Chapter 12
After the relaxing night away from the Goldfinch, I’m eager to get busy and sink my teeth into a project or two. Marian and Lauren don’t disappoint. An abundance of projects wait to be completed, and for a few days, I go to bed tired from the manual labor. First, I helped Marian transplant shrubs, bushes, and perennials for what will be a ‘you-pick’ garden for guests. Then to the other side of the property, I dug holes to start a little orchard, also an investment for guests who might be interested in seasonal activities. I’ve always been drawn to the outdoors, and these tasks are back-breaking, yet so enjoyable. If I could bottle up the vibe of pure sunshine, fresh air, and the sense of accomplishment that follows hard work done well, I’d be richer than Caleb and Dalton combined.
A small bit of rain derails our outdoor projects, but Lauren keeps me busy with a small paint job on the porch swing. It’s an older wooden swing that’s anchored to the ceiling. While it’s perfect for two people to sit on and lightly sway as they look out from the front of the house, it’s been needing another paint job. The last time it was done, the prep work wasn’t right, so I join my friend it redoing it properly now.
“I hear chatter about rain coming again,” Marian says as she sips iced tea, seated on the front steps. She’s got a cookbook and notepad in her lap, but I think she just wants our company while we’re out here.
“This last coat of paint will be dry soon,” Lauren replies.
I giggle. “Even if it pours, there’s a ceiling overhead here.”
“Afternoon, lovely ladies.”
Lauren looks up, but I remember that too-smooth tone to bother glancing up.
“Hi, Hayes,” Marian replies.
“Looking good there,” the contractor replies as he strolls close to the porch. He’s been in and out of the area, stopping by the property to check on the work next door. And every time, he makes no bones about flirting with me.
I’m not so easily swayed by a charmer. Half the dads of the misbehaving kids I taught offered to sleep with me in exchange for dismissing their offspring’s incidents.
That’s a big no thanks.
Hayes rubs me the wrong way, too. Too eager. Too schmoozy. Too flirty and aggressive. I have yet to give him a hint that I’m interested in anything more than to maintain a polite acquaintance.
“The painting?” Lauren asks brightly. “See, I knew this light-blue would be a great color.”
“No. I meant that.” He sets his foot on a step, near Marian, and rests his elbow on his knee. Then he swirls his finger, exaggerating a point at me. “You. Looking good, Aubrey.” He winks, and I barely resist gagging.
Too much. Besides, I haven’t even showered yet. A zit is forming on my chin. And I’m messy and paint-splattered in a decidedly non-sexy and non-artistic way. He’s either blind or trying way too hard.
I don’t miss the way Lauren and Marian exchange a look.
I sigh and force a smile. “Hi, Hayes.” I have to say something. But I’m not engaging him on his comment. “What’s up?”
“Well, I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me. What do you say to dinner?”
I stand and brush off my shorts. “Nope. No thanks.” I won’t regret my curt and straight reply.
“Really?” Lauren shoots me a look, raising her brows.
“Yeah, really? Just like that? No?” Hayes asks. His charming smile makes his follow-up questions not sound as impatient as I take them to be.
I shrug and shake my head. Do I have to explain myself? What happened to no meaning, well, no?
“Why not?” he asks.
Dude, give up already. “I’m just so busy with all this work.” Holding up the paintbrush, I show him proof of my reason.
“Aubrey, this is supposed to be a vacation, too,” Lauren says. “You can relax and have fun.”
“Yeah, have some fun with me,” Hayes teases.
I almost curl my lip right there and snarl.
“I want you to enjoy yourself,” Lauren says.
I sigh. She’s right. But that still doesn’t mean I have to open up to Hayes. “Sorry,” I tell him. Not sorry. “But no.”
Once he pouts and saunters off, maybe hoping I’ll change my mind, I tidy up my brush and cup of paint. As soon as he’s out of earshot, Lauren groans lightly. “Aubrey, come on. Why are you so stubborn to brush him off like that?”
“I’m not interested.”
