Unlucky in Love ( Lucky #1) (16 page)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Aiden stood next to Steven and Paul and listened as they explained what was in store for the company in the next few months. They told everyone how Aiden had bought them out and that the business was being merged with Urban Development.

He watched the faces in the room and knew that people were scared of some of the changes. Everyone except Kristen, who still looked furious at him. She refused to make eye contact across the crowded room. He knew he could convince her to give him a second chance, since he’d seen the heat in her eyes after they’d stepped out of the elevators. He’d felt the passion in her lips as he’d kissed her.

He wished more than anything that he could have brought her into the fold. He felt terrible when he looked at her and she wouldn’t return his gaze. He never meant to hide anything from her. Seeing the tears in her eyes had broken his heart, but he knew that once he had a chance to explain, everything would be smoothed out. At least he prayed it would be.

When Steven nudged him in the ribs, he realized he’d been called to speak.

“Hi.” He cleared his throat and pulled his eyes away from Kristen and focused on his speech. “Most of you know me already. I want to assure everyone that not much is going to change.”

“Is it true we’re moving?” someone called out from the crowd.

“Yes, in the next few months, we will be migrating everyone to our new offices five blocks away. There’s plenty of room. Plus, no more paying for parking in the garage since there’s free parking at the new location.”

“Whoop!” someone shouted.

Aiden smiled. “Now, there will be some minor changes.” He glanced around the room and spotted the three employees that would not be making the move. It was inevitable that he’d have to let go of a few staff members. He sighed and then looked back at Kristen. “We hope that everyone will feel very welcome at UD and that this can be the start of something great.”

Everyone clapped as he stepped back. For the next few minutes, he stood by and shook everybody’s hands as they exited the conference room. Steven, Paul, and he answered a bunch of other questions and he was thankful when he noticed Kristen standing at the back of the line.

When she finally approached Steven, he could see tears in her eyes.

“Why?” she said as Steven took her hand in his. “Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to retire?”

The older man pulled her closer and hugged her. “I know you too well. You would have tried to talk us out of it. Besides, when I ran the idea by your father, he’s the one that suggested I keep it from you.”

He watched her eyes heat. “He did what?”

Steven chuckled. “Oh no, now I’ve gotten him in trouble, haven’t I?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure he has an explanation.” She glanced over at Paul. “Will you be heading south too?”

“Nope, Belinda and I are heading farther into the mountains. We’ve decided to make our Winter Park place our permanent residence.”

She smiled. “Well, I know you’ll enjoy retirement.” Then she looked back over at Steven and shook her head. “You, on the other hand, will be bored by the end of the first week.”

They all laughed. Then her eyes zeroed in on Aiden. “Mr. Scott.” She turned and walked out of the room without another word.

“You stepped in it this time, son.” Steven slapped his back.

He nodded and watched her disappear around the corner, toward her desk.

“I should have told her sooner.” He felt his head actually spinning. Funny, he’d heard people use the expression, but until that very moment, he had never experienced it before.

“He’s got it bad,” Paul said beside him. “But, Aiden, we’re grateful you kept your word.”

“Can you blame him? Krissy is a good kid. Fine looking too. She’s made of strong stuff. You don’t stumble upon a woman like that very often.” Aiden was slapped again on the back but wasn’t sure who had done it this time since his eyes were still on the corner where Kristen had disappeared.

“When you do, you do whatever it takes to hold on to ’em.”

The two men shook their heads as they walked out of the conference room. They were right. Of course, he knew they were.

The way she’d responded to him in the elevator told him that he still had a chance. All he needed to do was step up his game. And he knew just the next step to take.

After pulling out his cell phone from his pocket, he called the one person who could help him win Krissy back.

Kristen spent Friday night with Amy at her place. They did each other’s nails and drank two bottles of their favorite wine. By the time she crashed in Amy’s spare bedroom, she had convinced herself that she was better off without men. Any man. All men. Especially men who were tall and had dark hair, sexy chocolate eyes, and an unforgettably dashing crooked smile.

