by J. L. Berg
Cora turned to Dean. “He said telly!”
I swore, she swooned.
“Babe, don’t you need to order some food before you head back to the clinic?”
Her eyes widened before she grabbed her menu. “I’m so sorry. I’m back to normal now. And I really do apologize for crashing your lunch, but we managed to empty out the clinic, so I thought I’d run out for a quick bite.”
Aiden’s eyebrows rose in confusion.
Dean translated, “Cora’s the nurse at the town clinic.”
He nodded his head before saying, “The nurse, as in the only one?”
She sort of laughed, a crimson blush spreading across her pale skin as she fought her inner fangirl. “Yes, it’s just me. Well, me and Dr. Jake. There are a few volunteer EMTs who help with emergencies, but for everything else—coughs, colds, and flus along with the everyday accidents—that’s all us.”
“Wow.”
I turned to him, my lips pressed together. “Wow?”
“I guess I didn’t really fathom how small this place was. I mean, you sort of see it as you drive in, but I don’t think you can really put it all together until you hear something like that.”
Dean’s eyes met mine. “Should I tell him the size of my graduating class?”
I laughed. “No. Mine was smaller.”
“It was not!” Dean protested.
“Was to,” I replied. “Carter Dodd dropped out halfway through his junior year, which brought us down to four.”
“Four?” Aiden said, his voice sounding incredulous. “As in four people?”
Dean nodded. “How many were in yours?”
Aiden’s mood suddenly shifted, and I could almost feel it in the air. “Uh, I don’t recall. Definitely not four.”
“So, don’t you two have business to discuss? A statue to resurrect?” I interjected, calling for an immediate change of subject.
I might not want to sleep with the guy again, but I could at least offer him some common courtesy.
Okay, that wasn’t true.
I definitely wanted to sleep with him, but I wasn’t going to.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him glancing at me. The tiny flecks of green in those hazel brown eyes reminded me of sand.
From far away, it looked brown.
Just basic, boring brown.
But palm a bit of sand in your hand, spread it out, and really look at each individual grain, and you’d find a virtual rainbow of color. There were flecks of red from crushed up shells, blue and green from sea glass and a dozen other colors all scattered in between.
That was what I saw in Aiden’s eyes and it dazzled me.
Nope, definitely not sleeping with him again, I reminded myself.
I shook off his deep stare and tried to focus on Cora. “So, how have you been?” I said, sort of out of the blue. “You need food. We should order you some food.”
She didn’t seem caught off guard by my rambling, but, as Dean had said earlier, she was the mother to a tiny genius, so she was probably used to this by now. I flagged Billy, who took Cora’s order of fish and chips, while Dean and Aiden began talking business.
“I left in in a hurry. I need to have some things shipped here,” Aiden explained. “Supplies.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. We are fairly modern in that respect, although it might take a bit longer than what you’re used to in New York. You can even have your stone material delivered, if you’d like.”
Aiden shook his head as I listened in on their conversation, having already given up on my attempt to ignore them. “No, that’s one thing I won’t be ordering.”
“Oh?” Dean and I said in unison.
“Stone is a fickle medium to work with, and I am particular. I’ll have to hand-choose the piece I work with.”
Dean shrugged, unfazed by the decision.
I, on the other hand, had some serious reservations. “What do you mean, you’ll have to choose the piece by hand?”
His eyes met mine. “It means I’ll have to go to the quarry and select it.”
“And will you be driving there yourself? Can’t we just go to a store and pick it out?”
Why was I even bothering to ask? Had I ever heard of a giant rock store?
“Uh, no, it’s not like I’m putting in a countertop here. And I was hoping you’d take me.”
I let out a breath, trying to keep my cool. “And where is this quarry?”
“Mount Airy.”
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head as I calculated the driving distance. “That’s nearly eight hours away.”
He nodded, turning his head toward the bay again. “You’re right. It’s too much to ask. I’ll ask the pilot who flew me to take me.”
My gaze traveled to the water, wondering what he was so fixated on. “He won’t take you. He’s strictly tours and airport travel only. It’s fine; I’ll take you. But we’ll have to wait until the day after tomorrow when my sister returns from the hospital, so my parents can take over the inn for me.”
He nodded, not turning away from the sparkling blue waves. “Good.”
“Okay, sounds like a plan,” Dean said, taking over as I sat back in my chair.
I’d hoped to get back to Florida the day after next.
A quick day with the family and my new baby niece, and then back to reality.
Back to getting my life together.
Back to figuring out who had stolen it all away from me,because I was going to make them pay.
Right after I finished clawing my way back up to the top.
But, for now, all of that was on pause because this beautiful conundrum of a man needed a favor.
Again.
I guessed revenge could wait another day.
“You want to get out of here?” Aiden asked, a look of challenge spreading across his handsome face.
I couldn’t help but smile. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He quickly paid our tab, which wasn’t much, considering we hadn’t been there long. I had no idea what his intentions were when we left the restaurant, but with the drink I’d nearly inhaled buzzing through my veins, I was up for anything.
