He turned, looked back at the lights glowing in the Bell family compound. Living so close together, working together, eating together—and yet Shelby was alone tonight. By choice. She hadn’t asked any of them to stay with her.
She had asked him.
He’d have thought by now she’d have figured out he wasn’t the type to stay around. He couldn’t even stay in one job without getting bored. Not that he could imagine ever getting bored with Shelby. Just the opposite, in fact—he hadn’t stopped going full-tilt since she’d hug-attacked him at the gas station. He’d been fascinated, amused, confused, terrified, hot and bothered—but he’d never once been bored.
And he was walking away from her.
He could almost hear his brother’s voice in his ears. Idiot.
He looked toward Shelby’s trailer, then over his shoulder toward Cabin Eight. It’s time to make a decision, bro.
“I’m trying, Andrew,” he muttered aloud, his voice a hollow echo in the darkness. “I’m trying.”
* * *
Shelby was still sitting on the couch fifteen minutes after Aaron left, trying to get up the energy to put on pajamas and crawl into bed. She was so tired she thought she’d fall asleep immediately. She only hoped she wouldn’t dream about waking up bound and gagged in Cabin Seven.
When someone tapped lightly on her door, she assumed it was a member of her family checking on her. Probably Maggie. Maybe Lori. Maybe she needed a couple hours of girl talk and commiseration from someone who’d understand the ramifications of getting involved with Mr. Heartache-in-the-Making, something both Maggie and Lori would understand all too well.
She opened the door with her good hand, then froze when she saw who stood on the porch. “Did you forget something?”
Aaron nodded sheepishly. “I forgot to tell you I’m a coward and an idiot. I’m sure Andrew would be happy to confirm both those things if you call him, but I’m hoping you won’t.”
Her heart fluttering crazily now, she cocked her head. “You are not a coward,” she said flatly. “Not after the way you rescued me earlier. You are, however, an idiot.”
For some reason, that made him laugh. “Yes. May I come back in?”
“That depends. Are you here to tell me goodbye again? Because, you know—been there, done that.”
“Actually, I thought I might hang around awhile,” he said after taking a deep breath. “Steven’s going to be out of commission for a few more weeks, and your uncle Bryan needs more help than a few high school kids. What I said about the job being great for someone who likes being outdoors? Who enjoys being around people? Who hates being tied to a desk from nine to five? I’ve just realized that maybe I was talking about myself.”
For the first time she realized that hope could hurt almost as much as heartache. In a different way, perhaps, but both could end in disappointment. “You want to try resort management for your new career?”
“It certainly has its appeal,” he said, his voice deepening as he took another step forward.
She moved backward to allow him inside, slowly closing the door. “I thought you didn’t want to be surrounded by family. Didn’t want to work in a family business.”
He shrugged. “I don’t want to work in my family business,” he corrected her. “I love them all, but doing computer searches and stakeouts and endless meetings bores me senseless. Do you think there’s an opening for me here?”
“I’m sure we could work something out,” she whispered. “You really want to stay and work here?”
“I want to stay with you,” he corrected. “I’ve liked what I’ve seen of the work, but I’m more interested in seeing what happens between us. Maybe it’s happened fast, but I think what we have is special, Shelby. So special it almost scared me into taking to my heels. Almost losing you this morning—well, that made me realize exactly how much you’ve come to mean to me. And tonight it all sort of crashed on top of me and I freaked out.”
Which was what she’d seen when she’d looked at him, she thought. “I think we’ve found something special, too, Aaron. And I couldn’t bear the thought of just saying goodbye and maybe never seeing you again. But you don’t have to work for the family just for my sake. We can see each other when we can, talk on the phone every day—”
He shook his head. “If you think your family would approve, I’d like to try it, at
least for the summer. I’ve been comfortable here from the first day, fascinated by all that goes into running the place.”
“Then maybe, if you decide resort management doesn’t interest you, we’ll look around for something that appeals to us both,” she suggested, feeling uncharacteristically shy as she tucked a curl behind her right ear.
Moving closer to her, Aaron cupped her face in his hands, his fingers achingly gentle against her bruised skin. “You’re saying you could be willing to leave this place you love so much for me?”
Wrapping her arms around his waist, she smiled mistily up at him. “If things work out between us the way I think they will, I would most definitely be open to negotiation. I know I’ll always be welcome here, to stay or to visit, but like Steven, ultimately I need to follow my heart.”
Taking care with her bruised lips, he kissed her tenderly. “We’ll worry about the details later,” he promised. “Right now, I want to tuck you into bed and just hold you all night. Just to assure myself that you’re safe and you’re here with me.”
Nestling her cheek against his shoulder, she released a deep breath. “I like the sound of that.”