The beginning of my week goes by surprisingly fast and oddly enough, Mr Knox isn't being his usual over baring self. His smiles are full of sincerity and on two occasions he's even gone as far as to make me a coffee at my desk. At the time I was in that much shock I ended up drinking the damn thing even though I despise coffee with a burning passion and although I still remain firm in my dislike towards the caffeine-packed drink, it was a kind gesture nevertheless and one in which I was grateful for.

Sally is still avoiding my desk like it's the plague and when I brought it up at lunchtime in the safety of the staff room, she mealy shrugged it off and changed the subject by asking me about my 'mystery man' instead. After that, all conversation remained firmly on my personal life and by the time I've caught her up on all aspects, I'm rest assured that whatever her problem is with avoiding my work area, it doesn't lie with me.

"It's not ideal but if he makes you happy and you're sure it's helping?" she assures, finishing off her tuna sandwich and offering me a friendly smile. "Just make sure you tell him everything you want to these next few weeks. You'll regret it if you don't." she adds, ridding her lunch by disposing of the left over apple she failed to eat in the trash.

It's upon watching her do this that I notice Mr Knox striding towards us with a determined expression on his face, his powerful intensity somewhat putting the fear of god in me.

"Amelia, why don' you get yourself home, you've worked hard today." he states, appearing from behind Sally as she stands over by the doorway, kettle in hand.

I silently sit in my seat for a few seconds, stunned by his suggestion and weigh up the possibilities of this being some sort of test to see where my professionalism lies. It's only 12.30pm and if I'm being completely honest, today has been a breeze in regards to work. I would hardly say I've 'worked 'hard'.

"You don't have to look so shocked, I can be nice sometimes, you know." he chuckles, sending Sally a look which appears to rather desperately state 'back me up on this one' but of course, Sal doesn't bite.

"If by 'sometimes' you mean never, then yes, I'd have to agree." she replies, quite frankly putting Carer Knox in his place, whilst dropping a tea bag in her mug.

The pair's working relationship has always been somewhat amusing to watch and I think the fact that Sally works over in the photography department has a huge part to play in it. She doesn't work directly underneath him and that helps her put him in his place, so to speak. She doesn't have to worry about pissing him off because he legally has no say in whether she has a job by the end of it.

"Fine, I'll admit I can be over baring at times," he admits, triggering a scoff to fall from Sally's already smirking lips. "but I'm working on being a better boss and I appreciate all you do for me." he adds, aiming his statement in my direction, whilst simultaneously offering up a genuine smile.

I desperately glance to Sally for help but find her admiring his bold revelation much like a school girl would towards her crush. The green in her eyes prominently sparkle in wonderment and the slight curl of her lips would suggest pride in her expression.

Oh no, she doesn't?

I'll admit, I suspected her reasoning for keeping away lately was due to Carter but I never would've thought it was down to a crush she's developed for him. Her insistence on constantly badmouthing him, alongside her inability to say one nice thing about him would have anyone convinced she hates him, yet the yearning in her eyes tells me something completely different.

She wants him.

"I-umm." I stutter, unsure how else to reply really.

"Babe, if I were you I'd go before he changes his mind." laughs Sally, turning around in her stance to pour water in her mug, although the act appears done out of distraction more than anything else.

Yep, our Sal has definitely got it bad.

"OK, thank you! I appreciate it." I smile, almost going in for a hug but remembering last minute who this man is.

Hugging him would only make things awkward and I'm certainly not about to put it to the test. A curt nod and a beaming smile will have to do for now and maybe next time I can consider the hug option. If I'm feeling brave.

I quickly and efficiently barrel my way down the hall towards my desk, shoving anything and everything I need in my purse before swinging it over my shoulder, preparing to hop, skip and jump out of this place. I then turn off my computer and send a rather suggestive text to Sally, stating, "Carter Knox, huh?", then contemplate calling Aidan to inform him of my unexpected half day.