As long as it didn’t involve work, Lorenzo, or the email that had ruined me.
“I don’t suppose there is anywhere in this tiny little town to purchase alcohol, is there?” Aiden asked as we hopped in my sister’s car and pulled onto the desolate road.
“At this time of night? That would be a no. But I might be able to scrounge something up back at the inn.”
“Sounds promising,” he said before a long, silent pause.
I looked over to see him peering out the window. He appeared thoughtful, his eyes taking in every detail as we drove the short distance home.
“What is it that you do, Millie McIntyre?” he asked, turning his attention back toward me.
I swallowed hard, hating that my one wish for the evening—to not have to think about work—didn’t even last the car ride back to the inn.
“Um, I’m in fashion.”
I stopped the car in its normal place beside the house and shifted it into park before the engine shut off.
“And what does that mean exactly? Fashion? Do you design clothes? Sell them?” He paused for a moment, his eyes lingering on the subtle curves of my body. “Model them?”
My hand fought at my side to find the door handle.
Was it hot in here?
God, I felt like I was on fire.
“Um, sales mostly. I want to design though. I mean, that was—is my goal…eventually.”
“Impressive,” he said. “Although you’d make an excellent model.”
I let out a tiny laugh, half-humor, half-nervousness. “Clearly, you don’t know a thing about the fashion industry. I’m about as far from what they deem a perfect model as you can get. I’m too curvy, far too short, and—” I looked down at my chest, feeling my cheeks heat instantly.
God, I was acting like a fool. What was with me toni
ght? I was never this nervous around men.
That damn email…
“Well, let’s just say, I’m all wrong for that particular profession.”
His eyes, those beautiful hazel eyes that seemed to include every color under the sun, stared deeply into mine. “Well, I guess that explains why I’ve never been into models. I prefer curves.”
Hot. So hot in here.
“Drinks?”
“What?” he replied as the connection between us snapped.
“You wanted drinks? Do you want to head inside?”
“Oh, right. Yes, of course.”
My hand finally found the handle, and as I pushed the door open and the summer air rushed in, I couldn’t help but take a deep breath and look to the heavens.
Dear God, what was I doing?
I awoke to the sound of my phone and the ear-piercing alarm I’d set the night before.
Blinking several times, I looked around, my mind still a haze after my dream about Aiden.
I was still in the weird bedroom that looked like my childhood bedroom but wasn’t.
Same screwed up life.
Different day.
At least, today, I’d woken up on time.
And alone.
Way to go, Millie.
I gave myself a mental pat on the back as I proceeded to the bathroom my sister had tastefully renovated, admiring the subtle coastal vibe she’d given it with the white subway tile throughout and cool blue accents. It wasn’t cliché like a lot of beachy accommodations with shells plastered literally everywhere, but it gave a serene vibe that screamed relaxation.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time for any of that and needed to get a move on. Hopping into the shower, I spent a few minutes getting clean, and within thirty minutes or so, I was presentable in a fresh pair of linen shorts and a floral top.
Sweeping my hair back into a side braid and putting on some light makeup, I felt confident and better prepared about going into breakfast than I had the day before.
I stepped into the hallway, doing my best not to press my ear against Aiden’s door—that would definitely not be professional—and headed for the kitchen.
As soon as I entered, I nearly tripped over my own feet.
“Hey, sweetheart!”
Sitting at the table, drinking coffee, were my parents.
But that wasn’t what had me nearly choking on my own saliva. At the stove, cooking them breakfast, was Aiden.
Freaking Aiden Fisher.
My guest.
My honored guest. The one I was supposed to treat like royalty.
“Um, hi, Mom. Dad,” I said before running over to give them hugs and kisses. “How are you? How’s the baby? And Molly?”
Why are you here?
Why is he here?
We finished our mini-reunion, and they returned to their coffee at the table.
“We’re good,” my mom said. “The baby is fantastic, but you’ll see that for yourself. Jake, Molly, and little Ruby are being discharged this morning. We decided to leave early and avoid the traffic. Plus, I figured I could get some things set up for them at the house.”
Okay, I guessed that made sense.
“And you needed breakfast?” I asked, glancing over to Aiden, who threw one of his devil-may-care, panty-melting grins at me. Except I thought he missed because my mom seemed to melt into a puddle behind me and broke into spontaneous laughter.
No, not laughter. A giggle.
My mom fucking giggled, like a little schoolgirl.
“We popped in to see if you needed anything and found Aiden here, making himself a cup of coffee. And wouldn’t you know it? He offered to make us breakfast. Isn’t that kind of him?”
I looked from my mom to my father, who seemed a little less thrilled with the idea. He looked up at me, his forehead wrinkled in obvious disbelief.
He couldn’t believe my mom was acting like this either.
Good. Glad I wasn’t the only one.
I gave him a small smile, and he returned it.
“Well, why don’t I take over since Aiden is our guest, and you can tell me all about my new little niece? How does that sound?”
