Page 8 of Lust & Lies
“What’s that smell?” I asked.
Aiden inhaled deeply before glancing at me. “Oh,thatsmell. I had the housekeeper come yesterday to make sure everything was clean and ready.”
“I thought the house was new? It shouldn’t be dirty. Right?”
“It is. But we haven’t been here in a long time. I needed the place dusted before you arrived.”
That made sense. My gaze drifted around the space. Marble floors stretched out in front of me. High ceilings made everything feel taller, more elegant. Beautiful paintings lined the walls of the foyer.
“Welcome home, baby,” Aiden said, standing beside me.
Not knowing how to respond, I only nodded.
“I’ll show you around.”
He took my hand again and started walking. We moved through the foyer, the soft thud of our footsteps on the marble the only sound between us. The foyer led us to a spacious living room with the same high ceilings.
Cream-colored couches sat arranged around a glass coffee table that looked like it belonged in a showroom. Cute end tables flanked each couch, topped with slender lamps and stacks of hardback books that I was sure no one had ever read. They were mere decorations.
The dark, heavier curtains were pulled back, allowing light to filter in through sheer curtains. Brass accents trimmed the room in quiet luxury. Corners of shelves, lamp bases, and the framingaround the oversized mirror above the fireplace all gleamed in the soft light pouring through tall windows.
My eyes dropped to a pillow in the center of one of the couches.AP LOVES NPwas embroidered on the pillow.Aiden Park loves Noelle Park.Had that always been there, or had he had it made for this very moment?
I hated the way I was questioning everything. But what choice did I have? All of this was so... overwhelming. Sliding my hand out of his, I took a slow step back, glancing around the room. Not a single object was out of place.
The perfection was unsettling. But nothing whispered comfort either. I was scared to touch anything, afraid I’d ruin the ambiance of this space. Aiden turned toward me, the sunlight catching his profile as he spoke.
“How do you like it?” he asked.
“It’s beautiful,” I admitted.
Aiden smiled. “Of course it is, because you designed it.”
My chest tightened. “I don’t remember that.”
His smile didn’t falter. “I know. But you will.”
Would I? Maybe I had designed it. Maybe I had walked through this very room a hundred times before, obsessing over every little detail. Unfortunately, this room didn’t stir any memories within me.
Much like the man standing before me, this place didn’t feel like it belonged to me. Even so, I plastered a smile on my face for his comfort. I stepped away from him, moving over to the fireplace. My fingers skimmed the smooth edge of the mantel.
“This is a nice fireplace,” I mumbled, needing to fill the silence.
“Nice?” he echoed, stepping closer. “You used to say this was the best feature in the room.”
“Really?” I asked.
“Yeah. But I shouldn’t tell you that.”
“No. I like it when you tell me stuff about my past,” I said, still facing the fireplace. “I want to know more.”
He hesitated. “But the doctor...”
I spun around to face him. “I know what the doctor said. And yes, we need to follow his orders. But I still like to know stuff. I like hearing about my past. So, feel free to slip up and reveal things about me whenever you like. Hell, tell me everything if you want. I want to know.”
Aiden studied me for a few seconds, and then his mouth curved into a smile that made my heart skip a couple of beats.
“What?” I asked, wary. “Why are you smiling?”
