Waking up with my body pinned to the bed was an odd moment for me. I'm used to sleeping alone. Not that I didn't enjoy having Aiden snuggled up against me it's just that I can't move and if I try I think I'll fall out of the bed. I'm on the very edge as it is with Aiden firmly pressed up against my back. I can feel his warm breath on my neck, hear him exhale in my ear. His legs are twined with mine and his arms are securely holding me to him, his hands linked tight around my chest.

Then I feel something odd, different... there's something very hard and thick that's pushing against my butt...oh... Oh! I didn't expect that.

Trying to shift only makes this position more salacious. As I wiggle to get out of Aiden's hold, he only tightens his grip, shifts his hips into me and groans hungrily against my neck. This isn't going to work.

Blowing my hair out of my face I relax against him and close my eyes. Being held like this is actually really nice and I feel safe with him. He isn't going to push me into anything. I know that. There is a layer of trust there that we can at least build on.

Thinking about last night and our conversation as we laid here in the dark allowed me the opportunity to see him in a different light. His family is such a big influence in his life. I saw that right away. From his grandparents to his niece, each one of them are such champions for him. For each other really.

What Georgia said to me last night has resonated with me. Aiden's love for his family is evident and theirs for him is undeniable. They keep him grounded and stable while he reaches for his dreams. I can honestly say that I'm a little jealous seeing this big support system he has to fall back on. I've learned to rely on myself more times than not just because I know dad has more important things to deal with than me. I'm sure Aiden has never had to feel that way.

Still they welcomed us into their home. His family and my dad got to know each other. I'm sure he'll be talking about meeting Blake Bradford for weeks at the diner after this. I bet he even got a picture with him and is going to hang it on the wall behind the counter just to prove his story. There's a couple of old timers that come in that'll be pretty impressed with dad for that.

When Aiden's phone lights up again I glance at the nightstand and risk falling by lifting my head up to see the clock. It was just before eight. I'm sure Dad's already up and waiting to leave. He never has learned to sleep in.

Carefully, I balance myself on the very edge of the bed frame and try to slide out of Aiden's hold around me again. I need a shower before we head back and it's going to be a very long day driving back to school.

"Too early and I'm comfy. Come here." Aiden slurs gripping onto me and rolling both of us over to the other side of his big bed, I squeal. Settling onto my back with Aiden settled over me, my body cradling his.

I have to laugh at him. He's completely cradling me back, his hands under my head and knees right up under my hips holding my legs around his waist. "Aiden! I need to get back to my room and get a shower so we can get going. We've got a really long travel day today."

"You can shower with me. I promise I'll wash your back." Nuzzling into my neck as soon as Aiden's lips touched my skin a hot arrow of need flew through me. I think the muscles in my legs have melted as that molten lava swirls lower in me, the urge to arch up and give into temptation beckons me.

"Aiden." I can't even recognize my own voice. I sound all breathy and sort of sexy. When I hear the half moan, half growl from Aiden, I think he's thinking the same thing. "Aiden wait, please!"

The more sensible part of my brain won out and broke through the sex filled haze that was in my eyes. Aiden stopped, froze where he was then dropped his head to my shoulder.

"Sorry... I'm sorry. Just give me a chance to get myself under control, okay." He gritted his teeth as he spoke then slid off me.

Crawling off the bed Aiden walked to the far side of the room. It was as if he couldn't be near me right then. Nervous that I upset him or did something wrong I sat up swinging my legs over the edge of the bed and let them just dangle over the edge while Aiden eyed me up and down.

"Could you cover up. Seeing you like that isn't helping me here." He grumbled a bit irritated and pouty about it.

Really? He's a grown man for goodness sake! He should have better control over his body.

I won't be where I'm clearly not wanted if he can't have sex with me. "If I'm that hard for you to look at then I'll just go back to my room and get ready to go. You don't need to worry about coming with us. I'll be fine driving back alone."

Getting up I stomp over to the door and just get my hand around the knob when Aiden spins me around and presses me back against the door. His body tight against mine with my hands pinned between our chests.

