♥️

"Let's go on a date." Aiden offers, gesturing to the guards behind us. "It will have to be a date with security, but I need to get out of here besides just to go to the office."

I perk up, "What were you thinking?" I've been happily locked away in my castle, receiving every ounce of Aiden's attention when he's not in the office. Two weeks have passed, and my online courses are running smoothly. I am for once not regretting my decision to major in business as I've finally decided the route I want to take in life.

Aiden thinks for a moment, tipping his head down to look at me better. "Something spontaneous, at night definitely, that will be the safest way." He has a mischevious grin that makes me melt.

I nod, "Okay, I like it. The city?"

"Definitely."

Hmm. "What should I wear?"

"Your yellow dress we got in Brazil." He decides immediately.

My brain thinks of the frigid temperatures outside. "Aiden, it's freezing! it's supposed to snow tomorrow."

With a dazzling smile, he wraps me in a hug. "Wear your big puffy jacket over it and tights, I'll keep you warm." He winks.

♥️

We leave the house at dark, if it weren't for the guards in our vehicle as well as the vehicle following us it would feel as if we were sneaking out.

Before we walked out of the house, Aiden placed a hat on my head, I examined it. Felt, soft, the brown color matched my yellow dress and I knew immediately why he wanted me to wear it. As a disguise.

I admire him in the backseat, the light of his phone illuminating his sharp features. He's searching about a Night Market in the city. Looking like walking sex in a long-sleeve black T-shirt and casual jeans, he turns to me, his diamond jawline tensing as we get closer to the city. I pat his arm, "We'll be fine."

He chucks my chin, smiling down at me. We both have to ignore the fear we both feel. Being locked away with him in our home has been fun, but we're both ready for this to be over. But what does that mean? "The hat is cute." He says, I blush.

We drive into Portland, the guards let us out at the front of a vibrant street, a few step out with us. Food trucks line the way, and colorful booths selling artwork dot the aisles.

Hand in hand, we stroll through the magnetic space. The guard's trail around at various locations, grabbing clothing items and looking nonchalant, you wouldn't be able to tell they are our guards, or even guards in general. They all wear casual clothes and keep their mics in their sleeves, very discreet.

I admire the thundering nightlife, the aroma of the delicious foods wafting in the air makes my stomach growl. Aiden hears it over the music that flies through the street, somehow. "What do you want?"

I look at all my options, not able to choose because they all look too good. "A little of everything?" He asks, his own eyes roaming over the selection. After ordering we sit at a blue table, an umbrella sits overhead that's pink and lit up with twinkling lights.

Tacos, Pizza, and Brisket sandwiches sit on the table. With a fresh-squeezed lemonade to wash it all down. I get a little sauce on the corner of my mouth and Aiden wipes it away with his thumb, bringing it to his lips he taste it. I shudder from his touch, always.

"This," I chew, "Is, "chew again, "amazing," I speak with a mouthful of food, not caring how ridiculous I look. I can one hundred percent be myself in front of him.

He tilts his head, admiring me with a crooked grin. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, I'm sorry we've been trapped." I roll my eyes at him. "Again." He adds.

"Weeks, locked in our home together, how awful." I joke. He knows just how much fun we've had together. And nothing has really changed, I see my mom, I go to school -online-, I live next-door to my best friend, and I have him.

We continue to chat, flirting underneath the lights. Even though the thumping music provides an energetic feel, we're lost in each other's eyes, in our own world.

♥️

Midnight rolls around and we get back into the car, I lean against his broad shoulder, tired and full from our date. "I'm an idiot." He says, shaking his head as the guards drive us towards home.

I lift from his shoulder to look at him, "What?"

"I took the best baker in the world," I roll my eyes playfully at his words, "to Portland's famous night market and I didn't even get her dessert."

I laugh, "No, tonight was perfect! I'm fine." I tell him.

He rubs his chin, "Want some ice cream?"

"Aiden, it's one in the morning. I highly doubt we'll find anywhere that's open."

The guard looks in the rearview, "Want me to go somewhere else, Mr. Scott?"

Aiden gives him directions and moments later we arrive on a dark street. It's a little creepy and I tug his arm to try and stop him as we step out of the suburban.

"We have six guards with us, and it's past midnight. No one's followed us." He reassures me with a kiss, "I don't like you being paranoid. You sound like me."

I stop pulling his shirt and let him guide us down the dark street. Guards in close proximity until he tells them to back off a bit. He stops in front of a glass door, peeking his head around the side of the building. "Bobby pin?" he ask.

I feel for the one in my hair, "For what?"

"To break-in." Is he serious?

I clamp a hand on my chest. "Umm, no freaking way!"

Aiden throws his head back, "Emilia, you said spontaneous sounded fun, right? Our trip to the night market was planned, this" he gestures to the door, "is the definition of spontaneity."

