✿ Aileen's POV

“Wait, wait, wait. Reid used to what?” I exclaim, laughing.

Antoinette casually leans back in her chair, not a care in the world, and nods to me.

“That grandson of mine youʼre so taken with, used to tell us regularly that he would grow up to be an elevator operator. He used to love pressing the buttons and watching them light up, so thatʼs what he wanted to do.”

“Reid Dalton? This billionaire? CEO of Paragon Scapes?” I laugh.

His grandmother rolls her eyes.

“You should ask him how much of that money he made operating elevators,” she says.

“Oh that is gold, Gammy, Iʼll definitely use it against him,” I say, taking a sip of my drink.

“You should hold everything you can against your man,” she tells me, in her advice-giving voice, “Men have too much power in this world. And Ben was absolutely nuts for elevators. His eyes light up the same way when he looks at you now.”

I look away, my heart flopping over in my chest. Antoinette leans forward and puts her hand over mine.

“Donʼt be embarrassed, my sweet girl,” she says, “You definitely should have some advantage over your man. Lifeʼs no fun otherwise.”

I smile.

“What did you want to be, Gammy?” I ask.

“Well, Aileen, I used to be very good at ping pong. In fact, I became the national champion of 1968,” she says, raising a shoulder in self-congratulation, “But things were a bit different in my day. After the kids came, I gave that up to be their Mom and I loved that job very much.”

“Well Iʼm sure youʼre still great at it, Gammy,” I tell her and she laughs.

Suddenly, the door to Antoinetteʼs room opens and Reid walks in and sits down.

“What are my girls talking about?” he asks like he has been invited to come.

“What are you doing?” I ask, “Standing outside the door, eavesdropping?”

But from the change of clothes and the freshness coming from him in waves, heʼd given up standing outside to wait for me to go take a shower.

“Nope. I was on the phone with Bonnie and your uncle,” he says, casually, “I got to speak to Cami too and she said she has a finger painting class so she canʼt talk long.”

“You got on the phone with my family to try and one-up me?” I scoff.

Reid playfully shrugs.

“So, Gammy, how are you doing?” he asks instead.

“Well, my sweet boy, I was having a lovely girlsʼ time with your fiancée but you seem to have ruined it,” she says.

Reid sits back, slack-jawed.

“Hey, I thought I was your favorite!”

Antoinette nods.

“That's right. Past tense: was.”

I laugh as Reid looks outraged.

“I knew you were bad news,” he tells me, shaking his head.

Antoinette scoffs.

“Oh please. Sheʼ the best thing that happened to you.”

Reid smiles and reaches out and takes my hand.

“Yeah, she is.”

I smile.

“And I canʼt stay away from her so thatʼs why Iʼve come to collect her, Gammy. We have a date” he smirks a little and kisses the back of my hand.

“A date?” Antoinetteʼs eyebrows reach her hairline.

“Heʼs taking me on a tour. Itʼs hardly a date” I shake my head.

“Well tour or not, let me not keep you love birds any longer” she grins at us.

“Really? Youʼre sure itʼs okay if I leave?” I ask.

“Oh, go, go, please. Iʼve kept you copped inside here with me for a long time. Even I need to stretch my legs a bit.”

“Okay then” I stand and quickly move to her side, “Iʼll help you.”

Reid chuckles just as Antoinette starts to laugh.

What?

“You donʼt have to, dear. I can manage.”

“No, but I want to. What if you miss a step again huh?”

“Iʼm fine Aileen. I donʼt even use a walking stick, see?”

I shake my head.

“Still. I canʼt leave you to be on your own okay? Just let me help, please Gammy?”

She smiles at me then grins at Reid.

“Oh you really hit gold with this one, my boy” She gently caresses the side of Reidʼs face.

He meets my eyes over his grandmotherʼs head.

“I really did, Gammy. I really did.”

I blush and Reid kisses the back of Antoinetteʼs hand.

“Now sheʼs a stubborn woman like you, Gammy. So please, let us both walk with you okay?” he says.

The old woman laughs.

“Stubborn like me huh? Well then sheʼs more valuable than gold.”

Her comment gets me to chuckle and she loops her arms through Reidʼs and mine before we walk out of the room and down the stairs

Antoinette is right about going down the stairs on her own because when we reach the final landing, she doesnʼt even complain about a hip or knee issue like most people... both young and old... do.

“So, where do you plan to start the tour from?” Antoinette asks Reid when she lets go of us.

His arm comes around my waist almost immediately and the way my body naturally reacts to leaning into his touch leaves me feeling as light as a—

My peripheral vision picks up on a familiar body stature and I turn.

“Hernan?” I ask and then immediately grin before beginning to move toward him to hug him. “Hey! Oh my goodness. What are you—”

But the Grim Reaper steps out from behind him and I pause midway, my arms falling back to my sides.

