by Jill Shalvis
“Look at that, you even talk like him. I get it, you know,” he said. “He’s a Kincaid. Owns the resort. Of course you picked him.”
“Out,” she said. “Now.”
He jerkily packed up his tools and left.
Jonathan came close. “Heard the tail end of that, which didn’t go well.”
“Seeing as the alternative was me kicking him in the nads, I think it went really well.”
“Oh, I most definitely agree there,” Jonathan said. “I just meant that in my experiences, dickheads like that don’t go quietly into the night. And Lily? You need to let Aidan and Gray know what happened here. If you don’t feel comfortable saying anything, I’ll be happy to do it.”
She blew out a sigh. “I’ll handle it.”
“Sure?”
“Yeah. I clean up my own messes.”
The door opened again, and in came Penny.
Lily let out a breath and managed a smile. “Hey.”
“Hey. I want the baby-butt skin you gave Aidan,” she said.
“Baby-butt skin coming up,” Lily said.
Penny stared at her. “And also I want that glow you’re wearing. What’s that from?”
An all-nighter with your brother-in-law … “Um, I think I’m sunburned.”
Jonathan choked and spilled his coffee. “Dammit.”
Penny was still staring at Lily. “You slept with him.”
“What is it with you people?” Lily asked the room.
“Jealousy,” Jonathan said.
His client, an eighty-five-year-old woman, nodded. “Sure is, honey,” she said in a three-pack-a-day voice. “None of us are getting any.”
“Hey,” Penny said. “I’m getting some.”
“Yes, but that’s married sex,” Jonathan said. “Married sex doesn’t count.”
“Hmph,” Penny said.
The rest of the day spun by pretty quickly with the exception of several people asking Lily if she was going to finally be the one to tie down the elusive Aidan Kincaid.
“It’s a compliment,” Jonathan told her as they were cleaning up at the end of the day. “People are fascinated by the Kincaids. They’re all wild as hell—though marriage has tamed Gray—somewhat. People are wondering about the woman who’s looking like she might snag another brother. Really, the gossip and questioning are inevitable.”
“It’s ridiculous,” Lily said. “Love is a private business.”
“Whoa.” Jonathan went brows up. “I didn’t say anything about love. But since you went there—”
“Sorry,” she said, grabbing her purse. “Gotta go.”
“Fine, but Lily Pad?”
She looked back.
“Tell Aidan about Lenny.”
She nodded and hightailed it out of there. She didn’t look forward to that conversation. The last thing she wanted to do was bring trouble on anyone, even Lenny.
Not to mention once again spilling the beans out of turn …
Back at her place, she changed her clothes and grabbed Ashley’s scarf and went up the mountain. Not even close to being in the right mind-set to attack Dead Man’s Cliff, she hiked Heaven’s Peak instead, visiting some of her favorite haunts, looking to prove to herself she could start and finish something at least.
She stopped for pictures when the mood struck, sat on a rock outcropping and drank her water when she got tired, and when her second wind hit, she headed home.
Inside her apartment, she walked straight to the framed pic of herself and Ashley that her mom had sent. Removing the scarf from around her neck, she set it next to the frame. “I went hiking again today,” she told her sister, and had to draw in a deep breath. “I’m not climbing. It’s not fear, I want you to know that. It’s not regrets either. I just … I had to grow up, you know?” She paused and had to swallow the lump in her throat. “I really thought we’d be doing that together, growing up,” she whispered. “I really did.”
A stupid tear slipped out, and she swiped it away. “I hiked Heaven’s Peak,” she went on. “And it felt good. Actually, it felt great. I forgot how much I missed being out on the mountain. But I promise you, Ash, I’ve never forgotten how much I miss you.”
She had to swipe another damn tear, but that was the last one. “I won’t ever forget you,” she whispered to her sister’s happy face as she ran a finger along the cashmere. “But I think I need to forgive myself. I’m having problems with that,” she admitted softly. “I’ve been trying and can’t seem to do it on my own.” She paused again. “Maybe you could help me there.”
Oh, how Ashley would have loved that, Lily needing her help. And at just the thought Lily was suddenly able to smile through her tears.
