She wanted to ask how often the guys got together to play cards, but kept her lips carefully pressed together. Aidan had been clear. Just like she’d had to get permission to bring him to Destiny’s baby shower, he’d had to ask if she could join the game. The guys had agreed, as long as she followed the rules. Apparently rule number one was no conversation.
So here she was, at a big table with eight burly guys, each one better looking than the last. Under other circumstances, she might be intimidated. But they were all in committed relationships and none of them especially appealed to her. Except for Aidan, of course. He appealed to her a lot. But in a friendship kind of way.
She thought briefly of the almost kiss they’d shared. For one heart-pounding second, she’d been so sure he was going to do it. Kiss her. Lips on lips. Anticipation quivered ever so slightly at the memory. But of course he hadn’t. Because they weren’t involved. It was for the best. But still...a kiss would have been pretty darned nice.
She returned her attention to the game, placed her bet and resisted the urge to check her hole cards. She knew what they were and looking at them over and over again didn’t change that. She had two kings. And the object was to get the best five cards possible using any combination of hole and community cards. If one of the community cards was a king, she would have a great shot at the pot. She mentally crossed her fingers.
“How’s Isabel?” Justice asked.
Ford Hendrix, Isabel’s husband, grimaced. “She’s okay. It’s still relatively early in her pregnancy and she’s bigger every day. I don’t know how her body’s going to stand it. I know my mom went through the same thing and was okay, but shit. It’s tough to watch.”
Shelby wasn’t sure what shocked her most. That there was conversation, or the fear and concern in Ford’s voice. She’d seen him with his wife and knew they had a loving marriage. In her head she got that of course he would worry about her. But hearing it articulated was very different.
“Have you talked to your mom?” Jack McGarry asked. “She might have some insight.”
“It’s not a conversation I want to have with her,” Ford admitted.
“What about talking to Dr. Galloway?” Josh Golden, a former world champion cyclist and current real estate tycoon in town, asked. “I know her from Charity’s pregnancies. She’s down-to-earth. I doubt anything would shock her. Make an appointment and go in to see her. She’ll be straight with you.”
“Trust me,” Kipling said with a grimace. “She won’t hold back.”
Ford picked up his bottle of beer. “Yeah, I should do that. I don’t want Isabel to know I’m worried. She’s got enough on her plate right now with the business and all.”
Shelby glanced at Aidan, who winked at her. She smiled back. Their brief interaction caused a little warm glow in her belly. He was so nice, she thought happily. A really great guy. She hoped he was getting as much out of their relationship as she was. Not only was he fun to be around, she was learning a lot. About how men and women were different. She trusted him more each time she was with him, which was her goal. To know there were good guys out there.
“Aidan, you hear from Del much?” Josh asked.
“He emails every now and then. He and Maya are still in China. They’ve posted some raw footage on their Facebook page. It’s good.”
“Funny how that all worked out,” Ford said. “Del running off and you taking over the business.”
“It turned out in the end,” Aidan admitted. “Of course when Del first left, I wanted to hunt him down.”
Josh glanced toward the open door, then lowered his voice. “Nick still doing his artwork in secret up in the mountains?”
Aidan’s look of surprise told Shelby that that wasn’t supposed to be public information.
“How’d you know?” he asked.
Ford placed the fifth card faceup. Shelby saw it was the king of hearts. It was all she could do not to cheer. She had three of a kind. With the two threes showing, she had a king-high full house. At least she was pretty sure that was what it was called.
“Everybody knows,” Ford said as he looked at his hole cards. “Worst-kept secret in town. I’m in two. Shelby?”
She wanted to push in her entire pile of chips, but knew that would be a mistake. She added her two chips to the pile. The betting went around the table. When it was done, everyone flipped over their hole cards.
Shelby scanned them and saw that no one had more than two pairs. She wasn’t very good with straights or flushes, so held in her whoop of victory until Ford said, “Damn. Beaten by a girl.”
She glanced at Aidan, who grinned and nodded. “Take it. You won it.”
“I like this game,” she murmured, drawing in the pot.
“It seems to like you back,” Josh grumbled good-naturedly.
They played two more hands or rounds or whatever they were called. Shelby didn’t win again, but at least she was able to keep track of what was going on. When they finished for the night, she excused herself to go use the restroom.
When she returned, the card room was empty. She picked up her glass of club soda and walked toward the bar. There were only a few people still there, a couple playing pool and a handful of guys sitting around one of the tables. Aidan was by the bar, talking to Nick. Shelby went to join them.
“What do you mean it came up over cards?” Nick asked, his voice tense. “What did you tell them?”
“Nothing.” Aidan’s tone was hard. “I didn’t have to. They knew, Nick. Everyone knows. I don’t know what’s going on between you and Dad, but it’s not good for you. Hiding your art like that. Is this really what you want to do with your talent? Work in a bar and hide out in the woods?”