I look around the dark street for cops, how embarrassing would it be if I were to be hauled off to jail in the city my dad worked in for decades. "What if we get arrested?"

"We won't. Hand me a bobby pin." he extends a hand, with a hopeful, boyish grin.

I cave, he seems to excited about this criminal activity, maybe it will be fun? My heart pounds in my chest as I slide the pin from my hair into his open hand. "We'll leave five hundred dollars on the table." He tells me.

A small light barely grazes the shop as we walk in, Aidens lock picking skills are scary good. "I really don't need something sweet this bad, Aiden."

"I was thinking. If you want-" Aiden walks to the side and flips on a switch, brightly illuminating our daring breaking and entering.

"Aiden! You're going to get us caught!" I squeal, about to book it back outside.

He takes one long step towards me, wrapping his hands on my shoulders. "But Emilia, how can we get caught if it's ours?"

My stomach drops, "Ours?"

He gestures behind me, "Turn your head, babe."

I follow his orders and gasp when I see the pink fluorescent sign above the glass display counter. "Emilia's sweet treats."

His arms are wrapped around me as he hugs me from behind, I can feel him smile into my hair. "We can work on the name, I didn't know what you would like to call your own bakery and I'm sorry if it's cheesy-" I'm speechless and he steps away continuing to ramble, his hands are tucked in the pockets of his jeans as he rocks on the balls of his feet. He's nervous. Aiden Scott is nervous. He walks over to the counter and sits to stop fidgeting.

"It's perfect! Oh my God!" I giggle, tears welling in my eyes from happiness.

Everything is decorated fifties style, a candy red jukebox sits against the wall and I run to it. Turning the pages with the button and clicking on a Beatles song, Blackbird.

I pull Aiden off of the red leather barstool and drag him to the checkered floor, "Dance with me in my bakery." I demand, a smile as bright as the room on my face.

I can't help the tears that fall as we dance, carefree in our bakery. "I've been wanting to talk to you about this, but you went beyond what I was going to suggest." He tilts his head in question as I continue, "Well, I continued my business major and I was wanting to start a legitimate bakery run from our kitchen."

He nods, knowingly. "Everything goes so good selling to the neighborhood, and word of mouth has traveled. Even though we've had to have guards deliver people's goods, I really think I could run a business but look at what you've done." I remove my hands from around his neck to gesture around my bakery.

Having the attention span of a gnat at the moment, I dart to a semi-empty wall. Small circular tables sit in the area with matching white chairs but the wall is bare minus the paint. "Oh! And look Aiden! We can display your art here! You could sell it!"

He scoffs, "No way." looking around to make sure no guards have crept their way inside, I wish he wasn't so embarrassed by his art.

"Anonymously. Of course." I suggest.

He ponders for a moment, "This is for you, Em. Not me. I want you to decorate the space how you want."

"Well, that's how I want it decorated." I state. He smiles, but he's hesitant.

"I don't need the money." He says, but I see him admiring the blank wall.

"It can go to charity and you can sign it with a fake name, like Banksy." I snicker, and he wraps me into a hug. This place will be covered in his amazing artwork as soon as I can open it.

I ask what I'm dreading, knowing full well it isn't safe yet. "When can I start?"

"Well, that's the bad news... we won't be able too until all of this shit gets sorted out. I'm sorry sweetheart. This has been in the plans for a while, the timing was just off. I hate gifting you something that you can't use immediately."

"No! It's actually perfect to have time to write out a business plan." I marvel at the beautiful space; no work needs to be done, it's perfect.

I look into his big, deep, emerald eyes and watch as they twinkle for me. "I love you so much."

♥️

This is important, please read:

So as some of you know, I turned down a couple publishing deals in order to keep these books on here for free. Meaning, I proudly self published Aiden. I searched long and hard to find the perfect editor, and if you've read the published version of Aiden you'll see just how incredible she is. My book cover designer is insanely talented and her design for Aiden left me speechless, but these wonderful things cost a lot of money. I've spent countless hours and sleepless nights pouring my entire soul into this series. Which brings me to my point, the publishing of Emilia will solely depend on the sales of Aiden. And a published Emilia means a polished version with new content and an epilogue (which, just like with Aiden, I save for published versions.) If you could take a few minutes out of your day to leave your honest reviews of Aiden on amazon and Goodreads, it really could soar these books to a public market. 🤗

Thank you so much to those who've supported me and gotten the book. Also, I understand those who can't afford it, and you are the reason these books will always be free on WattPad and the reason I've self published, I see how much you guys enjoy this story and i read ALL of your messages about how much this story has impacted your lives. I would never want to take that away for money. My only goal with Aiden is to make enough to support Emilia, which I really hope we can do!

I love you guys.

♥️

See y'all Friday!