I can’t wipe the smile off my face. “She was fucking amazing at work today,” I tell Noah, gripping my phone tightly. “She’s so goddamn talented, man. I can’t believe I’ve been missing out. She should’ve started working for me years ago. Fuck, I probably won’t be able to keep her for long. Talent like hers doesn’t stay at one company. She’ll get poached. I need to double-check the non-compete in her contract.”
Noah laughs. “She won’t leave you, Gray. Aria has wanted to work for you for as long as I can remember. You might not have been aware, but I know my sister better than she thinks I do. Honestly, I wanted to ask you to offer her a job months ago, but I didn’t think Aria would be receptive to it. Part of it was also selfishness, though. I knew she’d leave if she chose to work for you, and I was worried. I was worried sick that something would happen and I’d be too far away.”
I fall silent and sit down on my bed, running a hand through my hair. “You know I’ll keep her safe, don’t you? I’ll do everything in my power to protect her, to take care of her.”
Noah sighs. “I know,” he tells me. “How is she anyway, outside of work?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t really spoken to her much today. She actually told me to stay away at work. Can you believe that?”
Noah bursts out laughing. “And you managed to keep your word?”
I clear my throat guiltily. “Well, I watched her from afar.”
“Typical Gray,” Noah says, and something about his tone rubs me the wrong way. Is he misunderstanding what I just said?
“Noah, I…”
Before I can finish my sentence, he interrupts. “What’s Aria cooking? I know what she’s like, and she won’t stay with you without trying to repay you one way or another. I’m guessing she’ll want to cook for you and do chores.”
I smile. He really does know his sister better than I thought. “Yeah, she did insist on cooking. I’m not sure what she’s making, though. Whatever it is, it smells good.”
Noah groans, his envy apparent. I know how much he’s always loved Aria’s home-cooked meals. “You’d better go join her for dinner, then,” he says. “I don’t think she should be left alone, to be honest. I’m worried she’ll just overthink things.”
I nod. “Yeah, me too.”
“Thank you, Gray. Thank you for taking care of her in my absence.”
His words make me feel awkward somehow. It doesn’t feel like I’m doing much at all, yet it seems to mean so much to Noah. His words are still ringing through my head as I walk into the kitchen. I should remember that it’s Noah’s role I’m being asked to play. I should look after her the way her older brother would… but lately I struggle to see her as Noah’s little sister. She’s quickly becoming more than that. Maybe she always has been.
I find Aria standing in front of one of the cupboards, her back to me. Looks like she’s wearing nothing but an oversized T-shirt that looks more like a dress on her. There’s nothing inappropriate about it, considering she’s swimming in it, but it still grates on me. I clench my jaw, irrational anger washing over me. Does she miss Brad so much that she sleeps in his T-shirt? After everything he’s done, she still wants to be surrounded by something that’s his? I hate seeing his T-shirt on her. Even the smallest trace of him surrounding her is too much.
Aria reaches for something high up and can’t reach it. She jumps up and still fails to grab the jar she wants, and it’s ridiculously cute. I need to get her a stool or some shit. I walk up to her and wrap my hands around her waist, startling her.
“Grayson,” she breathes. I lift her up easily, her feet dangling in the air. She grabs the jar she wanted and I lower her back to the ground.
She turns to face me the second I put her down, her cheeks flushed. “I’m not a child, Grayson,” she snaps. “Don’t lift me up like I am one. I’m not a toddler.”
Her eyes are flashing with anger, and she’s breathing hard. Those flushed cheeks of hers… damn. I swallow hard and nod, my hand lifting to her face without even realizing it. I push her hair behind her ear gently.
“I know,” I murmur. “I know you’re not a child, Aria.”
I take a step back and turn to walk away, confused by the way my heart is racing. “I’ll start setting the table,” I tell her, trying my best to hide how thrown I am.
I can’t believe she thinks I see her as a child. What? Just because she’s tiny? Nah. Nothing about Aria is childish. She’s far too fucking beautiful. I need to start seeing her as a kid sister or something, though. I have to.
I’m agitated when she joins me at the table, and I can’t quite figure out why. I’m annoyed, and seeing her in that large black T-shirt irritates me even further.
“Forgot to bring pajamas?” I ask, my tone biting.
Aria’s eyes widen and she glances down at her clothes, a blush spreading across her cheeks. “Ah, that… I just, I don’t know. When I know that I’m about to go through a stressful time, I find that having something from home helps me a lot. The closest thing to home for me is one of Noah’s T-shirts. It makes me feel a little less alone. Besides, it’s huge and comfy.”
I’m a fucking asshole. The T-shirt is Noah’s. Fuck. I clear my throat awkwardly and serve her some of the stir-fried vegetables she made us. I shouldn’t even care whose clothes she’s wearing. It’s none of my business.
“How was your first day?” I ask her, my tone far more gentle.
Aria smiles at me. “I loved it, but Riley is a bit of a dick.”
I burst out laughing and nod in agreement. “He’s brilliant, but yeah… he’s an asshole.”
“I can’t believe he was testing me today. Do you think I should’ve pushed back more?”
I shake my head. “You were perfect today, Aria. Utter perfection. I wish I’d taken a photo of the exact moment you told him his coding was garbage. Man, I fucking loved it.”
She turns beet red, and I grin, wanting to tease her a little more. “And what was it you said? You’re the kind of person who leaves no traces? Fucking badass.”
She looks away, but I catch the smile she’s trying to hide. She’s flustered, and I love it. “So, tell me, Ari… who are you?”
She looks at me and grins. “You’d never believe me if I told you.”
“Hmm… I love a good challenge. I’ll undo you, Aria. Layer by layer.”
She looks into my eyes, her breathing quickening just a little, that blush of hers turning her cheeks rosy. She licks her lips, and my dick stirs. She’s far too fucking stunning. Those lips of hers… They’re what fantasies are made of.
I drag my eyes away, willing my heart to stop beating so quickly. This is Aria. I can’t lust after her. Not her. What the fuck is wrong with me?
She shoves a big bite of food into her mouth, chewing slowly, but it doesn’t help hide her embarrassment. She eats in silence, and all the while I can’t stop thinking about how beautiful she is, in every single way.
I need to get myself under control. I’m supposed to take care of Noah’s little sister — not take advantage of her.
