Felicity seemed contemplative. “Yes. I do.”
“So, you think she kissed me today because she was desperate?”
Felicity’s gaze snapped to his. “She kissed you?”
Oh. He hadn’t told her that part, had he? Oops. Now he had to confess. Aiden nodded and shifted in his chair. “Yeah. Right before you joined us in the cave.”
Her gaze softened. “Well, you’re right. She was desperate. She was running out of money and didn’t know what to do. She just wasn’t thinking straight.”
“I hope so. I’d hate to think she’s planning some other scheme.”
A look crossed Felicity’s face, like she was considering it. “I really don’t think so. What could be gained by asking us where she could work?”
He shrugged. “Maybe she was trying to get me to hire her.”
Felicity slowly shook her head. “I don’t think so. She seemed genuinely happy with the temp agency suggestion.”
“You’re right. And if she really leaves, I guess we’ll know for certain.” Aiden breathed in the night air, content to let the conversation end.
Silence settled in between them, but it wasn’t strained. He glanced at Felicity, her face lit up by the full moon. “It’s a peaceful evening.”
“Yes. I don’t know how you stand it here.” She grinned at him and he laughed.
“I know. Such a rough place to live.”
She reached out and took another cookie from Gram’s plate. “This really is the life.”
She was right, but even living on a resort in Belize was empty without her. Aiden winced. Why was he allowing a thought like that to creep in?
He must have let the time spent pretending to be in a relationship with Felicity get to him. Holding her. Kissing her. It all felt too real. Like he really did love her.
Pain washed through him as he realized the truth. He did love her. He’d always loved her.
He heard a bark and sat up, letting the sound interrupt his thoughts. A little white dog came running along the beach toward them. “Mabel?”
A series of barks answered him and he whistled. “Come here, girl.”
Mabel scampered up the steps to the deck and he lifted her to his lap. “What are you doing out this late at night?”
“We were just going for a walk.” Grams’s voice came from the beach and Aiden could now see her dark figure.
“Come join us, Grams,” Felicity called.
“Oh, I don’t want to be a bother.” But she kept walking toward them anyway.
Aiden chuckled and shook his head. Grams was not very subtle, was she? “Come on. We were just enjoying the night. You can eat one of your cookies.”
Grams came up the steps but didn’t sit down. “Did you like them?”
“Delicious as always, Phoebe,” Felicity said.
“I’m headed toward the supply shed. I want to transplant my orchids in the morning, so I’ll need a trowel and gloves, and maybe a few other things.”
Aiden squinted at her. “Why are you doing that?”
She put her hands on her hips. “Because I’m a woman and I want to have flowers on the other side of my villa. Is that terrible?”
Felicity giggled and tucked her legs under her. “You should be able to have flowers wherever you want them, Grams.”