“See,” she managed. “You’re helping already.”
Aidan was in the main office, playing Ruler of the Universe for Gray, who was out on the mountain overseeing a biking event.
After working all night at the fire station, Aidan was tired and feeling out of sorts because he hadn’t had a chance to see Lily again. He’d been thinking of her though, plenty, as he flipped through the files, like how he felt when she smiled at him. How soft her skin was. How she tasted …
Lenny stuck his head in the door. “Finished the shelving unit at the salon yesterday,” he said. “Thank Gray for me for getting me some work.”
“Glad it worked out,” Aidan said. “Invoice the resort so you can get paid.”
“You sure? Because I heard the bills aren’t getting paid right now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I get that you’re keeping this tight. You never did do failure well. But come on. Since when do your friends get left out of the loop?”
Aidan felt his temper stir. Standing up, he closed the office door before turning back to Lenny.
“Right,” Lenny said, before Aidan could speak. “Wouldn’t want anyone else to hear this.”
“Actually, I don’t want anyone to see me kick your ass,” Aidan said, definitely pissed off now. “The only thing that’s ever come before my friends is my family.”
“Then explain Lily.”
Aidan narrowed his eyes. “What’s your problem today?”
“I’m practically one of the Kincaids. Or I was, until you got too busy for me. Still, the rumor is that you’re losing the resort. You could’ve told me yourself that you’re going to have to cut employees next quarter to save yourselves.”
Aidan let out a long breath. “Okay, I want you to listen to me very carefully. We’re not losing the resort. And any employee layoffs have not been decided on.”
“Got it,” Lenny said snidely. “So as long as you Kincaids stick together all is good, right?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I got the four-one-one at the salon. People talk about all sorts of things there, including you and your daddy’s money issues.”
Aidan stilled at that. There were damn few people who knew about his relationship with Richard and how it affected the future of the resort. Gray, Hudson, Kenna … but they’d never say a word. They just wouldn’t.
Lily knows, too, a small voice said—which he ignored.
Or tried to.
“Something else the salon has,” Lenny said. “Nice view, your latest hot piece working there.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I know you’re not talking about Lily like that.”
Lenny smiled grimly. “She grew up nice, yeah? I mean she has a smart-ass mouth on her, but she’s still sexy as hell. I heard things were getting hot and heavy between you two, but apparently not that hot and heavy if she’s still open to chatting it up with other guys.”
Aidan stared at him. “Why don’t you just come right out and tell me what it is you really want me to know.”
“All right,” Lenny said. “You give me work. You let me tag along with you when you’re feeling generous. You throw me a lot of bones, we both know that. But this time, it’s my turn to win.”
“I wasn’t aware we were in a c
ompetition,” Aidan said as mildly as he could.
“Bullshit.”
“What exactly is it that you think you’re going to win?” Aidan asked.
“Maybe your girl.”
And that’s when Aidan’s radio went off with a fire call.
Aidan swore, then grabbed the radio and headed to the door. As he passed Lenny, he stopped and sniffed. “Have you been drinking?”
Lenny tried to brush past him, but Aidan put a hand on his chest. “I can smell it on you.”
Lenny knocked Aidan’s hands away. “I’m out of here.”
“Good,” Aidan said. “And you’re wrong about—”
“Lily?” Lenny stopped in the doorway. “You sure about that?”
Aidan wasn’t sure about much when it came to Lily, but he was sure she’d never hurt him purposely. “About practically being a Kincaid,” he said. “Kincaids don’t turn on each other. Ever. You’re done here at the resort, Lenny, and not because we’re losing it. You’re done because I no longer trust you.”
“Maybe Gray feels differently.”
“Gray wanted to let you go a long time ago. Your job here was a favor to me. Favor revoked. Get your stuff and get the hell out.”
Chapter 24
Lily took a quick break between appointments and checked her email. Still no responses to any of her resumes.
None.
Zip.
Zilch.
She waited for the usual ball of panic to kick in, knowing that this left her still stranded here in Cedar Ridge.
But the panic didn’t hit.
Instead she got a brand-new feeling. A warm fuzzy. It confused her at first, until she realized that it meant she was okay with being stuck here indefinitely.
