Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
The longing she felt in that moment was so overwhelming she teared up, accepting the inevitable. No one made her as happy as Aiden Sterling. No one had ever made her as miserable, either. But love took work. Both parties had to try their best. Though Aiden had shattered her years ago, he was still the only person who could make her feel whole. Which meant she had put the past behind her. She believed that Aiden wouldn’t hurt her again.
And that set her free.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The family stayed at the hospital until visiting hours ended. The nursing staff all but had to kick them out. Everyone was so thrilled about the new baby and Aiden was right there with them.
But it wasn’t just the new addition to the family that put him in a good mood. As they walked across the hospital lobby, Brooke at his side, she intertwined her fingers with his. They were together. Though they still needed to talk about their relationship and what it would look like, to him, that was just a technicality. He wasn’t going anywhere, ever again.
As they stepped out of the hospital and into the night, Aiden paused. The asphalt was wet from rain, which obviously started sometime while they’d been inside.
Beside him, Brooke stilled and stared out at the dark night. “I hate heavy rain,” she said.
“I know, sweetheart. But it’s not icy and I can handle the short drive home.”
Ever since her father died on icy roads at night, driving in bad weather made her nervous. Even rain.
“I’ll drive slow. I promise.” He glanced at her. “Ready?”
She nodded and as he walked forward, she fell into step alongside him.
He drove home with more caution than ever. Her tension got to him and he didn’t want her any more upset than she already was. He hated to think of her handling these drives alone all these years, but it did no good for him to look back now.
Glancing from the corner of his eye he saw her hands gripping her seat belt tightly, her leg bouncing up and down with nervous energy. “We’ll be home soon,” he promised. And to distract her, he said, “I hope you weren’t planning to sleep in your own bed tonight, because I want you with me.”
She let out a huff of unexpected laughter. “Really? You’re trying to make me focus on something else by talking about sex?”
“No.” He pulled up to a red light and glanced at her with a smile. “I’m saying that I want you in my arms tonight. I don’t like seeing you so scared, and it’s driving me crazy.”
“Well, we’re just a couple blocks from home.”
He took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back, just as the light changed. The green arrow appeared and he began his left turn, moving slowly as there was no one behind him, and he knew this light gave him plenty of time.
Out of nowhere, a dark vehicle darted out from the parking lot across the street, screeching into the road and gunning it toward them. The SUV came closer and it resembled the vehicle that nearly ran him over and fled from the diner.
“Shit!” he shouted, and shot his arm out to brace Brooke even as he slammed his foot down on the brakes. Their car shot forward, hitting a puddle and hydroplaning out of control.
Brooke screamed, the shrill sound ringing in his ears as everything blurred around him. Every muscle in his body seized tight and he attempted to maneuver the vehicle out of the spin and bring the car to a stop.
He whipped his neck to the side in time to see the SUV speed off. As for them, the car had spun a few times and come to a stop, one tire over the sidewalk.
“Brooke?” He looked at her terror-filled face, eyes wide, skin pale, and her body trembling.
Tears swam in her eyes, but she didn’t answer him. He unbuckled himself first, then reached over and did the same for her, pulling her into his arms as best he could in the front seat. She sniffed into his shirt, and he whispered soothing words in her ear, all the while running a hand up and down her back, comforting her as much as possible.
But inside, he was furious.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The next morning, Brooke sat in the kitchen with her mom, a cup of coffee in hand. She hadn’t slept well last night, the near accident leaving her too rattled to get any rest. By the time the police came and took their statements, it was late. Once home, she’d let her mother make her a cup of tea to help her relax.
But when she lay down, even wrapped in Aiden’s protective arms, sleep eluded her. And when she managed to finally fall asleep, a nightmare about the incident startled her awake. The pattern repeated itself until the morning sun came in through the windows.