"That's not what I mean. I want you... really bad right now and I'm trying really hard to do this the right way. It's just not that easy. I want you here. I want to go with you to drop off your Dad and I'm driving back with you. Please?... I'm trying to do the right thing." Those green eyes pleaded with me to go easy on him. It's not like I'm really mad at him. It's just the way it came out that was off.

"So you don't mind looking at me?" Teasing him just a little to get him to smile, I tilt my head and bite down on my bottom lip.

His thumb grazes over my lip where my teeth were and his rough wide palm held my cheek. "Don't tease a guy when he really needs to..." He cut himself off, not willing to finish his sentence. Those bright green eyes went dark and blazed with heat. I couldn't look away from him. My fingers stroked up his bare chest and I felt that shudder run through his body.

There is something perplexing about the way Aiden is looking at me. "Riley....fuck it."

His mouth was on mine in a hot second and I was on fire. Everywhere burned aching to be touched at once. His mouth traveled over me like a wildfire burning out of control. Down my neck, over my collarbone as one of those luscious hands snuck under my shirt to cup my breast. Unconsciously I arched into his hand wanting more.

"Riley. Fuck...yes." His voice faded out as his other hand slid down my spine and under my shorts cupping my butt cheek and rubbing it slowly.

A long ragged breath escaped my lips as he nudged my leg up to rest the back of my knee around his hip. Aiden pressed against my center circling his hips and moving in a way that has my eyes rolling back into my head. Everything feels like hot liquid poured against him.

"Riley! Honey are you up!?"

We froze and stared into each other's eyes. One second ago was so hot and suddenly I have to put all that need away. I'm not even in my room. I can't even answer my Dad because then he'll know where I slept! Not that it's a big deal but still...

Dad and his only little girl sleeping with a guy he just met, isn't a road trip conversation I want to have. It's awkward and I'm not ready for this with my Dad. He'll just freak. Drawing my leg down to the ground and pushing gently on Aiden's chest, he moved away from me. Fisting his hands into his hair and squeezing those gorgeous green eyes closed tight.

Taking a couple of deep breaths before I looked down and saw my shirt was barely covering me. Quickly I put myself to rights and listened with my ear against the door. I could hear the floorboard creak then all was quiet and again another creak then nothing.

"I should go get that shower so we can get going." Looking up I see Aiden is looking down at the nightstand his phone screen is lit up once again. "Aiden? Is everything okay?"

He jerks himself away from his phone and looks up at me like I just walked into the room. It took him a long second to pull that facade down and lock me out. I saw it though, all too clear. Whoever is texting him he doesn't want me to know about. There's a sick twist in my stomach that tells me he's about to lie to me.

"It's fine." The frown and the way his eyes refuse to make contact says more than his words."I'm gonna grab a shower too. I'll meet you downstairs, okay?"

Stepping over to kiss my cheek it was suddenly really awkward. I know just a minute ago his hands were all over me but now it's like he doesn't want to touch me. And the phone calls... now I have to wonder if he really broke up with his ex at all or if Aiden was just telling me that, thinking I would sleep with him.

Aiden pulls back looking at me like I'm the one with the secret. He raises his eyebrows at as he's expecting me to say something about his answer or tell him that I know he's lying to me, which I totally do.

"Riley? I'll meet you downstairs?" He repeats what he just said and I feel the heat rise to my cheeks. Quickly I try to cover my embarrassment.

"Yeah, that's fine. I'll just go." I turned and couldn't get out of his room fast enough. Hurrying across the hall I close the door behind me and lock it before I lean back and close my burning eyes.

What just happened?

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" Muttering to myself I stomp into the bathroom and slouch against the sink. Why couldn't he be real?

With my head full of what if's and maybes, I stripped down and got into the shower and scrubbing as hard and as fast as I can I work at what I could say to make sure Aiden doesn't go back with us.

Sorting my thoughts through I pull my wet hair up out of my face into a knot on my head and get dressed. I rarely wear makeup and didn't bring any with me so I was downstairs in less than a half hour. Repeating the words in my head as I walk the maze of hallways in this place. I follow the voice I recognize as my Dad's and end up in the kitchen with every adult in the house already to go.

