Page 74 of Welcome Home, Katie Gallagher
My heart beat faster. I could feel my face reddening.
Me: We’re at a restaurant supply warehouse, checking out things for the diner.
Aiden: Hell, I was planning to take you to a place like that.
I smiled, warm and happy.
“Did you find one you liked?” Connor walked up next to me to see what had me smiling.
“Oh, no. I was just thinking.” I slipped the phone back into my coat pocket as we continued down the aisle. “There are a lot of beautiful furniture sets, but they’re just not right.”
He stopped walking. “We could go grab some lunch and then come back with fresher brains and eyes.”
“No. I’m okay. We only have a few more rows.” Connor looked tired, so I changed the suggestion. “You know what? I’m just going to run up and down the last aisles. You sit here and I’ll pick you up on the way back. Then we can go get that lunch.”
He nodded. “I wouldn’t say no to a rest.” He sat down on the nearest banquette and waved me away.
When I turned a corner, I pulled my phone back out.
Aiden: Kate? Call me when you’re on your way back to BH.
Me: Sorry. Connor snuck up on me. That man moves as silently as you do. I had to ditch my phone.
Aiden: Why?
Me: I didn’t want him to see who I was texting.
Aiden: Why?
I paused, not knowing how to answer that. Were we a couple? Or did he mean that friends texted, so what was the big deal? He called me his girl... What the hell were the rules for this kind of thing? My phone buzzed again.
Aiden: Don’t keep Pops out too late. He tires easily.
Me: I won’t. We’re going to lunch in a few and then we’ll drive back. Can we talk about the other stuff later?
Aiden: Of course. Drive safely and let me know when you get home. I’d like to see you tonight.
I stood for a few moments, lost in thought, drowning in memories of Aiden. Shit. I was supposed to be checking out furniture. I looked up and saw it, the perfect set. It was exactly as I’d pictured it.
I raced back around the corner. “Connor, come look!”
I dragged him to see the set, and we both agreed that it suited my vision. Then we headed to grab something to eat.
After lunch, we visited Paul Bunyan’s statue and took pictures. When Connor went to the restroom, I pulled out my phone again and texted Aiden the picture I’d taken of me with the giant.
Me: Look! Your taller, whiskered, axe-wielding twin!
I waited for a response until I saw Connor returning. I felt my phone buzz just as I was dropping it in my pocket. I made a half turn, blocking my phone arm. He’d sent me a pic. I couldn’t wait until later, so I turned a little farther, opening my messages and clicking on the photo. It was of Aiden standing in deep snow, laughing, and he had a beard. Damn, how could he still look so gorgeous with half of his face covered in whiskers? It was bullshit, that’s what it was.
“Should we head back now?” Connor asked.
I turned, dropping my phone back into my pocket, and nodded. “Yep. Let’s hit the road.”
Chapter Thirty
Aiden
I checked my phone again. She’d seen the snow photo but hadn’t responded. Maybe beards weren’t a good look for me. I was working in her kitchen, Chaucer at my heels. He had been lying down watching me prepare food before he realized that, unlike Kate, I drop food all the time. Ever since that revelation, he’d been tripping me up, trying to get as close to the potential floor food as possible.
