“Oh, I see how it’s going to be.” Alexandria glared at the two of them, but her dimple appeared despite her best effort at ferocity. “You guys are planning to gang up on me.”
They looked at each other, exchanging a smile. “Yes,” they said at the same time.
Alexandria felt her heart turn over. Joshua had never had anyone but her to watch over him. He had never trusted anyone else, never looked up to anyone else. She couldn’t help but be happy that Aidan was taking such an interest in him. Aidan was stealing her heart with his gentleness. Joshua was her world. She could see Aidan’s genuine affection for the boy, could see that they were developing a real rapport. And she felt tears welling up in her eyes at the sight of the two of them together.
“Come on, big fellow, we need to get you some breakfast. Mr. Ivan left wearing his food on his clothes, the man’s so clumsy. You should have seen him,” Aidan informed the boy.
Joshua giggled. “He spilled his food?”
Aidan glided easily toward the kitchen, as if Joshua’s added weight was incidental. “He was a complete fool. Even Alexandria had a difficult time trying not to laugh, not that she would admit it. She pretends she likes him,” he whispered, knowing perfectly well she could hear his every word.
Alexandria trailed along after them, uncertain whether Aidan needed another kick in the shins or whether she should just act dignified and ignore him. It was a difficult choice.
I can read your mind. His voice in her mind was like a physical caress.
Her eyes flashed fire at him. She would kick him, the first chance she got. He knew exactly how he affected her, the cad. Thousand-year-old playboy. Hound dog. Swine. He deserved to be kicked. Hard.
“I never spill my food, Aidan,” Joshua confided solemnly. “At least not anymore. When I was baby I did.”
“Sisters do not have the same effect on their brothers as they do on grown men. Believe me, Alexandria could make me spill my food.”
Joshua shook his blond curls. “No way, Aidan.”
“It is true, Joshua. I do not want to admit it, but she definitely could. Scary, is it not, the effect women have on men?”
“Why? She’s just a girl.” He rubbed his nose and grinned at his sister. “And she’s always telling us what to do.”
“Right now, I’m going to tell you to eat your breakfast and get ready for school.” Alexandria aimed to sound tough, though she was trying not to laugh. Joshua was far too precocious for his own good. “I’ll walk you.”
Aidan turned slowly and regarded her with his steady golden gaze. Alexandria ignored him, all too aware that he objected to her going out. But she was determined to be assertive. She was not going to change her entire life because of him. The more she allowed Aidan to convince her of things she could and couldn’t do, the more she was drawn into his world.
“I’m going,” she reiterated firmly.
“You think,” he said softly, lowering Joshua to his feet. He ruffled the boy’s silky curls. “Someone has to take care of you. Joshua and I are determined to look after you whether you like it or not.”
Joshua grinned up at her, innocent, boyish, unaware of any undercurrents. “Because you’re sick, Alex. You know, like you always take care of me when I’m sick.” He slid into a high-backed oak chair. “Once I was really, really sick, and she never left me, even to go to sleep. I remember that, Alex.”
“You had pneumonia,” she affirmed softly, reaching down to touch his shoulder affectionately.
There was such tenderness in her expression, Aidan turned away to prevent himself from pulling her into his arms. She was struggling to stay human, and he really couldn’t blame her for it. Her entire world had been turned upside down. For someone who viewed him as a fictional creature, the legendary, horrifying vampire, she was doing quite well.
“Marie cooked pancakes this morning,” Joshua said. “I told her I wanted them because they’re your favorite. She made funny faces out of them.”