By the time Amy dropped Kristen back off at her apartment, she was once again questioning her own motives. Listening to Steven and Paul talk yesterday in the meeting really made it sound like it had been all their idea.

She knew in her heart that she wasn’t mad at Aiden for helping out a friend of the family. But she just couldn’t get over the fact that he’d kept his true mission hidden from her.

For some reason, the betrayal had stung more than when Rod had stolen all of her stuff. Maybe it was because she had fallen for Aiden completely.

She thought about it as she climbed the stairs to her apartment. When she reached the second floor landing, she was surprised to see Amber leaning against her door.

“There you are!” Amber rushed over to her.

“What? Is something wrong?” Instantly she was on guard.

“Uh?” Amber blinked at her a few times. “Oh, no, nothing that you can’t fix.” She tugged on her arm until Kristen opened the door. Then she reached down and picked up a large black bag that was sitting at the foot of her door.

“I need your help.” Amber walked into Kristen’s apartment and looked around. “Nice place.” She turned back toward her.

“Thanks.” Kristen frowned. “What’s all this about?” She set her purse down.

“Like I said . . .” Amber placed her arms on her hips. “I need your help.” She walked over and sat down on the edge of her sofa. “Since you pretty much canceled on my brother for tonight’s big party”—Amber looked up at her with her soft blue eyes—“he convinced me to tag along with him.”

Kristen’s heart sank a little more. She’d been looking forward to going to the event. She now understood that Steven and Paul had actually wanted Aiden to take over . . . and that Aiden had been told specifically by her two friends not to tell her about the merger. Everything had changed. She really felt like she owed Aiden the chance to explain his actions. As Kristen came out of her thoughts she realized Amber was still talking to her.

“But I couldn’t tell him that I already had plans with a certain man whose name I can’t mention at the moment.” She winked at her and Kristen knew she was talking about Tom. “Anyway, I figured since you got me into this mess, you simply had to get me out of it.”

“What are you talking about?”

Amber smiled, then reached down and pulled out an armful of emerald-green silk. When she held it up, Kristen realized it was a very sleek evening gown.

“You had that wadded up in that bag?”

Amber giggled. “It’s supposed to look wrinkled. See.” She shook it out and sure enough, the material looked gorgeous crushed. “It goes perfectly with your eyes.” She walked toward her, holding it up.

“Oh no!” She held her hands up as she backed up a few steps. “I’m not going any—”

“You simply have to. I can’t cancel on T—on my date.” Amber blushed. “And I can’t tell Aiden why I won’t be showing up at the party.”

“I’m not going. Besides, I said some pretty mean stuff to your brother yesterday. I’m sure he doesn’t—” Kristen felt her heart fall. She hadn’t realized how deeply she felt about him, until now.

“If he could forgive Ash and me for replacing his deodorant with Icy Hot when we were kids, then I’m sure he can forgive you. Besides, everyone in the family knows how crazy he is about you and how crazy you are about him.” She smiled and held up the dress in front of her.

It was perfect. The long flowing material hung around her ankles. There was a sexy slit up one side that would go to just above her knees. The shoulder straps were thin and went down the back in a sexy V.

“I have something else . . .” Amber pushed the dress into Kristen’s hands then rushed back to her bag and pulled out a pair of cream-colored heels.

Kristen shook her head. “I . . . I can’t . . .”

“Sure you can. You’re really saving my butt here. Come on . . .” She started tugging on her hand. “I’ll help you get ready. The party starts in less than an hour.”

Forty minutes later, Kristen stood in front of her mirror and blinked a few times. Amber knew more about hair and makeup than Amy and she combined. For that matter, more than anyone she’d ever met before.

Her long hair was piled up on top of her head and long ringlets fell around her face. Her makeup, well, she’d never seen herself look so good before. She felt like Cinderella after her fairy godmother had come to her rescue.

“Perfect.” Amber stood back. “Too bad you don’t have some pearls.”

Kristen shook her head. “Everything I had was stolen.”

