Delicious (Cooking Up A Storm) (15 page)

“All right. Make yourself comfortable, Ally. We’ll be right back.”

“Why don’t you get it? That way Cara and I can get better acquainted.”

“Oh no, I’m not leaving her to your inquisition. You can just wait until we get back to start the questioning.”

Ally looked disappointed but she didn’t argue. Aiden took Cara’s hand and walked into the kitchen before saying a word.

“I’m sorry. I know this is terrible timing. I had no idea she would just show up like that. I thought she understood.”

“It’s okay. Aiden, its okay, really. You’re right. I can’t expect you to make my decisions for me.”

“
Cara, it’s not that. Surely, you know that. It’s just that I don’t want to be the deciding factor in you making your dreams come true. I know how hard you’ve worked to accomplish this. This is a big moment for you.”

“All right, I get it. Let’s just not talk about it okay?”

“Cara that’s not what I meant. But you’re right, now is probably not the best time.”

“Maybe I should just go. I can stay with
Shelby for the weekend,” she said without looking at him.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Ally’s an adult.”

“I wasn’t talking about your sister.”

“
Cara…” He drew her back into his arms.

“Why are men so thick headed?”

“You’ll stay in my room. Ally can stay in your room. We’ll get through this. It’s only one day—how bad can it be? I’ll send her on her way on Sunday. I want to have you to myself for a while.”

* * * *

“How bad can it be? It was horrible, Shelby. It was the longest weekend I’ve ever spent.”

Cara
was in before five and just finishing her third batch of when Shelby walked in. She’d left the house before Aiden, who was still in the shower. He’d called. Twice. She’d ignored both calls.

The second
Shelby dropped her purse and jacket on the sofa she’d asked her what happened.

“I took your advice and talked to
Aiden.”

“You did?”
Shelby was smiling from ear to ear before she spotted Cara’s expression. “What happened? Did he tell you that he doesn’t love you? Because if he did that’s an out and out lie.”

“No, I didn’t tell him how I felt about him…wait, why would you say that?”
Cara watched Shelby who was studying her nails, which she normally could care less about, and it clicked. “Have you been talking to Aiden about me?” The guilty expression on Shelby’s face said it all. “Shelby, no. How could you? What did you tell him? No wait, I don’t want to know.”

“Good because I’m not going to tell you. What
Aiden and I talk about is our business. So, if you didn’t tell him how you feel like I told you to, then what did you talk about that’s got you so upset?”

“I told him about the offer from Brady’s people. He said it was great. Wonderful in fact. A dream come true.”
Cara paced the small waiting area of the store. “He couldn’t have been more excited for me and less concerned when I told him it meant I’d be traveling for long periods of time. That means he can’t wait to get rid of me.”

“
Cara, that’s not what it means at all?”

Cara
turned back to Shelby. “Oh yeah? What makes you so sure?”

“Because you’ve been together for a while now. Longer than any other woman has lasted, including the models. And
Aiden certainly doesn’t show any signs of wanting out.”

“
Shelby, you’re just being optimistic. But come on. We both know Aiden’s MO. It’s only a matter of time. In fact, I think it’s about time that I start considering another place to live. I mean…it’s only a matter of time.”

“
Cara…”

“Look,
Shelby, I don’t want to talk about this anymore. We’re swamped this week with the online orders and the customers who have called in. Let’s just get busy, okay?”

For most of the day,
Cara was able to keep her mind off Aiden by filling the orders for . But she couldn’t hide from the inevitable. She knew that it was only a matter of time before she and Aiden were going to have to discuss their future.

She had successfully avoided
Aiden’s calls for most of the day that by the time she got home she figured he’d probably given up on her anyway.

So when the phone rang at almost
midnight she figured it had to be Aiden, no doubt telling her it was over. Instead, she recognized the Pineville ID. It was her mother.

“
Cara? I was beginning to think you were never home. I’ve been trying for days to reach you at home, but I always get the answering machine. You know how much I hate those answering machine things.”

“Hi Mom. I’m sorry, I’ve been busy. Did you need something?”
Cara asked while kicking the sofa really hard. She hated the strained moments of silence between her family and herself. But for as long as she could remember, she never really felt as if she belonged in the Bennett household. She was the odd one out. The one that no one understood.

“I know you’re busy honey. But we were hoping you were coming home for Thanksgiving this year. Your father and I have been clipping every single one of your articles in the paper. You’re quite the celebrity here in
Pineville. Everyone’s so proud of you.”

Her mom tried, but the truth was
Cara knew her dad hadn’t read even one of those articles. Mom was the one that encouraged Cara to go to college, fulfill her dreams. In a way, she was living her own dreams through her daughter. She and Cara’s father had to get married when her mother became pregnant with their first child Raymond in high school. Mom had to drop out to have the baby because in those days, a woman just didn’t get pregnant without being married first. Most folks around town suspected the truth, even though no one ever pointed it out. Her Mom managed to get her GED in between babies. Seth was born two years later and Savannah five more years. Then came Cara, the baby, another ten years later. Her mother had been raising babies for most of her adult life.

“Thanks, Mom. You know I’ll try to come home but I’m not so sure that I can, with things being so busy and all.”
Cara hated that she was lying to her mother.

“Well, I know you’ll try. Everyone’s going to be there. Both your brothers and their families. And
Savannah.”

“That sounds great. I’ll let you know something soon. And I’ll try, I promise.”

