He set his rod in the bottom of the boat. “What we’d have done even if he wasn’t there. It’s about time for you to get back to work, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “Have you fished enough?”
“I have. Want to join me for a fish fry this evening?”
“Oh, very clever,” she said approvingly. “Yes, I’d like that.”
She thought he was giving her an excuse to hang around his cabin again. Maybe he was—but it had little to do with spying on his neighbor. He just wanted to spend more time with her.
He reached out to tug at the brim of her cap, a gesture that was both teasing and flirtatious. Not nearly as satisfying as a kiss, but he would be seeing her later. “Then let’s go. Give your guest a friendly wave when we pass him.”
She did so—maybe a bit too energetically, but Aaron figured if the guy had spent any time at all around Shelby he’d have to know she did everything with enthusiasm. Following that line of thinking could lead him into trouble, he thought ruefully, lifting his chin in a casual greeting to the other fisherman.
Aaron was definitely attracted to Shelby, but that didn’t necessarily mean he planned to do anything about it, other than to enjoy her company. Being surrounded by her extended family didn’t exactly make a hot summer fling a likely possibility and he wasn’t on the market for anything more. Even if this wasn’t the worst time in his life to start a new relationship, Shelby had made it clear that she was happily ensconced here at the resort, and that she wasn’t looking for anyone, either.
Which didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the time he spent with her, he thought, holding on to his cap as he sent her a grin over his shoulder. She beamed back at him, and he swallowed. Maybe another few kisses wouldn’t be out of line...just for the sake of the favor she’d asked, of course.
* * *
Maggie set a stack of time sheets on the corner of Shelby’s desk, then propped a hip on the desktop. “Warning—Lori’s in a mood this morning.”
Shelby groaned. Her sister’s bad moods were notorious. Lori would speak pleasantly and professionally to any guests who crossed her path, but a hapless family member could end up with metaphorical bite marks. “Thanks. I’ll keep a wide berth.”
“We’ve talked her into taking some time off this afternoon. Mimi’s going to run the front desk for a couple hours. So,” Maggie added with an arch smile, “you took Aaron fishing this morning?”
A little startled by the abrupt change of subject, Shelby looked up from her computer keyboard and pushed back a curl that had escaped her ponytail to tickle her cheek. “Your dad invited him, but then Uncle Bryan had to deal with that plumbing problem in Cabin Four.”
Maggie chuckled. “Yeah, the kid in there flushed a handful of rubber bath toys. They were shaped like sea creatures, so he thought they could swim through the pipes.”
Laughing, Shelby shook her head. “I didn’t hear that part.”
“Dad said the kid’s a terror. So about that fishing trip...”
Shelby lifted a shoulder. “After Uncle Bryan had to cancel, I volunteered to fill in. It’s not like I’ve never taken a guest fishing before.”
“Ah. So you were just being a good resort hostess.”
“I didn’t mind. You know I like to fish occasionally.”
“Especially with a good-looking guy in the boat?”
“That does make a nice bonus,” she admitted. “We had a pleasant outing. Aaron caught some fish and he invited me to join him for dinner this evening.”
“Yeah? So...?”
“I said yes. But it’s no big deal, Mags. I just met the guy yesterday.”
“I know. But he did seem sort of taken with you,” her cousin replied speculatively. “The way he looked at you yesterday—I don’t remember his brother looking at you quite that way.”
That comment pleased Shelby on several levels. It demonstrated the cover story she’d concocted was credible, so maybe Terrence Landon wouldn’t question her spending extra time at the cabin next door. And she had to admit her ego was stroked by the prospect that her family would believe a man like Aaron would be interested in her. Ever since Pete had broken up with her, they’d been prone to reassuring her that there was someone out there who would appreciate her “unique qualities.” Her pride had taken a beating from those well-intentioned encouragements. She wasn’t even quite twenty-six yet, for heaven’s sake!
Of course, considering that both she and Hannah had struck out big-time when it came to romance—Hannah almost taking the rest of the family down with her—and that neither of her siblings nor Maggie had thus far found a compatible match, maybe her generation just didn’t have the same luck with love their parents and grandparents had experienced.
“Aaron’s a nice guy,” she said lightly. “I find it interesting how different he is from his brother, even though they’re identical in appearance. If he wants a little company while he’s here, I certainly don’t mind spending time with him.”
Maggie frowned and searched her face. “Okay, what’s going on?”
Shelby widened her eyes. “I don’t know what you mean.”