“You’re, um, breaking up with him?” her brother asked with a frown. With some satisfaction, Aaron thought he saw a hint of disappointment in Steven’s expression. Nice to know he’d made at least one good friend in Shelby’s family.
“That was the plan,” Shelby agreed cheerfully. “I was going to send him away—dejected and bitterly disappointed, of course.”
“Shelby—” her father said with a shake of his head.
She wrapped her right hand beneath Aaron’s arm and grinned. “I’ve changed my mind, Dad. I’ve decided to keep him.”
“What Shelby is trying to say,” Aaron interjected when her family looked even more confused, “is that I’d like to stay around for a while. I know you need someone to fill in for Steven and I’d like to apply for that job. You can hire me on a probationary basis if you want, let us all see how it works out, but I can guarantee you I’ll be a dedicated employee. I can supply references, if needed,” he added with a crooked smile.
Pop cocked a bushy eyebrow. “From your twin brother, Andrew?”
Still unable to tell if the old guy was pulling his leg, Aaron smiled and agreed, “He would probably vouch for me in person, if it would help.”
Maybe seeing him and Andrew side by side would finally convince Pop that there really were two of them—assuming he hadn’t been joking about that all along.
“You want to work for the resort?” Sarah asked as if she needed clarification.
He nodded. “If you all agree.”
Everyone glanced at Bryan. He shrugged. “The man’s a hard worker. Good with a hammer. Experienced in construction work. Puts the family first. I say give him a shot.”
C.J. didn’t look as nonchalant. He scowled as he looked from Aaron to Shelby and back. “If you hurt my daughter—”
“Dad.” Shelby spoke with more steel than Aaron had heard from her before. “When it comes to the resort, you have a vote. My personal life is off-limits, remember?”
Aaron thought it had to take a massive effort, but C.J. subsided with a huff of breath. “Fine. We’ll give him a chance.”
Aaron decided he needed to have Shelby teach him how to deal with family that way.
Everyone started talking at once—about his and Shelby’s plans, more rehashing of yesterday, the regular business discussed in the Monday-morning meetings—and then the room fell silent again when someone new entered.
Linda gasped and jumped from her chair to rush toward the doorway. “Hannah! We weren’t expecting you back yet. What a nice surprise.”
Two facts were immediately apparent to Aaron when he first laid eyes on Shelby’s cousin Hannah. One, she was gorgeous. Stunning, actually. And two, she was pregnant. He’d estimate about six months along. Quickly putting together a few of the things the others had said about her, he realized he should have already figured that
out.
“How did you get here so early?” Linda asked, leading Hannah in. “You must have left Mother’s house before dawn.”
“I did,” Hannah admitted. “I couldn’t sleep, anyway, and I wanted to get ahead of the traffic. I’ll rest this afternoon. I was just ready to be home.”
“So much has happened in the short time you’ve been away,” Linda said with a breathless laugh. “We’ll have to tell you all about it. First, say hello to—”
Hannah gasped loudly, her face draining of color. Staring at Aaron, she swayed visibly.
He was close enough to reach her before she could fall, supporting her on one side while her mother caught her other arm. The family jumped up, hurrying toward her, but Shelby waved them back, urging them to give Hannah some air.
Steadying herself, dark-haired Hannah stared up at Aaron with shocked green eyes. “Andrew,” she whispered. “I—”
And then she stopped, a frown creasing her eyebrows. “Wait. You’re not—”
“I’m Aaron,” he said gently. “Andrew’s twin.”
She drew a deep, unsteady breath. “You’re Aaron.”
“Yes.” Unlike the others, she didn’t seem surprised that Andrew had a twin, though seeing him had certainly shaken her.
Aaron looked down at her swollen belly, doing some quick mental calculations. No. It had been ten months since Andrew was here at the resort. If he’d seen Hannah since, no one had mentioned it—and knowing this family, they would have mentioned it.