“That was just one time!” she protested indignantly.
“And I could have lost an eye.”
She snorted. “I missed you by a good three or four inches.”
Steven looked significantly at Aaron. “Like I said.”
“So, anyway,” Bryan said to Shelby’s dad, as if continuing a conversation that had started before she’d joined them, “I’m going to hire Bubba and those two friends of his for the summer. We know Bubba’s a good worker and he vouches for his friends. Tomorrow’s their last day of school this semester.”
C.J. nodded. “Bubba’s a good kid. Not the brightest bulb in the box, but he gives it his all. I say go for it.”
“Is that the boy who wore his pants down around his butt last summer?” Pop demanded with a scowl.
“Well, he did until you threatened to make him wear striped suspenders,” Steven said with a chuckle. “After that, he bought a good belt.”
“He’ll work hard for us, Dad,” Bryan assured him. “And I’ll tell them all to keep their shorts covered.”
Aaron sipped his lemonade, sitting back and listening to the conversation. Shelby wondered how many business-related meals took place around his own family’s lunch table. She would bet there’d be
en more than a few.
“Steven, I need you to set the new charcoal grill in Site Thirty after lunch,” Bryan mumbled around a mouthful of burger. “Going to be busy this weekend, and we’ll need it.”
“Some yahoo backed his trailer into the old grill and broke it right in half,” Pop grumbled to Aaron. “Nowhere near the RV pad. Don’t know what he was thinking.”
Steven glanced at his watch. “I told Aaron we’d take out a couple of Jet Skis this afternoon.”
“I’ll help you install the grill, and we can play afterward,” Aaron suggested.
“I’ll help, too,” Shelby offered. “I was planning to join you in the water, anyway. I’ve finished just about everything I have to do in the office today.”
“But no nail gun for you,” Aaron told her, grinning.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m aware that we won’t need a nail gun to set a grill in concrete.”
“Just saying. I’d kind of like to keep my eyes.”
Bryan gave them a crooked smile. “I’m not sure about letting you three loose on a job, but I’ve got too much else to do myself, so I guess I’ll have to trust you with it. Unless there’s something you’d rather do, Aaron. After all, you already helped me unload that trailer at the storage building. Then you spent a couple hours helping C.J. in the marina. Don’t feel like you have to help Steven with the grill. He’s perfectly capable of putting it in himself.”
“I was looking for something to do when I saw you unloading the trailer,” Aaron said with a slight shrug. “And I was interested in what goes into running the marina. I learned a lot I never really thought about before. I don’t mind helping with the grill, either.”
Steven nodded. “I’d appreciate it. Besides, the faster we’re done, the sooner we can get out on the water.”
Shelby glanced up with a smile when her mother set a plate in front of her. “Thanks, Mom.”
Pop was looking hard at Aaron. “You remember that guy who worked the gate for us last year? The older man with the prosthetic leg? He passed away a couple months ago. Got an infection he couldn’t shake.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I didn’t know him,” Aaron replied patiently while everyone else shook their heads. “I’ve never been here before this week.”
“Oh, that’s right. That was your, er, identical twin brother.” Pop winked.
While the others either groaned or chuckled, Shelby studied her grandfather closely. Did he really believe Aaron was Andrew, or was he putting them on? It was hard to tell with Pop. Always had been.
Her dad began a familiar diatribe about the outrageous cost of marine fuel, which led to an oft-repeated discussion of the rising prices of liability insurance and other expenses of business. Shelby ate her sandwich while the men complained. Aaron commented a few times, but mostly seemed content to listen. He fit in well here, she mused, just as his brother had.
She wondered if Andrew would be back to see them anytime soon. Apparently, he’d recommended the resort to Aaron. It would have been nice if both of them could have come, though even if they had, she thought she would still have been drawn this strongly to Aaron.
Steven gathered his disposable plate, napkin and drink cup. “I’ll load up the grill and supplies.”