him.
When he looks at me again, his eyes hold an almost pained expression.
“You’re beautiful. And your beauty goes beyond the surface. There are women around town who put a lot into appearances. They don’t have beauty where it counts. Not like you. Your heart is beautiful and you have an indomitable spirit.”
My mind whirls, trying to make sense of where all this is coming from. Is this what he wanted to say to me? Or is this a prelude to some bomb he needs to drop? Is he kicking me out? Did he visit another woman in town and she told him she can’t see him while he hosts me as his houseguest? But why lay it on so thick only to push me away?
Aiden looks down at his lap and runs his hands down his thighs. “I just wanted you to know all that in case maybe I didn’t ever get another chance to say it.”
“Thanks,” I say softly.
