time, making them all late for dinner. The guests that had just finished with the tour had opted for private dinners in their cabins, while she raced to change before she was due to help out in the dining hall.
“Aubrey Smith?” the man asked as he ran his eyes up and down her. Her entire body went on guard. After all, they were alone on a dimly lit pathway and he was, even though very skinny, taller and probably stronger than she was. Even with all her years of training, she knew better than to misjudge a person by their appearance.
“Yes,” she tensed. Knowing that most men didn’t see someone like her as a threat, she readied her body for a fight, just in case. “And you are?” she asked.
The man chuckled, then shook his head. “Not a guest.”
“Oh?” She shifted her feet slightly and prepared as she reached for her walkie-talkie.
“No,” he sighed. “I’m here because of your father.” He held out a folder. It was then that she noticed the man wasn’t wearing the normal guest’s attire. Instead, he wore a very rich dark suit and tie, which she should have recognized right off since it was middle of the fall season in Florida. The evenings had cooled off, but still, tonight was muggy. The man looked uncomfortable enough that she relaxed and took the folder from his hand.
“This is?” she asked not wanting to open it since she figured it would prolong the disaster her father was trying to inflict. She thought she knew what awaited her inside the pages. Another attempt for him to control her.
“Legal papers.” The man shook his head. “I’ve known your father my entire life. Imagine my surprise when he told me about you. Hell, if I had known he had a daughter...” He shook his head, then stopped and looked her square in the eyes. “You look so much like him that I recognize the fight in you.” He sighed as he turned around to go, but then he threw over his shoulder. “You would’ve kicked my ass, by the way.” He chuckled and walked away.
She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths as she calmed herself down. Her body almost vibrated with the need for release at this point. She either needed to kick someone’s butt or screw them senseless. And, at this point, she knew the only person she was thinking of doing either to was Aiden.
“If you hadn’t, I would have,” a deep voice said from the darkness behind her, causing her to squeal and almost drop the folder.
Aiden stepped into the soft glow of the pathway light.
“Sorry,” he said as his eyes followed the man in the suit before turning towards her. “So, do you want to see what your dad’s goon delivered this time?”
Aiden knew all about the other two times her father’s lawyers had shown up at the camp. The first time was three months after she’d moved there to inform her that she was being sued by his company for breach of contract. That was quickly squashed when her lawyers had provided proof that she’d been officially fired from the company. The second time was early last year to let her know that she’d been removed from her father’s will.
She’d been grateful to know that she was no longer obligated to the older man she’d deemed as nothing more than a sperm donor and a nuisance for most of her life.
“No.” She shook her head and tucked the envelope closer to her.
“Come on,” Aiden said, reaching for it.
Even though they hadn’t been officially intimate for more than half a year, she still felt desire every time he grew close to her. The cool stone that lay over her heart almost burned when he was around her. Maybe it was because somewhere in the back of her subconscious, she knew the meaning of the heart.
“No,” she said again. “I don’t care what tricks he’s trying now.” She tried to jerk the folder away, but he was too quick and, besides, he knew all her moves and easily side-stepped around her blocks.
When he opened the folder and frowned at the papers, she held her breath.
“Shit,” he said softly and ran his free hand through his hair. Seeing the concern and worry in his eyes, she tensed again.
“What?” She groaned. “What is he trying now?” She moved closer to look over his shoulder. “Something he hasn’t tried before, no doubt.”
“Yeah.” He handed the papers to her.