Prince Charming? Ch. 04
Keywords: 04, Charming?, Prince, Ch.,
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Although she was unnerved by how quiet he was, she left it alone and allowed him to simply curl up on the couch after dinner. Leda settled on a chair with a book until he was asleep, then watched him for while before going to bed herself.
*****
When Friday morning came and they had heard nothing from George, Aidan had begun to worry. And yet for some reason he was neither relieved or happy when he heard pounding on the door. He dragged himself off the couch, pulled on a pair of jeans, and opened the door. George looked ruffled and irritated, and he was carrying a large suitcase with him.
"Wh...who is it?" Leda mumbled, as she peeked out of her room. "Oh...you."
"Nice to see you too," George growled. "Fortunately I can't stay...I have to be at a site we're inspecting in half an hour."
Aidan's eyebrows rose. "Dare I ask what's going on?"
"Supposedly I'm traveling with you all over the state, looking at possible sites for this mall," George replied, rolling his eyes. "Your father is currently too busy with a business deal to realize that there's a flaw in our story, fortunately."
Aidan was about to ask, but he caught himself before he did. He couldn't show any sign of memory, not yet. George handed him the suitcase, which turned out to be heavy. Can't be more clothes, Aidan thought, frowning. So what's in it?
"So, what exactly is keeping Kirkland so busy?" Leda asked, finally a little more awake.
"The Rosenfelds," George said shortly. "There's some stuff in the suitcase that I thought might help you regain your memory. Now, I'd really love to stay and chit chat, but I must go."
And then he was out the door. Ah, the Rosenfelds, Aidan thought, setting the suitcase down on the couch. That explains so much. The Rosenfeld family owned one of the largest, most successful law firms in the country. His father had been trying for years to convince Rosenfeld Sr. to become an investor. He'd gone so far as to suggest an engagement between Aidan and the Rosenfelds' eldest daughter, but that had fortunately fallen through. Trudy Rosenfeld had been a pampered, prissy snob who spent everyday either shopping or at the beauty spa.
"So what's all this?" Leda asked, stepping up next to him.
"Not sure," Aidan replied, as he opened the suitcase. "George said it might help restore my memory..."
He's getting into this more than I am, Aidan thought, frowning. This idea is starting to get out of hand... The things in the suitcase were a testimony to George's talent for making up stories: old baby clothes, some pictures, old toys, and other similar things. Leda picked up a picture from the top of the pile, of a small boy with shaggy hair and a big, gap-toothed grin.
"Is this you?" she asked, holding up the picture and leaning against him.
That made it hard to think. "Um...I guess so...flip it over."
"Yep, Aidan, six and a half years old," Leda said, as she studied the back of the picture. "It's definitely you. You were so cute!"
"So, what...I'm ugly now?" Aidan asked, feeling a bit disgruntled.
Leda looked up at him, startled. She didn't say anything, but her cheeks turned a charming shade of pink. He watched her face, entranced by the deep blue of her eyes and the way her soft, full mouth parted ever so slightly. Aidan reached up, cradling the side of her face against his palm. He was leaning down to kiss her when the phone rang, startling both of them apart.
It was Martha. Tyler, who was supposed to be in charge of breakfast this morning, had called in sick with the flu. So Aidan and Leda scrambled to get dressed and out of the apartment. The shift in the schedule meant that help was needed and they were already supposed to be there early, anyway.
*****
The rest of the week was no less tiring than the first part of it. The boy who was sick got better, much to the relief of all the hospice staff. He had to remain in the sickroom until they were certain the illness had cleared up, and of course that meant the constant scrubbing and washing. Fortunately none of the other children showed signs of getting sick.
Leda grew more and more impressed with Aidan and his ability with the children. After the glitter incident he was a little more wary, but eventually he began joining them again. For the most part her avoided arts and crafts, but he seemed to enjoy helping them take care of the plants. Leda went upstairs one day to find Mary showing Aidan how to plant marigold seeds. He'd actually been asking her questions about how long the marigolds took to grow and how to care for them.
It's like he's a child himself, Leda thought, watching him as he read a bedtime story to the few stragglers who weren't able to sleep yet. It was Sunday night. Despite the fact that he was no doubt exhausted, Aidan read the story with enthusiasm. The first time he'd read to them, the children had stopped him constantly, telling him that he'd forgotten to do the voices. I guess when you're the son of a rich family, Leda thought, there isn't anyone to read bedtime stories to you.
By the time they got home that night they were both dead tired and hardly able to eat. Leda sat in the armchair she usually read in, trying to eat some of the lukewarm Spaghetti-Os she'd made. Aidan was on the couch, slumped down; his bowl was on the coffee table and he'd eaten hardly anything. Finally, when she couldn't force herself to eat another bit, Leda rose to collect his bowl and put them in the kitchen.
Aidan caught hold of her before she could. Startled, she set her bowl down and turned to look at him. The smile he gave her was sleepy but sweet.
"I didn't know children could be so exhausting," Aidan said quietly.
"They can be a handful," Leda agreed. "Um..."
An arm slid around her waist quite suddenly, dragging her down into his lap. Leda shrieked in surprise, grabbing hold of his shoulders as she wobbled on his lap. Aidan braced the back of her neck with his hand, his fingers tangled in her hair. She stared down at him, startled by the look in his eyes.
"I am so...tired..." Aidan groaned.
Leda laughed. "Why don't you let me go so you can sleep, huh?"
"Give me a goodnight kiss," Aidan murmured.
She should have told him to go to hell. Leda knew better than to get mixed up with Aidan Kirkland. Yet for some reason when he pulled her mouth down to his, she didn't resist. She was startled by the tender way he kissed her. His lips coaxed hers open just enough to allow his tongue into the moist warmth of her mouth. Leda trembled from head to toe, but she clung to him tightly and didn't pull away.
Aidan pulled away after a long moment. His brilliant green eyes were sleepy and yet there was definitely desire there. He shifted beneath her, hooking his foot around her leg to hold her as he lowered himself down on the couch. Leda sank against him, meeting his mouth eagerly as he kissed her again. She'd experienced the occasional kiss over the years, but none of them had been like Aidan's. Something about him sent fire roaring through her veins.
It was apparently not enough to win past exhaustion though. After a few minutes their kisses petered off into sleepy pecks. Finally Leda rested her head on his shoulder and relaxing, sighing as he close his arms tightly around her. This really isn't a good idea, she thought, trying to break through the veil of sleepiness around her mind. It really, really isn't... And yet she couldn't really find a good enough reason to move. Leda was so tired and so comfortable that she let herself drift off to sleep.
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Keywords: 04, Charming?, Prince, Ch.,