Aiden Hawk mentally slapped himself, the direction of his own thoughts making him cringe. He had narrowly avoided doing something that would have earned him a well-deserved physical slap, and yet his "victim" remained blissfully unaware. It didn't mean he was off the hook, though—not by a long shot as his own brain continued to mock him.
He had meant to help her. Really, he had. That's what he kept trying to convince himself as he replayed the scene in his head, but even his own conscience scoffed at the weak justification. The truth was far less noble. He hadn't gone over to assist Serena because the food needed saving; he had gone because he couldn't resist being close to her.