out and walked her up to her front door. He’d been especially quiet most of the ride home, and she anticipated he’d say a simple goodbye and be on his way.
“Thanks again for tonight.”
Before she could respond, the man’s soft lips were pressed against hers. His eyes narrowed as he pulled away, leaving her stunned. Aries turned his back on her then, leaving her there in the darkness, with nothing but the stars glowing, their bright light a witness to the scene. His scent lingered in the air, and even as she slipped her key in the door and entered her peaceful domain, his aroma stayed with her, as if it were a layer of protection, a calling card to be remembered. She entered her house and stood by the front door, then watched as he took off in his truck. Already, quite unexpectedly, she missed him. He left her hot all over, as if her soul had been set on fire with a mere kiss.
His energy was just that big, bad, and beautiful…
CHAPTER SIX
Doing it by the Book
Aries propped the twenty-foot mahogany arched transom front doors at his father’s estate open, along with a few windows, to allow some fresh air into the stuffy place. It being an hour’s drive away from his home, he preferred to get as much done as possible to minimize visits. This was his fourth time there, and the choking feeling in his throat and sense of dread from the moment he stepped into the place never eased.
“Dad! Look! It’s a slip and slide!” Aiden slid along the vestibule’s rich caramel and burnished beige marble floor. The enormous, sparkling chandelier put him in mind of some crystal and gold encrusted spaceship. Aries shook his head and burst out laughing at his son, who was skidding back and forth in his socks along the floor, his earbuds jammed in his ears and a silly smile on his face. One white sock was hiked up higher than the other on his thin ankles as he did his modern-day rendition of the infamous ‘Tom Cruise Risky Business scene. Thankfully, unlike Tom, he hadn’t stripped down to his shirt and underwear.
“Where the hell are your shoes, boy? Put ’em on before you step on a nail or something. Those movers will be back soon, takin’ some of this stuff for that estate sale and auction again.”
“There’s no loose nails, Dad. You worry too much. I’m fine.” The boy scoffed. “Watch! I’m suuuuuuupermaaaan!” The boy skated in the other direction, his arms outstretched, moving like a streak of light.
Laughing, Aries walked past the imposing double staircase into the kitchen that rivaled that of a five-star restaurant. Double ovens, an industrial-sized sink, and a huge refrigerator. Fluorescent lights spanned the ceiling, and he could see a number of built-in speakers, a television, and all sorts of complicated gadgets he had to figure out. The sooner this place sold, the better.
He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. He’d brought a few cases of water, cans of iced tea, Capri Sun pouches and juice boxes for his son so they’d have refreshments while he worked and decided what to take and what to leave. It seemed that as soon as he finished one room, he’d discover another area he’d missed. The place was like a damn mausoleum and for the life of him, he didn’t understand how one man could live there with just his girlfriend. Her name wasn’t on anything, and apparently, she’d moved out several months before his death. His father had put her up in her own place and paid her mortgage, too.
The woman hadn’t been happy to receive a visit from him. When he’d given her three months to move out, she had the audacity to request that the mortgage be paid in full so she could remain there. He laughed at her as he got back in his car, remembering how she’d practically spit on him at the old man’s funeral.
I hate this house. I don’t care how nice looking it is. Something about it rubs me the wrong way.
The mansion’s yellow, ivory, and gold high, arched walls with intricate design and details reminded him of something out of a Hollywood movie. He appreciated the attention to detail, but it still made him feel out of place, as if he just didn’t belong. It held a draft, too.
Just then, the doorbell rang. He glanced at his watch and headed to the front of the