Perfect Night (Mason Creek #4) - Terri E. Laine Page 0,19

your brother.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Are you and Aiden a thing?”

“No. Just friends. He’s helped me out with a few things. I went to give it to him as a thank you, but he wasn’t alone.”

Her brows rose even higher. “Damn, he works quick.”

“I don’t think he had to.”

She laughed. “Darcy?”

“Exactly.”

“Stupid boys. They’re like dogs wanting to be leashed. But something tells me there’s more. Are you and Evan on the outs?”

Alana and I didn’t talk every day. She didn’t know the latest. “I sent him home. He was being an insensitive jerk. Jury is still out on if that’s a character flaw or foolishness.”

“A little bit of both, I gather. He’s easy on the eyes, but…”

“But what? You’ve never said a but before.”

“It’s your business. I don’t know. There’s just something not right about him. He’s a little too cocky. A little too city slick for me.”

“You like your men a little rough around the edges like Cory.”

She let her head fall back. “Don’t mention his name. For all his promises, he broke every single one of them.”

“Does Aiden know?”

She shrugged. “Maybe some, not all or he would have kicked his ass. Last I heard, Cory still considers him a friend.”

“Would you ever go back to Cory?”

“No. Do you still have a crush on my brother?”

Boy, she’d spun that table fast, leaving me a little dizzy. “If I did, that would give me my answer as to what to do about Evan.” I glanced at the two-carat diamond ring on my finger.

“Not that I don’t think it’s gross that you like my brother, but Aiden couldn’t put a ring like that on your finger.”

“I wouldn’t want him to. Hungry?”

She nodded and we dove in. Alana caught me up with rumors around town she’d heard. I filled in with the little I knew because that’s what you did in Mason Creek. You speculated on other peoples’ lives. There was nothing else to do. Then, I drove her back home.

This was one of those times I wished l lived in the city. There would be places I could go, like the mall or the movies. Instead, I went to the bar and hung out in Dad’s office working on a final paper for my business law class I needed for my business degree.

The door was closed and locked. Anyone wanting to see me had to knock.

I got up and was surprised to find Aiden behind the door.

“Don’t be a stranger,” he said with a wide grin. I couldn’t give it back to him.

“Can I help you with anything?” I said, holding the door handle.

“I could use your help,” he said, hesitantly. Easily picking up my no bullshit vibes.

I exhaled and opened the door a little wider, giving him space to come into the small room. Aiden was a big guy. Bigger than my dad who hadn’t been small himself.

Though I had no right to be angry with him, the simple fact was I was. He’d also done me several kindnesses. I owed him more than one. “Sure, come in.”

He shocked me with his request.

Chapter 10

Aiden

Darcy turned to face me with mischief in her eyes. She was one of those women who was well aware of her looks and knew how to use them to get a guy’s attention.

I’d been with enough women to know what I wanted at this stage in my life, and I was prepared to wait as long as it took to get it. Giving into temptation wasn’t an option. It would only give me regrets I couldn’t take back.

“What’s in that bag?” I asked.

Along with the pizza box, she’d brought one of those reusable looking shopping bags filled with stuff.

“Don’t you want to eat first?” she asked.

“I’ll eat and you explain,” I said.

“First you have to come over here. I promise not to bite unless you want me to.”

“Darce,” I warned. I had a feeling she wasn’t going to give up easily.

She rolled her eyes before digging in her bag. “Come see.” Out came some blue tile, a white square shape of stone, and two wooden panels, one white and one blue.

“What’s this?” I did have a clue as I stepped forward but wanted to hear her ideas.

“The kitchen is the heart of the home. I thought you could go with white shaker style upper cabinets.” She pointed at the white panel. “For the island and even for the lowers, you could do blue.” She tapped the other wooden panel. “If color scares you, you can just