Page 45 of Wild Mistake
“I’m sorry.” Aiden holds his hands up, his eyes wide. Bless him for not getting up and walking out the door.
I set the coffee pot back in place and exhale.What am I doing?Aiden was simply asking a polite question. He doesn’t deserve my rage. It’s this book. It’s got me all twisted in my feelings. I see too much of myself in the characters. It’s making me realize things about myself I don’t love. They’re things I’ve always been praised for, too. I give too much of myself to others, at the cost of my own peace. I always have.
“I’m sorry you’ve had such a long day,” Aiden says. “What can I do to make it better?”
I’m stunned silent. I don’t know if anyone has ever asked me that. I don’t have an answer.
“Sarah.” Aiden leans forward, placing his elbows on the counter and staring straight through my soul. “Let me make your day better.”
I’m tempted to let him in. God, it would be so easy to lean on this strong and steady man. To let him bear the brunt of my problems, even if it were temporary.But at what cost?
No. That’s not who I am. That’s not who I want to be.
I flash Aiden a smile. “You can tell me what you’d like to order.”
“Sarah.” He narrows his gaze. “I’m being serious.”
“So am I.” I reach for my note pad and flip to an empty page. “What can I get you?”
“Fine.” He folds his arms across his chest. “A raspberry pie.”
I lift my brows. “An entire pie?”
“If you’ve got one, yes. If not, ring me up for however many slices are left.” He lifts his coffee to his lips. “To go.”
He’s taking his pie to go. Of course he is.Because I pushed him away.
I should be satisfied. That’s what I wanted, isn’t it? I’ve acted like a brat since he walked in. Stomping into the back, I check to see if we have any whole pies left from today’s baking. We do, so I place it in a pink pastry box and tape it closed before returning to face Aiden.
He sits at the counter, looking more attractive than anyone should while sipping coffee.
“One raspberry pie.” I set the pastry down at the edge of the counter, then move toward the cash register. Only, pain spits up my leg. I stop and wince.Fuck.
“Sarah.” Aiden rushes to my side. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
“It’s nothing.” But it’s a complete lie.
Aiden’s stare travels down my body. “What hurts?”
“My back. My feet. Every ligament in my stupid body.” I step away from him and move to take a seat at an empty table. I reach down to massage the calf muscle and work out the cramp.
“That narrows it down,” he says dryly, pulling out the chair across from me and taking a seat.
“It’s nothing a nice long, hot bath won’t fix.”God, I miss having a bathtub. To be able to sit and soak in warm water would ease some of the pain in my body.“Better yet, make it a hot tub.”
“Then, let’s do it.” Aiden nods. “After you get off work.”
I laugh. “Last I checked I don’t have access to either of those.”
“Really, Sarah?” The grin on his lips sends shivers down my spine. “I know we’ve both been away, but come on. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about one of Wilder Valley’s best kept secrets?”
My brain races through memories that feel like a lifetime ago. “The springs.” My jaw falls open.
He smirks. “Yeah.”
