“Let’s go see if we can convince our new friends over there.”
Shelby and Aidan walked over to the group waiting. She took Charlie while he introduced himself and her, then explained Mayor Marsha’s vision for the event. Shelby put down Charlie and let him greet everyone. He was friendly and gentle and soon had all the women fussing over him.
“I don’t get it,” one of the guys, a twentysomething with blond hair and glasses, said. “I thought this was a place to get to know girls.”
“It is,” Shelby told him. “As friends.”
“I don’t want any more girls who are just friends. What’s the point?”
Shelby looked at Aidan, who shrugged.
“It’s nice,” she said. “When there’s no pressure. Aidan and I are friends and we’ve learned a lot from each other.”
A tall redhead in her late thirties frowned. “I’m with him. I thought I could meet some single guys. I work a lot and it’s hard to get out. I already have plenty of friends. I’m looking for something a little more interesting.”
Shelby saw one of the guys shift closer to her. She looked at Aidan. “Help.”
“Just give it a try,” he told the group.
The twentysomething in glasses looked doubtful. “Are you being straight with us, bro? I saw how you looked at her before. That wasn’t about being friends.”
Shelby blinked. “What are you talking about? We’re really friends. Just friends.”
Aidan nodded. “She’s right.”
“Uh-huh,” the guy said. “Whatever it takes to get through the night. I’m not going to judge.”
Aidan drew in a breath. “Let’s just give it a try, okay? Get your skates and get on the ice. Try to talk to everyone if you can. As friends.”
There was some grumbling but the group started to get ready to go out on the ice. A few had brought their own skates, the rest got in line to rent a pair.
Shelby sighed. “I’m not sure this is going to work. But we’re making the effort, so we can report back to Mayor Marsha with a clear conscience.” She looked at Aidan. “What did that guy mean about how you looked at me?”
Aidan bent down to check on Charlie’s coat. “I don’t know. I don’t think he’s going to come back for our second event.”
“I don’t think any of them are.”
Aidan straightened. “Ready to skate?”
“Uh-huh. What are you going to do with Charlie?”
“Maggie who runs the shack is going to keep him with her.” Aidan grinned. “Charlie’s very good with the ladies. At work, he has Fay trained. Right at ten and two, he’s up and looking for a doggy treat. He sits up and waves his paws at her. If she’s too slow, he waves faster, then starts to bark at her, and off she goes to get his treat.”
“I knew you were smart,” she told the dog.
Aidan led Charlie toward the shack. Shelby watched him go. Charlie might not be the dog he’d had in mind, but they looked good together. Watching Aidan tend to the smaller dog was just so sweet. And kind of sexy. The tender side of him was unexpected.
For a second she allowed herself to imagine how tender he would be with her. Gentle, but strong. He would take his time and make her feel safe and cared for. Then she shook off the images. They were friends. Only friends. Despite what anyone else thought...or said.
* * *
“I WANTED TO let you know I’m fine,” Amber said.
Shelby looked up from the supplies she was organizing. Taking Taryn’s advice, she’d put a notice up at the high school. Two-hour shifts were available at the bakery for cookie decorating. Their Valentine’s Day orders had tripled from the previous year. It seemed that the entire town, not to mention several dozen out-of-state customers, wanted frosted cookies for the holiday. There was no way Shelby and their permanent staff could get everything done in time, so reinforcements were being called in.