“We can see that,” Marian quips.
“But why?” Lauren holds up her hands, cutting me off. “You always said you never had time to date, but that was before. Here, you don’t have to juggle a part-time job with a career. You can have time to date and see about letting someone new into your life.”
“I get the impression you’re closed-off,” Marian adds, gentler than Lauren’s way of speaking up. “You’ve rejected Hayes at every turn. You’re hardly cordial to Dalton, too.”
Because I am closed-off. “I’m not interested in him.” And I’m more than cordial to Dalton. I sat with him on his bed when he wore nothing but boxers. That’s way more than cordial.
“Why?” Lauren asks. “He’s not bad to look at.”
I shrug. Looks are only skin-deep.
“Are you so stubborn you’ll refuse to ever consider getting to know any man?” she pushes.
“Hey, I practically spent a whole night talking to Dalton,” I argue.
Marian lifts her brows, surprised. “You did?”
“At Copper Mountain.” Before she can latch on to that and try to be matchmaker or cupid, I add, “He doesn’t like me like that. I don’t think he likes me very much at all.” Sure, we shared a bit, but things aren’t rosy between us. We’re both too jaded not to be more amicable.
Lauren smirks. “He looks at you in a way that makes me think he likes you very much.”
“Like he wants to eat you,” Marian says, waggling her brows.
I slant her an incredulous look. I cannot believe she said that! She’s no prude, but wow.
I’m a bit taken aback by these women and their conclusions that Dalton’s got the hots for me. I feel hot. My cheeks warm, and I hate that I’m blushing about any of this. But I can’t help it. It’s instinct. The idea of Dalton viewing me as someone he wants makes me feel something.
Stubborn to a fault, I brush them off. I shake my head, ready to make it clear nothing is happening between me and Dalton. “I don’t anticipate starting anything up with Dalton. Or Hayes,” I add with a point at each of them. “So don’t go getting any more ideas, like faking you hurt your ankle to force me to spend time alone with him.”
“I haven’t done that!” she protests.
“Why not?” Marian asks. “That’s a brilliant plan.”
I narrow my eyes at her, then Lauren. “Sure, like you didn’t try to set us up together to hike as a couple while you and Caleb hung out at the chalet.”
Now Lauren’s cheeks turn a bright pink.
“Uh-oh.” Marian giggles. “I think you’re busted for sneaking away from your friends to get a quickie.”
Lauren clamps her lips shut tight but loses the fight to a smile. “Fine. Guilty as charged to wanting some alone time away with Caleb. But there was nothing quick about it.”
I roll my eyes and leave the porch to put my things away in the shed. Marian gasps as a timer sounds in the distance, and she gets up in a hurry. “My dryer!” She hurries into the house, calling back over her shoulder, “I wanted to have my ‘good’ jeans dry before we go into Denver tonight!”
“You should let them hang and air dry,” I call out to her. “They’ll be too tight after heat cycles in the dryer.”
Lauren approaches, reaching for my hand to stall me from going to the shed. “Hey. Listen. I just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy.” At least I’ve given up lying to myself that I’m fine. It has to be progress.
“I can tell something is going on with you,” she says. “Something I hope you’ll feel comfortable telling me when you’re ready.”
She’s always been so perceptive like this. So observant and quick to worry. I’m used to the way she can read me like a book. We’ve been too close of friends—more like sisters—that we wouldn’t have that deep of a familiarity with each other.
A sliver of guilt hits me. I should tell her. I should feel comfortable enough to be upfront and honest with her. But this news could hurt her, too, and I cling to the martyrdom a little longer. If I can spare her any negativity from Jeremy, I will. I can’t tell her the truth about my situation yet. I need to, but now isn’t the time.
“I’m here for you, Aubrey.” She draws in a steadying breath, and I fear she’s fighting tears and getting emotional. “I hope you know that. Even though I’m moving so fast with Caleb, my love for him will never ever replace you as my best friend.”
“Is this a weird way of proposing you want to try a threesome?”
