16

Aidan stared at the blank computer screen after closing an e-mail from Mrs. Merriweather. Due to complications, she would require more time to heal. Which meant Chloe would be helping at the school for longer than the few weeks he’d anticipated. He swallowed a gulp of cold coffee and grimaced.

This new development reinforced the need to put the brakes on their growing relationship. No more passionate kisses. His pulse tripped just thinking about it. But it wouldn’t look good to have a romantic relationship with one of the school volunteers.

Mr. Jenkins had made his policy on such matters very clear, and Aidan couldn’t afford another black mark—not after the fiasco in Arizona. He pushed up from his chair, shoved his fists into his pockets and walked to the window. At that terrifying moment when he’d found Chloe unconscious and thought he’d lost her, the truth had hit him like a swift punch to the gut. He was falling in love with her—and he had no idea what to do about it.

A rap at his door brought his attention back to the present. It couldn’t be Chloe. She would be in the kitchen with the students. Though he’d tried to get her to take the day off, she’d insisted on coming in.

The door swung inward.

Aidan froze. “Patricia.” How had he forgotten she was coming for an interview today?

She was as lovely as ever, her shoulder-length blonde hair perfectly groomed. “Hello, Aidan. It’s good to see you.” She moved forward to embrace him and the familiar scent of her expensive perfume surrounded him.

He stepped behind the safety of his desk. “Please have a seat.”

She pouted brightly painted lips and sat in the guest chair.

“Have you finished your interview?” Aidan couldn’t help but compare Patricia’s artfully enhanced good looks to Chloe’s natural beauty.

“Yes. I’m on my way out, but I couldn’t leave without seeing you.” She smiled at him. “I wanted to see if you were free for dinner. My plane doesn’t leave until eight.”

Aidan stiffened. “I’m sorry, Patricia. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

The pain of her betrayal came thudding back, churning his stomach. He stood, forcing her to follow suit, and checked his watch. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to be somewhere in fifteen minutes. Have a nice trip back.”

He prayed she didn’t get the position. Her constant presence here would be unbearable. Maybe he’d have another talk with Larry before he made his final decision. The man had a right to know about their past connection and possible conflict of interest. Aidan headed toward the door.

Patricia followed and laid a hand on his arm. “You’ll never know how sorry I am about the way I handled things with you.” Actual tears appeared at the corners of her blue eyes.

He wanted to say, “I forgive you.” But the words wouldn’t come. Instead he said, “What’s done is done. Let’s forget it.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

Before he could move, she planted her lips on his. Shock slammed through him, and his whole body went rigid. Scowling, he gripped her upper arms and set her away from him. The heated words he intended to say froze in his throat as a movement over Patricia’s shoulder caught his attention.

Chloe stood staring at him, open-mouthed, in the doorway. “Excuse me. I’ll come back later.” She pulled the door shut with a sharp click. Her retreating footsteps echoed down the tiled hallway.

Aidan had a sinking feeling that his life was about to become very complicated.

****

Chloe rubbed her temples, trying to ease the throbbing headache—a souvenir of yesterday’s assault. She’d managed to get Matt to the youth center early and needed him to finish up so she could leave before Aidan arrived. She couldn’t cope with another confrontation after what she’d witnessed in his office. An uncomfortable flare of jealousy twisted her stomach muscles. The image of Aidan kissing that sleek blonde had shaken her almost as much as the attack in the bakery. How could he share such a passionate kiss with her last night, and then embrace some other woman today?

“Miss Martin? I’m finished.” Matt stood in the kitchen doorway, hands tucked in his jean pockets.

Despite the headache, she needed to talk to him about what had happened. “Matt, has Chief Hillier called you today?”

A frown formed under his shaggy bangs. “No. Why?”

“Something happened yesterday at my shop.” She took a breath. “Three men broke in, vandalized the place, and…” she swallowed, “and hit me.” She touched tentative fingers to the still-tender area above her ear.

His eyes widened. “I’m sorry, miss. Are you OK?”

“I’m fine. I don’t want you to feel bad, but I think they were friends of yours. They warned me to leave you alone.”

His jaw hardened to match his eyes. “They’re no friends of mine.”

“Who are they then?”

His mouth tightened, but he said nothing.

She took a tentative step toward him. “We had to report the incident to the police, so Chief Hillier will probably want to talk to you. I’m so sorry, Matt. Is there anything I can do?”

“No. I’ll handle it.” He turned and stormed across the gym.

Chloe grabbed her bag, hurried to the outer door, and locked up. She turned around, dismayed to find Matt hadn’t waited for her. Now she’d have to go looking for him.