Maybe even permanently.
“Liking that smile,” Jonathan said. “Did you get a response on a resume?”
“No.” She turned to look at him. “The opposite actually.”
Jonathan looked confused. “And this is making you happy because …?”
“Because maybe I’m not in a huge hurry to leave anymore.”
He grinned. “Well of course not. Not when you’re getting all the orgasms.”
Outside the shop, a man got out of a truck and walked toward the salon.
“And look!” Jonathan said. “It’s the orgasm donor in the flesh.”
Aidan walked in wearing his firefighter polo, cargoes, dark lenses, and no smile at all.
Jonathan’s faded. “Hey. You okay?”
“Need a moment with Lily,” Aidan said.
“Take as many as you need.” Jonathan moved toward the front of the shop, turning to Lily behind Aidan’s back to fan himself.
“Hey,” she said to Aidan as evenly as she could, which wasn’t all that evenly, because being this close to him still made her pulse leap and her heart kick.
He walked past her without touching her. Unusual because one, lately he always took any opportunity to touch her, and two, the space was small and he was as broad as a mountain. In the back room he turned to face her, arms crossed over his chest as he leaned back on one of the counters.
“Everything okay?” she asked, shutting the door to give them some privacy. Or as much dubious privacy as one could get in a hair salon.
“You seeing Lenny, Lily?”
She blinked. “Um, I’m pretty sure I’m seeing you.”
He didn’t crack a smile. “I don’t care if you’re seeing other people, I’d just like to know where we stand.”
“You don’t care?” she repeated, doing her best to hide her shock and failing utterly.
He made a dismissive gesture, like this wasn’t the important part. “Did you tell him about the resort possibly having to lay off employees?”
She felt the shock reverberate through her.
“Did you tell him about my dad?” he asked.
She found her voice. “You really think I would?”
“Why do you keep answering my questions with a question?” he asked.
The hurt welled up so fast she couldn’t breathe. “Okay,” she said, moving back to the door. “We’re done here.” She yanked open the door and gave him her best PMS bitch look.
He blew out a breath. “Listen, I had to ask.”
“You had to—” She broke off. “Whatever you told me in confidence stayed in my confidence. Hell, everything you’ve told me stayed in my confidence. I keep my word, Aidan. And I thought you knew that about me.” Far too close to tears, she made to leave, but he caught her with one hand and held the door closed with the other.
“Don’t,” she said, trying to pull free, but he held her in an inexorable grip of steel.
“I’m sorry,” he said, effortlessly holding her, bending at the knees a little to look into her eyes. “I just needed to know.”
“Fine,” she grated out, furious with herself for the small part of her that was enjoying being held so tight against him. “Now you know. We both know. We know I’m an idiot for believing you when you said that this thing between us was more than it is. I should have known better. It’s never more than I think it is, and in fact, it’s usually far less. Dammit, let me go!”
“Lily—”
“I’ve got work,” she said, and tore free. She rushed out and into the front room, ignoring Jonathan’s worried look, calling her next client to the wash station.
Aidan followed. “Lily—”
“Working,” she said.
“I need to talk to you.”
Yes, but she did not need to talk to him. She’d been an idiot, she’d get over it. It’s not like she’d just lost a family member tragically. “Busy,” she said, settling her client into the wash chair.
Tessa was a teacher in her late twenties. She was goggle-eyed at Aidan in his uniform.
Not Lily. She just wanted to kick him. Especially when he came to stand on the other side of Tessa, looking straight across her at Lily herself.
“Sorry,” she said. “If you want to book an appointment with me, go ahead. I know you’ve been too busy to manscape yourself. I could give you that bro-zilian we talked about, I have time right after Tessa.”
Tessa let out a choking sound of horror.
Jonathan let his gaze slide down Aidan’s body to his crotch area and went brows up.
Aidan didn’t react, just looked Lily right in the eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. Firmly.
“Oh, it’s okay,” she said. “It’s not your fault you’re so hairy.”
Tessa choked again.
And this time Lily detected the slightest bunching of Aidan’s jaw muscle.
“Lily,” he said again, with rather remarkable calm given that