“What is it then?”
I stopped digging and stood back up, still unsure of what the hell I was doing. All of this had been a bad idea from the get-go, and I felt trapped. My mind was racing so frantically, I didn’t even know what direction it was trying to go in.
“Chloe—talk to me,” Aiden said.
I made the mistake of looking at him. His expressive eyes were full of concern, and the look caught me off guard. He’d done all these wonderful things for me—the cooking, the kayak trip, the walks on the beach—why was I so mistrustful?
Because he was built. He was tattooed. He was shifty about his occupation. He had strange conversations late at night. He might have a child he didn’t want me to know about.
That’s not it.
I swallowed hard, and my shoulders slumped. All my previous thoughts of criminal activity disappeared at the revelation that I didn’t really think he was dangerous. I was mad because he didn’t seem interested in me, and I wanted him to be.
He hasn’t done anything wrong.
“Please, Chloe. I’m really confused here.”
He was a nice guy. He was fun and exciting. We had a lot of interests in common. The week had been wonderful, but he hadn’t even tried to kiss me since we got here. I didn’t want to confirm my suspicions
that he had decided I was a waste of time.
He wasn’t planning to kidnap me or use me for some nefarious plan. He just wasn’t interested, and I needed to buck up and get it all out in the open.
“I’m just…just trying to figure out what all this is about.” I waved one hand back and forth between us.
“What do you mean?”
I bit down on my lip, not wanting to come straight out and say the words, but I was out of options. Fear and sadness boiled into anger, and I started yelling.
“I don’t even know why I’m here!” I cried. “I don’t do this kind of thing!”
I covered my face and tried to hold back the tears. After a long pause, he spoke again.
“Do you want me to take you to the airport?” Aiden asked slowly. “I can get you on the next flight if that’s what you want to do.”
Suspicions confirmed. He wanted to get rid of me. At least I knew it now.
“If that’s what you want,” I said quietly. I looked down at my suitcase and blinked back tears. I hadn’t brought much with me, and it wouldn’t take long to pack. I wondered if I should leave behind the red cocktail dress he’d selected for dinner.
“No.” Aiden shook his head. “It’s not what I want.”
“It isn’t?”
“No! Jesus, Chloe—I asked you to come here! Why would I want you to leave? What did I do to piss you off so much?”
“You didn’t piss me off,” I whispered.
“Well, what is it then?” His voice rose and he crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes looked hard, and I took a little step back.
“It’s just…I…I don’t know what…” I stammered.
His look softened.
“Shit, Chloe—just say it,” he pleaded. “Seriously, I don’t know what’s going on here.”
“Well, neither do I!” I cried. “I have no idea what this is all about!”
“What what is about?”