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Air e

"W hat do you think, Aelin?"

I glanced at Gemma, who was looking at me inquisitively. I blushed, feeling like a kid caught daydreaming during a lesson. Gemma had been giving a rundown of the next function's activities and since all the other women were eager enough to offer their opinion, I had taken the proverbial back seat, satisfied with only listening. But as they argued over whether to hold the polo and pall mall event at Nantucket or the Hamptons, I let something else preoccupy my mind; the kiss. I hadn't stopped thinking about it .

His lips had been oddly soft and his body, despite his greater height, was a perfect fit. As though he was made for me. I wanted nothing more than to drown in his world and forget this one. But when I finally came to my senses, my strong desire for him surprised me.

"Aelin?" Gemma said again. "Hamptons or Nantucket?"

"I don't mind either, to be honest."

"Me too," Darcy cut in, "But we need your vote." She was sitting opposite me and had been unnerving me with her intense stare. However, she seemed to have forgotten about me after the arguments started.

I darted my gaze around the conference table. The women looked like barbie dolls in their pastel colored wool suits. My light pink suit was no different. When Gemma called me yesterday telling me there was going to be a foundation meeting next week, I had drawn a blank, wondering what she meant until she reminded me of the gala conversation we had. And since Nolan and the entire Hawthorne family were mega donors, my admission to the foundation was free.

Half of the women had their hands raised, including Darcy and Thalia. I raised mine, unsure which one I was voting for. Gemma counted the hands and jotted down the number. "Nantucket it is," she said .

Groans and grumblings echoed around. "The Nantucket venue is lovely," Gemma said, turning to the projector screen and scrolling past a collection of photos of a lush green estate with diverse models smiling a little too hard.

"Plus, we will get a discount," Darcy added. "Thalia is friends with the owner."

" Knows the owner. She's Carey's client. But I'm sure she'll be open to a discount if we beg sweetly."

"Perfect!" Gemma said, her gaze still on the screen. "It's starting to grow on me, honestly. That leaves one thing." Gemma glanced back at the notepad beside her laptop and ticked off a couple of things. "The boat. Any takers?" She scanned her gaze around the table.

"Hugh sold ours recently," Darcy said. "He wants us to be more eco-friendly. So I can't help you there, I'm afraid."

"Ours will be on rental at that time." A waif thin blond woman who had a Pomeranian in her Birkin said when Gemma's gaze fell on her. Absently brushing her dog, she added, "Some Chinese friend of Chester wants it for the summer." She sounded annoyed by it.

"What about your family yacht?" Gemma said to Thalia. Murmurs rumbled around the room and some women nodded. I heard, 'oooh.' '… beautiful' and, 'that would be big en ough.'

"The Hawthorne family yacht is in Nolan's hands at the moment," Thalia said.

All twenty pairs of eyes zoned in on me. I straightened my back, not sure what to say. I don't think I had the ability to give out the 'family yacht.' I didn't even know what it looked like. "Uh…"

"Surely you can help." Gemma's eyes were pleading. Everyone else was looking at me expectantly.

"I don't know if it will be in use…"

"It's getting refurbished and will be in mint condition at the beginning of summer. I'm pretty sure it will be free," Thalia said. "You can speak to him, right?"

"Sure," I said in a strained voice. Everyone exclaimed with joy.My stomach sank. They obviously took it as a given and Gemma was already moving on to another agenda, and it was too late for me to clarify that I could only ask. I didn't know whether he would say yes or no.

The meeting ended a few minutes after that and I immediately wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. A few women were giving me peculiar glances, and I didn't want to know if they were friends of Aelin or not.

I got out of the fancy modern offices, had reached the elevator, and was waiting for it to arrive when Thalia and Darcy joined me. They were chatting and unaware of my presence until Thalia saw me and smiled. "Thanks for the yacht," she said. "I know Nolan rarely likes these sorts of things, but I hope he comes."

"I don't think you should thank me yet. I don't know if he's going to agree to it."

Darcy waved me off. "He will. Why would he say no to his newly wedded wife?''

I flashed a tight smile.

The two women came to stand beside me. "You never told us how you two met," Darcy said. Thalia lightly punched Darcy in the ribs.

"I just want to know how, that's all."

I panicked, unsure of what to say at first. Then I remembered the conversation Darcy and Thalia had in the bathroom. She knew how we met. She was toying with me. Darcy didn't like me. That was obvious. Or at least she didn't like Aelin. They must have known each other on one of those Lake Trenwood trips she referenced at the gala. She was doing this to rattle me. I turned my attention to the floor numbers going up. They were getting closer to our floor. In the corner of my eye, I saw a large group of women approaching.

"We met in my grandfather's conference room," I said. The doors of the elevator opened at that moment. I sashayed into the box and had the satisfaction of seeing Darcy's jaw drop and Thalia's smile as the group of women swarmed them and the elevator closed. Itook a deep breath when I was finally alone. I escaped Darcy now, but I had to confront her eventually.

