“Sure, but that’s hard enough to find at home. It would be impossible on vacation.”
“Unless we had referrals. I’ll have to talk to some of the other business owners in town. Maybe we could set up a co-op or something.”
“Now you’re scaring me, Aidan. What if it turns out you’re perfect?”
“Nothing you need to worry about. It’ll never happen.”
“I don’t know. You’re getting pretty close.”
“I’m better than I was,” he told her. “I’m grateful for that.” He never wanted to hurt anyone the way he’d hurt the woman he’d been unable to remember. There’d been no reason for it. No excuse.
“What happens when the six months are up?” she asked. “With you and Shelby?”
“I’m not sure.”
He knew what he would like. He wanted to keep seeing Shelby. As friends and maybe something more. He liked her in a way he hadn’t expected. They fit well together.
Margaret smiled at him. “Wow. I hope my husband gets that look on his face when he thinks about me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Just now, when you thought of Shelby. There was something. I can’t explain it, but trust me. Every woman wants her man to look at her that way.” She leaned across the table and lightly kissed him. “I hope she knows how lucky she is.”
“Me, too.”
Aidan started to laugh only to see movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned and saw Shelby on the sidewalk, by the restaurant. Her eyes were wide, her cheeks drained of color. When her gaze locked with his, she turned and quickly walked away.
Aidan swore and started after her.
He caught up with her before she’d gone twenty feet. After grabbing her arm, he turned her so they were facing each other.
“It wasn’t a date,” he told her. “I’ve known Margaret for years. We’re friends. She’s happily married with a couple of kids. You don’t have anything to worry about.”
Because he would never cheat on her. Not only because he wasn’t that guy, but also because of her. How he felt about her.
Shelby stared at him. “I believe you,” she said slowly. “Of course I do.”
Which sounded right, but she still looked upset. “Then what else is wrong?”
“I don’t know.”
He dropped his arm to his side. They stared at each other. Aidan felt the tension—but this one wasn’t based in sexual desire. Instead it felt tight and uncomfortable. As if something was wrong. Or as if he was supposed to be doing or saying something but he didn’t know what.
“I sent you a text about the dinner,” he said.
“I know. You said to come by. That’s why I’m here. It’s not that.”
“Then what?”
Her blue eyes searched his, looking for something. As if she needed something only he could give her. He knew the feeling. Sometimes when he thought about her he got confused and had no idea about the cause.
The truth crashed in on him with the subtlety of an avalanche and he suddenly knew exactly what was wrong. Or rather, what was right.
He loved her. No, he was in love with her. Or both. Did it matter? He loved Shelby. Why wouldn’t he? She was bright and funny and caring and sweet. He loved looking at her and being with her and making love with her. He loved her.
Why hadn’t he realized this before? Possibly because he was a guy, he told himself. Despite his recent training, he wasn’t exactly intuitive. But he knew now. He loved her.
Thinking the words felt right. Now he just had to say them.