Summer's End (Wildflowers #5) - Jill Sanders Page 0,18

on the stage.

Aubrey pasted on a smile and walked over to tap on the microphone to get everyone’s attention. “Ladies and gentlemen.” She waited until the voices died down and every eye was turned on her. “Tonight’s talent show will start in five minutes. Remember, if you want to take part, you have to fill out the entry forms and have them up to us before the show starts.” She motioned to the small table in front of the stage. “Thank you.” She walked off the stage.

“That was… dry,” Hannah said with a chuckle.

“Hey, if you wanted perky, you should’ve had Scarlett do it,” she joked as she grabbed a bottle of water from the bar area.

“You’re in a mood.” Hannah leaned on the bar and ran her eyes over her. “Tired?”

“No,” she said after taking a sip of the water. What she wanted was a glass of wine and a bubble bath. What she needed was… sex. Hard, fast sex that left her too exhausted to think about anything else. Just then something caught her eye, and she glanced up to see Aiden stroll across the room towards her. He was wearing a suit. Why was he wearing a suit? “Why is he wearing a suit?” she asked Hannah.

Hannah frowned and followed Aubrey’s gaze.

“I asked him to fill in for Dylan,” Hannah answered with a shrug. “Dylan had some… things to tend to tonight.”

God, the man looked good in a suit, she thought as he stopped in front of her.

“So,” he said, after his eyes had run over Aubrey. “Where do you want me?” he asked.

Aubrey’s mind flashed to the last time they’d been together. How they’d practically ripped each other’s clothes off.

She could just imagine removing that tie from around his neck and using it to keep his hands above his head while she took her time running her mouth over every inch of…

“Earth to Aubrey.” Hannah snapped her fingers in front of her face. “You’re up.” Her friend shoved her towards the stage again.

Damn. She’d been so focused on her sex daydream that five whole minutes had fled by.

As she introduced each talent, her eyes and mind kept returning to Aiden. She watched him help set up each talent show participant, even escorting people up and down the narrow stage stairs.

Over an hour later, Aubrey’s head was splitting, and she’d changed from water to a soda for the extra energy.

“Tired?” Aiden asked her as she leaned on the bar and sipped her drink.

She turned slightly towards him. “So, now you’re working dinners?” she asked. “Is there anything you can’t do around here?”

His smile slipped. “Apparently I can’t keep a relationship.”

She tensed just as Elle stopped by. “Thanks for your help tonight,” she said to Aiden. “Getting everything together for the wedding next week has us stretched thin. Dylan and Zoey still have so much they have to do to get ready for their big day. They’ll have two whole weeks off.” She glanced around the emptying dining hall. “I guess it’s time we finally hired more help around here,” she said with a sigh.

“Just say the word and I’m on it,” Aubrey supplied. She’d already hired a few new counselors, as they called them—employees to help out with the events and their guests’ needs during their stay.

“No, Brent will get on it, since we need more staff here than we do around the grounds. Opening up the dining to non-guests two nights a week has brought in a lot of money and demand for more workers.” Elle leaned against the bar. “But it was a great idea.” She smiled. “And guests don’t seem to mind having dinner a little earlier on Fridays and Saturdays.”

Aubrey shrugged and turned back to her drink. “Tired?” Elle asked her.

“Long day.” She glanced towards Aiden who was still watching her.

“You look tired. Go on. We can handle it from here. Get some rest.” Elle laid a hand on her arm, then turned to Aiden. “Why don’t you walk her back? We’re done with you too.” Elle left without waiting for an answer. “Thanks for your help tonight, cuz,” she called over her shoulder as she made her way up to the stage area.

“Think she knows something?” Aiden asked her, causing her to stiffen.

“What?” Her eyes moved to the back of her friend.

“Relax, I meant it as a joke.” He sighed and took her arm. “Would it be so bad? I mean, we aren’t even seeing one another anymore.” He frowned down at