Best of My Love (Fool's Gold, #20)

SHELBY FOUND HERSELF oddly nervous as she waited for Aidan to get home from his camping trip. He’d called from the office—just to say he was back—and she’d invited him to stop by on his way back to his place. Now, as she paced the length of her living room, she fought against that weird fluttering in her stomach and a growing sense of anticipation.

She’d missed her friend, she told herself. And Charlie, of course. Because she loved that silly little dog. The way he waved his paws impatiently when she wasn’t quick enough with a treat or the toy du jour. How he liked to stretch out on the back of the sofa, like a cat.

That was it, she told herself. She’d missed Charlie. And Aidan, but mostly the dog.

She heard the truck pull into her driveway and hurried out to greet her guys. Charlie had his head out the window and barked a greeting. She opened the door on his side and he jumped into her arms. He was nearly twenty pounds, so she staggered for a second, then hugged him close.

“Hey, you,” she murmured, stroking his soft fur. “How was the camping trip?”

Aidan stepped out and circled the truck. “We had a good time. Charlie was a hit with everyone. They all snuck him food, so we’re going to have to do extra walks for the next couple of days. The campers were great. How are you doing?”

He looked good, she thought absently. Unshaved. Tousled. Sexy. He had on an open long-sleeved shirt over a T-shirt, jeans and hiking boots. Nothing that should have gotten her heart to beating fast and yet she found herself all quivery.

“Shelby?”

“Huh?”

He smiled. “You okay?”

She nodded. “I missed you.”

He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “I missed you, too. You should have come with me.”

They walked toward her place. Charlie led the way, then darted inside.

“Next time,” she said. “I have remodeling to monitor. I’m sure I’m making my contractor crazy, but he’ll just have to deal.”

“They making progress?”

“Every day.”

They walked into her house. Charlie had already found the bowl of fresh water she’d put out for him. She opened the kitchen slider so he could go outside.

“Want a beer?” she asked. “You must be tired.”

“I am. A beer sounds great. Then I need to get home and take a shower.”

She walked to the refrigerator. “You could shower here.”

She’d meant the statement innocently enough. She really was offering the shower. But something in the air changed when she said the words. She turned and found Aidan watching her from across the kitchen.

His dark eyes brightened with an intensity that stole her breath. Wanting pooled in her belly and quickly moved out to every corner of her body. She shivered and not from the cold.

“Want to join me?”

Four simple words that individually didn’t mean all that much. But when strung together...well, they were a lot more significant.

She thought about what it would be like—the small, steamy space, the hot water and a very naked, wet Aidan to do with what she would.

She smiled. “You’re saying the beer can wait?”

“That I am.”

*

AIDAN WAS UNPREPARED for the high pitched sounds that ten sixteen-year-old girls could make. His first thought was he was grateful he’d left Charlie at home. The poor pup would have been whimpering from the loud noises. To be honest, Aidan felt a little overwhelmed himself.

Starr’s party was held in a section of the town’s convention center. He never would have thought of that venue, but Shelby had talked to party planner Dellina Ridge, who had suggested it.

They’d taken over about a quarter of the open area near the industrial kitchen. There was plenty of room for tables and chairs and their 1950s theme.

Destiny and Kipling had provided the portable sound system and Gideon, who owned the local oldies radio station, had loaned them plenty of era-appropriate music. There were cutouts of Elvis for selfies, rented poodle skirts and a makeup station with printed instructions on how to do cat eyeliner.

Beyond the tables was a basketball court-sized concrete floor—perfect for roller skating. The menu was simple—hot dogs, mac and cheese and a salad bar. There was an ice cream sundae station and the guitar cupcake cake.

The party had started at three and dinner was still about an hour away. Aidan could see the girls were nearly finished with roller skating. He crossed to Shelby, who was setting the big table for the girls.

“We’re going to need another activity,” he said. “Otherwise, they’ll get restless.”

She smiled. “You sound nervous.”

“Yeah. My female training has been with adults. Teenaged girls still frighten me.”

She patted his arm. “They frighten us all. Don’t worry. I have it covered.” She pointed to the big double doors.

A woman walked in. She was tall and lean, with green eyes and blond hair. It took him a second to recognize her.

“She’s that dance lady.”

“Evie Jefferson,” Shelby said, waving her over. “She owns the dance school in town. She’s going to teach the girls some dances from the 1950s. That will keep them busy until dinner. Plus they’ll be exhausted.”

“Kipling will be thrilled.”