Page 32 of His Lucky Paige

“I won’t argue with you if it means that this will happen again and again,” he said chuckling. “I take it the wedding’s off?”

“I don’t know…sorry,” she added as her phone began to ring. She rolled over and checked the caller id stifling a groan before answering, “Aaron…hi.”

Joel cast her a curious gaze as she slid out of the bed and into a robe. She hurried into the bathroom and closed the door knowing she didn’t want the conversation overheard.

“I’m sorry Paige; I didn’t mean to run out like that.”

“It’s okay. I’m sorry Aaron, for not telling you sooner and for…”

“Don’t worry about it Paige. I thought about it, and it makes sense that it would happen. You were tired and overcome with relief that he hadn’t died, and old feelings crept up. It happens but that doesn’t mean we can’t work through it. It was one time, right? What we have is solid Paige.”

“Yeah…Aaron, oh god…I’m sorry, I can’t do this. I thought I could, but I can’t.”

“Paige don’t be silly. I understand, I’m not a sexual person and that’s not going to change so if from time to time you feel the need to…”

“Aaron, you did not just imply that you’d be fine with me sleeping with whomever while we’re married did you?” she gasped not noticing the door open slightly behind her.

“As long as you’re discreet I see no problem with it.”

“So, you’re telling me that you wouldn’t care if I was, oh I don’t know, in bed right now with Joel?”

“Honestly no. I just didn’t think you were the passionate sort but if you are then I’m willing to let you do what you need to do.”

“You know what? I’ll set up funding for your research because I do believe in it, but I won’t be marrying you. Anyone who can be okay with their spouse sleeping with anyone other than them is not for me. Goodbye Aaron, I’ll have Dennis set up the funds next week.”

Paige ended the call and rested her head against the coolness of the mirror closing her eyes. Her body began to shake as she tried to hold back the laughter. God she’d been stupid to not see the truth before now about Aaron.

“You okay?” Joel asked sliding his arms around her. “I know I shouldn’t have eavesdropped but baby it’s okay. He’s an idiot.”

“No, I am. The truth? The marriage was supposed to be a business arrangement and a way to keep greedy and sleazy men away from me. I just didn’t realize how far he’d actually go to ensure he kept my funding.”

“Forgiving you for sleeping with me wasn’t the end of it?”

“He was willing to give me carte blanche to do whatever I wanted, sleep with whoever I wanted to.”

“He said that?” Joel asked amazed at the man’s stupidity.

“And more, god this is a mess.”

“Why?”

“Because everyone here’s going to think that I called it off because of you and that’s not it at all. This…you and me, we aren’t getting together in any way again.”

“You’re telling me this is goodbye too?” he questioned as his hands tightened into fists.

“Yeah, look…Joel just hear me out before you go slamming out of here, would you?” she said as he turned to walk back to the bedroom.

“Fine, what exactly is your issue with us doing this now?”

“We’re not the same people we were Joel. Yes, this…connection between us is amazing but it doesn’t last. We can’t make it continue outside of the bedroom or mountain. Out there, we’re on opposite ends and if we’re honest, we always have been. I know what I want, and you know what you want, and they don’t match up.”

“What do you want Paige because I’ve got to tell you I have no clue. One minute I think you want the exact same things as I do and the next…you’re pushing me and everyone else away so quickly that we can’t catch our breath. What are you hiding?”

“Nothing, I simply don’t think this will work. I want someone who will let me be me.”

“Seems to me that Aaron wasn’t letting you be you Paige, he was trying to keep you from climbing and that use to be a huge part of you so what changed?”

“Nothing, I’ve been climbing I just didn’t tell Aaron, it’s not like he paid that much attention anyway.”

---