Chapter 65
Aria’s POV
Aiden ended his call quickly and set the phone aside.
I watched nervously as he picked up the fork and began eating the noodles I’d made.
Even doing something as ordinary as eating instant noodles, he managed to look impossibly elegant – back straight, movements precise, not a single drop spilled.
The silence stretched between us until I couldn’t stand it anymore. My brain scrambled for something-anything-to say.
“So… what do you think of Claire?” I blurted out, immediately wanting to smack myself. Real smooth, Aria.
Aiden paused mid-bite, his dark eyes finding mine. “Claire p>
“You know, the woman your aunt and uncle were practically throwing at you tonight p>
I clarified, trying to sound casual while my heart hammered against my ribs.
He resumed eating, face betraying nothing. “I don’t think anything of her p>
“She’s very beautiful,” I continued, picking at a loose thread on my sleeve. “Most men would find her attractive p>
“I’m not most men p>
I swallowed hard. “Do you have a type, then?” God, could I be any more obvious?
Aiden set his fork down with deliberate precision, his eyes suddenly laser-focused on me. “Are you jealous, Aria p>
“What? No!” I sputtered, heat rushing to my face. “Absolutely not! I’m just making conversation p>
The slight curve at the corner of his lips vanished, replaced by something quieter. More guarded. His gaze lingered on me for a second too long, unreadable.
“I see,” he said, voice flat now.
He looked away and picked up the last bite of noodles, then placed his fork down for good. “I’m done. The noodles were good p>
Was he…angry?
I bit the inside of my cheek, my heart doing this weird little flip.
I hadn’t meant to sound dismissive. I was just flustered. Embarrassed. But now I
couldn’t stop thinking-did I push too far? Did I say the wrong thing?
“I’ll take that,” I said quickly, reaching for his bowl-more out of instinct than anything else.
I wasn’t even really thinking. My mind was still back at that shift in his voice, replaying it over and over as I leaned in.
And then-thud.
Our foreheads collided.
“Oh!” I jerked back, mortified. “Sorry, I was just trying to get the bowl p>
Instead of moving away, Aiden raised his hand and gently pressed his fingers against my forehead, examining the spot where we’d bumped. “Let me see if it’s swollen p>
His face was suddenly so close I could feel his warm breath fanning across my cheeks. The clean, masculine scent of his shower gel wrapped around me, making it impossible to think straight. My brain short-circuited completely as his fingers traced a feather-light path across my skin.
For one wild, heart-stopping moment, I thought he might kiss me. His eyes had dropped to my lips, and something dark and intense flickered in their depths. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, trapped in whatever spell had suddenly descended upon us.
Then he pulled back. “It’s not swollen p>
I blinked rapidly, coming back to reality with a humiliating jolt. Had I seriously just sat there with my lips slightly parted, waiting for my fake husband to kiss me? God, the embarrassment might actually kill me.
“I should… I should go to bed,” I stammered, scrambling to my feet so fast I nearly tripped over the coffee table.
“In that?” Aiden quirked an eyebrow, nodding at my formal dinner attire.
My cheeks flamed hotter. “I mean, shower first. Then bed. Obviously p>
I turned to flee, already halfway to the door when I glanced back over my shoulder. Aiden had settled back onto the sofa, staring into space with that same lost expression he’d worn at dinner.
Something about seeing him like that – powerful, wealthy Aiden Carter looking so utterly alone – made my chest ache.
I knew that look. That feeling of being surrounded by family yet feeling completely isolated.
The difference was, I’d at least had my dad who loved me unconditionally. Aiden had grown up with people who saw him as little more than a business asset.
I hesitated, my hand dipping into my pocket where I’d been unconsciously clutching
something since dinner. Before I could overthink it, I turned back around.
“Aiden?” His name felt strangely intimate in the quiet room.
He looked up, one eyebrow raised in question.
I opened my palm, revealing the slightly crumpled mango candy I’d been saving. “Do you want some candy p>
His expression shifted into something unreadable. “Candy p>
“Yeah.” I shuffled my feet awkwardly. “My mom always says when you’re feeling down, something sweet can help. I don’t know if that’s scientifically accurate or whatever, but… it works for me p>
Aiden stood up in one fluid motion, crossing the distance between us. Without a word, he plucked the candy from my palm, his fingers brushing against my skin in a touch that felt deliberately lingering.
“Is it sweet?” he asked, studying the bright yellow wrapper.
“Sweet but not too sweet,” I nodded earnestly. “I’ve been eating these since forever. Mango flavor is my favorite p>
His eyes flicked back to my face as he unwrapped the candy, his gaze settling on my lips with an intensity that made my stomach flip. “You’ve tried it already tonight p>
“I… yeah,” I admitted sheepishly. “While cooking the noodles. Bad habit from childhood – I always taste-test everything p>
Aiden popped the candy into his mouth, never taking his eyes off mine. After a moment, the corner of his mouth quirked up slightly. “It’s not bad p>
Coming from him, that was practically a five-star review. I couldn’t help the pleased smile that spread across my face. “Good! Well, I’ll leave you to it then. Goodnight, Aiden p>
“Goodnight, Aria,” he replied, his voice somehow softer than before.
As I closed his door behind me, I felt ridiculously accomplished – like I’d just scaled Mount Everest instead of simply sharing a piece of candy.
Maybe it was silly, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something significant had just happened between us.