Page 115 of Lust & Lies

AIDEN

WE WERE HEADING OUTfor breakfast. Despite the dangers lurking, I was taking her out for a meal. Out in public, where if the wrong person saw us, it could ruin everything.Fuck!I hoped this was a good idea and I wouldn’t end up regretting it.

But I had no choice. She’d asked, and how could I say no, especially with the way she’d been looking at me and the way she’d been acting. Since my phone call yesterday evening, Noe had been distant with me.

I didn’t notice it at first. I just thought she was tired. Plus, my mind had been on my grandfather’s watchdogs, so I’d been a little on edge. But now, I noticed it, and it had me nervous as hell.

She wasn’t saying anything strange or even complaining about anything. But I knew this woman. This silence, this subtle attitude, was usually the calm before the storm. And when she blew up, things usuallyliterallyblew up.

I wouldn’t say I was afraid of my Noe. But I had a healthy respect for her dark side and tried not to piss her off too much. There had only been one time when I’d made her angry enough to turn her dark side on me.

But she’d held back, not for me. For my grandfather. I didn’t want to get on her dark side again. However, something hadtriggered this change in her attitude. I was still trying to figure out what that could be.

I was certain she hadn’t overheard my phone conversation during dinner. While she’d been brushing her teeth and getting dressed this morning, I’d made calls to my security team while going through last night's saved footage of inside the house.

I’d watched the footage of her closely, trying to find out the moment things changed between us yesterday. Though she hadn’t followed behind me after I stepped out to take the call, she’d appeared upset while I was gone.

When I fast-forwarded to her time in the garden room, I learned that she hadn’t watched the movie at all. Instead, she’d turned over and faced the couch cushions. At first, I thought she’d fallen straight to sleep.

But then I zoomed in and realized her shoulders had been shaking slightly. Noe had cried herself to sleep. While I’d been on the phone, the woman I loved had been alone and crying. I took a deep breath as I drove, blinking back fucking tears.

Seeing her cry had gutted me. Even recalling it now had me ready to murder someone. But to murder the person responsible, I’d have to commit suicide. It was my fault. Though I wasn’t sure what triggered those tears, I knew it was my fault.

And I couldn’t ask her about them because then I’d reveal the fact that I had cameras set up in all the rooms. The woman I love was growing distant with me, she was hurting because of me, and I couldn’t do shit about it.

I was useless. I wanted to pull the car over and pull her into my arms, hugging her, hoping she’d tell me what was wrong. But I knew that wasn’t what she wanted right now. When we woke up this morning, she wouldn’t even let me kiss her.

And when I’d tried to kiss her hand while we’d walked out of the house, she’d recoiled from my touch. The kicker was when Iopened the car door for her. She slammed it shut, then opened it for herself and climbed into the car.

She’d left me standing there, staring after her, wondering what the hell I’d done this time. I tapped the steering wheel with my thumb as I drove, glancing at Noe from the corner of my eye.

She was staring out the window, silent. But her silence was loud. It spoke volumes. She was retreating again, and I had to figure out why before it was too late. Considering this new development, now may not be the best time to reveal the truth to her.

That would only cause her to retreat further.Shit. I felt like punching something. My phone lit up in the console. I stared down. Julian Cattaneo’s name flashed on the screen. What did he want?

It was too early to go drinking. And usually, it was me calling him to drink with me. Whatever he wanted, it couldn’t be good. I glanced over at Noe. She was still looking out the window. Should I ignore the call? Yeah, I should probably ignore it.

“Are you going to answer that?” she said without turning my way.

Shit.If I ignored it now, that would only make her suspicious of me.

“Yeah, I’m getting ready to, love,” I told her.

Damn it, Julian. This better not be some bullshit.I quickly answered.

“How may I help you, Mr. Cattaneo?” I drawled.

“Meet me at the site of your future boutique hotel.”

That was an unexpected request. I raised an eyebrow. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“I’ll show you when you get there.”

That was cryptic as hell. This couldn’t be good. I glanced at Noe again, noting the slight tightening of her jaw. I couldn’t let work interfere with our plans.

“I’ll send my assistant,” I told Julian. “I’m busy with my wife right now.”

She didn’t react. At least not on the surface. But her foot tapped against the floorboard, and I could tell she was trying to hold back whatever it was she wanted to say.