Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
The week following their public dinner unfolded like a flower blooming in time-lapse—each day revealing new colors, new complications, new ways for Dylan to doubt everything while simultaneously feeling more certain than she’d ever been.
Laurel Valley had absorbed Aidan’s declaration with the efficiency of a small town that treated romance like community property, and Dylan couldn’t buy coffee without someone offering relationship advice disguised as pleasantries.
Wednesday afternoon found her at the restoration shop, watching Hank’s crew install the final pieces of equipment while her mind churned through Saturday’s approaching climb to Eagle’s Point.
The final clue. The ring. The end of excuses to spend time with Aidan that didn’t require admitting that there was more waiting for them.
“Looking good,” Hank said, appearing beside her with his tablet and the satisfied expression of someone whose vision had materialized exactly as planned. “Two more weeks and you’ll be operational.”
“Two weeks.” The words tasted like future on her tongue—foreign but not unpleasant.
“Nervous?”
“Terrified.”
“Good. Means it matters.”
“I’ve had a dozen calls from potential clients. I’m already booked with projects through the end of next year.”
“Good news,” Hank said. “You’ll be back in the black before you know it.”
“No pressure.”
Hank studied the space with a contractor’s eye, but his voice carried a brother’s concern. “Aidan’s been different since you agreed to stay. Happier. More…himself, if that makes sense.”
“He’s always seemed like himself to me.”
“No, he’s seemed like who he thought he should be.
He’s got that middle child complex. Always going out of the way to be different than the rest of us.
Contrary by nature. When we were kids, if four of us wanted to go fishing, he wanted to go mountain climbing.
If we played football, he played baseball.
I was worried when Sophie and I got married because I knew that Aidan’s hard head would make him stay alone longer just because the rest of us were married. ”
“Oh, I don’t…”
“All I’m saying is that Aidan has never been what he has seemed like to the outside world.
He works with his hands in his shop, but he’s got a brilliant mind for business.
The two of you have a chance to grow something together.
And in doing that I think you’re going to be the key to finally letting Aidan be who he really is. ”
Before Dylan could respond, her phone rang.
“Pinnacle Restoration,” she answered, thinking it would be another client. Hardly anyone she knew called her. They usually just texted.
“Dylan, this is Victoria,” a cool voice said.
“How did you get my number?”
“Sophie gave it to me.” Victoria’s voice was smooth as aged whiskey. “Before you get angry with her, I told her I wanted to apologize properly for my behavior the first time we met at the garage. I didn’t realize you and Aidan were involved.”
“Oookay,” Dylan said, wondering what was going on.
She’d spent most of her time around men growing up and into adulthood.
Only in the last few years as she’d spent time with the O’Hara women had she started to learn some of the subtle, and not so subtle, nuances of women.
And Victoria was definitely angling for something.
“Could we meet for coffee?”
“Why?” Dylan asked. “My plate is pretty full right now.”
Victoria’s sigh reached through the receiver, and Dylan felt like a student who asked too many questions.
“Because there are things that need to be said.”
Dylan looked at Hank, who was pretending not to eavesdrop. “When?”
“How about now? I’m at Heavenly Delights.”
She checked her watch and contemplated. “Give me twenty minutes.”
* * *
Heavenly Delights was nearly empty at three in the afternoon. Victoria had claimed a corner table, looking like she’d been styled for a magazine shoot about elegant women in small towns. Her cream cashmere sweater looked very expensive and wouldn’t last a second in the garage.
“I’ll be direct,” Victoria said as Dylan sat down. “Do you love Aidan?”
The bluntness of it caught Dylan off guard. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”
“No, it’s not.” Victoria studied her with cool assessment. “But your hesitation tells me enough. You’re not sure.”
“Like I said, it’s not your business.”
“I care about him,” she said. “I don’t want him to get hurt.”
“Like you hurt him?”
“I was foolish,” she admitted. “But we were together for two years. I was the one who tamed the tomcat. Before me, he never dated anyone more than a month. Didn’t want to be tied down.”
“Good for you,” Dylan said. “I still don’t understand what this has to do with me.”
“By your own admission you’re not in love with him.
At least not all the way. I’ve learned quite a bit about you since I’ve been back.
Army brat. Raised mostly by her father who was a mechanic.
Moved around every couple of years. Worked by his side until he got too sick and then you bore the brunt of things.
And then he died and left you alone, and you’ve stayed alone.
You seem to be comfortable with what you know. ”
Dylan felt her insides go cold and her hands went clammy. Was her life so easily summed up? “And what do I know?”
“You know you can only rely on yourself. That love isn’t permanent, whether through your mother leaving you or through death. I’m surprised you’ve been in Laurel Valley as long as you have. And I don’t expect you to stay. It’s hard to change patterns that have been ingrained your whole life.”
“I am staying here,” she said, though her conviction didn’t sound nearly convincing enough. “Aidan and I are partners.”
“Aidan is a practical man,” Victoria said.
“A businessman at heart. He’s not emotion driven.
Once he sees you’re a flight risk he’ll come to his senses.
And I’ll be here for him. Because I do love him.
And he’ll start to remember the good times we had over those two years, and how aligned our families are, and that we could build an empire together, which is something you and he could never do. ”
“It sounds like you’ve got everything planned out,” Dylan said, coming to her feet.
“I don’t mean to hurt you,” she said. “But it’s best to know all the cards on the table before you try to play your hand. I still have a chance with Aidan. And I’m going to play my hand.”
“I’m not interested in playing your game, so enjoy yourself.” Dylan turned and walked out of Heavenly Delights, tamping down the molten embarrassment bubbling up inside of her along with a simmering anger.
“So I haven’t made long-term decisions yet,” she mumbled under her breath. “Why is everyone in such a hurry? Maybe everyone should just leave me alone.”
“You okay?” Raven asked right before Dylan plowed right into her on the sidewalk.
“Oh, God, I’m so sorry,” Dylan said as they did a sort of dance to keep from falling. “I didn’t see you.”
“I expect not,” Raven said, the kindness in her eyes almost Dylan’s undoing. “You were having quite the conversation. Only one thing can make a woman that angry, and that’s an O’Hara man.”