“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.
She had eight fifteen-year-old girls due to arrive at three thirty. Which meant eight stations to be set up with frosting, cookies and little sprinkles. Not to mention hairnets, aprons and gloves.
She looked at her business partner and did her best to put Amber’s statement in context. Before she could, the other woman laughed.
“Sorry. I guess I assumed it was all about me. I saw Dr. Galloway last week. Remember, I’d been complaining about not feeling well? I wanted to let you know I’m fine.”
“Oh!” Shelby laughed. “Of course. I’m sorry. I should have remembered.”
“You’re busy.”
“Still, not an excuse. So everything is good? That’s so great. Does she have you on special vitamins or something?”
Amber shifted her gaze to the table. “Um, yes. I am on vitamins and some other things. I’m not sick.”
There was something in her friend’s voice. A particular tone Shelby couldn’t put her finger on. Still, if everything was all right, she was busy enough to let the rest of it go.
“I’m glad. I know you weren’t yourself.”
“I wasn’t, but now I’m, you know, okay.” Amber pointed to the cookie stations. “I’m very curious about how this is going to go.”
“Me, too. I figure we’re either going to have a fantastic workforce we can call in for special orders, or it will be a total disaster.”
“No middle ground?”
“I think not.”
“Good luck with it all.”
“Thanks.”
Shelby finished setting up the stations and returned to check on the front of the store just as Madeline walked.
“Hey, you.” Her friend smiled. “How’s it going? I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
Best of My Love (Fool's Gold, #20)
Susan Mallery's books
- A Christmas Bride
- Just One Kiss
- Chasing Perfect (Fool's Gold #1)
- Almost Perfect (Fool's Gold #2)
- Sister of the Bride (Fool's Gold #2.5)
- Finding Perfect (Fool's Gold #3)
- Only Mine (Fool's Gold #4)
- Only Yours (Fool's Gold #5)
- Only His (Fool's Gold #6)
- Only Us (Fool's Gold #6.1)
- Almost Summer (Fool's Gold #6.2)