I soon dismiss the idea and decide to go home, change then surprise him with a personal visit to his house instead. Lately, things between us have been near to perfect and although we're almost at the halfway mark of his time in California, we're both holding a positive outlook on things. We often discuss the matter to ensure neither one of us is in denial and he has openly expressed what he wishes for me in the future.

I stupidly told him I write in my spare time and now he's hell bent on reading my work and getting it 'out there' so to speak. I've denied him any reading material and brushed the whole thing off as just a hobby but it appears to have done no good. He still insists on seeing some of my work and while I've repeatedly informed him of it being a silly thing my counsellor once suggested way back when I had weekly meetings, he's determined to sway my opinion on the matter.

It's not that I'm totally against the idea and I'd be denying myself a great joy if I were to stop but my skills are nowhere near that of a professional writer.

Most of it consists of non fiction and tends to focus on fashion trends and the latest beauty regime. I enjoy collating crazy ideas in my mind and using a blank canvas to portray them in such a way that can offer even the shyest of women a confidence boost. I once even got Anna to pose for some shots for me and I have to admit, her makeup looked great after I'd finished with it but as I've said, it's just a bit of fun and I have no intention of taking it a step further.

Besides, if Mr Knox keeps up his happy as Larry attitude, I've no reason to search for another job.

I'm happy being his assistant.

~~~~

I arrive at my apartment within a rather respectable thirteen minutes but instantly panic when I hear banging noises coming from the inside, the sounds growing increasingly louder. Unsure what to do, I call my Dad and curse the high heavens above when it goes straight through to voicemail. I then resort to holding my keys in a 'ready to aim' gesture and push open the door, half expecting to see masked men robbing my poor home.

Luckily, I see neither men, nor masks and instead, come face to face with every single pretend-article I've ever written sprawled out over my lengthy kitchen table. Aidan then appears from my bedroom door wearing only jeans, carrying a bunch of demolished red roses, nose buried deep in one of my articles. I fake a cough to alert him of my presence and see the shock enter his eyes as they come up to meet mine.

"What are you doing here? What time is it?" he asks, frantically searching his watch for the correct time.

I laugh at his question and quirk a rather amused brow in his direction, enjoying his stunned reaction.

"I live here, and you?" I reply, crossing my arms over my chest in a playful manner.

"I was planning on surprising you with a romantic night in, I got your house key from Anna."

Damn it, I swear that girl over uses her privileges.

"I'm half way through cooking you a meal and I've just destroyed this rose bush to spread petals on your bed." he offers, seeming somewhat embarrassed by his outage.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin it." I tell him, genuinely saddened at the thought of stamping all over his kind gesture. "I got let off early. Apparently my boss is in a good mood today." I continue, suddenly noticing the never ending papers littered all over my apartment. "I see you found my hiding place." I smile, not even half as bothered as I thought I would be by him reading my work.

His smirk instantly picks up and a look of devilish wonderment plays in his eyes, causing the green in them to sparkle brighter than ever before. He then slowly stalks forward, as if preparing to pounce, and attaches his gaze onto mine.

"I did and thank god, too. This stuff is brilliant Amelia, you can really write." he joys, eyes still blazing into mine. "I especially like the article about how best to apply my foundation to avoided streaks and to ensure the best possible blend. I'd be lost without that knowledge." he laughs, earning himself a hard slap to the chest.

"Well obviously you're not my target audience." I retort, pulling the current article out of his hands to find he's reading a one titled 'Be bold, be brave, be you'.

It was an idea inspired by a parade I'd once witnessed when Anna dragged me to some multi cultural Carnival a few towns across. It was months ago now and I found the richness of gold and red rather inspiring and begged Anna to let me do her make up as I'd imaged it in my head.

"In all seriousness though, these are brilliant, you're brilliant. I've almost read all of them now and I love how your personality shows through in each and every one." claims Aidan, dumping the dead plant in the trash and grabbing me by the waist. "It'll be a damn shame to keep them hidden." he informs, sticking his nose in my hair and breathing in for dear life, scenting me as if it's all he lives for.

I copy his actions and breath him all in, landing a soft kiss on his tattoo'ed torso, enjoying his naked heat from underneath my lips. His grip on me tightens as I press myself further into him, desperate to be closer.

"Say you'll think about it, darling." he rasps, attaching his mouth to my neck in a delicious suck.

I fight back the urge to moan and do so by having to bite down on my lower lip. His movements are just too damn addictive and I find myself unable to resist his boyish charm.

"I'll think about it, I promise." I sigh, figuring I'd just about agree to anything right now.

His smile reaches the tips of his mouth and I relish in how my success evidently effects the swaying of his mood. It's obvious he wants the best for me and that's partly the reason why I love him so much. He's always looking out for those he loves, me included.

"Would you like to see your bedroom? I haven't lit the scented candles yet but if you give me five minutes." he suggests, not giving me much time to reply before he reaches behind me to locate the box of matches and rushes out of the kitchen.

I hear him shuffle around for a few minutes and when he's seemingly happy with his creation, he steps out wearing nothing but white boxers holding one single rose between his teeth. I laugh at his current attire and giggle even more so when he appears to cause a minor injury, courtesy of the sharp thorn. His lips pucker into delicious pout and I take it upon myself to move forward and land a soft kiss on his punctured skin, soothing away the painful cut.

"Better?" I ask, inspecting his face for any signs of protest.

He doesn't answer and instead, begins pulling at my dress as if the very thing is an annoyance to him.

"Won't dinner burn?" I worry, granting him full access to my body as I lift my arms up, enjoying the feel of the soft fabric against my skin as the material is removed.

Strong specs of green begin to dominate his eyes and as they appear to fill with a lust fuelled fire, he hands me the rose mouthing a silent 'always' before disposing of my dress on the floor and pulling me flush against his body. He then makes progress on my underwear and while slowly unhooking my bra and sliding down my panties, I inhale the sweet smell of my rose and get the added waft of vanilla coming from the scented candles, travelling in from my bedroom.

I guess dinner will have to burn. There's no stopping him now.