“Aiden told me about that.” She glanced down at her watch. “Oh my, you’re going to be late.” She turned Kristen around and hugged her. “I’ve arranged for a car to pick you up. It should be here by now.” She rushed to the window in the living room. Kristen followed her.

“It’s down there. Thank you so much for doing this.” She hugged her again.

Kristen laughed. “I don’t know how you talked me into it.”

“Now you know how Aiden felt growing up. Except there were two of us convincing him.”

Kristen started walking toward the door.

“Oh wait.” Amber rushed back to her bag.

“What now? Do you have a mouse that’s going to turn into a footman in that thing?”

“No, but I do have a clutch that goes with the dress.” She handed her a small green purse.

“You think of everything.”

“Not everything. If I had, you’d have a string of pearls around your neck and wrist.” She smiled and hugged her again. “Have fun. I’ll flip the lock when I leave.”

Kristen looked at her and then nodded when she decided she really did like the girl.

When she stepped off the last stair, she almost fell face forward when she saw the car that Amber had been talking about. The long black stretch limo was parked right in front of her building.

She started walking toward it, expecting the driver to jump out and open the door for her. She’d never ridden in a limo before, but she’d seen plenty of movies and knew how it all worked.

But instead, the back door flew open, and she watched in shock as a very sexy Aiden stepped out. His black suit fit him perfectly, giving him a James Bond look. His hair was slicked back a little, showing off the angles of his perfect face.

He held a single white rose out to her as his smile grew. Even in the fading light of dusk, she could see the heat in his eyes as he looked her over.

CHAPTER TWENTY

She was perfection. There was no other way to describe the way Kristen looked as she walked toward him. The setting sun flashed in her hair, causing the highlights to almost sparkle.

The long, slender dress fit her like a glove. Every curve was on display for him.

Her smile faded when she saw him, and then her eyes heated as she actually noticed him.

“Good evening.” He held the rose out for her.

“Hi.” She frowned. “Your sister”—she looked back up toward the stairs at the same moment his sister snapped a few pictures with her phone—“is going to die,” she said between gritted teeth.

“Don’t blame her.” He took her hand and started leading her to the limo. His sister continued snapping pictures of them even after he shot her a thank-you look behind Kristen’s back.

“After all, she’s just the puppet. I’m the one that talked her into it.”

Kristen turned toward him. “You?” She swayed in his arms. “You arranged all this?”

He nodded. “Where do you think Amber and Ashley learned it from?” He chuckled and then helped her into the back of the limo. When he walked around, the driver was holding his door open.

After climbing in beside her, he reached over and pulled her closer so they sat in the middle of the large backseat.

“I have something for you.” He pulled out a black package from his jacket pocket.

She blinked a few times as he opened the silk box. Her eyes grew big as she saw the perfect row of pearls that lay on the dark background.

“I . . .” She swallowed. “I can’t . . .” Her green eyes looked up to his.

He set the box on his lap, then reached down, took the string of pearls, and helped her fasten them around her neck.

“There, now everything is perfect.” He leaned down and placed his lips on the nape of her neck and felt her vibrate under his lips.

“Aiden.” It came out as a whisper. “I don’t know what to say.” She turned back to him. Her eyes looked damp.

“Say you’ll forgive me.” He took her hand. “I should have told you my plans the second our relationship changed. I shouldn’t have kept this from you. No matter what.”

“I should have known that with my luck . . .”

He stopped her by putting a finger over her lips. “Don’t . . . don’t blame this on luck.”

“No, I’ve learned to make my own.”

“Then your string of bad luck has ended? And you’ll forgive me?”

She nodded and he felt his heart leap.

He pulled her closer until she was almost in his lap. “We don’t have to show up to this party.”

“Oh no. Your sister didn’t twist my hair and put all this stuff on my face for nothing. I want to go show it all off.”

“At least tell me we can kiss all the way there.” He didn’t know if he could get enough alone time with her before they showed up and he’d have to share her with everyone else.

She leaned closer to him and placed her lips softly on his.

