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toward her apartment building.
    “Goodnight, Molly,” he said as he watched her disappearing figure in the moonlight.
    ****
    Aiden fought the urge to chase after her and kiss her. The woman infuriated him. So independent and determined, yet when she let herself go and laughed, she lit up like the lights on a Christmas tree.
    Meeting at McDougals had been a huge coincidence, and seeing her created a stir in his heart he’d never felt before. She was beautiful, no doubt about it, but his attraction to her went deeper than a physical lure. She challenged him, surprised him, and denied him. Without saying it, she made it clear she wasn’t interested in a relationship. Even though she came from money, he sensed his lucrative lifestyle didn’t appeal to her.
    He kicked at the snow beneath his feet as he walked. His toes had already gone numb in his shoes, and a chill ran down his neck in the absence of his scarf. She’ll probably just return it along with the money she so adamantly insists on paying back . He dismissed all hope of seeing her sooner.

Chapter Five
    “Aiden? Have you heard a word I’ve said?” his sister, Samantha, asked on the other end of the phone line.
    Monday morning, and despite his busy schedule, Aiden couldn’t keep his thoughts from wandering to Molly. Images of her laughing, her dark hair trailing behind her as she ran, or those piercing cat-like eyes, would pop up at the most inopportune time.
    “What? Uh… Sorry, Sam. I’m a little preoccupied today.” Little was an understatement. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Molly for days. He was desperate for an excuse to see her again, but couldn’t think of anything plausible.
    “I’ve noticed. You work too hard, Aiden.”
    His thoughts had been on anything but work, but he couldn’t admit as much to his sister. She kept trying to set him up with her friends and coworkers. She thought it was time for him to focus on his own life and let others take care of themselves for a change. “You’re right. Maybe I’ll take a break in the new year.”
    “Yeah right. Anyway, I called to remind you of the toy drive on Saturday. Josh said he told you about it last week, but I knew you’d need reminding. In fact, should I just be talking to Lynn?” His sister sounded worried.
    “No, I got it.” He laughed and shook his head. “Josh did tell me last week, and I wrote it on that white board you stuck to my fridge last month.”
    “Really? Oh, okay. So it’s at St…”
    “St. Michaels Academy at nine. Sam, I got. Don’t worry, I’ll be there.” He never disappointed his nephew.
    “Okay, sorry. It’s just so important to Josh. He told all of his friends his uncle Aiden was coming, and he’s going to get to ride in the Land Rover …”
    “No worries, Sam. Do you need me to pick him up?”
    “No, I’m taking Jim’s truck to help with the driving this year. They already had enough wrappers and sorters.”
    “Okay. Well, I’ll see you both there.” He opened his calendar and entered the toy drive, afraid he might forget, due to his current five-foot-seven distraction. It was the first productive thing he’d done all morning.
    “Oh, and before I let you go, what are you doing Friday night?”
    He sighed. “Samantha, I do not want to be set up on another date.”
    “It’s not a date. I’m just having a dinner party, a few friends. It’s nothing really, I just thought if you were free…”
    “No thanks, Samantha. I have a bottle of wine and a new Quentin Tarantino movie I’m dying to watch.” He stood and stretched, then tilted the window blinds to prevent the morning sun from reflecting across his computer screen.
    “But…”
    “Sam, the answer is no, but thank you.” He heard her sigh on the other end.
    “Fine. See you Saturday.”
    “Bye, sis.” He replaced the phone receiver and glanced at his watch. 12:06. His stomach rumbled, but his next client would be there in less than an hour. He’d ask Lynn to order