Aidan’s meeting ended earlier than expected. Working from Mary’s house for a few days had turned out to be quite beneficial. There were less interruptions, and knowing she was near allowed him to focus rather than worry. With her in his life, everything fell into place.
Checking his watch, he saw that Mary would be occupied for at least another hour or so. On a sudden impulse, Aidan took the staff elevator down to the kitchens.
Lexi met him with a huge smile. “There he is,” she said. “You’ve got this place in a buzz today.”
“Do I?” he asked smugly.
“Everyone wants to know who the mysterious woman is who’s captured your attention. You brought Mary in, huh?”
“Yes. This morning was her first day back at the flower shop. She was only supposed to work a half day, but she’d still be there if I hadn’t shown up. I booked her at the spa for the afternoon, so at least I know she’s taking it easy.”
“Good plan,” Lexi smiled. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“Not every woman likes to be managed so thoroughly, Aidan. Did you ask her if that’s what she wanted? Did you even tell her about it first?”
He frowned, never having considered the possibility. “No. What woman wouldn’t want to be pampered?”
“I’m not saying she wouldn’t like it. All I’m suggesting is that maybe you should have given her a little warning.”
Aidan nodded, rubbing his hand over his face, remembering how resistant Mary had been. “I’m fucking this up again, aren’t I?”
“No,” Lexi said gently. “It’s part of who you are. You want to take care of the people around you. That’s not a bad thing.”
“I sense a ‘but’ in there somewhere.”
“But... Mary is used to doing everything for herself. If you try to assume control over her life without discussing things with her first, she might begin to feel like you see her as incapable and in need of a keeper.”
“I don’t think that at all!” Aidan said. “It’s precisely because she’s so damn capable that I want to do something nice for her. Damn it, Lex. She’s spent so much of her life taking care of others. I want to be the one to take care of her for a change.”
“Then just tell her that so she understands what you’re doing.”
Aidan nodded. When Lexi said it, it made perfect sense. “I guess I can do that. I just can’t seem to think straight when it comes to Mary, Lex. Christ. I just want to lay the world at her feet.”
“She doesn’t want the world, Aidan. She just wants you.”
He looked at her, his normally golden eyes dark with torment. “She loves me. I know she does. But I also know that if I asked her to marry me tonight, she’d balk. Why?”
Lexi was quiet for a few seconds, her expression thoughtful. “Maybe she’s afraid.”
“Afraid of what? I would never hurt her, Lex. Walking away was the biggest mistake I ever made. I’ll never do it again.”
“I think she knows that, deep down. And I don’t think she is afraid of you, Aidan. She’s afraid for you.”
Feeling frustrated, Aidan ran his hands through his hair in an uncharacteristic gesture. “Lex, that makes no sense. Why on earth would she be afraid for me?”
Lexi was quiet again. “Has she gotten the results back from her surgery yet?”
Aidan was surprised by that question. “She hasn’t said anything.” Worry lines creased his brow. “Do you think she did and she doesn’t want to tell me?”
“I don’t know, Aidan. I don’t know Mary well enough to speak for her. But I do know that when it first became a real possibility that Ian and I could have a future together, I was terrified of what he’d have to face because of my illness.” She laid her hand gently on Aidan’s arm. “You remember, don’t you, Aidan.”
“You didn’t want Ian to have to watch you die,” he said slowly. “You wouldn’t let me contact him until you made it through your pregnancy...”
“Until I knew I would make it.”
Chapter Nineteen
When Aidan met Mary at the spa, she was glowing from head to toe. He took her hand and had no problem kissing her right there in front of a gaping staff. “Good visit?”
“Aidan, it was the most thoughtful, most wonderful thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you.”
Aidan’s heart swelled. At least she wasn’t mad at him. “My pleasure. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes.” After saying goodbye to the staff and thanking them profusely, Mary let Aidan take her hand and lead her out to where Jared had the Benz warm and waiting.
“You look absolutely radiant, Mary. Even more beautiful than usual.”
“I feel beautiful,” she admitted. “I’ve never been to a real salon before. My friends tried to talk me into a pedicure once, but I chickened out at the last minute.”
Aidan laughed. “Why? What is so scary about a pedicure?”
“Well, what if my feet smelled bad? Or I had gunk beneath my toenails? I rarely wear shoes in the summer, and the bottoms of my feet get stained from walking around barefoot in the grass and dirt. I would have needed to soak and scrub them just to feel comfortable enough to go. And if I was going to do that, then why bother?”