Page 29 of Heating Up (Nugget)
“I’m graveyard tonight. Should I wear this?” She stuck her knuckle under his nose, and that was when he saw it. The ring.
Aidan let out a low whistle. “How much that set Brady back?”
“A lot. But I’m worth it.”
He grabbed her ring hand and dragged her to the French doors. “Let’s see if it’ll cut glass.”
“Unhand me, you freak.”
“Congratulations.” He kissed her on the forehead. “I’m the best man, you know? Other than getting the rock, how was Frisco?”
“If people around here ever heard you calling it Frisco, they’d gut you.” She plopped back down on the couch. “Frisco was fan-freaking-tastic. We stayed at the Theodore in the penthouse suite. Brady got his work done early so we could play. I loved it so much I was even considering having the wedding at the hotel. But now Brady and I are thinking we’ll have it here, in Sierra Heights. Set up tables and a dance floor over the pool, string up twinkly lights, and open the rec room to the outside. What do you think?”
“Sounds good to me. You pick a date?”
“We’re playing around with September. It’s a good month in California. . . warm and clear. We just have to make sure it’s okay with the other residents.”
He mussed her hair like he used to do when she was just a pip-squeak. “Let me know and I’ll get my tux out of storage.”
“Hey, Aidan?” She tugged him to the couch and pulled him down. “Are you okay with this weekend . . . with Sue getting married?”
“There’s not a whole lot I can do about it.” She gave him a pointed look. “What?”
“It doesn’t seem like you tried.”
“Of course I tried,” he said. “I asked her to come back, didn’t I?”
“Did you go to her apartment and serenade her, get down on bended knee and beg? You didn’t even fight for her, Aidan. You got in your truck and moved to California. And I have to wonder why.”
“You ever think that maybe I wasn’t the one for her? We were together three years. She dates this guy all of six months and they’re walking down the aisle.”
“Brady and I only knew each other for three months. Before us, he was like you, allergic to marriage. So maybe it’s not marriage you’re averse to; maybe she just wasn’t the one for you, because I know you were the one for her. She loved you, Aidan. All she wanted was to be your wife and the mother of your children. But a woman can’t wait forever.”
He didn’t want to talk about this anymore. “I’ve gotta go.”
“Of course you do. You’re the king of avoidance.” Sloane shook her head. “Want to come over Saturday, use the pool and have dinner with us? We’ll barbecue.”
“Yeah, maybe. I’ll let you know.”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, we won’t talk about it. But don’t be alone, Aidan.”
He went inside the guest room, gathered up his stuff, and grabbed his toiletries from the bathroom.
“I’m taking off,” he said and gave Sloane a hug. “Nice ring.”
* * *
Dana came home to find seven kids in her driveway, eating Otter Pops, while Aidan blew up their inner tubes with an electric air pump.
“Hey.” He bobbed his head at her.
“Going to the river?”
“Yep. Want to come?”
“No thanks.” It had been a hell of a day and all she wanted to do was soak in the tub with a glass of wine. Besides, it seemed a little late for the river. In an hour it would be dark. “Be careful.”
“I always am.” He tossed one of the kids the last tube and they followed him like the Pied Piper down the street, sucking on their ices.
