“And then he freaking left her too.”
“Whatd’you mean too? Who else left her?”
Steven gives me a sad smile, “I may be the town gossip but I love that girl like a sister. You want to know her whole story you’re going to have to ask her to tell you herself.” I scoff at the idea. He goes on, “I know, it’s not easy. Took me years to become her friend. And let’s be honest, Aid, you’re not going to be here for years. Maybe just help her with the business stuff you’re good at, don’t flatten our town, and then, you know, leave her be?”
“Hmm,” is all I say.
Maybe it tookhimyears to get through to her but she and I had a moment in that truck the other night. She smiles now when I come in for coffee. It’s small and subtle but it’s genuine.
She just attacked a man with a water pitcher for me, more or less.
And, frankly, Steven is not a Vanderwell.If you have a goal, son, let nothing stop you.I suppose the true question is what, exactly is my goal?
Hell if I know.
Right now I just want to make sure that that woman, currently beaming at one of James’s patrons, brow glistening and body that…well I have a plethora of thoughts about her tight little body. But I bet her back aches and her arms feel like lead. She has to be exhausted.
And she is not riding home on a bloody bicycle!
_____
“Goodnight Ja—Aiden?” Her voice startles me. I’ve been standing in this spot behind the bar for at least a half hour. “Where’s my bike?”
“In the truck,” I say, motioning against the vehicle I am leaning on. She frowns at it, then her bike, then me. “Yes,” I answer her face’s question. “I traded with Steven. He was all too happy to drive the E63.”
She crosses her arms and doesn’t have to say it out loud.Why?
I shrug, “You fought for me in there. And I live next door to you. It’s convenient, let’s go.”
She narrows those unreal eyes at me, “You know I have used my bike to get around at night for years, right? I’m a big girl, Aiden.”
I laugh, “You’re tiny! Five foot what, one? Maybe two? And just because you do something regularly doesn’t make it safe to do. Plus, the bar is way farther from your house than the bakery.And damn is it humid here. Come on,” I stalk around and open the passenger door for her. She’s being ridiculous.
“You’re being ridiculous,” she mutters. My thoughts coming out of her mouth makes me smile wide. She pauses and looks up at my face before she gets in. Like she’s…in awe? Or maybe afraid. I am acting a bit strange.
“Sorry. Still just such a victory when you talk to me,” I say before making a point tonotwatch her ass climb up in to the truck. I’m being enough of a creep as it is. I quickly close her door and walk around to the driver’s side. I start the big Ford and begin to pull away from the brick wall in front of us.
“You know, two pieces of chicken is not enough to sustain yourself. You’ll get sick,” I say. She chuckles and says nothing.
“Do you pay yourself a salary? Surely?” I go on. She doesn’t respond.
“Well, Lewis is a wanker,” I blurt out. We haven’t even left the parking lot yet and already I’ve made a fool of myself. Still, I want to know more.
She sighs, “Steven told you my whole life story, I guess?”
“No, actually. He’s a bit of a wanker too. Wouldn’t tell me anything except that the dog was Lewis’s. But he implied there was someone else, before Lewis…” I say, looking between her and the road.
Those green eyes study me in the dim light before she asks, “Have you ever been in a serious relationship, Aiden?”
I cough, shocked at the question. Did not expect that. And has her soft, sweet voice ever said my name before? How can I get her to say it again?
“Yes, of course,” I say.
“Okay, then tell me all about it. Right now,” she says, then crosses her arms like I’ve been had. Like she’s won. Which makes me fight a grin. She does not know who she’s dealing with.
“Marion, at Cambridge. A perfect match on paper, she wanted to get married and settle in the UK. I didn’t,” I answer easily.
Harper releases a small laugh, “Yeah, so you’re Lewis. And JimBo, too.”
