Hannah frowned and followed Aubrey’s gaze.
“I asked him to fill in for Dylan,” Hannah answered with a shrug. “Dylan had some… things to tend to tonight.”
God, the man looked good in a suit, she thought as he stopped in front of her.
“So,” he said, after his eyes had run over Aubrey. “Where do you want me?” he asked.
Aubrey’s mind flashed to the last time they’d been together. How they’d practically ripped each other’s clothes off.
She could just imagine removing that tie from around his neck and using it to keep his hands above his head while she took her time running her mouth over every inch of…
“Earth to Aubrey.” Hannah snapped her fingers in front of her face. “You’re up.” Her friend shoved her towards the stage again.
Damn. She’d been so focused on her sex daydream that five whole minutes had fled by.
As she introduced each talent, her eyes and mind kept returning to Aiden. She watched him help set up each talent show participant, even escorting people up and down the narrow stage stairs.
Over an hour later, Aubrey’s head was splitting, and she’d changed from water to a soda for the extra energy.
“Tired?” Aiden asked her as she leaned on the bar and sipped her drink.
She turned slightly towards him. “So, now you’re working dinners?” she asked. “Is there anything you can’t do around here?”
His smile slipped. “Apparently I can’t keep a relationship.”
She tensed just as Elle stopped by. “Thanks for your help tonight,” she said to Aiden. “Getting everything together for the wedding next week has us stretched thin. Dylan and Zoey still have so much they have to do to get ready for their big day. They’ll have two whole weeks off.” She glanced around the emptying dining hall. “I guess it’s time we finally hired more help around here,” she said with a sigh.
“Just say the word and I’m on it,” Aubrey supplied. She’d already hired a few new counselors, as they called them—employees to help out with the events and their guests’ needs during their stay.
“No, Brent will get on it, since we need more staff here than we do around the grounds. Opening up the dining to non-guests two nights a week has brought in a lot of money and demand for more workers.” Elle leaned against the bar. “But it was a great idea.” She smiled. “And guests don’t seem to mind having dinner a little earlier on Fridays and Saturdays.”
Aubrey shrugged and turned back to her drink. “Tired?” Elle asked her.
“Long day.” She glanced towards Aiden who was still watching her.
“You look tired. Go on. We can handle it from here. Get some rest.” Elle laid a hand on her arm, then turned to Aiden. “Why don’t you walk her back? We’re done with you too.” Elle left without waiting for an answer. “Thanks for your help tonight, cuz,” she called over her shoulder as she made her way up to the stage area.
“Think she knows something?” Aiden asked her, causing her to stiffen.
“What?” Her eyes moved to the back of her friend.
“Relax, I meant it as a joke.” He sighed and took her arm. “Would it be so bad? I mean, we aren’t even seeing one another anymore.” He frowned down at her. “Technically, we were never really seeing each other.” He shrugged.
“No,” she said as they stepped out into the warm night air. “The only thing I miss about New York is the fall,” she said, changing the topic. “Cool fall nights, the leaves turning colors.”
“What leaves?” he joked. “You lived in the city.”
She chuckled. “I used to run in the park all the time.” She shrugged. “Still, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything,” she admitted.
“You seem off lately,” he told her. He tugged on her arm until she stopped to look at him. “What has you down?”
She shook her head. “I’m not…” She stopped when his eyebrows shot up. Sighing, she rolled her eyes. He obviously knew her too well for her to get away with lying to him. “I guess it’s the wedding. I feel like I’m losing a friend.”
She walked over towards a railing area that overlooked the bay and leaned on it, looking out over the dark water. He moved to stand next to her.
“You know, I still don’t have a date for the big event.” He nudged her shoulder. “We could always go as friends?”
She glanced up at him and frowned. She’d thought about asking him several times but had put it off for fear of him getting the wrong impression.
“Friends?” she asked.
“Sure. Whatever else there is between us, I still think of you as my friend.” He turned so that his back was facing the water and leaned his elbows on the railing as his eyes ran over her slowly. “We may have our differences as far as what we want, but we will always have a great past between us.” He smiled, then leaned closer to her. “Nothing can take that away from us.” His eyes moved to her lips. “Even if you no longer want it, it will always be there.”
She felt her heart skip and sink at the same time. She was about to respond to him when he leaned back and smiled. “So? What do you say? Is it a date between friends?” He held out his hand for hers.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded and shook his hand. “Fine, it’s a date.”
Chapter 6
When the big day of Zoey and Dylan’s wedding finally arrived, Aiden was stuffed into another uncomfortable suit. He was standing at the base of the stairs, waiting for Aubrey and her friends to meet him in the lobby area. He’d volunteered to pick up the group and drive them out to the beach area in one of the golf carts that had been decorated especially for the wedding.
He’d heard through the grapevine that the five friends had enjoyed a bachelorette party two nights ago when he’d been out with the guys in Destin at a local bar for Dylan’s bachelor party. It hadn’t been a wild party, mainly filled with food and beer, but he’d enjoyed getting to know the Costa men a little more.
He’d helped set up the folding chairs on the beach earlier that morning as well as a small arch Liam had made for the bride and groom to stand under during the ceremony.
It had been a few years since he’d attended a wedding. It had been the wedding of one of Danelle’s friends, and the event had been full of people he didn’t know. The entire day had been uncomfortable and strained. Shortly after, Danelle had left him, claiming she’d wanted to go a different direction.
He was better off for it. He could now say that, thanks to Aubrey.
He glanced up just as the five friends made their way down the stairs. He glanced quickly at Zoey’s soft white off-the-shoulder wedding dress. They were carefully descending the stairs while Zoey’s long wedding train was carried for her by the four friends.
“Easy,” Elle said, shifting slightly.
“We’re too early,” Hannah broke in.
Just then, everyone noticed him standing at the base of the stairs.
“Oh god.” Zoey glanced around nervously. “Where is Dylan?”
He chuckled. “I made sure he and his brothers were already out on the beach before coming to get you five.” His eyes moved to Aubrey. She looked amazing in the flowing sky-blue dress. Material draped over her right shoulder, leaving her left one exposed.