Forbidden Temptation My Mafia Fiance's Alpha Father (Brooklyn and Aden) novel Chapter 43

Chapter 43
Brooklyn

Aden stands above me, waiting for me to put on whatever is in the mystery box. He looks distracted and impatient.

Confused, I lift the box into my lap and open the top, gasping a little as I see a pair of gorgeous boots. They’re tall, nearly knee-high, and made of supple black leather with a delicate little buckle around the ankle.

“Where are we going?” I ask, my face lighting up. Honestly, I don’t care where we go, as long as it’s somewhere else. “Is Hudson coming, too?”

“You’ll see,” Aden says, turning and heading towards the garage. I’m not even sure what part of my question he is answering. “Meet me by the car when you’re ready.”

I quickly pull on my socks, not caring that it will ruin my pedicure, and then tug the boots on as quick as I can. When I finally get them on, they fit perfectly.

As usual, Aden has guessed my size down to the centimeter.

I admire the boots for a moment and then spring to my feet, heading to the car.

There is no Hudson. As Aden drives us in silence to wherever we’re going, I think about how this is the first time we have been truly alone in weeks.

Since he threatened me in my bedroom, made those accusations about my desires.

I try to put that aside. He’s taking me out, after all!

Now, I note the subtle smile playing on his lips, and wonder what he’s up to.

We’re about fifteen out of the city now. Oh how I’ve missed the sight of nature, of a world beyond Aden’s compound.

He slows in what seems like the middle of nowhere, turning towards a simple gravel drive crossed with a metal gate.

He presses a button on the roof of the car and the metal gate slowly swings open. I look closely, but I can’t see anything beyond it.

We drive a little down the lane, over a slight rise, and then a barn comes into view. A beautiful barn, really, immaculately cared for and painted in shades of gray. Three little gables peak out of the roof and two little cupolas crown it, weathervanes at their peeks.

“Oh!” I’m completely charmed by the sight. But then I see the real draw. In a series of pastures beyond the barn, my eyes can just barely see a group of horses grazing in the afternoon light.

“Horses!” I breathe.

Aden turns the car into a parking spot next to the barn.

“I thought you’d like it,” he says. “One look at you and anyone could tell you grew up dreaming of horses.”

I want to ask him what that even means, but I’m too happy to dwell on it. I scramble to unbuckle my seatbelt and open the door at once. My words fall over each other in my hurry.

“Can I feed them? Do they have any foals?!”

Before I can dash into the barn, Aden holds out an arm to stop me. “Let me take the lead here, all right, Brooklyn?”

When I meet his eyes, I do a double take. His expression, so often surly and serious, is somehow…gentler? Kinder?

We both pause, taking each other in. But then he blinks, walking calmly into the barn. I follow closely at his heels.