Chapter 202
Aria’s POV
I grabbed Aiden’s hand without hesitation when he reached for mine. Something about the simple gesture made my heart flutter more than it probably should have.
The evening sun was sinking into the ocean, turning everything golden. The beach sparkled like someone had scattered glitter across the sand, and the horizon glowed where the sun hung like a massive yolk slowly dropping into the water.
As darkness crept in, the crowds thinned out. Only couples remained, walking hand
in hand along the shoreline. That was us now – a couple. The thought still felt surreal sometimes.
I suddenly stopped walking, feeling the urge to connect with this perfect moment.
“Everything okay?” Aiden’s voice carried concern.
“I want to take my shoes off,” I said, glancing down at my feet. “Feel the sand between my toes p>
Walking barefoot on the beach was something Lillian and I always did during our girl trips. But something about doing it with Aiden made me hesitate – it felt weirdly intimate.
Before I could bend down, Aiden dropped to one knee in front of me. “Right foot up, Mrs. Carter,” he commanded softly.
My cheeks instantly heated. “I can do it myself p>
“Foot up,” he repeated, his fingers already wrapping around my ankle.
I surrendered, placing my hand on his broad shoulder for balance as he carefully unbuckled my sandal. His fingers brushed against my skin, sending little electric pulses up my leg.
“Left foot now,” he instructed, and I obeyed without protest this time.
When I reached down to take my shoes, Aiden was already holding them in one hand while reclaiming my hand with the other.
“You really don’t have to carry those,” I mumbled, watching his expensive watch catch the dying sunlight. Those hands signed billion-dollar contracts, for god’s sake. “I can take them p>
He tilted his head, eyes locking with mine. “Am I not allowed p>
My argument died on my lips. “I didn’t mean p>
Just then, another couple passed by. The woman walked barefoot ahead while her boyfriend trailed behind, dutifully carrying her sandals.
I glanced at Aiden, who was watching me with that knowing half-smile of his. “See? Not so strange after all p>
Something sweet unfurled in my chest. “Not strange at all,” I agreed, suddenly feeling bold enough to step into the shallow water where waves lapped against the shore.
Aiden tugged me gently back. “Not too far. The tide’s coming in p>
I nodded and stayed closer to him as we continued walking. The sky darkened completely, stars appearing one by one overhead. After we’d walked the length of the beach, I glanced at him. “Should we head back p>
“Come with me first,” Aiden said, pulling me forward instead of toward the parking lot.
“Where are we going?” I asked, curious but following him without resistance.
He didn’t answer, just led me further down the now-deserted stretch of beach. After about five minutes, he stopped and released my hand.
“Do you like the ocean?” he asked, his expression unreadable in the darkness.
“I love it,” I replied, brushing windblown hair from my face. “But what are you p>
My question died when Aiden pulled out a lighter. “Are you going to smoke?” That seemed odd – I’d never seen him with a cigarette before.
He just smiled mysteriously, flicked the lighter, and tossed it onto the sand.
With a whoosh, flames erupted in front of us, burning blue and red across the sand
in the perfect shape of a heart. Inside the flaming outline, the words “Happy Birthday” blazed brightly.
My breath caught. This was straight from that romance movie I loved – the one where the hero surprises the heroine on her birthday with a fire message on the beach, Years ago, I’d told Lillian that if anyone ever did that for me, I’d marry them on the spot.
Now here was Aiden, recreating that magical moment just for me.
The flames danced in the gentle breeze, casting warm light across his features. I looked up and found him watching me intently, the fire reflecting in his dark eyes. In that moment, he held my entire world in his gaze.
I bit my lip, emotion overwhelming me. “I want to kiss you,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his waist.
His mouth captured mine before I could take another breath. He tasted like salt and sweetness, his arms encircling me completely. The sound of crashing waves mingled with my heartbeat as melted againstrim. t felt like living inside a movie scene better than anything I’d imagined as a love-struck teenager.
God, I was falling so hard for Aiden Carter.
When we finally broke apart, I felt dizzy, clinging to him for support. The heart of flames was dying down now, and my breathing gradually steadied along with it.
“Ready to head back?” Aiden murmured against my hair after a long, perfect moment.
“Yes,” I nodded, my face still flushed with happiness and embarrassment at the thought of strangers passing by.
Aiden took my hand again. “Let’s go home, Mrs. Carter p>
I pointed to the remains of the fire display. “Should we clean that up p>
“My responsible wife,” he teased, his lips curving into a smile. “Someone will take care of it p>
I narrowed my eyes playfully. “You planned this whole thing, didn’t you?” Halfway back to where we’d started, I gasped. “Oh no! I forgot to record it!” The beautiful fire heart was something I’d wanted to save forever.
“Don’t worry,” Aiden said casually. “There will be other chances p>
“But it won’t be the same,” I pouted, glancing back wistfully.
“Is that so?” His eyebrow arched as he suddenly stopped walking and turned me around by my shoulders. “Then perhaps Mrs. Carter would like to record this instead p>
Before I could ask what he meant, a loud boom echoed across the beach. I looked up as the night sky exploded with color. Fireworks burst overhead, magnificent and close enough to feel like they were blooming just for us.
“Fireworks!” I squealed, bouncing on my toes. “Aiden! There are fireworks!” “Aren’t you going to record it?” he reminded me, eyes dancing with amusement. “Right!” I fumbled for my phone, capturing the spectacular display.
As I watched, my heart stopped when I saw what appeared in the sky – more fireworks spelling out “Happy Birthday, Mrs. Carter.” That’s when I realized this wasn’t some coincidence or public display. Aiden had arranged this entire show just for me.
The fireworks continued for nearly ten minutes, each explosion more beautiful than the last. When the final sparks faded from the sky, I put my phone down, completely overwhelmed.
I turned to Aiden, my throat tight with emotion. “Thank you,” I whispered. “This is the most wonderful birthday I’ve ever had p>
Something flickered in his eyes – something warm and intense that made my stomach flip. “Let’s go home,” he said softly, taking my hand.
The entire drive back, I kept replaying the fireworks video on my phone, still stunned
by the magnitude of his gesture. In all my twenty-seven years, I’d never seen
fireworks so beautiful.
And tonight, those fireworks had been just for me.
As I stole glances at Aiden’s profile while he drove, I couldn’t help thinking that this man was nothing like I’d initially expected. Underneath that cool, controlled exterior beat the heart of someone who understood romance in ways that made my knees weak.
Who would have thought that Aiden Carter, the man I’d married for all the wrong reasons, would become the one who made all my romantic fantasies come true?