“Anika?”

I feel an arm wrap around my waist and pull me back to my original position.

“Hey,” she smiles.

“Can someone tell me whatʼs going on?”

As if now realizing Antoinette is in the room, Anika turns her head and smiles politely at the woman.

“Antoinette hi. Itʼs so wonderful to see you again” she chirps and moves in to hug the old woman.

But Antoinette stops her with a finger and Anikaʼs face falls slightly. But she quickly picks it up and smiles.

“Your home is as lovely as I remember.”

Antoinette sighs.

“And I supposed Annabelleʼs behind this?” she gives Anika a look.

“I was just trying to help the poor girl, mother. She recently went through a bad breakup and I thought she could use a vacation to clear her mind” Portia speaks up, entering the room.

A vacation with her ex-boyfriend and his fiancée? Isnʼt that more torture?

“Trust me when I tell you, mother, I wouldnʼt have done it if it wasnʼt this important.”

Please.

Antoinette hums.

“Well then, I trust you have everything taken care of to welcome your guest?”

“Yes, of course, Mother” Portia smiles. “And Reid sweetheart, be a doll and show Nikki darling around the ranch for me wonʼt you? She hasnʼt been here in a long time.”

“Sorry Mom, but I canʼt” Reid quickly answers. “I already have plans with my fiancée. And Iʼm sure Anika can manage on her own. If not, Iʼm certain, Clayton will be available to fill in for me, right bro?”

I catch Clayton flex his jaw in annoyance and I look up at Reid who has an easy look on his face.

Whatʼs with these two?

“So if youʼll excuse us...” Reid continues, slipping his arm from my waist to take my hand in his. “Mom” he kisses her cheek, “Gammy” he smiles and kisses her cheek too.

“Oh, of course, my boy. Go. Iʼve kept you both here for too long go” Antoinette smiles and opens her arms to hug me.

I hug her back, Reid still holding onto my other hand.

“Iʼll see you when you get back so we can continue our chat okay, Aileen? And you take good care of this darling girl for me, you hear me, Ben?”

“Scoutʼs honor, Gammy” Reid salutes.

“You were never a scout” Antoinette and I say in unison to Reid with a chuckle.

He laughs and bro hugs Hernan before leading me out of the house, not sparing Anika one glance. I feel even lighter than before. And when we pass Maeve at the front door and she has a disappointed look on her face, I slowly shake my head.

Of course, she knew Anika was coming.

I sigh and feel Reid rubbing my back.

“Hey, you okay?”

I look up at him and nod.

“Yeah yeah. Just um... surprised Anikaʼs here” Then I chuckle lightly, “Who am I kidding, Iʼm in no way surprised sheʼs here—”

“Hey,” Reid stops me with a serious look, “Iʼm sorry okay? I didnʼt know she was going to be here.”

I nod.

“Yeah... I know.”

He sighs, lowers his head briefly, then lifts his head to cup the sides of my face in his hands.

“I donʼt know why my mother is being this difficult, Lee. But I promise you, that neither she, nor Anika, or even Clayton, is going to ruin this trip for us, okay? I promise.”

I nod with a light chuckle.

“I know, Armani.”

He groans and smiles at the name and when I laugh, he kisses me. I relax into the kiss and we pull away after a while.

“Good,” he says, resting his forehead against mine. “Now do you want to meet Sultan?” he asks suddenly, pulling away from me a little bit.

“Another friend of the family?” I arch my eyebrows and grin. “And I thought you were taking me on the tour you promised to.”

Reid laughs.

“No, no, not that kind of family friend. And of course, Iʼm keeping my promise to you. Every one of them” He starts walking and indicates for me to follow, “Come on.”

I follow, my curiosity getting the better of me. When we reach the stables and Reid brings a horse out, my lips widen into a full smile.

No way.

“Lee, Sultan. Sultan, this is my fiancée, Aileen,” Reid introduces drawing a laugh from me.

“Of course, you have a horse, Armani. Of course” I step closer to the white Thoroughbred.

Sultan nuzzles against me as I petted him and I let out a squeal of pure joy.

Reid chuckles.

“And of course, Sultan would like you.”

I laugh.

“God, Camari would never wanna leave.”

“Do you want to go for a ride?” he asks.

“Heck yeah!” I say, my eyes sparkling. “But Iʼve never ridden one before.”

“Really?” he sounds surprised, “But you ride me so damn good. This is unacceptable.”

I snort and shake my head.

“Youʼre terrible. And yes, really,” I reply good-humoredly, “I was ten and had to choose between a horse and a car in the small garage at home. I chose a car because I knew the pony thing wasnʼt happening no matter how Papi put it.”

