“My last name is Lively. I’m so sorry, I thought I’d told you.” What was I doing? The guilt built deep, but the lies kept bubbling up in my throat like burning lava threatening to consume me.
“Lexa Lively. That’s a sexy name.” He dragged his hand through his hair and then let out a long breath. “So, Ms. Lively, do we have a date?”
I looked in his eyes with every ounce of my common sense screaming inside of me to bail. But I couldn’t. “Sure. I’d like that.”
I unlocked the door and had him peek out to make sure the coast was clear. When he waved me out, I ducked behind the nearest curtain and pretended to gather supplies. As he left the room and the heavy door closed behind him, I turned away to deter him from seeing the blush on my face, hoping no one else would see me until it faded.
Being with him at work had been exhilarating, almost as hot as the way he’d trussed me up in the shower. My core quivered thinking about it, and I knew it was because of my most recent orgasm. I walked down the hall and passed where Aiden and his handsome friend were waiting for discharge, but I kept on going.
I wanted to meet his friend under better circumstances, and I cringed looking at the heavy bandage on his finger, knowing what Aiden had planned to do to himself before it happened. It had been a crazy move — but then again, Aiden Walker had never ceased to surprise me, even with his temper and fuck-all attitude.
Lexa Lively. I cringed as I thought back to the time in college when Bre and I had switched last names to keep some loser at a party from looking us up after we’d given him a fake number. Somewhere in the world, there was a man with a grudge against Alexandra Lively and Breanna Patterson.
Chapter Nineteen
Aiden
The bright sun shining through my window did not reflect my mood as I woke up. My day was already planned for me, and as a person who’d come to enjoy not having any responsibilities, I loathed the very idea.
I growled as I stretched, but then a thought of Lexa softened it to more of a purr. She’d done that to me a lot lately. Buffing out my roughness, shining me into a new man. I scratched my beard and scooted closer to the nightstand to reach my phone. If I was going to make it through this day, I needed to start it off right.
I dialed Lexa’s number and relaxed against my pillow as she answered. “Good morning, Aiden.”
Her voice was as warm as the sunlight, and I smiled as the soft tone hit my ears. “That’s debatable, but you’re making it better already.”
“Not a morning person, are you? I have no choice but to be. I’ve got a shift in an hour, so there will be plenty of patients to smile at.” I could hear the sound of shuffling clothes and things being dropped to a countertop.
“I’m jealous.”
“I’ll let you be the nurse for a day, and I’ll do whatever it is you do, then. You can have my patients, especially the ones who come in bleeding.” I thought about what she was saying for a moment and wondered how she kept her sparkling personality in check. I had a feeling I would need that knowledge later in the morning and considered asking for lessons.
“No, I don’t want to be a nurse. I’m jealous of all those patients who get to see your smiling face. It’s a hell of a lot better than what I get to face in another hour.”
“Rough day already? Maybe I don’t want to do whatever it is you do.” She gave a soft chuckle as I heard the sound of a spray bottle. Whatever she was doing, she was laying it on, and I imagined her hair pulled back in that tight bun, how I much preferred it down and flowing, or better yet, spilling around my hips. The thought made my cock twitch, and I told damned the thing to behave as I adjusted it.
“Yeah, but I didn’t call for that. I wanted something nice to think about, like our date. I thought maybe we could make plans. I want to make sure you have a good time, but I didn’t know what you’d like to do. I’m open for anything.”
“How about a nice dinner and then we can do something relaxing, but fun.”
“Dinner and a movie type of thing?” I made a face and was glad she couldn’t see it. I couldn’t imagine either of us sitting through a movie.
Her breath vibrated through the phone as she shuffled around, and by the sounds, I imagined she was getting dressed. “No, I think you can find something better than that. Call around, be creative. I’d like to see if you can find something in this town that I haven’t done before.”
“Sounds like a challenge, young lady. But I have news for you: I’m up for it. Only you have to promise me that you won’t be too hard on me if it sucks. You said to be creative, so I could get a little
crazy.”
I hoped to intimidate her a bit, but then I remembered this was the woman who cut off my clothes and tended my wounds before saying hello, the one who spread out on my car let me tie her to my showerhead. I had my work cut out for me. I wished Allison had been around to ask advice. She’d know the perfect place. I made a vow to make her proud.
“I’m not afraid of you, Mr. Walker.”
“Let’s hope you’re the only one. I need to be my most intimidating on a day like today.”
“That bad?” Her tone had dropped a few octaves as her voice steeped with concern.
“Yeah, I could use a little luck.”
“Oh, Aiden, I’m so sorry.” Her voice broke and then she went quiet.