“I don’t know what Pete was thinking when he showed up today,” she said to Aaron, “but I think I made it clear to him that I’m not interested in getting involved with him again. He’s a nice enough guy, but whatever we had is over and I have no interest in trying to revive it. It would only end the same way, if not worse.”
From inside the open fridge, Aaron muttered something she couldn’t quite understand. He emerged with a pitcher of tea and deliberately changed the subject. “So, how’s Steven feeling?”
“Better. He’s getting impatient to be back on his feet. He’s already researching the steps he’ll need to take to sign up for firefighter training. That’s his first choice for a career. I think he just mentions the military as a way of making firefighting sound more acceptable to Mom,” she added with a short laugh.
“He’ll get there. He’s wanted it too long not to give it everything he’s got to attain it.”
She nodded. “I just didn’t realize quite how much he wanted it. His brush with disaster must have really solidified that desire for him. He told me he still feels guilty about running out on the family, but I encouraged him to go after what he wants. It’s not like we can’t hire a replacement for him. We get job applications all the time.”
“I’m sure you do. It’s hard work, but it’s a great life for someone who doesn’t want to be tied to a desk from nine to five, who likes working with his hands and being around lots of people, who appreciates being out in nature.”
“Yes, it is.” She opened a container of food and set it within easy reach on the bar.
They talked about inconsequential things while they ate roasted chicken sandwiches and pita chips with artichoke hummus that Shelby had made herself. Steering their conversation away from her family issues—specifically, the annoying way her parents had turned on him earlier—Shelby kept him talking about his own interesting family. He told her stories about visiting his uncle Jared’s ranch, which had served as a foster home for at-risk boys for quite a few years. Aaron said he’d long since lost count of the number of boys who’d called the ranch home, even for a short time, but he added that most of them had grown into grateful, respectable men who stayed in contact with the family. He had many amusing anecdotes to tell about the ranch, some of which included the notorious “terrible trio.”
“I just love hearing about Andrew getting into those scrapes,” she admitted, laughing as they cleared away the dinner plates. “It’s so hard to picture him being a little wild and crazy.”
“It certainly is these days.”
Apparently he didn’t want to talk about his twin. He moved toward the living room. “Want to watch a movie or something? I wouldn’t mind putting my feet up for a couple hours.”
“We could watch a movie—or there’s a Rangers game.”
His smile was almost blinding. “I knew there was a reason I like you.”
“Prepare to love me,” she shot back with a grin. “I brought popcorn. Have a seat on the couch and turn on the TV, I’ll fire up the microwave.”
“You just stole my heart,” he assured her gravely, his dark eyes dancing.
Though they were only teasing, she still had to swallow a tiny sigh as she moved past him to pull bags of popcorn out of the tote she’d brought with her.
It was almost a perfect evening, she thought later. With the lights dimmed, they snuggled together on the couch with bowls of popcorn and bottles of cold beer, talking about nothing more momentous than the action on the television screen. When they finished the snacks, Aaron wrapped an arm around her shoulder and she laid her head on his chest. She didn’t actually doze, but she drifted in a haze of contentment, enjoying every moment, refusing to think beyond the ninth inning.
It was dark outside when Aaron walked into the kitchen for a glass of water. He paused, looking out the little window over the sink. “In the mood for a walk?”
“Why?”
“My neighbor just drove away. How about if you and I take a little moonlight stroll?”
“Sure.” She stood and slid her feet into the green flats she’d kicked off earlier. “Are we going to snoop through his cabin?”
He chuckled. “How can you make breaking and entering sound like such a perfectly logical idea?”
“It’s not really breaking and entering. I have a master key and as management, I can legally enter any rented unit on the premises if I have reason to do so. Like, maybe, thinking I smell smoke. I can’t touch the belongings of the guest,” she admitted, “but I could certainly do an inspection.”
“For now, let’s just look around outside a little,” he suggested, moving toward the back door.
She followed cooperatively, though she made sure her keys were in her pocket when she stepped outside.
Glancing around when he closed the door behind them, he reached out to take her hand. She didn’t see anyone around to observe them, but she curled her fingers around his and tried to look casual, anyway, like someone simply out enjoying the mild evening
with a handsome man. A boat passed on the lake, running lights flashing on the water, the scent of exhaust lingering in the air behind it. The wake stirred up low waves that splashed against the pebbled shoreline. It was just here, Shelby remembered, that she’d competed against Aaron skipping rocks. Right at this spot when he’d kissed her senseless afterward. Had that really been only three nights ago?
Turning her so that her back was to Landon’s cabin, Aaron wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek against her hair. “The place definitely looks unoccupied,” he murmured, gazing toward the cabin.
It was hard to think about spying on Landon when she was standing in Aaron’s arms in the moonlight, she thought wistfully. Still, she cleared her throat and said softly, “Maybe we could sneak onto the porch and find out if we can see anything through the glass door. Maybe he left a crack in the blinds.”
Aaron didn’t say anything for a minute and she thought he was going to tell her that was a terrible idea. But then he surprised her by nodding. “What the heck. We aren’t going in,” he added quickly. “Not without a good reason. But it wouldn’t hurt to take a glance inside. You said housekeeping hasn’t been inside in a week. You should probably make sure he hasn’t trashed the place.”