I wanted to get away from here. I wanted to be alone. Truly alone. I wanted to paint. The cool townhouse felt welcoming for the first time in weeks. The house was more homelike now that the renovations were done. I had done little to change it. It was fine as it was before, but I wanted to add a little feminine touch without ruining what was already there. It's not as though I was going to stay here for long. Tyler helped to blend the two tastes which I appreciated.

I also converted one bedroom into a studio and bought art materials and tools with the allowance Nolan gave me. It was the first time I've ever bought premium art tools. I went to my bedroom, removed the stiff suit, and slid into comfortable overalls. The afternoon light streaming through the wide windows made the room warm and inviting. The canvas was blank. The paint brushes were new and the palette blank. I sank onto the rolling stool and began.

***

"What are you—"

The door opened, taking me out of the daze I was in. Half a painting later, the sun had set behind the tallest skyscrapers, darkening the room, and I had used at least six colors, ripping and strewing paper across the floor.

Nolan was leaning on the doorframe looking handsome with an untied tied around his neck and two top buttons of his shirt opened. I gulped, wondering if he knew what his relaxed, high-powered businessman did to women.

He frowned, crossing his arms. "You paint?"

"I did tell you I wanted to turn this room into a studio and you agreed."

"I am not accusing you of anything. He entered the room, and I had an odd impression of being intruded. As he strode closer, I tilted the painting away from him and when he realized what I was doing, he stopped. "Care to see what you're painting?"

I've never been shy about my work or work-in-progress before, but for some reason I didn't want him to see it. "Not yet."

He nodded, respecting my boundaries and stepping back. "What is it?"

I wasn't sure what it was yet, which was a first for me. "I don't know."

"Ah. You're an abstract painter, aren't you?"

"Yes, but usually… yeah."

"Huh. You don't look like an artist."

I scoffed. "I left my beret and scarf at my apartment."

"Funny."

"Thanks." I got up and put away the materials. Kinks in my back and neck for sitting in one position for too long, making it hard for me to move with fluidity.

I picked up the paintbrushes, which were many. I enjoyed using a multitude of brushes when painting. A couple slipped out of my hand from the loose grip and they rolled to Nolan's feet. I rushed to pick them up, but Nolan stooped at the same time as I and we both bumped into each other. "Sorry,'' I muttered as I reached for a brush, and Nolan's hand grazed against mine as he went for the brush first. Sparks tingled on the back of my hand. I snatched it away and picked up the other brush. We got up at the same time and our eyes met as we straightened. It was hard to see him in the rapidly darkening room, but I couldn't miss the flash in his eyes. It was a desire that matched mine. A feeling that reminded me of the last time we were this close.

I opened my free hand. "Thanks," I said, without taking my eyes away from his imprisoning gaze. That same energy that radiated between us at the Hamptons was back again. Time seemed to slow down as I became aware of other things about him. His scent was intoxicating. His mouth looked so enticing. The way he breathed in and out. The way his eyelashes fluttered each time he blinked. He had dark, thick eyelashes that made him look even more beautiful, especially in the low light of the setting sun.

"Why did he call you Aire?"

My heart hammered against my chest as I tried to understand who he was referring to. Then I remembered. Grandfather had used my name when he was brushing me away. I had hoped he did not notice, but it seems like he did. He didn't sound accusatory, so that was good.

"Is that your nickname?" His words were like a caress. How could such an innocent question hold so much weight?

I nodded. "Yes. I prefer Aire actually. Or just Ay" My lips were dry. My tongue darted out to moisten them. Nolan groaned. He pulled me into his arms and before I could react, he had his lips on mine, pressing against them as his arms slid down to my waist. My paint brushes cluttered to the floor, but I didn't care. I yearned to have his mouth against mine again. It had only been weeks since 'the kiss', but it felt like eternity. I wanted him like I wanted no other man.

My hands went to his jacket, and I held on as his tongue clashed with mine. His kiss was deep and hungry. He devoured me endlessly. His arms were all over me all at once, as though he wanted to caress me all over. He crushed me against him and I went willingly, my arms sliding inside his suit jacket and encircling his waist. I kissed him back with the same passionate fervor he had for me.

"Fuck," he said against my lips, grazing them once more before kissing me again. He pulled back, and his expression went from dazed passion to a frown to horror, and he thrust me away from him. I stumbled, wondering what I had done wrong.

"People were right about you."

"What are you talking about?"

"You can seduce a man in a garbage bag."

It was hard to take it as a compliment when he looked like he wanted to wipe any trace of my lips off him. "You're the one who kissed me."

"I know your game. Don't think you're getting a baby out of me."

"Trust me when I say this. I don't want your baby."

"That's rich coming from you."

What was he on about? We had agreed, after 'the kiss' or should I say the first kiss, that we will lie to grandfather that we would have his grandchildren, but in truth we would not touch each other again. But then he touches me, and on top of that accuses me of baby trapping him. Dude was crazy.

"Oh, really?" he thrust his hand into his pocket and fished out of his phone. "Then what's this?" He played a recording. Aelin's voice boomed out of the speaker. Followed by grandfather's.

"A baby in three months, tops."

"Is it possible?" Grandfather sounded less sickly, but that was his voice alright.

"Easy as pie," Aelin said.

Goddamn those two.