Chloe jumped at the sound of a car pulling into the lot. Visions of the masked men from yesterday exploded through her mind. Her breathing went shallow as she turned.

Aidan slammed out of his car and crossed the walkway.

Her initial relief faded, and a new tension took its place.

He ripped off his sunglasses as he approached. “Chloe, we need to talk.”

“Not now, Aidan. Matt has run off, and I need to find him.”

“What happened?” Concern shadowed his eyes.

“I told him about the vandals. He got upset and ran off.” She threw out her hands in despair. “I’m afraid he’ll do something stupid.”

He shoved his glasses back on. “Come on. I’ll help you look for him.”

****

Aidan rammed the gearshift into drive and pulled away from the curb outside the Browns’ apartment. Everywhere they’d searched had turned up empty. Matt was nowhere to be found, and he wasn’t answering his phone. Please, Lord, don’t let him get in any more trouble. Watch over him and keep him safe. Aidan glanced at Chloe.

She sat in the passenger seat, her head back, eyes closed.

“Headache still bad?”

She nodded and rubbed a hand across her forehead.

“Matt will turn up. Don’t worry.” He reached over to squeeze her hand, but she flinched and pulled away. Aidan inhaled, shocked at how much that tiny gesture could hurt. His thoughts circled back to the reason he’d wanted to see her. “About earlier today—what you saw in my office wasn’t what it seemed.”

She stiffened. “You don’t owe me any explanation.”

Unexpected anger surfaced. He pulled the car into an empty lot to give her his full attention. “How can you say that after what we shared last night?” He regretted his harsh tone when hurt bloomed in her eyes. In a softer voice, he continued. “I’m not the kind of man who would kiss you one day and someone else the next. I hope you know that.”

She didn’t answer, only clutched the locket around her neck.

Aidan fought an insane urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her until all disbelief had evaporated. Instead he focused on the passing traffic. “Patricia is my ex-girlfriend. She was here for an interview and dropped by to say hello. I was showing her out when she ambushed me with that kiss.”

Chloe seared him with a heated look. “Is it a coincidence she came all the way from Arizona to apply for a job here?”

“No. She’s made it clear she wants me back.” He gripped the steering wheel. “But that’ll never happen.”

“Why did you break up?”

Maybe if he opened up to her about his failed relationship, she’d confide in him about her own painful past. “We worked at a private Christian school where every teacher was held to exacting standards of behavior. Dating among the teachers was discouraged, so Patricia and I kept our relationship quiet. After a while, she started hinting at an engagement ring. I was not ready for that, but she ignored my wishes and told everyone we were getting engaged. She hinted at…” He paused, fighting the rise of heat, “at an intimate relationship. Word got around to the principal. I’m not sure he ever believed it wasn’t true.”

“She sounds desperate.”

“When the incident with my student happened, the ugly rumors became too much for her, and she walked away. Not long after, the principal asked me to leave.” He shifted his gaze to the windshield, not daring to look at Chloe.

“If she loved you, she would’ve stood by you.” Warm sympathy oozed from her voice.

“That’s how I felt. Totally betrayed by the one person who should have been on my side.” He relaxed his grip on the steering wheel.

“I’m sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion and didn’t give you a chance to explain.”

The boulder of tension rolled off his shoulders. “It must have looked really bad. I can imagine how I’d feel in the same position.”

“How would you feel, Aidan?”

Shivers went down his spine. It was much too soon to verbalize his feelings, as convoluted as they were. Yet the vulnerability on her face tore at him. “I care about you very much, Chloe. More than I ever expected—”

Her cellphone went off. She gave an apologetic shrug. “It might be about Matt.” Seconds later, her expectant expression morphed into a frown. “What do you want, Richard?”

Aidan’s shoulders stiffened.

She listened intently. “I’m sorry. How’s Denise?” A variety of emotions flickered across her expressive face. “I’m sorry for your loss, but this doesn’t change anything. Please don’t call me again.” She disconnected and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Is everything all right?”

She opened her eyes and nodded.

“What did he want?”

“This isn’t the time to get into it.”

Slivers of suspicion rippled under his skin. “I just told you the sordid details of my relationship. Now it’s your turn.” She needed to trust him enough to reveal her secrets.

“I’m sorry. I—I can’t right now.”

The thin thread holding his patience together evaporated. “Who is Denise, Chloe? And what does she have to do with Richard?”

The color bled out of Chloe’s cheeks, leaving them ashen. “Denise is Richard’s wife.”