"Morning sunshine!" Georgia greeted me as I walked in. "Now I'm making my famous banana foster french toast. It's Aiden's favorite, how many pieces would you like, sugar?"

"Oh..." I wasn't prepared for staying for breakfast. "We should really get going. It's a long drive back and I should get on the road." Trying to nicely talk my way out of this, I look at Dad but he's looking very confused with my sudden rush to leave.

"Don't you worry about a thing. Blake's plane will be ready to go when you get there and Aiden can drive you back, honey. You're in good hands." Georgia tries to reassure me but it's just not helping the situation.

"I think it would be better if we just drove there and I drove back. I don't want to bother you for the use of the plane, and Aiden's got classes to study for, he really should stay here." I think I'm being reasonable, Georgia looks at me then my Dad and sets down the spatula in her hand before coming over to me.

I don't see a temper or worry in her face at all as she nods looking into my eyes. "And you're sure this is what you want?"

Nodding, I start to breathe a sigh of relief. "Yes. I appreciate the offer but..."

"AIDEN MAXWELL BRADFORD GET YOUR BEE HIND DOWN HERE NOW!" Georgia yelled out the doorway before I could finish my sentence, scaring the crap out of me and making me jump.

My eyes are big as saucers staring at the older woman who walks back over to the stove and turns the burners on. Picking up the spatula she doesn't even look over her shoulder at me as she speaks. "Honey, I've dealt with enough youngsters in my life to know when I'm getting wind blown up my skirt. I don't know what that boy did from the time I saw you last night to this morning but I'm about to find out!" Georgia finally looked over and with the sweetest smile, made me want to cry. "Now, while we clear all this up, how many slices would you like?"

There are certain rules around Grandma's house that are known from a very young age. No running in the house or around the pool. All projectiles are to be kept outside or in the basement if it's a nerf war. If you get in a fight with a family member you must make up before you go to bed. And the mother of all rules, if she ever uses your full name when she calls you, you're toast!

When I got out of the shower I was in a freaking awesome mood. I spent the night with Riley. We had a very nice make out session this morning already and I would be spending the rest of the day with her and if everything goes right, tonight too. Things were looking up. Besides those texts I got through the night that baffled me, I'm on cloud nine.

I sent Matt a message about those erroneous texts and forwarded several of them to him just so he had them. He said he would look into it and let me know. There's nothing else I can do about it for the moment so I'm going to look forward to my time with Riley.

"AIDEN MAXWELL BRADFORD GET YOUR BEE HIND DOWN HERE NOW!"

That is something I never need to hear first thing in the morning after spending the night with a girl. I'm not guilty of anything more than holding her, a little lip action and I got a handful of a very nice breast. But I know Riley was a willing party. I can't be in trouble for this.

I'm not gonna lie, being in trouble with Georgia worries me. I've seen Grandma mad at Blake, at Dad, at me. It's not pretty for the person on the receiving end. The woman is too sweet and too old ( I'll never admit that to her) to get her so upset she has to use my full name. So hearing this has me fucking worried about what I could have done.

Racing down the stairs and around the corner I come to a dead stop in the doorway to the kitchen when I see Riley's ghost white face looking at me with those big dark eyes that look sunken in and haunted at the moment. Now I'm worried something's wrong with her. I move faster than grandma anticipated and get past her before she can stop me and over to Riley.

"What happened, baby? What's wrong?" Cupping Riley's face in both hands and lifting her chin so she's looking at me. I see more than a lack of sleep there, she's really upset with me. "Riley? What?"

Grandma must have stopped Ben from coming for me. The next thing I hear is her soothing voice to him. "Let me, Ben." It's only a second later that I'm literally lifted by the back of my pants and hauled away from Riley and out of the room.

"What the.. " Struggling to see who has me, I see Grandma behind me and I get a solid push forward.

"Don't you fight me, boy! You aren't so big I can't put some manners into you!" Georgia moves me out of the kitchen and down the hall.