By the time they finally arrived at the party, he was having a hard time concentrating as he mingled with the crowd.

He’d attended several functions like this before but had never really enjoyed himself. Tonight was no exception.

He watched Kristen laugh at something Betty said to her. His mother’s friend Betty Garrison was rounding a hundred years old, but could still move like a fifty-year-old. The woman was half Kristen’s size, but she looked just as elegant as Kristen did. Well, maybe not quite as good.

He’d been pulled into a small group of men who were talking about building permits and what the score was for last night’s game. He wanted to be beside Kristen instead.

It took him almost ten minutes to finally pull himself away from the group. He looked over and saw Kristen stepping out onto one of the back patios of the old house where the party was being held. Mrs. Garrison was from one of Denver’s oldest and most elite families. The large stone house sat on one of the most famous, largest blocks in Cherry Hills.

When he stepped out onto the patio, he saw that she’d walked down the wide stone stairs and was strolling slowly in the moonlight in a small flower garden. There were a few other couples enjoying the night air, but for the most part, the garden was quiet as everyone enjoyed the drinks and music inside.

“Hi.” He walked up beside her and linked his arm with hers.

“Hi.” She smiled up at him. “I can just imagine what this place looked like a hundred years ago.” She glanced around and smiled. “Probably exactly as it does now.”

He nodded and felt a knot in his throat when he looked at her.

“I can almost imagine that we’re there now.” She sighed as he led her to a stone bench and sat next to her. “With this dress, I almost feel like it is nineteen hundred. All I need is a long pair of gloves and a corset.”

“I’d rather believe that you’re not wearing anything under that dress.” His eyes moved over her.

She smiled at him and leaned against his chest. “Your sister was very insistent that I not have any lines show through.”

He groaned. “I can’t decide if I’m going to kill her . . . or thank her.”

Kristen giggled. “That makes two of us. And to think that before you showed up in the limo, I had decided to trust her completely.”

“I learned long ago to always keep one eye open when I’m around those two,” he teased.

She gasped. “Do you think she lied about . . .” She bit her bottom lip. “Never mind.”

“Oh no, you can’t get out of something like that. Spill.” He took her arms in his hands.

She closed her eyes and rested back against his shoulder. “I’d better not say anything. Not until after I talk to her.”

He was about to insist that she tell him what she was talking about when she turned toward him. When he caught sight of the dreamy look in her eyes, he decided to drop the subject.

“Have I told you that you look beautiful tonight?”

She shook her head lightly. “I think we skipped that part.” It came out as a whisper.

He wanted to give her more than just words, but with the party roaring just a few yards away from them, words would have to do for now. He turned her toward him a little until he could look down into her eyes.

“Your beauty is beyond words. It takes my breath away.” He reached out and ran a finger over her chin. “Your eyes are like emeralds. Your lips like candy.” He leaned down and brushed his mouth lightly over hers.

“Aiden,” she said against his skin. “I . . . I never thought . . .”

“Neither did I. I never thought I could fall so hopelessly and madly in love with someone. I never dreamed they would be as wonderful as you are.” He leaned down and kissed her again, this time allowing enough passion behind his lips that he felt her heartbeat jump.

“What do you say we make our excuses and get out of here?” she said when she finally pulled away.

“I thought you’d never ask.” He placed another kiss on her lips quickly and pulled her up off the bench.

They said the fastest good-byes in history and left. He didn’t mind what people thought or said about them. He had plans for the night that were more important than other people’s opinions.

As the limo drove them to their next destination, he kept her busy in the backseat by kissing her until he felt like they had melted the leather interior.

When the car finally stopped, she glanced out the window and frowned. “Where are we?”

“I have another surprise for you.”

She looked over at him just as the driver opened her door. Aiden jumped out first and then helped her out of the back himself.

“If all went well, you’ll have a bag with a change of clothes already inside.” He nodded to the large log cabin.

“Where are we?” She turned to him.

“Do you like it?” He stood back and motioned for her to get a better look.

