Page 18 of Nolan (The Doherty Mafia)
The physical attraction and tension that existed between us was undeniable. From the moment he approached me at the bar, the decision had already been made—I was going to spend the night with him.
For a few hours, while he fucked me and we drank and laughed together. I’d managed to completely forget everything Aldo had told me about him and his family. All the horror stories and descriptions of what they did to the people who stood in their path. The Dohertys were monsters and yet, the man who carried me to his couch and made me come repeatedly, was anything but that.
Was he just different from his family? Was Nolan the only good egg in the basket? I had no way of knowing.
All I knew was I enjoyed myself too much to stop in the middle of it. I wasn’t even thinking about Aldo or our plan.
And then, while we snuggled in his bed and talked, I somehow managed to fall asleep.
I woke up with a start in the early hours of the morning. I’d dreamed about my mother. I still had her old photograph in my purse. I imagined her with Aldo, laughing and talking, living a happy life.
I woke up and sat in Nolan’s bed to find him fast asleep beside me. He slept calmly on his stomach, with his wide muscular shoulders rising and falling with every heavy breath. I had an insane desire to run my tongue all down his smooth skin. He was so handsome, it actually hurt.
I wanted to stay.
Did he want me to stay?
I didn’t want to find out what his reaction would be in the morning when he saw me in his bed. Maybe he’d regret his decision. Maybe he was a completely different person in the morning. Either way, I couldn’t stay to find out.
I was still on a mission and so far, I hadn’t achieved any goal.
I slipped out of bed and put on my clothes in silence.
I couldn’t help but wish he wasn’t a Doherty. That his family wasn’t so atrocious and cruel. I wished they would’ve just left Aldo alone because maybe then, I might have had a chance with Nolan.
If that’s what he wanted too.
Instead, I had to sneak out of his apartment while the sun rose and go back to my place, feeling the throb of an ache at the back of my head.
I didn’t know what I’d tell Aldo. How would I explain what happened the previous night?
There was no way he’d understand what I felt for Nolan.
I was at the salon when Aldo called me. I hoped I’d have more time to prepare what to say to him. I felt like I’d already failed him.
I stepped out of the salon to take the call.
“How did it go?” he asked, but he didn’t sound worried. “Did you talk to him?”
We did more than just talk, but I didn’t know how to break the news to him.
“Yeah, we talked. We had a few drinks together.”
“That’s good. That’s great!”
I hated myself for how excited Aldo sounded. I knew he was miserable living in isolation like that, and I’d promised to help him the best I could.
“Did you ask him about his family?”
“There wasn’t an opportunity for that.”
Aldo was silent for a few moments, and I hoped I hadn’t disappointed him too much.
“So what did you talk about?”
“It was mostly small talk. The bar was crowded and noisy, and there were some girls hitting on him.”
“But he only had eyes for you, right?”
I rubbed a hand over my face.
“We talked for a bit, yeah.”
“And then you left with him. You went back to his place?”
How did Aldo know that? Was he having me followed?
“You were watching me?”
“It was for your safety, Amelia. I couldn’t just knowingly have you meet up with a Doherty man and leave you on your own. Anything could have happened. I don’t trust those people. I wanted to protect you.”
I walked in circles outside the salon, trying to work up the courage to come clean to him. I felt a little better knowing he had my back. That he made an effort to try to keep me safe last night.
“That’s the funny bit, Nolan Doherty was a complete gentleman to me. I didn’t feel threatened by him at all.”
Aldo sighed. I pictured him shaking his head at that.
“I’m sure he was. He wanted to get in your pants, and he knew he couldn’t treat you like the other girls he usually meets at these bars. He knew he had to treat you differently to get what he wanted. Did you fall for it?”
I knew what he asked so I remained silent. The guilt burned me up.
“You slept with him, didn’t you?” he finally asked.
“Yes. I didn’t know how else to get closer to him. I’m sorry…I…” I fumbled with my words, but Aldo interrupted me.