Reid grins at my dig at his privilege.

He tends to forget sometimes, and he can do with the occasional reminder.

“Well, I wish Hank was here so heʼd see that itʼs happening.”

I chuckle.

“Here, let me help you get on,” he moves to hold me and then stops, his hands hovering at my waist, “Is that okay?”

I smile gently, my heart swelling even more than thought possible. I nod and Reid picks me up easily, lifting me just enough so I can put my foot in the stirrup.

“Good. Now swing your leg over,” he instructs.

I try twice and fail, looking at him with a “Now what?” expression.

“Sorry and... not so sorry,” he apologizes in advance before palming my behind and heaving me over.

Reid moans a groan that gets me giggling.

“Oh definitely the death of me.”

I smile down at him and he smiles back.

“Ok, here we go,” he says as he starts walking the horse. “How does that feel?”

“Weird, but kind of fun?” I say, scrunching my face and trying to decide if I liked the uneven motion. “Can we go faster?”

“Oh my God!” Reid moans another groan and I crack up.

“Must you?”

“You make me this way” he chuckles, “And I donʼt think I can run alongside Sultan.”

But before I know what is happening, Reid is heaving himself on the horse as well, settling in behind me like itʼs where he was made to be.

“Now we can go faster,” he says, his voice gravelly.

I feel my cheeks heat up and I turn my head to have him nod down at me.

“I know” he whispers, kisses my forehead, and takes the reins from my hands.

I smile as the length of his body brushes up against my back, his head almost in the crook of my neck, as he talks to Sultan. When he drops his hands they rest on my bare thighs, and when he talks his breath is warm against my neck.

I almost wish I had worn something more than just a tank top and shorts... almost.

Because I canʼt deny Iʼm enjoying the little slivers of electricity that is zipping through me every time he touches my bare skin and Reid knows that.

The air feels so charged Iʼm surprised Sultanʼs mane isnʼt standing on end. I let out a giggle, at the visual in my head.

“Hmm?” Reid murmurs against my ear, wanting in on the joke.

I shake my head.

Nope, he doesnʼt need to hear what heʼs doing to me since he already knows it.

“This is nice,” I say instead. “Where are we going?”

“Weʼre almost there,” he says noncommittally.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

We ride in silence, the wind against my face, the clipping-clop of Sultanʼs stride oddly comforting. I let myself lean back against Reidʼs body, my head resting lightly against his shoulder, my eyes closed, and a small smile on my face. I feel his arms tighten around me, and I relish the heightened sense of awareness. We slow to a halt and I reluctantly open my eyes...and let out a gasp.

Weʼre at the bank of the river— the grassy knolls, the tall shady trees, the little wooden bridge, the meadow on the other side breathtaking with summer wildflowers.

This is like a little slice of heaven.

“Wow, this is beautiful, Armani. Gosh!” I exclaim.

Reid hops off the horse, and then helps me down, and leads Sultan to the river.

“I know” he smiles, “I used to ride here to get away from everything when I was young. I donʼt think my family even knows it exists,” he says, a hint of disdain in his voice.

“What were you running away from?” I ask quietly.

“Mostly my mother” he jokes.

I chuckle and wait for a real answer. But Reid doesnʼt respond, but instead settles down on a grassy patch under the shade of a large tree, and pats the ground beside him. I smile and sit next to him and we watch the river flow in a comfortable silence.

“Iʼve never brought anyone here,” Reid says calmly, breaking the silence. “And Iʼm so glad I get to share all of my favorite places with my favorite person.”

I allow myself a small, satisfied smile and I lean into him, my eyes sliding shut. Iʼm not sure how long I was asleep, but I woke to the feeling of being wonderfully cocooned. When my eyes open, Iʼm staring straight into a pair of rich emerald eyes, burning with an intense liquid fire.

“Welcome back. I didnʼt know I was that sleep-inducing.”

I close my eyes and groan a little.

“Iʼm so sorry, Armani. I didnʼt—”

“I know, I know” he chuckles. “Itʼs okay. Plus I love watching you sleep.”

I chuckle.

“Creep.”

“Canʼt blame me, can you? Youʼre very beautiful, Aileen Wilmore,” he says softly.

I smile and the hand around my shoulders draws me gently towards him. Our lips are inches apart, and I feel his heart thud against my hand on his chest. I watch as his pupils grow larger - like tiny liquid pools of desire, and my toes curl at the effect Iʼm having on him.

I put him out of his misery and close the gap between us, my lips landing squarely on his. He takes a sharp intake of breath and then takes over. His lips are gentle at first and then increasingly demanding. He sucks and nips, his tongue running along the inner edge of my lips.

