Lori tossed her head defiantly. “You can say anything you want, but I won’t stop seeing Zach just because none of you like him.”
With that pronouncement, she turned and stalked out of the diner without looking back. After which everyone turned back to Aaron. He cleared his throat.
“You knew Lori was seeing Zach?” C.J. asked in disbelief.
“I didn’t know his name,” Aaron countered. “I ran into the two of them in town one day and she asked me not to mention that I’d seen her. Because it was none of my business, I agreed.”
“Humph.” Mimi gave him a stern shake of her finger. “You should have figured out when she asked you not to say anything that she was up to something. That right there was your clue that you shouldn’t have agreed.”
“Mimi, it wasn’t Aaron’s responsibility to tattle on Lori to the family,” Shelby said in exasperation, plopping in the chair beside him as if to solidify her endorsement. “You’re being unfair.”
“I’m going to have to side with Shelby on this one,” Bryan declared. “Aaron doesn’t want to get in the middle here. Now, how about feeding the boy? He’s been up on the roof of Cabin Two all morning in the heat helping me with the shingles.”
Grateful for the support, Aaron nodded slightly to Bryan and patted Shelby’s leg beneath the table. She covered his hand with her and gave a little squeeze.
She looked nice today, he thought fleetingly. She wore a pastel-plaid tailored top with cap sleeves, sand-colored jeans and green flats rather than her usual shorts. Though he had to admit he missed seeing her legs.
“I’m sorry, Aaron,” Sarah said contritely, drawing his attention away from Shelby. “They’re right, we shouldn’t be ganging up on you this way. I’ll get your lunch.”
He supposed he’d made a convenient target, especially since he’d actually been privy to the secrets of both Lori and Steven. As for his relationship with Shelby—well, they’d really be giving him the stink eye if they knew all those details.
Though the mood was still somewhat more subdued than usual, they finished the lunch break civilly enough. That was mostly thanks to Shelby, who kept the conversation moving with determination, barely stopping to breathe as she chattered about last night’s charity event, about the mutual acquaintances she had seen there, about the money raised for a charity they all supported and about how grateful the event’s organizers had been for the donation made by the Bell Resort.
Before long, Bryan glanced at his watch. “Ready to get back to it, Aaron? I figure we can put in another two or three hours today, then finish up tomorrow.”
Aaron nodded. “I’m ready.”
At least Bryan seemed to have no issues with him, which made Aaron glad he didn’t know any secrets about either of Bryan’s daughters.
Sarah carried a take-out bag to the table and handed it to Shelby. “Would you take this over to Steven, please? Tell him I’ll come by before the dinner rush to check on him.”
Shelby rose and walked out with Aaron. He lingered for a few moments with her outside the building, telling Bryan he’d meet him at the cabin.
“I think I’m in trouble,” he said, making a show of wiping his brow. “Uh—Minnesota.”
Though she laughed ruefully in response to his silly code word, Shelby grimaced. “They’re just mad at Steven and Lori and taking it out on you. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Parents tend to worry about their kids, no matter how old the kids get. Not to mention that Steven’s going to be hard to replace around here.”
Shelby nodded, her throat moving with a swallow. “But he deserves a chance to follow his dreams,” she said firmly. “Even if those dreams take him into situations that scare the stuffing out of those of us who love him.”
“Your brother will be fine, Shelby.”
She sighed lightly. “I know you can’t guarantee that. But thanks for the reassurance.”
“Lori will be okay, too. She’s really not a child, you know.”
Shelby placed a hand on the back of her neck, beneath her hair, as if the muscles in her neck had tightened again. “Zach Webber is bad news. Trust me, Lori would be better off listening to Mom and Dad this time. I think she’s only using him as another one of her mini rebellions.”
Remembering the intensity he’d sensed between Lori and Zach, Aaron wasn’t so sure. But again—none of his business.
“Guess I’d better get back on that roof.”
Shelby nodded and dropped her hand, lifting the other to display the take-out bag. “And I’d better deliver this to Steven before it gets cold. I’ll see you later?”
“I’d like that.”
They both started to turn away, then paused when someone called out Shelby’s name.