~~~~

After two whole hours of nonstop exercise, I'm pleased to discover Aidan has prepared tonights dinner in the slow cooker, preventing any burning from taking place. I find him slaving away in the kitchen and while tightly wrapping the bed sheet further around myself, I slowly make my way towards his gloriously naked body, delighting in watching him taste the red wine gravy from a tea spoon.

"All done?" I ask, enjoying the view when he fully turns around to face me.

"Almost, why? Are you hungry?" he smirks, pulling at my sheet to join me in my burrito styled wrap.

His body connects to mine and the skin-to-skin contact is almost too much for my trembling mind.

"I guess you could say I'd worked up an appetite, yes." I muse, biting on my lower lip when Aidan lets out an animalistic growl, sexy enough to have me clenching together my thighs.

"Then I suppose I better feed my girl." he whispers, tugging on my earlobe with his teeth before abruptly pulling away.

His teasing proves distracting and I hardly notice my lack of barrier at first but when my mind finally returns to the present, I see he's stolen my sheet, leaving me naked in the middle of my kitchen with nowhere to hide. I decide to humour him and set about preparing the kitchen table, offering him two plates whilst making damn sure to rub my naked self up against his body. My actions appear to cause a huge grin to spread across his face and while I'm undoubtedly starving, I'm more than willing to deny my stomach of food to head back to my bedroom.

Unfortunately, Aidan has other ideas and when the food is finally deemed done, he portions up the feast while I pour two glasses of red wine; the bottle already half empty due to him using most of it for his cooking. He then insists on us staying naked during our meal and though I feel slightly uncomfortable at the beginning, by the time I've taken my last bite of mouthwatering beef, I've relaxed into it more, unaffected by our current nakedness.

"You like?" asks Aidan, reaching over to my side of the table and encouraging me into a standing position where I'm then forced to sit on his lap.

