Page 84 of Check You Out

“I was manipulated into making bad decisions,” he explains. “I was misled into initiating some office renovations. I believe I mentioned them before.”

I blink. “No one held a gun to your head and said, ‘Hey, you gotta do this now and cut the budget for everything else.’”

He nods and steps forward again. “It doesn’t matter now about that, but it’s a fact that I was manipulated.” He takes a breath. “Am I still fit to lead if I have been manipulated so much?” He bangs his hand on the counter. “I swore an oath, Charlotte. An oath to fulfill my duties to the best of my ability. To protect the citizens of this county. I have failed them by being led astray.”

I lean back against the chair behind my counter. “I’m the least qualified person to answer you right now, and I still don’t know why you’re here.”

He palms the counter. “I broke my oath. I betrayed my constituents based upon the whim of someone else. Am I still worthy of being called County Executive when I can’t detect the manipulators and fiends?”

Sighing, I shift on my feet. “I really can’t answer that, Stephen. I’m not a political expert or a pollster. It sounds like you fucked up. People are angry and pissed off about the budget cuts. You can’t just blame someone else when you’re the one responsible.” I give him space to counter my statement.

He shoves his hands in his pockets and leans back on his heels, comfortably. His gaze roams around my face for a long moment. He doesn’t say anything. I wish he’d just leave.

The bell above the door twinkles, and I swivel my head to find Aidan clutching a coffee tray and a paper bag. His glasses are crooked. His warm smile falls when he spots Stephen Gott, and his gaze darkens.

“Uh, hello,” he says with a shaky voice and moves quickly to my side, setting the coffee tray and paper bag on the counter. He rests a hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t realize you had a customer.”

“Mr. Gott was just leaving,” I say, my tone firm, and I rest my hands on the counter. “Thank you for coming in, and I hope you found what you were looking for.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Aidan’s free hand curling into a fist. Gott gazes at me, and the tension is so thick I could snap it like a stale biscuit.

“Thank you, Charlotte,” Gott says after a long moment. “I did find what I was looking for. I appreciate your help.” His gaze shifts to Aidan. “It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Talbot. I apologize for my former stepson’s behavior this past school year.” Without another word, he hustles out of the bookstore.

As soon as the door closes, Aidan whirls to me with large eyes. “What the fuck did he want?”

“Advice,” I reply, crossing my arms. “Although it sounded a lot like he was trying to place blame on someone else. He kept on talking about how he was manipulated, which I assume refers to those office renovations and hiring his brother-in-law.” I press my lips together. “Wait, he said ‘former stepson’. Did he break up with Bridgett?”

“Good for him.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Sounds like a typical politician. He can’t accept responsibility for his actions and, thus, he has to point the finger somewhere.” He studies my face. “Are you ok?”

I lift one shoulder and lean into his warm touch. I’m enveloped by the smell of coffee and cinnamon. “Yeah, it was just weird, you know?”

He nods and presses a kiss on my forehead; his breath warms my skin. It sends happiness straight to my core. “I’m sorry you had to deal with him without me. I should’ve been here.”

I shove him away and exclaim, “I sent you away because you’re too fucking hot.” I gesture at my computer. “I still haven’t gotten this stupid report done thanks to the both of you. Now, can you please go away again so I can concentrate?”

Aidan grasps my elbows and caresses the skin. A corner of his mouth turns upward and a dimple pops. “Why do you spurn me? Me, your devoted servant? What have I ever done to receive such scorn and mistreatment from you?” He jokes.

Pressing my lips together in a thin line, I let out a groan. “I can’t get anything done with you here. Please help me and leave. Now! I need to finish this fucking report.”

His face hardens into a pout. “I don’t want to leave you, especially after he came here.” He brings his hands to cradle my face and plants another kiss on my forehead. “How about this? I will sit in that corner.” He points to one of the chairs sitting in the middle of the bookstore. “When you’re done with your report, I will reward you.”

I consider his plan.

“Hmmm. What kind of reward?”

Aidan flashes a wry smile. “That will be for me to decide and for you to find out.” He claims his mouth on mine for one hard, intense kiss that leaves me weak in the knees. He breaks off suddenly, leaving me breathless and yearning for his touch. But he grabs a copy of Travis Baldree’s Bookshops and Bonedust from a display table labelled Cozy LGBT Fiction. “I’ll be waiting,” he says slyly before plopping himself down in the chair and cracking the book open.

Letting out a sigh, I run a finger across my lips, still feeling the kiss he gave me. It takes everything in me to not stop working and go sit on his lap.

Sighing, I turn back to my computer and start again on this report. My gaze falls to the Triple C cup resting right by my keyboard, and a warm smile spreads across my face as I take a sip of the soothing Earl Grey and vanilla. I peer into the paper bag and spot a blueberry scone.

I didn’t even ask him for tea.

How did I know that’s what I needed?

36

Aidan