Free Ayden's Secret by Cara North

reacted. Instead she almost fell.
    “Whoa, careful.” Ayden grabbed her arm. “It amazes me how you managed to dance around on a slick stage in crazy high heels, yet you’re always tripping up in regular shoes.”
    “Not always.” Charlie caught her balance. Just around you.
    Ayden headed back downstairs. They had scheduled a flag football game this afternoon, and now he wasn’t sure he was up for it. All he could think about was Charlie, her hands pushing down his back and across his chest. Hell, even his legs and feet. He had no idea his feet were such a hot spot for erotic pleasure, but each stroke of her thumb across the sole sure ended in his groin.
    Chapter 4
    “Wolf.” Ethan smacked Ayden on the shoulder. “Look alive.”
    “Oh.” Ayden wasn’t into it. The touch football game was just getting him all tensed up again. His belly was full from dinner, and he could still smell Charlie all over him.
    “Time out,” Grace called.
    It was the boys against the girls.
    Evelyn let Grace play while she and Joshua took care of Logan and kept the threeyearolds occupied.
    In the men’s huddle, everyone was looking at Ayden.
    “What the hell is wrong with you?” Ethan asked.
    “What?” Ayden barked.
    “Dude, you are letting them right by. You don’t have to tackle them but damn, grab a flag.” Chase was in agreement with Ethan. The women were up by two touchdowns, and that sucked since they all used to play football in high school.
    “I say we call in the Big Dog.” Malcolm nodded.
    “Did you get laid this afternoon?” Ethan had been eyeballing Ayden, and Ayden was still dazed. He kept looking at the women’s huddle.
    “Humm?” Ayden jerked his head back to their attention.
    “Did you get laid this afternoon? You were gone forever, and now look at you. You’re the Wolf, cold, calculating. You’re known for striking fear into the hearts of men. I have to tell you my image of you is crashing.” Ethan laughed. Man, this guy had it bad, and he smelled like cookies, though they didn’t bring any cookies back.
    “Not that it is any of your business but, no, I didn’t get laid.” Ayden snapped at him.
    “A blow job then? Yeah, I get a little mellow, too,” Chase agreed.
    “No. Shit.” He didn’t want them picturing Charlie in the act of anything. That was for his imagination only. “I took a nap. God, I couldn’t sleep last night, and I feel like hell now. You know what. I’m out.”
    Ayden stalked away from them.
    “Ayden, come back. We’re sorry,” Ethan called laughing. Damn they hit a nerve.
    “I’m up!” Joshua jumped eagerly. He hated being on the sidelines. “You want to take Charlie out, baby, and play?”
    “No, you guys go ahead. I think Logan’s almost asleep now.” Evelyn kissed him, and as Joshua headed out, she grabbed Ayden who was on the way in. “Hey, come talk to me.”
    “You want to know where I was all afternoon, too?” Ayden snapped.
    “You went home, probably took a nap, apparently not long enough though.” Evelyn drew her brows down and scowled at him.
    “Sorry, the guys have been riding my ass over Charlie.” Ayden hugged her.
    “No wonder.” Evelyn shook her head.
    “No wonder what?”
    “Ayden, are you aware that you smell like cookies?” Evelyn snickered.
    “Shit.” Ayden didn’t shower. He just threw a shirt on. He couldn’t really smell the vanilla anymore, but he could still smell Charlie. Now he knew why.
    “Come on.” Evelyn walked inside the house. Logan had finally drifted into a sound sleep. She placed him in the playpen, hovering over him, stroking his hair.
    “You look comfortable like that, E.” Ayden sat on the couch. He was exhausted, and he didn’t know why. He hadn’t really done anything today. Except, think about Charlie.
    “I don’t know. Do you think I will be a good mom, Ayden?” Evelyn sat next to her brother. Ayden knew her better than anyone other than Joshua. Though she’d only known he was her brother this