I curl into him like a tiny kitten and nod my head, too emotionally content to utter out any physical words. Because of this, he sends out a silent chuckle and I swear I can feel the deep vibrations stemming from his chest reach into the very depths of my body in places I never knew existed. I relish in its sensations and surround myself in him, praying to anything and everything that I can stay in this exact position for the rest of my life, both needing and wanting for nothing more.

I know it's impossible but I can't help wondering about the what ifs and whether today is an indication as to what living with him would be like. Absolute perfection.

"I got you a present." he whispers, interrupting my thoughts as his hand caresses my bare arm.

I begrudgingly lift my head from his shoulder and question him with my scrutinising eyes.

"Me? What is it?" I ask, getting slightly giddy over the prospect of him buying me something.

It's been so long since someone surprised me with a romantic gesture, let alone buy me something equally as romantic and the thought of Aidan doing both those things in the space of one night has my heart racing faster than ever before.

"Open it and find out." he smiles, reaching into his jacket pocket, which just so happens to be hanging off of one of the kitchen chairs.

He hands me a rather crisp looking envelope and as I accept the slim object, scanning its surface and paying close attention to the way my name has been elegantly hand written with so much love the very emotion pours from the paper, I feel adrenaline pulse through my veins, exciting me beyond belief. Each letter swirls and curves with an magnificent flair and I'm captivated by the way he's dotted my 'i' with a love heart.

I glance up to find him eagerly watching, patiently awaiting my reaction and I decide not to drag it out any longer by tearing open the seal, pulling out two thick pieces of card, resembling that of concert tickets. I'm momentarily confused and it takes me a while to realise what I'm looking at but soon the words 'terminals', 'LAX' and 'JFK International airport' pop out and suddenly it hits me like a tonne of bricks.

"We're going to New York?" I ask, rather than state, voice gaining an octave or two.

Aidan nods his head vigorously and flashes me a loving smile, almost toppling over when I jump out of his hold to run up and down the entire length of my kitchen.

"We're going to New York!" I yell, flying into him on my way back, attempting to crush my body as close to his as scientifically possible.

He laughs at my reaction and catches a stray tear as it rolls happily down my cheek. Then, without warning, he picks me up and spins me around, settling me back on my feet only after he's kissed me with so much passion I could almost cry for real this time.

"I love you, I love you so much." I chant, overwhelmed by his grand gesture.

He pulls back, gently kisses my lips and strokes back my hair.

"I know you do, darling. I love you too. Now let's go pack, we leave tomorrow evening." he declares, grabbing my hand and pulling me along. "I offered to fly Anna out too but she has an event at work she can't get out of." he explains, pulling down my suitcase from on top of my wardrobe and seemingly dragging reality along with it.

The world around me suddenly stops.

"Aidan, I can't go! Carter will never let me have the time off." I cry, devastated I'm in this predicament.

There's no denying the man had a moment of kindness this afternoon but there's no way in hell he'll let me have two days off to fly out to New York.

"Carter has already given it the go ahead. I spoke to him about it on Monday." informs Aidan, surprising me yet again with his organisation skills. "You take tomorrow and Friday off and we'll be back Sunday evening, ready for work on Monday morning." he adds, having had the entire premiss planned out all along.

I immediately get an uneasy feeling as my bosses odd mood this afternoon doesn't seem so out of the blue and I raise a questioning brow to Aidan, warning him with my eyes.

"What else did you say to him?" I ask, knowing he wouldn't let my boss get away with treating me the way he sometimes does.

"Nothing, I just asked if you could take the time off and that it was a surprise so to not mention it." he shrugs, pulling out my toiletry bag and filling it with shampoos and perfumes. "I also may have mentioned how you're the most important person in my life and if he did anything to upset you, I'd kick his ass." he adds, triggering a loud gasp from my mouth.

"You did not!" I ask, eyes bulging out of my sockets.

Once again, he laughs at my response and drops what he's doing to take hold of my wrists.

"No, I didn't but your friend Sally was there and put in a good word for me. Your boss appears to listen to her." he informs, causing me to briefly wonder about the pairs seemingly 'professional working relationship' and weather Sally's crush is simply just one sided.