I moan, my mouth falling open. His tongue sweeps through my mouth, sending tiny sizzling bolts of lightning through me, and my hand on his chest grabs at his shirt, my fingers gripping and twisting into the fabric.

Reid trails kisses along my chin, his tongue finding that sensitive spot just below my ear and I arch into him, my head falling back. He takes that as a sign to drop kisses down my neck, his tongue sucking and tasting my skin - the pulse at the base of my neck beating hard and sending him into overdrive.

His hand sneaks under the edge of my t-shirt, coming to rest on the bare skin of my waist. Reidʼs thumb grazes the underside of my breast, and before I can get a moan out, Reidʼs phone ringing cuts through the moment.

I watch his hand still immediately as he flexes his jaw, an annoyed look on his face. I hold back my giggle, although fairly annoyed, and give him a quick kiss, urging him to answer it.

He pulls his phone out of his pocket and frowns deeper at the caller ID.

“You couldnʼt have chosen a worse time, Hernan” Reid growls.

I chuckle and fix my clothes. The call doesnʼt take long and Reid is back to trying to seduce me. But all I can do is laugh.

“I am going to kill that guy” Reid frowns when I gently push him away again.

“Hey, cʼmon now. Weʼll pick this up tonight, I promise. And besides, we should head back, itʼs getting late.”

“Fine” he agrees quietly, “But nothing else is going to stop me from doing so many things to you tonight, Angel.”

“Looking forward to it, Armani” I laugh and we brush the grass off our bodies before heading to Sultan.

We arrive at the house shortly and Reid helps me down from the horse.

“Thank you for...” I start, still petting Sultan and not looking at Reid.

“I should get him...” Reid starts at the same time.

We both stop, and I let out a soft laugh. Finally looking at him, he gestures for me to go ahead.

“Thank you for today” I smile.

Reid nods.

“And thank you for indulging me,” he says, his voice low and sincere. “I havenʼt been to that spot in a very long time. It felt good to go back. And I canʼt remember the last time I had a lazy, relaxed day since before I met you, so thank you for that as well.”

I grin and kiss his cheek.

“Well, Iʼm glad you got a break” I reply, patting Sultan on the side one last time. “And thanks for introducing me to Sultan. Now cʼmon, Iʼll go with you back to the stables, then we can go get something to eat because Iʼm starving... and not just for you.”

I loop my arm through Reidʼs as he laughs and we go together to get Sultan settled back in. Then we walk arm-in-arm back to the house.

“You know, we could go driving around town tomorrow” Reid suggests as we walk through the doors into the house.

“No thanks. Your car would be a downgrade after Sultan” I say cheekily.

Reid huffs a laugh but then stops short when he notices several pairs of eyes on us. I grip Reidʼs arm tighter from the surprise.

Whatʼs going on?

And although Iʼm certain we havenʼt slipped up, I canʼt help but wonder if the jig is up.

“What did we just walk into?” Reid asks, covering my hand with his and giving it a subtle reassuring squeeze.

“Glad you two are here now. I have an announcement and Iʼm going to need help with the plans” Antoinette says.

“Plans? What kind of plans, Gammy?” Asha asks.

“Well Iʼm going to need the assistance first before I let you know what this is about” she smiles.

Reid and I exchange looks before I speak up.

“Well... I can help” I say with a small shurg.

Antoinette smiles at me. But before she speaks, Clayton interrupts.

“Why donʼt you let Anika help you, Gammy?”

What?

“I mean sheʼs very good at planning stuff and well... sheʼs much more familiar with our tastes and style of living” and then to me he goes, “I mean no offense, Lee.”

I give him a stiff smile as Reid scoffs nastily.

“I donʼt think Gammy cares about that kind of stuff, Clay” Asha folds her arm with an amused look.

“Itʼs true that I donʼt, dearie...” Antoinette begins and I find myself smiling, “... but I think Iʼll enlist Anikaʼs help because honestly sheʼs most fit for the job I have in mind. If only sheʼs available of course” She smiles Anikaʼs way and my smile disappears.

What?

“Gammy—”

“Oh, but I am available and of course, I would love to assist you with whatever it is, Antoinette” Anika cuts Reid off with a very bright smile. “After all, itʼs the little I can do for not minding my being here.”

Ugh.

And I canʼt hold back my eye roll. I donʼt even bother to try.

“Well now that you have your... assistance...” Asha chuckles, “... can we hear about the announcement now, please?”

Antoinette grins and moves over to link arms with Anika, and then brightly goes, “Anika and I are going to plan my grandsonʼs engagement party.”

What?!

“What?” Reid goes.

“What?” Anika and Clayton add in unison.

“What?!” Portia Dalton joins in.

The Dalton matriarch grins and nods excitedly.

“Yes! Weʼre throwing Reid and his fiancée an engagement party.”

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~the_atticwriter