Aiden, who had remained quiet through this whole family reunion as he flipped bacon and scrambled eggs, continued to ignore what was going on. As if he didn’t know what he was doing to my mom. He probably lived for flirting. God knew he’d done his fair share with me.
My thoughts briefly drifted back to my dream, the memories of that car. To the words he’d said.
He’d probably flirted his way right into my bed.
Or his.
Whatever.
“Oh, I don’t—” my mother protested, clearly enjoying the view of Aiden cooking.
“That sounds lovely,” my father interjected.
“Good.” I smiled, turning back toward Aiden. “Thank you so much for accommodating my parents after their long trip home. It’s really polite, but the professional thing for me to do is to cook for you, and I wouldn’t want you to think I’m not professional.”
The emphasis wasn’t lost on him, and as our eyes locked, I saw disappointment in his.
“Right. Of course,” he said. “I overstepped.”
I’d expected some sort of snarky response. A rebuttal. Even a flirtatious remark.
But not disappointment.
Who was he to be disappointed with me?
I watched as he cleaned his hands on a dish towel and set it down next to the stove.
He gave me one last look before heading for the hallway. “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to get a run in before breakfast.”
My eyes didn’t waver until he disappeared around the corner, leaving me wondering how I’d hurt him.
And why it affected me so.
“The least you could have done is shown up in sweats, Millie. Or put your hair in a messy bun. Come on,” Molly said as she pulled open her front door. “I just had a baby, level the playing field a little! You look ridiculously hot. Is that contouring?” She pointed to my makeup and shook her head.
I bit my top lip to keep from laughing but couldn’t help it when she pulled me into a giant hug, causing my attention to drift downward to her slippers.
“Oh my God, what are those?” Stepping away, I saw the grin on her face as she modeled whatever was on her feet.
“Like them? Mom got them for me, so I’m guessing they’re mom slippers. I don’t know, and I don’t care because whatever orthopedic, memory foam crap is in these ugly things is honestly the second best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Heard that,” Jake hollered from the living room, causing us both to laugh.
“Want to meet your niece?”
My eyebrows rose in excitement. “More than I want to stab a knife through those horrible slippers of yours.”
“Don’t you dare! Come on in.”
I chose not to make a comment about the huge pink robe she had wrapped around her. I mean, she had just had a kid two days ago. She did deserve some slack. But I made a mental note to send her something of the silk variety for her birthday; otherwise, poor Ruby might end up being an only child.
The living room had drastically changed since the last time I’d seen it. Scattered around the room was evidence that a baby now lived here. No, not lived. Ruled. A baby definitely ruled this place, and she’d only been here a handful of hours.
A portable changing table had been set up in the corner, next to the sofa, along with a place for the baby to nap. There were boxes of diapers stacked in the hallway and unopened gifts from people who’d stopped by while they were away.
“Wow, it’s like baby central in here.”
“This is the bare minimum. Wait until she’s older and we have a swing, a high chair and toys,” Jake said, rising from his spot on the sofa to give me a hug. Well, a side hug at best because in one arm, he held Ruby.
I bent down and felt my eyes well up with tears.
“You guys,” I said, surpr
ised at the emotion in my voice.
“I know,” Molly said, standing next to me.
I wiped a tear from my cheek. “Look what you made.”
“Do you want to hold her?” Jake asked.
I looked down at her, so new to the world with her pink skin and soft folds. “Are you sure? My experience with newborns is limited. Well, not limited. It’s nothing. As in none. I’ve never held one. Actually, I’ve never even seen a newborn this young before. Am I rambling? What if I drop her?”
My sister’s head tilted to the side, a curious gaze in her eyes, before she answered, “You won’t drop her, Millie. Here, let us teach you.”
Jake showed me how to cradle her head and support her body, and before I knew it, I was holding that tiny bundle of joy.
My niece.
Mine.
I’d never felt such pride for something so small.
So real.
“I think I’ll go finish unpacking our stuff,” Jake said softly, placing a tender hand on his wife’s shoulder before vacating the room.
“Let’s sit down,” she suggested. “I don’t know about you, but I could use the rest.”
We did, and I could tell Molly was exhausted by the way she exhaled the second her body melted into the couch cushions. Her usual never-ending well of energy had been seriously depleted over the last few days.
I looked back down at the sleeping baby in my arms. “She’s perfect Molly, truly.”
I heard the smile in her voice as she replied, “Yes, she is.”
When I turned to my sister in that moment, it was like seeing her for the first time. Something in her had changed.
She’d become a mother.
And, even though I’d made fun of her slippers and rolled my eyes at her silly robe, the light and love that radiated from within her, it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
“You okay, sis?” Molly asked, a genuine look of concern on her face.
I pried my face away from Ruby. “Yeah, why?”
Her eyebrow rose in disbelief. “Well, for one, I’ve never heard you ramble like that. Ever. And two, the fact that you were able to drop everything just like that to babysit the inn. Care to explain?”
I pressed my lips together as I avoided her gaze. “I have been known to ramble from time to time,” I said, thinking back to lunch with a certain Brit. “And I told you, I had vacation time saved up. Lots of it.”