She sniffles and barks out an incredulous laugh. I smile as she immediately cracks up at my absurd question out of the blue. Just like I intended. I don’t want her to be sad or remorseful, and throwing in ridiculous humor does the trick.
“What? No!”
I giggle.
“But I mean, sometimes I think back to it all. How close I came to being forced into a hell of a lifetime with Jeremy. You helped me, Aubrey. You helped save me and stood by me to get me out of there. And I only hope you know I can be there for you, too.”
Oh, jeez. Stick the knife in where it hurts, why don’t you? Of all things she could have said…This guilt trip is precisely why I can’t tell her about how Jeremy got me fired. She would never forget or forgive herself for the way I’m suffering. She would instantly assume she’s not a great friend and isn’t standing by me at all by me losing my job because of her ex.
I’m saved from commenting any further when Caleb pulls into the drive. He and Dalton headed out earlier for more golfing. I’m secretly jealous. I’ve always been intrigued about the sport. How hard could it be to whack a ball on a tee? I’ve never tried it. I’ve never been in the position to golf, but I bet I would like it. For one, it’s another way to be outdoors, even if in a manicured, controlled way. I love my sunshine, and I’ll take it however I can.
Sometimes I wonder if my love of the outdoors is because of the way I lost my parents. I was told about their death in this tiny, cramped room with no windows at the police station. All I’d wanted was to run out and breathe fresh air. Since then, I’ve been addicted to never being confined inside, no matter where I was. It’s something like convincing myself I can’t be trapped with bad news and loss if I can move and explore away from receiving such news.
“Look who’s managed to find their way back home,” Lauren calls out, teasing. “Have you boys had enough of your fancy golf tour today?”
They roll their eyes, coming closer to us near the porch.
“Boys?” Caleb challenges her as he pulls her in close for a hug. “I’m a man, sweetheart. Your man.”
I glance at Dalton, smirking at how his golfing clothes are snug over his muscles. “Yeah. You’re acting like some fuddy-duddy rich old man stuck in a younger man’s body.”
Dalton narrows his eyes playfully as he tips his chin up. “I’d smoke your ass on the course, baby.” He ends it with a wink.
Whoa. I blink quickly. Baby? I’m stunned by his words. Was he flirting? Mocking me? Another blush warms my cheeks and I realize I’m taking his reply as something more than a teasing retort.
He so is hitting on me. And I can’t help but feel something from it. I’m warm. I’m excited? I can’t tell, but a different energy fills me. As I struggle to find something to say, I turn away and glance into the distance.
“Uh.” Dalton clears his throat, appearing just as inflicted with awkwardness too. He’s clearly uncomfortable after talking to me like that in front of our friends, and I can tell he’s…rusty. Awkward. But honest.
I’m so thrown by his remark I can’t figure out what the hell I’m feeling or what I should think.
Lauren smirks at Caleb, who’s looking awfully smug.
Dammit.What are they thinking now?
“So.” Lauren claps, breaking us from the moment of horrid awkwardness. “Caleb and I are going to Denver tonight with Marian.”
“What?” Dalton practically blurts it. “You didn’t mention this,” he tells Caleb.
“Yeah. I forgot. We’re going to meet with a financial advisor to hash out more details about Marian’s retirement and my buyout of the BB.”
“What about the guests?” I ask, hoping she can’t read me so well that she’ll see how much I’m freaking out. Lauren, Caleb, and Marian are the buffers I’ve relied on to deal with Dalton always being right there within reach.
“They’re checking out soon,” Lauren replies.
“So, it’ll just be the two of us?” Dalton flicks his finger and himself and me.
Please no. I almost ask if I can come with them. Panic creeps in at the thought of being alone with Dalton, the man who makes me curious. The man who just hit on me like that. Being here alone with him means I’ll need to confront him or at least address his comment. And this baby endearment I have no business liking so much.
Lauren nods.
Dalton shrugs. “Yeah, we can hold down the fort here.”
I press my lips shut, not trusting what might come out of my mouth.
I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?