(Aiden’s POV)There was pretty not much conversation after the kiss. I asked Aaron to drive us home as soon as we returned to the house. Jessamine must be sober now, sitting far away from me in the back seat, not talking to me. She must have realized the weight of her proposal.When Aaron stopped the car in front of the apartment, Jessamine said goodbye and exited the vehicle in a hurry, not waiting for me. Aaron rolled the window down when I got out of the car.“Adam, don’t forget the AI on diagnostics. Investors and clients from healthcare industries are excited about the accuracy of your work. Don’t play around,” he reminded me.“You don’t have to remind me,” I muttered, glancing at the door Jessamine left open. “Begin the renovation of the place. I’ll keep Jessamine busy.”“And your father, Mr. Knight?” Sasha chuckled, tilting her head to see me.“Tell him I’m not running away,” I snarled, squeezing my eyes shut and cursing inwardly. “And please, I’m Aiden. AIDEN ANDERSON.”I knew

(Aiden’s POV)I yawned, stretching my arms as I exited quietly from the bedroom, not wanting to wake Jessamine up. I moved my head from side to side, walking toward the kitchen. The smell of freshly brewed coffee enticed my nostrils and pulled me to have a cup this morning.“Why is Jess in your bed?” Deborah asked, raising her eyebrows.Her hands were on her hips as her gaze followed me while I walked toward the countertop to get coffee.“Why are you having sex in the living room?” I asked, irked at the thought of them scaring Jessamine, which confused me.Deborah gasped.“You forgot you have a kid in the house,” I joked, turning around and leaning on the countertop. “She had seen you… and yes, we heard you.” I smirked, rolling my eyes as I pulled the stool and sat down.Her hand flew to her mouth, stopping herself from laughing.“OMG! Xavier’s not going to be happy with it,” she clucked her tongue. “We were… We’re…” She sighed and shook her head. “We should have thought of Jessamine.

(Jessamine’s POV)My heart was silent. My mind was in chaos, but nothing compared to my stomach; it was in a rage. It was Aiden’s fault. I was ready to let go of my silly dream, but then he had to ask me what was on my mind. Since Aiden returned, mixed emotions whirled inside me, confusing me and making me dizzy.The scent of brewed coffee and cinnamon caught my attention before I heard the footsteps. I must be really hungry. When I glanced over my shoulder, Sasha smiled gently, standing beside me and giving me the bread and a cup of coffee. “Are you okay?” She asked worriedly.I nodded, filling my mouth with the bread. I chewed slowly, not wanting to answer her if she raised another question, but Sasha seemed patient, her eyes on the lake.“I hate eating alone, too,” she muttered, tilting her head and smiling at me. “What you said reminded me of an old memory.” She breathed, returning her gaze to the lake. “Aaron and I were on a business trip, and then I saw this old lady selling no

(Aiden’s POV)All I wanted was at least a fifteen-minute nap. If only Jessamine knew I didn’t just sit around and wait for her and Sasha to return. I had to check my emails and attend online meetings with the operations team, important clients, and prospective investors. Aaron and I had to go to the hotel for my conferences and hurry to return to her for lunch.I growled in annoyance, tossing and turning on our old couch. Instead of sleeping, I got up, worried she had done something crazy again. I lay down again, closing my eyes and pretending to be asleep, when I heard the creaking of wood on the porch as she walked.Curiosity ate me when Jessamine opened the door and tiptoed into the living room, ignoring me on the couch. What is she up to now? Slowly I opened my eyes, seeing her stepping toward the stairs, dripping wet.My heart hammered at the thought that she had gone swimming in the lake without anyone with her. Worry enveloped my heart, running many scenarios in my mind. Furiou

(Jessamine’s POV)“If there’s one here so excited about this place, it’s him,” Deborah chuckled softly, puckering her lips and pointing at the excited puppy.We watched Charlie taking his time in every tree or plant, sniffing, and marking his territory. His tail wagged, and he would bark at something unfamiliar. Not wanting him to get lost, Aiden put him on a leash and followed him around wherever he wanted to go. His paws were dry now after Aiden brought him to the shoreline, letting him play and experience the lake.“Thanks for bringing Charlie here.” I smiled happily at Deborah.“I think Charlie will -”Deborah paused, turning around and raising her eyebrows, her eyes on the Volvo parking near the house. Xavier, standing behind her, whistled, admiring the understated denim blue color car, and like his fiancée, he waited for who would get out of the vehicle.I didn’t need to know who owned the car. Sasha and Aaron were meant to return at this hour, bringing us dinner to meet Deborah