Page 16 of Heating Up (Nugget)
Aidan gave her credit for coming clean. “One of the most common causes of house fires,” he added.
“Are you planning to rebuild? Because that’s such a nice neighborhood.” Tawny glanced over at Lucky, who appeared to be ordering.
“As soon as Pat and Colin are done with your new house, they’ll start on mine.”
“That’s good. They’re doing the finish work on ours now, hallelujah. We’ve been living in a construction zone these past few weeks. But we needed to be on the property for the cowboy camp . . . and for planning the wedding. I should get back, but I’m glad two good people are living in my old house.”
When she left, Aidan asked, “You going to their wedding?”
“I don’t know them very well and wasn’t invited. I think Carol is going.”
He’d gotten the sense from Brady, who was catering the reception, that everyone in town, including him, was invited. Provided that he didn’t have to work, he planned to go because he’d never been to a wedding in a barn before. That was where they were holding it. It would’ve been nice to know someone there besides his sister and her fiancé.
They made random conversation while they ate, and when the bill came Aidan took it.
“What are you doing? Let’s split it down the middle,” Dana said.
“Nah, you only got a salad and I hijacked your table.”
“I ate your nachos.”
“They were for both of us. Don’t worry about it. You’ll get me next time. Plus, you’re supplying us with candy.” He put his credit card on the table and saw her glance over at Griffin and his girlfriend’s booth.
Aidan wondered what that was about. Maybe she was still hung up on the guy. The girl he was with was gorgeous, but she looked young. He figured Dana was in her late twenties—also young.
“When are you moving in?” he asked her.
“I’ll probably bring my toothbrush over tomorrow or during the weekend.” She laughed, and he thought she had a good attitude. Most people would still be crying over all they’d lost in the fire.
“They delivering your bed soon?”
“Tomorrow,” she said.
The waitress took the card. “Then I’ll probably see you tomorrow. I’m not on until Monday.”
After the bill got squared away, he walked her to the inn and helped her unload a few of her packages, then he went to Sloane and Brady’s.
“You want some dinner? There are leftovers in the fridge,” Sloane said. She was doing laundry to pack for her and Brady’s trip to San Francisco in the morning.
“I ate at the Ponderosa.”
She stopped what she was doing to look at him. “You dealing with this Sue thing?”
“What’s to deal with? I’m not sending a gift, if that’s what you mean.”
“Aid, don’t be such a guy. I know you; you’re dying inside.”
“I screwed up . . . not much I can do about it now.” He’d tried—just not hard enough.
“Why did you screw up? That’s the question. You think you’re one of those guys who’s afraid of marriage?”
“I don’t know.” He lifted his shoulder.
“Well, don’t you think you should try to figure it out?”
“Yeah, I’ll get right on that.” The last thing he wanted to discuss with his sister was whether he had a commitment phobia. The sorry truth was he didn’t know. His parents had been married for close to forty years and still made out in the kitchen. So it wasn’t like he didn’t have good role models. Family had always been important to him and kids, yeah, he wanted them. Yet, with Sue, every time she’d brought up marriage his blood had run cold and his muscles tightened. The question was moot anyway; Sue was getting married this weekend.
He went up into the loft and turned on the TV. As far as Aidan was concerned, it was the best room in the house. Giant flat-screen, wet bar, big leather sofas. The rest of the house, except for the kitchen, was filled with flowery, slipcover crap. Poor Brady had to check his dick at the door.