Nick glared at his brother. “Get off me.”
“You’re letting Ceallach run things and he doesn’t even know he’s doing it.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Nick’s voice rose to a near shout.
“Dammit, Nick. You’re wasting everything you could be. And for what? He’s just a mean old man.”
Shelby’s chest tightened. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath. As the brothers continued to yell at each other, the edges of the room folded in. She knew what was going to happen. She knew the sound of fists on flesh. She knew how fast it happened and how much it hurt. She knew there was no escape. It was going to get bad and then she would be trapped.
Terror pulled at her, chilling her and making her want to run. Only she couldn’t seem to see an escape. She glanced around, but couldn’t focus enough to move. Panic and fear immobilized her as a scream built up inside her chest.
She had to get out of here. She had do something. Then she felt herself whimper as she couldn’t breathe anymore. Her vision got blurry. She couldn’t pass out. She couldn’t! She would be too vulnerable. But there was no way out, and then he would hit her.
CHAPTER SEVEN
AIDAN SAW MOVEMENT out of the corner of his eye. He turned to find Shelby standing a few feet away. She’d gone completely white. Her pupils were dilated, with what he could only assume was terror, and her breathing was rapid.
“Get me a glass of water,” he told Nick. His brother started to protest, then looked at Shelby and swore.
“Just do it,” Aidan said, his tone as gentle as he could make it.
He moved toward her, walking slowly. He had no idea what to say or do, but he knew she needed him. And she needed not to be afraid.
“Shelby, honey, it’s okay. Nick and I go at it from time to time but it doesn’t mean anything. He’s pigheaded but he’s still my brother and I love him. We’re not going to fight. No one’s going to get hurt. I’ll protect you. I promise. Shelby, can you hear me? I’m right here. You’re safe. You’re okay.”
He lightly touched her arm. She flinched. Pain ripped through him. Not
because of what she’d done, but for what she’d been through. How many times had her own father hit her? Beaten her? Left her bloodied?
“Shelby, I want you to slow your breathing. Inhale for a count of five, then exhale for the same. Can you do that for me?”
She nodded and slowed her breathing. Nick brought over the glass of water.
“She okay?” he asked in a whisper.
“I’m fine,” Shelby told him, her voice trembling. “I’m okay.”
Aidan took the glass. “Can you hold this?”
She nodded and reached for the water. Her fingers shook, but she held on to it, then took a sip. The glass started to slip. Nick grabbed it before it fell. Water spilled. Tears filled her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
Aidan swore silently, then reached for her. Maybe it was completely the wrong thing to do, but he couldn’t help himself. He drew her against him.
“I’m here, Shelby,” he whispered. “I’m here.”
She was stiff for a second, then relaxed against him. Her arms came around him as she began to cry.
“I’m sorry,” she said again.
“Stop it. You have nothing to be sorry about. Nick and I shouldn’t have gotten into it like that.”
“No, it’s not you. I know families fight. I know for most people it stays with yelling. I know that. I just can’t always remember.”
Nick put the glass on the bar. “He’s right to get on me,” he admitted. “About my art and Dad and all the crap going on. I can’t believe everyone knows what I’m doing up in the woods.”
“I didn’t know,” Shelby told him. “What are you doing up there?”
“Working with wood mostly. Some carving, some with a chainsaw.”
Shelby sniffed, then stepped back. She wiped her face. “Are you crazy? You work with a chainsaw? On purpose?”
Nick grinned. “It’s cool. One wrong move and I could ruin the piece.”
“Or cut off your arm.”
He laughed again. “Never gonna happen.”
Aidan listened to the conversation without joining in. He watched Shelby carefully, noting the color returning to her face. Her breathing was more regular and she seemed relaxed.
“Do you sell your pieces?” she asked.
“Some. Out of state, through a couple of galleries.”
“If you’re that good, why do you work here?”
Nick’s humor faded. “That would be the question of the hour.” He glanced toward the bar. “I’ve got customers. I’ll see you later.” He walked back behind the bar.
Shelby sighed. “I got too personal.”
“You did fine. He needs to figure out what he wants with his life. How are you feeling?”
She sucked in a breath, then exhaled. “I’m okay. I’m—”
He held up a hand. “Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I freaked out.”
“You reacted to a threatening situation.”
“It was only threatening to me.”
“That doesn’t make it any less real. Shelby, you lived through hell. Give yourself a break.”
Tears filled her eyes again. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For being so nice.”
“I’m not nice. If I hadn’t fought with Nick, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place.”
“I’m glad it did happen. I needed it to happen.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I needed to go through this. I’ll need to go through it again. I have to keep seeing that people can argue without getting physical. I have to learn what’s normal.”
She was probably right but he could go his entire life without wanting to see the fear in Shelby’s eyes again.
She moved close, raised herself on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his.
“Thank you,” she told him. “Thank you for everything.”