“Yes, it’s wonderful, but . . .”

“It’s all ours for the rest of the weekend.” He took her hand and started to pull her up a large circular staircase.

Kristen was in shock. Her feet wouldn’t move. She could have sworn she’d heard Aiden say they were going to spend the rest of the weekend in this giant, gorgeous mansion of a log cabin.

From what she could see—and she could see a lot since the place was lit up like a Christmas tree with white lights—the cabin was three stories tall and probably spanned over six thousand square feet.

She hadn’t been paying attention to where the driver had been going, but she could tell they were somewhere in the foothills. They walked up a large spiral staircase and stopped in front of two very big front doors.

“How did you—?” she started to ask, but he just shook his head.

“Let’s just say that a friend owed me.” He leaned down and pulled out a shiny key from under the mat. “Right where I told her to put it.”

“Who?” She frowned as he opened the front door.

He glanced at her from over his shoulder. “My sister.” He smiled and opened the door wide.

Warm air hit her shoulders and she realized that it was quite chilly out, especially since she hadn’t brought a jacket. She stepped inside the brightly lit cabin.

It was beyond anything she’d ever imagined. The entryway was stunning. There was a three-story stone, double-faced fireplace that ran along the entrance wall. She could see through the large firebox into a sunken living room. When he pulled her around the stone wall, the room opened up.

Long hallways ran on either side of the second-floor balconies; from those, doorways led to rooms on both sides. The top floor looked completely open, like it was a loft that ran the entire length of the building. Everything was held up with large, round logs that were stained and shined like new.

Her eyes moved back down to the main floor, which had hardwood floors covered with beautiful area rugs.

The furniture was a little rustic for her taste, but it certainly matched the house. He took her hand and led her into the living room. She could see a large kitchen near the back of the main floor alongside a beautiful dining room that held one of the biggest tables she’d ever seen.

“This is some spread.” She turned toward him.

“Yeah, I’ve always told Tom his family was just showing off when they built the place.”

“Tom?” She shook her head and laughed. “How much does that man owe you for going out with your sister?”

He frowned. “They’re not going out.”

“Oh right.” She tried to hold back her laughter. From the look on Aiden’s face, she got the impression that Tom wouldn’t make it to next year if she continued to talk about it.

“Amber should have stocked the fridge for us.” He walked over and pulled open the door. “Yup. Looks like we’re all set until Sunday night.”

“I can’t stay here that long.” She followed him into the room.

“Why not?” He turned toward her.

“I don’t have . . .” She looked down at the dress. Although it was beyond lovely, there was no way she was going to spend a weekend in the mountains wearing only an evening gown.

“I did mention that Amber packed a bag for you. It’s probably upstairs with my own bag.” He tugged her hand and she followed him up the large three-story staircase.

She thought that he would stop on the second floor, but he continued to the top level. She gasped at the room as they stopped at the top of the stairs.

Instead of a loft, it was a huge master suite, which had large windows on every side. A huge four-poster log bed sat in the middle of the big space. The stone fireplace already had a small fire burning.

“Amber probably started this for us,” he said as he tossed a few more logs on the fire.

“If you want, you can check to see if she packed everything you will need.” He nodded toward two double doors.

She opened the doors wide and walked into the biggest bathroom she’d ever seen. There was an enormous jet tub that sat right in front of a huge window. The glass shower was bigger than her entire bathroom.

Then she noticed the black bag she’d borrowed from Aiden during their trip to Vail and peeked inside. She had to admit, Amber was very thorough.

“Do you have everything?” he asked from the doorway. When she turned and looked at him, he was leaning against the doorjamb. He’d removed his jacket and had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. James Bond had nothing on him.

She slowly walked to him. “Have I told you how handsome you look tonight?” She ran her fingers down the buttons of his shirt and watched him swallow and shake his head no. “Better than James Bond.”

“Which one?” he joked.

“All of them rolled together,” she purred next to his lips. “Take me to bed, Mr. Scott.” She laughed when he swung her up in his arms and walked across the room to the large bed.