As Cara lay in bed that night, she wondered if maybe going home wasn’t the best thing for her. Aiden would be with his family. Shelby was having all of her relatives over and even though she had invited Cara to come, the thought of being amongst all the Evan’s clan was a little intimidating. Shelby’s family was huge. There were seven siblings in all and a handful of foster kids, not to mention grandparents. But Shelby had a good relationship with all her family. She couldn’t understand why Cara dreaded going home so much.

By Tuesday, most of the orders were finished and ready to be shipped. The store was closed from Wednesday through the weekend.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come over to my place?”

Cara
smiled at her friend but shook her head. She couldn’t even imagine how Shelby was planning to fit all those relatives into her tiny one bedroom apartment much less preparing the traditional Thanksgiving meal for them all.

“No thanks. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do. You just have fun with all that cooking, you hear?” she said as they walked to their cars that night.

“If you change your mind you know you’re welcome? Come on over. I’d love to have the help.” Shelby grinned.

“I promise if I’m in a cooking mood, you’re the first person I’ll come to.”

* * * *

Aiden
signed the last contract late Tuesday evening and handed it back to Lois with a tired grin. Thank God, that was the last of them. He was ready to get out of this town. He’d tried at least a dozen times to call Cara but she was avoiding him. And all he could think of was that ridiculous argument they’d had right before his sister barged in and screwed everything up with her questions and her presence. If Ally hadn’t showed up when she did, what would he have done? But Ally was the one who had made him see his feeling for her clearly. Even though he wasn’t about to tell his sister that. Not that it mattered; his very behavior toward Cara would have made it clear to Ally. Everyone in the family would know this by now.

Cara
wanted his input on her offer. She didn’t want to hear all the reason’s why he didn’t want her to take it. But it was hard not to give into that need and tell her anyway. She never complained about his absences. He was gone for weeks on end and yet she never insisted he give up his dreams. How could he do anything less for her? Even if it meant losing her?

He couldn’t even bring himself to consider that. He knew that he needed to be clear with her. Tell her how he felt. But
Aiden was still struggling with the truth. He loved her. He’d loved her for a long time. He’d just been too stubborn to admit that truth to himself. It took the thought of losing her to New York, and then whatever city lay after that—to her career that had made him see the truth.

But
Cara had worked hard to accomplish her goals. How could he ask her not to go for them?

“You know, I’m pretty good at listening, or so my husband tells me.”

Lois’ kind voice interrupted his thoughts. He realized he’d pretty much zoned out on his assistant. “Sorry, Lois. Is it that obvious?” He grinned.

“It is. Why do you young people complicate love so much? It’s not that hard really. If you love someone, you do what you have to do to be with them.” She patted, actually patted his hand. For a second,
Aiden was too overcome by emotion to speak. “You’re still playing games. You need to tell her the truth. Things will work out if you’re honest with each other.”

Aiden
nodded. She was right. If only it were that simple.

“It is,” Lois answered and
Aiden met her gaze. She saw a lot. She’d known for a while how he felt. “Just be honest with her.”

The flight into
Dallas seemed endless. The weather leaving Arkansas was threatening. Aiden was afraid the flight wouldn’t be able to leave.

When he arrived at
Dallas Bergstrom International airport, it was almost midnight. He caught a cab and forced himself to relax. He’d long ago stopped leaving the Rover at the airport. Cara’s little clunker was in the shop more than it was out and he didn’t like her being stuck without a way around the city, even though she fought him at first when he’d suggested it just made sense for her to use the SUV.

Aiden
paid the cabbie and retrieved his bag. The house was dark. He wondered if she’d even be there. He hadn’t really talked to her since Sunday and that ended in an argument.

He unlocked the door, dropped his bag by the door and went to her room. She wasn’t there.
Aiden’s mind went over the possibilities. Had she gone home to Pineville after all? She didn’t seem all that excited about the visit. He was tempted to call Shelby but decided against it. It was late. If Shelby were home, she would be sleeping by now.

He’d wait until morning and call her parent’s house. He opened the door to his room and froze. She was sleeping in his bed. He didn’t understand. She was upset with him, not speaking to him, avoiding him, yet she was in his bed.

Aiden undressed and slipped into bed close to her. She wasn’t wearing anything—even more intriguing.

When his hand slipped up her thigh, curving around her hip and bringing her close to him,
Cara opened her eyes.

“
Aiden!” she breathed in surprise.

“Caught you,” he whispered against her lips, leaning closer so that their bodies touched. He felt her reaction. Her body shuddered and moved closer.

“What are you doing here?” she asked against his lips, her kisses matching his in passion.

As much as he liked where this was going, this was what had gotten them into trouble in the first place. He was tired of playing games with her.
Aiden pulled away and watched her for a second. Her disappointment was clear. This was going to be harder than he’d thought.

“I came for you. You won’t talk to me over the phone so I figured you couldn’t hide here. When I didn’t find you in your room, I thought I was wrong. Does the fact that you’re in my bed mean you’re at least missing me a little?”

“Aiden…” She tried to push him away but he didn’t let her go.

“
Cara, we need to talk. Surely, you see that. Things can’t go on like this.”

“
Aiden, I don’t want to fight anymore,” she whispered and moved closer, her arms going around his waist. She began with kissing his chest, before moving slowly up to his throat and then his lips. For a moment, Aiden’s resolve held. His arms tightened around her before he hauled her closer. His lips met hers with a need that had been growing inside for days. Since he’d left her, a cold insurmountable silence had been between them preventing intimacy.