He knew better, of course. He craved the normalcy of Mary’s life, loved the fact that every part of it was genuine, a reflection of Mary herself. Her home was small but filled with love, designed not by a professional decorator, but by a woman who placed comfort and happiness above labels and price tags. Her little flower shop was the culmination of her dream; each day she went to work she did so with a smile, knowing her day would be spent doing what she loved to do. How many people could say that?
And then there was Max, the massive yellow Lab who was as besotted with Mary as he was. Aidan wouldn’t have believed he’d become as attached to an animal as he had to Max. Mary confided (in hushed whispers so that Max wouldn’t hear), that she adopted Max when she’d heard the owner was going to have him put down as a pup. Max had been the runt of the litter (hard to believe, now that the dog topped one hundred and twenty pounds) and had been diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia. Even knowing what lay ahead, Mary hadn’t thought twice about tossing the pup into her Jeep and not looking back once. They’d been inseparable ever since.
That was the woman he had fallen in love with. And he was determined to show that she belonged in his world every bit as much as he did hers.
“No,” he chuckled, pulling her to her feet and wrapping his arms loosely around her, “that wouldn’t be bad at all. But it is a beautiful day, and a little fresh air will do us both good, I think.”
He smiled at the slight pout on her face, loving the fact that she would be content to spend the day naked and in his arms, but he had other plans.
“Okay,” she sighed. Another thing he loved about her: she would deny him nothing. His unanswered proposal didn’t count; technically, he hadn’t actually asked her to marry him yet.
Aidan took her hand and led her out to the garage, where he opened the car door for her and helped her in. She didn’t really need his assistance any longer, but he took great pleasure in doing these little things for her.
“First to my place, then down to Jake’s.”
Aidan paused at the end of the driveway, offering Mrs. Shaughnessy a cheery wave when he saw her peeking through her curtains.
“You really shouldn’t taunt her like that,” Mary chastised.
“But it’s so much fun,” he replied, without a hint of remorse.
*
Mary turned her head so he wouldn’t see her smiling. The last thing he needed was encouragement. By now the whole town knew Aidan had been staying at her house for the last several days. She tried not to think about that.
She focused on him instead, something guaranteed to wipe everything else from her mind. He was looking sexier than any man should in a simple pair of jeans and a thermal shirt. Both hugged his body, showcasing the sculpted male flesh beneath. An enigmatic smile played across his lips, and his hair was slightly tousled, giving him a really hot just-had-sex look that suited him. Mary took particular pride in that; she’d spent a good part of the morning ensuring it was more than just a look.
She placed her hands in her lap and attempted to wrangle her overzealous hormones back to the ranch.
“So who’s Jake?” Mary asked as they crossed over the river and left the limits of Birch Falls.
Aidan shot her a sideways glance. “Jake Callaghan. He owns a pub over in Pine Ridge.”
“Another Callaghan?” Mary asked, making Aidan laugh. “Afraid so. There are seven of them, in fact. You’ve already met Ian, Lexi’s husband, and Michael, the doctor.”
“Why are we going to Jake’s Pub? Is he a friend of yours?”
“Sort of. Jake’s a good guy. A little intense, but a good man to have on your side. But he’s not the reason we’re going.”
“He’s not?”
“Nope.”
Mary waited for him to say more, but he didn’t.
“Aidan,” she prompted.
“Yes?” His lips twitched. The man was exasperating sometimes! It was a good thing he had so many other redeeming qualities.
“Why are we going to Jake’s Pub if not to see him?”
“Oh. Because my sister wants to meet you.”
That was unexpected. “Your sister?”
“Yes.”
Mary mentally ran through her internet research, but she couldn’t remember any mention of a sister.
“Her name is Rebecca,” Aidan said, clearing his throat.
“Pretty name,” Mary murmured. “You’ve never mentioned her. Are you close?”
Aidan’s hands curled reflexively over the steering wheel. Mary noticed that he did that – flexed his hands – when he was working out exactly what he wanted to say. His facial expressions and other body language didn’t reveal much, but she supposed that was a survival skill in the world of high finance and big business, the ability to give away little.
“In some ways, very,” he said, carefully choosing his words, as if it was hard for him to talk about his personal life.
That was something she could understand; she wasn’t big on sharing, either. But if this was going to work, he had to believe he could confide in her. Aidan kept a large part of himself closed off. And while she loved him, she was not the type of woman who would accept only a part of him. She wanted – no needed – to know all of him before she would be ready to answer his pending proposal.
She was a patient woman. For Aidan, she would wait.
Mary placed her hand lightly on his thigh. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”