And then she was gone. Which was probably for the best because all he could think was that he wanted another kiss, and another. He wanted her mouth everywhere and his mouth doing the same and them getting naked and—
No. That wasn’t what this was about. They were friends on a mission. Because of their deal, he was becoming a better man. A desperately aroused man with no relief in sight. Talk about a hell of a way to build character.
* * *
SHELBY WOULD HAVE thought the fight between Aidan and his brother would have made her edgy for days. But the truth was, she’d never felt better. Relaxed, calm, capable. There was a sense of freedom that she couldn’t completely explain. She supposed it came from knowing she’d taken a big step in her healing.
While the argument between the brothers had terrified her, what had come from it had been wonderful. There had been anger but no violence. And Aidan had been totally there for her. He’d seen her terror and he’d reacted in a caring, gentle way.
She’d thought a lot about what had happened and had come to realize it wasn’t so much that he’d understood she was afraid, it was that even though he’d been angry, he’d been reachable. He hadn’t gone to such a place of darkness that he couldn’t be brought back.
Her therapist had talked about that. How most people who weren’t her father could get angry, but even flooded with that emotion, they could be reasoned with. That her job was to find men like that, men who could be trusted no matter how enraged they might be. She hadn’t thought such a man existed—except for her brother—but she’d been happily wrong.
She smoothed the icing on the cake she was making for Aidan. It was one of her favorites, with three different fillings, including one flavored with Kahlúa. She had a feeling he was going to like it. She hoped so.
“That looks beautiful,” Amber said as she walked into the back of the bakery. “I know a boyfriend cake when I see one.”
Shelby laughed. “No boyfriend, I promise. This is for a friend who happens to be a guy.”
“Yeah, I’m not a big believer in that. Twenty-one years ago I took one look at Tom and thought that I had to get me some of that.” She smiled. “I still feel that way. The man moves me.” She nodded at the cake. “That’s an I-got-to-get-me-some-of-that cake, Shelby. You can pretend all you want, but the message is in that icing there.”
Shelby just smiled at her partner. She’d already explained about her experiment with Aidan. Some people got it and some didn’t. Regardless, she knew they were creating something great together and it wasn’t the least bit romantic.
Not that she couldn’t appreciate the allure. He was a big, strong, handsome guy. Equally necessary for her, he was someone she could trust. Gentle, smart, funny and, okay, sexy. Sometimes she thought about what it would be like if they were more than friends. She would bet he kissed like a dream. If nothing else, he had lots of experience.
That made her smile, which caused Amber to raise her eyebrows. “See. There’s something going on.”
“I can look without touching.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Amber wrinkled her nose and placed her hand on her stomach. “I have an appointment with Dr. Galloway.”
“Still not feeling right?”
“No.” Her business partner sighed. “I’m probably going through early menopause. A horrifying thought.”
“You’re too young for that.”
“I think so, but tell that to my girl parts.” Amber smiled. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“You’ll tell me if it isn’t?” Shelby asked.
“Of course.”
Shelby wanted to believe her, but wasn’t sure. She and Amber worked well together, but their partnership was still very new and establishing meaningful trust took time. If Amber was sick, then Shelby would do whatever she could to help. She could keep the business going for as long as ne
cessary. All things she would say if and when the time came.
* * *
“YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?” Shelby asked.
Aidan stared at the low, one-story building and the handful of cars in the parking lot. Sure he had doubts, but he wanted to go forward anyway. “It’s the next logical step,” he said firmly.
“You could start with a plant.”
He glanced at her. “Very funny. I can keep a dog alive. I’ll be a good pet owner.”
“I believe the phrase you’re looking for is pet dad.” She smiled. “If you get into trouble, I’m close by.”
“Because you know about dogs?”
“I read things on the internet.”
“Well then. No worries.”
They were in the front seat of his truck, with her leaning toward him. Early February was just as cold as January had been, so there was plenty of snow. Shelby was bundled up in a thick sweater and a jacket over that. She had a ridiculous purple knit cap pulled down to her eyebrows. Despite it all, she was still sexy as hell.
Aidan breathed through the now familiar waves of need that rippled through him. June would get here eventually and then he could finally get some. He had made the right decision—not only to try being friends with Shelby, but to walk away from the short-term hookups that had dominated his life.
Despite the fact that this was the longest he’d ever gone without sex—at least since high school, when he didn’t know any better—he was pleased with how things were going. He knew he was changing. He liked hanging out with Shelby. He enjoyed her company. The fact that they were never going to be lovers was okay with him. That didn’t mean he didn’t think about ways to please them both pretty much every time they were together, but he figured the pain and frustration would build character.
What was really strange was how he wasn’t tempted by any of the tourists passing through town. Several attractive women had been in the office to arrange tours. He’d taken a group of single women on an overnight cross-country-skiing weekend and none of them had tantalized him in the least. A couple had flirted, but he’d been immune.
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