Page 14 of The Aries Alliance
“How did you vet her?”
I pondered Tiffany’s words and gripped my steering wheel tighter.
“No matter how hard people came at her, she didn’t give up on getting to the heart of problems. It was superhuman. Although she’s in the organization, she’s not consumed by its rewards. Because of that, she moves differently, like a queen with no fear. She puts herself in harm’s way so others can thrive. She is justice in action. Solid with unmatched integrity.”
“Does she know you’re crushing on her?”
“Crushing, . . . no.” I answered quicker than was necessary as I tried to process Tiffany’s claim.
It may not have been a crush, but I couldn’t deny feeling somewhat jittery about my meeting with Scarlett. I was alreadyintrigued by her mind. If she was willing, I wouldn’t mind getting a peek at her body too.
“Scarlett reminds me of my why. There are a lot of innocent people at EFU. I want to ease her pain and theirs if I can. Does this make sense?”
“Matters of the heart rarely make sense. Scarlett’s pulling emotions from you that I’ve never seen. Lean into whatever this is. Give yourself space to open up and learn something new. Maybe you’ll heal too.”
I pulled my gray Audi into the cottage’s driveway and let the engine idle, thinking about what healing meant to me. I had a habit of throwing my feelings under a rug and working nonstop to avoid thinking deeply about situations that would challenge my values. Maybe I should heed Tiffany’s advice.
“I’m at the house. Add this session to my tab. I’ll keep you posted about everything. I appreciate you more than you know.”
“Anytime, Warrick. Be good to yourself. Love you.”
I pictured Tiffany cheesing hard, mirroring our mother’s sweet smile.
“Love you too.” I hung up feeling content and even more excited about the time I would spend with Scarlett.
I exited the car and took in the property around the cottage. It was neat and idyllic, a perfect starter home for newlyweds, but in my case, the ideal place to bury the hatchet with Scarlett. I opened the trunk and unloaded the groceries.
When I entered the front door of the cottage, the fresh smell of household cleaner met me. Natural light from the double-hung windows shone on the spotless wooden surfaces, further confirming how clean the space was. I exited and returned with all my bags and materials, reality hitting me that I would be alone in this pristine oasis with a woman who intrigued and stimulated me beyond my comprehension.
I walked to the back of the house and checked the remaining spaces, reserving the master bedroom with its earth tone décor and romantic canopy bed for Scarlett.
To relieve nervous energy, I returned to the kitchen and seasoned a family pack of New York strip steaks and thinly cut chicken breasts for the outside gas grill. As the meat marinated in the refrigerator, I cleaned and cut up celery, carrots, and broccoli for snacking. Finally, I made a fruit salad of green grapes, strawberries, and ripe blueberries before prepping our evening meal.
An hour later, after showering and getting settled, I sat thumbing through fitness magazines at the round table in the surprisingly intimate, unpretentious dining room, with its low lights and soundproof walls. It offered the perfect ambiance for what I had in mind for Scarlett.
After setting the table for dinner, I closed my eyes and rested my back against the comfortable, high back of the bench chair in the dining room, which offered the right amount of support after today’s kickboxing session. There was nothing like working out my frustrations by punching big bags instead of the faces of those who deserved to have their teeth knocked out with my fists.
The ding of the grandfather clock in the front room alerted me that it was after seven, the time Scarlett and I agreed to meet. Five minutes later, I wondered if Scarlett had changed her mind. I was seconds away from calling her when the doorbell rang.
I rose and took a deep breath, suddenly nervous for what would meet me when I opened it. Was I moving too fast or assuming too much? I shook my arms and reached high to stretch, before walking to the door. I grabbed the doorknob before taking a final big breath, plastering a grin on my face.
When I opened the door, my grin transformed from professional to authentic. Scarlett was cute and pretty at once,displaying a softness that contrasted with her persona from earlier in the day.
“My, my, my. You’re absolutely breathtaking, Dr. Kane.” I stepped back and checked Scarlett out.
I wanted to reach out and hug her but resisted the urge. Instead, I clasped my hands behind my back, taking in every inch of Scarlett’s curvy body with my eyes. I bit my lip until she lowered her eyes and blushed.
Her short candy red dress was cinched at the waist, accentuating her pear-shaped body to perfection. The soft, flowing fabric split so seductively that if she’d let me, I could open the bottom of her dress like curtains and peek into the treasure behind the veil. Although her long sleeves covered her arms, the low-cut bodice hinted of firm breasts, adding to Scarlett’s overall appeal.
“Good evening, War. Thank you.”
Her use of my nickname had me grinning like a simpleton.
As I checked Scarlett out, she did the same to me. Like earlier today, I widened my stance, standing tall as her eyes methodically moved from my shoulders to my chest and then my crotch and legs. When her eyes returned to mine, I smiled. Another blush stained her cheeks as she placed her bags in my outstretched hand.
“For a minute, I thought you might have changed your mind.”
“Why would I say one thing and then do something else? I’m a woman of my word.”
