Darker The Forbidden Berry

Chapter 3

Aja woke up the next morning with a pounding headache. It radiated from the front of her head and engulfed the rest of her, making even her knees ache. Her stomach lurched and as she ran for the bathroom, she reminded herself that champagne hangovers were the reason she did not drink it. That and it was usually too expensive for her limited budget.

She walked back towards the bed and collapsed on top of it, turning her head and fumbling for her phone. Her fingers brushed against the cool glass and she lifted her head, brows knitted together in confusion. Next to her phone were two small, blue pills and a glass of water. Her memory was a little hazy, but she knew she did not leave herself water or pills to cure her hangover.

Aja forced herself to sit up against the headboard, swallowing the pills and washing them down with the entire glass of water. A few minutes later, the headache started to ease and the room stopped spinning. It was amazing how well the water worked on a hangover.

Finally, she felt human enough to change out of the dress and stockings she’d fallen asleep in the night before. She decided on a simple pair of black shorts, a pink shirt and a fuzzy lavender robe to top it all off. Her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail to hide just how messy it was.

As she stepped out of her room she was assaulted with the salty smell of bacon. It made her mouth water and her stomach gurgle. She was not sure if that was a good sound or not yet. She made her way into the kitchen where Finn was standing in a pair of running shorts and a fitted T-shirt. He had not noticed her yet, so she took the opportunity to admire his thick calves and strong arms. He was not built like a bodybuilder, but he was obviously fit and strong. Just Aja’s type.

“Good morning,” she finally said, settling at the bar and resting her chin on her hand.

“Morning! How’s that hangover?”

“Better. Thanks for the water and pills.”

He turned and waved his hand, plating a pair of eggs with a healthy serving of bacon. There was already a bowl of cut-up fresh fruit on the counter.

“I’ve had to be on the receiving end of that kindness before. It just seemed right to pay it forward.” He pushed the plate over to her. “Eat. All the fatty foods will help too.”

Aja took the plate gratefully and took a bite of the salty bacon, groaning in pure pleasure. It was perfect.

“I’m glad you approve,” he said with a chuckle, those slate eyes trained on her.

His gaze made her look away. Why was he looking at her like that? She loved it, but she also was not sure how to handle it.

“Um…I’m sorry about last night,” she finally said, her eyes still on the counter.

“Why are you sorry?”

“Because you were enjoying yourself and I got super weird. We hardly know each other and that just was not necessary.”

“I liked the idea, actually,” he shrugged. “I woke up and kind of got a day planned for us.”

“Huh?”

“I think it’s a good idea, Aja. I mean, let’s be real. We’re going to be in tight quarters and there’s no point in us avoiding each other. We’re living together and we’re going to be working together so we might as well make the best of it. It will be easier for both of us if we can be friends, right?”

The word ‘friends’ smacked her like a Mack truck. She was not interested in being friends with him, but she could not say that.

“Right! Yeah. That’s a good idea,” she said quickly, feigning enthusiasm.

“Great! Let’s go get dressed and we’ll get our day started,” he said, clapping his hands together. “Oh! Wear stuff that’s comfortable to walk in.”

Aja finished up her breakfast in record time. She was excited to spend some quality time with Finn, even if it was as friends. She did as he said and dressed in a short dress with dark bike shorts. The coral dress would have been scandalous on its own, but the shorts gave it a playful look that showed off enough of her thin, toned legs to make things interesting.

Finn was waiting for her at the foot of the stairs and she watched his gaze look her up and down, pausing at the shorts and what she assumed were the large gold hoops that pulled the casual outfit together. While he looked her over, Aja took the opportunity to admire the fitted jeans and maroon button-down that hugged his strong chest and arms in the most delicious way. She loved a man who was not afraid to wear color.

“You look nice,” he said, his eyes lingering on her shapely legs.

Aja knew she was slender without much going on for her in the chest department, but she’d learned to make up for it with her hourglass figure, divine legs and ample bottom. The outfit she’d picked showed off every single one of those assets.

“So do you,” she said, tossing him a smile as she walked over to him.

They walked out to the garage and she paused at the sports car they’d taken the night before, but Finn kept walking.

“Where are you going?”

Finn smiled back at her and grabbed a tarp, pulling it off of a pristine, black Monte Carlo. It was an older car, probably from the late ’70s, but it had been expertly restored. The glossy black paint reflected every little bit of light and the red interior offered a nice contrast.

“We aren’t taking the….” She motioned to the more modern looking car.

“The Maserati? God no. I only take that car when I’m going somewhere with a valet. I don’t trust anyone with my baby,” he said, settling into the driver’s seat and running his hands along the steering wheel.

Aja slid into the seat, careful to not let her coral wedges touch the inside panel of the door. The last thing she wanted to do was mess up this car in any way shape or form. As she turned back she watched Finn’s arm sling around the back of her seat so that he could look back and pull out of the six-car garage.

The amount of wanting that simple action made her feel was embarrassing. She turned to look out the window so that she wouldn’t have to make eye contact with Finn.

“Where are we going?”