Chapter Twenty-Seven
Aidan stayed in his suite at the Four Seasons for a full week recovering from the injuries. The room was not the same one he had shared with Bethany, but it was similar, and he found himself haunted by her. Everywhere he turned, she was there in his mind, smiling at him, her eyes lit with affection.
Aidan sighed as he looked in the mirror at his face. His body was fine after two days, but his face still looked bad. He did not want a camera taking a photo of him in his black and blue state, so all food and drink were placed outside his door. Mr. Shannon was not to be disturbed.
When his face looked better, he did venture out, but he remained sober. He would not get over Bethany if he stayed drunk all the time. He needed to have sex. That would get his mind off of her. So he went to Lemuria, a bar frequented by celebrities, ordered a soda and checked out the women. Tonight he would consign Bethany’s memory to the past and get on with his life.
****
Bethany was beyond irritated as she watched Michelle and Tom make out. She stood and picked up her popcorn bowl. “Okay, you two, thanks for coming over and making out on my couch. You may go home now.”
Michelle and Tom broke apart; both had the decency to blush. “Sorry, honey,” Michelle said, her lips swollen from Tom’s kisses.
“No problem. Off you go!” Bethany did not want to see two people in love. What she wanted was ice cream and the moment these two kiss monkeys left her apartment she was going to get a soft-serve cone. After apologies and hugs, they finally left her alone, now to find her keys for a trip to the best ice cream place in town.
Bethany groaned. The amorous pair were still downstairs in Tom’s truck, which was rocking. Good lord, couldn’t they wait to get home? She walked downstairs to her parking space. Well, at least, there was no way they would notice her leaving.
As she pulled out into the street, her thoughts drifted to Aidan. Sighing, she slipped her new copy of The Cranberries, Greatest Hits into her CD player and let the band bring back memories of happier times. Aidan had been a fan, and often he would play their music while they talked or made love. She glanced at the street and then looked down to check out the CD case. This song was beautiful.
By the time she looked up, it was too late. Clearly, the other driver wasn’t paying attention either and hit her car. Tires screeched, she screamed, the air bag popped out, and pounded so hard on her chest it took her breath away.
Then, everything went blank.
****
Aidan escorted the lovely Lindsay toward the hotel room. She was blathering about loving his films. So far, she was unable to name a single one, but that was okay with him. All he wanted was a willing woman. But when she removed her bra, her pretty natural breasts were tipped with brown nipples instead of pink. And when he held her, she was lean and muscular instead of soft and scented. But the worst part was kissing her. She was such a sweet girl, why didn’t she taste sweet?
Lindsay wrapped a leg around him, gyrating her hips provocatively.
His body reacted to the scintillating movement of her hips, but the idea of making love to her held no appeal. “Stop that now,” he said, controlling her hips.
“Why, don’t you like me?”
Aidan smiled. “Sure I do. What’s not to like?” He eyed her beautiful body with male appreciation. “I just can’t do this. I’m sorry.”
“What do you mean?”
Aidan handed her the lacy bra and said softly, “I mean, goodbye.” He left the young girl, her mouth gaping in shock. Men apparently did not make a habit of walking out on her once they’d seen her naked. She was lovely and willing, and not Bethany.
Aidan walked out of the room and turned his phone on. There was a message that made his heart stop. “Hey, Aidan, this is Tom. Remember me? Michelle’s boyfriend and Bethany’s friend? Anyway, look, Michelle would kill me for doing this but you helped me out, so I’m doing the same for you. I’m calling from the hospital on Bethany’s phone. She was in a pretty bad car crash. I know y’all broke up but, well, I thought you should know. Bye.”
Aidan sat down on the stairs and tried to collect himself. She was hurt. Bethany was hurt. He called Serena.
“I need a flight to Virginia now.”
“What’s the matter, Aidan?”
“It’s Bethany.” He took a deep breath, trying not to cry as he told Serena what had happened.
“Okay, get going, the flight leaves in two hours. And Aidan?”
“Yeah?” Aidan said, distracted as his thoughts turned to orchestrating L.A. traffic in time for the flight.
“Are you ready now to admit you love her?”
Aidan closed his eyes. All the sweet moments with his Beth passed before his eyes—his gentle rescue by a magical fairy as a drunk by the library all the way through the last time he had held her in his arms. It amazed him to discover that he loved her, loved her completely. All the reasons he had had for thinking it wouldn’t work between the two of them melted away. Why had it taken something like this to make him see that she was the one? Nothing else mattered but that simple fact.