A is for Aiden (Men of ALPHAbet Mountain)

“So why not just go right into it?” I asked.

“My license doesn’t transfer so I have to do a lot of paperwork to be able to practice here. I just needed something to tide me over until I can get all that sorted out.”

My interest level in Desiree was already pretty high, but now it was through the roof. She was an interesting, fascinatingly different woman. Unlike anyone I ever met. Her smoking-hot body was an added plus. I sat back in the chair, content to spend the rest of the afternoon chatting with her. Even if it meant crumbs on the couch.

10

Desiree

Hanging out with Aiden was fun, even more than I thought it would be. He had been so quiet and standoffish when I was staying there, but when I came back, it was like night and day. He was still quiet and intense, but I got the impression he was happy to see me. He also seemed really touched by the gift of the cookies. I thanked whatever cookie god that led me to making him the snickerdoodle and chocolate chip cookies, since they turned out to be his favorite. He said it would take him a week to eat them all, but by the time I left, he had already put away two each.

I drove home bouncing to music and feeling fantastic. I didn’t know quite exactly if I would call him a “friend” yet, but we were certainly friendly, and I felt like I had someone I could call on if I needed help with something. It made me feel less alone and less intimidated by being in Ashford, which I was grateful for.

I needed to call Sammi, though, and give her the update about how things went. She was extremely curious. Frankly, having something silly to talk about, like how I made cookies for a man, was better than talking about the reason I was in Ashford and not near her in the first place. I missed my friend more than ever, especially without my dad around. But I knew that keeping the distance we had was going to be the best chance at keeping her safe too. The men that killed my father were ruthless and vengeful. I hoped that being this far away was too much work, but if I was still in New York, I would be as good as dead.

Shuddering, trying to force those thoughts away, I turned the radio up loud. It was poppy Christmas music from the eighties, and I loved it. It felt like a time where everything was fun and silly and kind of innocent. Bopping along to the tunes, I drove back into town and to my house singing along with what lyrics I knew.

Forgetting to go to the store before I went home was becoming a regular issue, and I cursed myself when I shut the door behind me. I needed to replace some of the ingredients I used on the cookies so I could make other dishes for myself, but that would have to wait for tomorrow. I was home now and had my first day on the job tomorrow. I had no intention of doing anything that didn’t involve a video call from Sammi and maybe prop her up on a pillow on the couch and watch a movie with her.

Just then, my phone vibrated on the table where I left it while I was changing out of my bra and putting on a loose T-shirt. I slipped it on and grabbed the phone, smiling when I saw Sammi’s name. Swiping right, her face popped up almost immediately, a bright smile and a comically sized glass of wine in her hand.

“Hey, boo,” she said. “How’s my girl? How did your cookie delivery go?”

“I just got back, actually,” I said.

Her eyes got wide, and a mischievous smile lifted one side of her lips. She leaned forward on the dining room table she sat at, where our families had shared many meals.

“By my count, that means you were there for much more than just a drop-off of baked goods,” she said, glancing at a watch she neither wore nor would ever wear. She was notorious for losing watches and not even remembering what they looked like. “So, how much of that time were you wearing clothing?”

“Sammi,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I told you, it’s not like that. He’s a nice guy.”

“And hot,” she interrupted, “You said so. Stupidly hot if I remember correctly.”

“Yes.” I felt my cheeks burning. “He is stupidly hot. But that’s entirely separate from everything else.”

“Uh-huh.” She took a sip of her wine and looked entirely unconvinced.

“I brought the cookies in, and we sat around and talked for a bit. Just chit chat stuff,” I said.

“Really?” Sammi said, a trace of disappointment in her voice. “He didn’t make a move? You didn’t make a move?”