Page 77 of A Cowboy's Bride
Sydney’s words of wisdom were still churning in Petra’s gut. Being here at High Water was supposed to only be a temporary thing, but clearly, that kind of thinking couldn’t continue.
Which meant starting back at square one.
What did she truly want?
She had moved all the way here to Alberta, away from what had been her hometown, to start a new life. What she’d found were people she cared about and a young woman who was blooming because of being in a safe environment. Petra had gotten to spend time with her brother and sister-in-law, and she’d gotten to know the Skye brothers better.
But mostly, the part her brain kept turning to again and again was Aiden. Her temporary distraction, her lover who had rapidly grown into a trusted friend.
Maybe Sydney was right. Maybe something at the very core of what they were doing needed to change.
Did she want this to still be pretend? And how on earth did she change it if that’s not what she wanted?
It didn’t seem like the thing you up and told a guy.Hey, you know this pretending to be engaged thing that we’re doing? I think we should actually consider getting married down the road.
Aiden would either think she was feverish or he’d be looking for the nearest exit, stat.
Frustration washed in, again, and Petra once again fell back on distraction to avoid thinking too hard. She hopped on her computer and got to work, the numbers dancing before her mixing with snippets of conversation. Moments repeated over and over, especially the ones where she and Aiden had shared tidbits from their lives. Things that had made them happy. Things that had made them think.
What was it they’d said way back then? That first day when she’d convinced him it was okay for them to be lovers?—
She racked her brain, and slowly it came back. They’d said they would do this—the friends with benefits—until it wasn’t working for one of them.
Well, just being friends wasn’t working anymore. If Petra wanted them to stop the casual sex because she wanted it to bemorethan casual—that was within the letter of the law.
Wasn’t it?
She was staring motionless at her computer screen when strong fingers landed on her shoulders, massaging lightly. Aiden bent and kissed the side of her neck.
“You’re obviously jumping at the bit to put your party hat on,” he teased. “Come on, it’s time for the birthday girl to get ready.”
She rose, kissing his cheek as she slipped past him, the start of a plan falling into place. Not now, and not until everyone had gone home, but Sydney was right. It was past time to talk about dropping the pretending.
Petra slipped on a new blue blouse and pulled herself together, then stared into the mirror and straightened her shoulders. “I think it’s going to be a good evening.”
Even as she crossed her fingers and hoped she wasn’t about to turn her birthday party into a non-celebration of epic proportions.
The party was a raging success.
An extended group of ladies that Aiden had been informed were a large portion of the local Heart Falls girls’-night-out posse had shown up, and every one of them had brought their significant others. Zach and Julia were there, along with Sasha Stone’s parents, and Chance Gabrielle and Rose Fields, and too many others to keep track of easily.
It meant a good-sized party was happening with music and impromptu dancing.
The food, plentiful and delicious, had shown up like magic right when the last of the guests arrived. For some reason, Jake’s scowl deepened with every compliment, and it only got worse when Tansy had tied an apron on him boasting an image of a frazzled cat and the wordsIt’s fine. It’s all fine.
In one corner of the room, Sasha and Jinx were playing board games with a group of other teens. Sasha had been invited to stay for a sleepover afterward, and the mere idea that Jinx felt comfortable enough to invite a friend over made everything in Aiden’s heart soften.
But Aiden’s gaze most often went to Petra as she wandered the room, accepting birthday wishes and hugs. She had a glow tonight, the delicate bright blue shirt making her pale eyes shine.
Aiden couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
“I don’t know why you’re not over there standing next to Petra,” Declan complained between sips from his long neck beer. “Even when you’re talking to us, your mind is obviously somewhere else.”
“I need a little dose of you guys,” Aiden offered cheerfully. “It is her party. She needs to do the butterfly thing and give everybody a chance to enjoy her company.”
“She is pretty amazing,” Jake agreed, finally undoing the knot on the apron and pulling it off over his head. “And well liked. The turnout is great. People seem to be enjoying themselves, and the space is perfect for this kind of event. We should consider renting it for parties when we don’t have artists in residence.”
Declan began suggesting possible other parties they could arrange in the future, and as his brothers chatted back and forth, Aiden listened without hearing and went back to staring at Petra.
