The Butterfly Effect (Boggy Creek Valley 1)

“I’d like that,” I said with a grin.

“Not sure how often it will be though.”

“Is there, um…anyone, you know…” My voice trailed off.

A sexy grin moved across his face. “No, I don’t know.”

I rolled my eyes because I knew he knew what I meant. “Are you dating anyone?”

He laughed. “No. I haven’t had time for any of that, and honestly, I don’t think it’s a good idea to be involved with anyone. I need to keep my head on, and thinking about some girl and what she’s doing while I’m deployed would not allow me to think straight. I see some of the guys on my team get messed up when it comes to girls.”

“That makes sense,” I said, trying not to show how happy I was that he wasn’t seeing anyone—while still hating that he said he wasn’t interested in getting involved.

“You?” he asked as he stared into my eyes.

I shook my head. “No. I mean, I’ve dated a few guys, but not for long. I’m not really interested in getting involved with anyone.”

Aiden reached out and ran one of my loose strands of hair between his fingers. “A woman as beautiful as you should have guys beating down your door.”

A rush of flutters hit my stomach. “You finally don’t see me as a little girl anymore, huh?”

His eyes darkened. “I haven’t seen you as a little girl in a number of years, Willa.”

That caused me to lift my brows. “Are you stalking me?”

He laughed. “I do have ways to keep tabs on you, if I really wanted to.”

I laughed. “I bet you do. Have you been deployed to very dangerous places?”

His brows went up. “Um…why?”

With a shrug, I replied, “I don’t know, I just worry about you.”

He nodded and finally let my hair slip from his fingers as he dropped his hand. Whatever spell he had been under, it was now broken. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and he looked away from me. “I don’t know what in the hell I’m doing.”

I drew my brows together in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Aiden let out a small chuckle and shook his head. “Nothing, I don’t mean anything. I’m tired.”

My heart hammered in my chest so loudly I was positive he heard it. “Did you want to come into the house? My folks are at a Christmas Eve party and, well, you know where Hunter is. Lacy’s at the same party.”

Aiden looked back at me, a strange expression on his face. “I think about you a lot, Willa. Your smile…it always did make me feel happier. When things are tough, that’s what I think about.”

“My smile?” I asked as I reached for his hand and held it. I was so relieved when he didn’t pull away.

He nodded. “Yeah, your smile.”

We stared at each other for a few moments before he cleared his throat and went on. “So, Boston University, huh?”

I let out a soft chuckle. “Yep. Getting a business degree. The plan is to come back home and take over the orchard once my folks retire. Now that Hunter is a police officer, he doesn’t have a lot of time to help my dad.”

“I’m glad Jack beat the cancer.”

My eyes stung with the threat of tears. Anytime I thought about the battle my father went through to beat his cancer, it nearly made me fall into a puddle on the floor, weeping. “Me too.”

“Glad you’re getting a business degree. That’s good. You always said you were gonna run the orchard someday.”

Glancing down at our joined hands, I shrugged. “Hunter and Lacy aren’t interested in it, but I’ve always loved the apple trees. The land. It makes me feel at peace.”

A pained expression moved over his face before it vanished as fast as it appeared. He smiled and softly said, “I know.”

My mouth and lips suddenly went dry. I ran my tongue along them, and Aiden quickly stood and turned away from me.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Yes. No. I don’t know, Willa. I really don’t know,” he replied with a laugh that sounded more confused than humorous.

With a frown, I stared at his back. Was he shaking?

I stood and reached out to touch his shoulder.

Aiden spun around, grabbed my hand, and before I knew it, I was back against the wall of the barn, his mouth inches from mine.

“You’re confusing me,” he said, his voice hoarse, as if he had been screaming for hours.

“I’m…I’m what?” I stammered as I frantically searched his face with my eyes. Aiden’s throat bobbed, and I snapped my gaze up to meet his.

“I can’t, Willa. I can’t do this.”

My head spun, and I let out a confused chuckle. “What are you talking about, Aiden? Now you’re confusing me.”

Then he did the one thing I never dreamed he would do. He kissed me.

Our lips pressed together in what started off as a sweet kiss, an innocent kiss, before Aiden prompted me with his tongue to give him more. And I gave him more. I’d give this man anything he asked of me. I brought my arms up and wrapped them around his neck while I pressed my body into his. He was solid muscle, and I groaned at the feel of him. A low growl came from the back of his throat, and I swore it vibrated through every inch of my body.