Fuck! What the hell did I do?!

"Sit!" Grandma dropped me in the library where Dad and Blake were waiting for me. "What happened last night? Everything child cause I'll know if you lie to me!"

Moving away from her, because I'm not lying she's scaring me right now, I scrub my face and crouch down in front of the fireplace to sit. I start to hesitate to tell them about Riley coming to my room but grandma I swear always knows when I lie. There's no point in trying it. So I explain it, from hearing the floorboard creaking to Riley slamming the door into my face.

"Wait, that bruise isn't from the hit you took but from that skinny little girl?" Dad asked and Blake only shook his head and chuckled covering his hand over his mouth when Grandma gave him her "shut it" look.

"No. It was from the door, not the girl! Anyway she helped me with the bloody nose and kept an eye on me since I had a good headache going on. Nothing happened, Dad. I kissed her but that's it and that was this morning." Something wasn't right though. Wasn't there a moment right before she left the room that was off?

"What is it, Aiden? You aren't telling us everything are you?" Grandma prompted me, her hand patting her knee impatiently for an answer to why her guest is upset in her home.

"I don't know. I got a bunch of texts last night from an unknown number. I only responded once asking who it was. I didn't get a response. I guess they sent a bunch more messages through the night. I don't know, I fell asleep pretty fast. I saw the last one come in this morning and Riley was just about to go get her shower. It took me off guard and I guess I hesitated." Looking up at Grandma I think I understand it now. "I didn't respond to her right away because I was looking at the message and she bolted from my room."

Biting my lip I get to my feet and go to Grandma to kneel in front of her. I take hold of both her hands. "I promise, I didn't do anything wrong. It's a misunderstanding. I didn't mean to hurt her. I'll fix this."

Grandma touches my face and nods. "That's good. I like this one and I'd really hate to kick you cute ass just so I get the granddaughter in law I want."

"Ma!" "Grandma!" The three of us say in unison.

"I'm not getting any younger and I want babies in this house!" Of course she does, I remember hearing her say this so many times as my cousins came along. "Aiden, honeypot, just remember that girl isn't like some of those girls you've been getting with behind Leighton's back or even like Leighton. She's down to earth and she's not interested in money."

My mouth opens and closes like a gaping fish for a minute as I try to make my brain work. The woman is an original. "How did you... never mind." Shaking my head and closing my eyes, I don't want to know how she knows everything she does about all of us. "I know Riley isn't, Grandma. And I really like her."

"I know you do." Smiling Georgia pats my cheek. "So don't screw this up by not talking to her."

Grandma is right. I have to tell Riley about the calls. I nod to her but see something on her face, she hides it as fast as she can but I saw it. The moment of hesitation, her hand trembled on the arm of the chair before Grandma clamped her fist tight around the edge. Her eyes squeezed shut as if she's in pain and I watched her take long deep breaths.

"Grandma, are you okay?" Kneeling in front of her I know this isn't normal for her. Blake and Dad are right there next to me in an instant.

She recovered quickly but was clearly shaken from the episode. Blake got her a glass of water and handed her something to take. Concern etched my face and I know my Dad and Blake were just as worried even if they aren't saying so. But we let the moment pass and Grandma got the color back into her cheeks and looked at the three of us then rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Oh, for goodness sake! I'm fine, I'm fine. I haven't had any coffee yet and I'm not yet working on all cylinders. Good lord, you'd think I was dying the way you boys fret over me." She brushes my hand off and stands on her own. "Now you boys let me get on to the kitchen, I've got work to do."

Grandma hurries out but not before I look quizzically at both Dad and Blake for some answers. "Grandma's never not running on all her cylinders. What's wrong with her?"

Blake and Dad move back to their chairs and sit. Neither speak for a really long time which normally wouldn't make me worry but this is Grandma and I know there isn't one person in this family that wouldn't give her a limb if she needed it. Myself included.

"Is she sick?" I press the issue. There's a silent look between them then I see the heated temper in both of them rise until Dad wins out and Blake shoots up to pace.