Friendly banter and no sudden moves, he warned himself, then turned his attention to the dog, which was much safer territory.
* * *
Liz put the pizza and drinks out on the kitchen table, then stood at the dining room window, where she could watch Aidan and Archie in the yard. The dog ran in excited circles waiting for Aidan to toss that grungy tennis ball again and again. More times than not, Archie managed to catch it before it ever hit the ground.
“Okay, that’s it,” Aidan said at last. “It’s time for a rest.”
Liz scurried away from the window and back to the kitchen as she heard Aidan coming up the steps. He tapped on the screen door, then opened it. Archie raced ahead of him into the kitchen. The dog went straight to his water bowl and began lapping it up, splashing more of the water onto the floor than he could possibly have drunk.
“Seems to me it’s too bad Archie isn’t human,” she commented, glancing up at Aidan as he washed his hands at the sink.
“Oh?”
“He was doing a darn fine job of catching your passes in midair.”
Aidan glanced at her. “You were watching?”
“I caught a glimpse,” she claimed.
A smug smile spread across his face. “You were watching!”
“Okay, maybe I was just a little fascinated. I always like to be sure humans aren’t mistreating my pets.”
“I don’t suppose it mattered if Archie was wearing me out?”
She gave a deliberate shrug. “You can take care of yourself, I’m sure.”
“Nice to know what your priorities are.”
She held his gaze. “I’ve tried my best to make them clear.”
Aidan sighed. “Message received.” He kept his gaze locked with hers. “Just so you know, though, I’ve been known to break a few rules in my time.”
Liz shivered at the intensity in his voice and the daredevil spark in his eyes. Yeah, she could definitely believe that.
* * *
Overnight the springlike weather changed. Sunday morning dawned with a chill in the air and rain in the forecast. Liz couldn’t imagine that would be good for business, but when she got to Sally’s for her morning coffee and croissant, Shanna didn’t look the least bit distressed. Nor did Heather or Megan, who joined them a few minutes later.
“Why don’t you all look more upset by this rain that’s about to come down in buckets?” Liz asked.
“Because rain means most people won’t be going out on their boats or swimming today,” Heather said. “Since they’ve come for a long holiday weekend, they won’t take off for home, either. They’ll be shopping!”
“After the rush yesterday, how many people can possibly be left?” Liz asked.
“Just you wait and see,” Megan told her. She gestured at the line already waiting for tables at Sally’s. “See what I mean? Have you ever seen it this busy before at this hour? Everyone’s already out and about. I predict Ethel will sell out of puzzles and games before noon and you’ll be down to the last of your merchandise before the end of the day.”
Liz regarded her with wide eyes. “You can’t be serious. I ordered what I thought would be enough to last through the Fourth of July.”
“And how did the shelves look at the end of the day yesterday?” Shanna asked.
“Pretty bare,” Liz admitted. “I’ll be restocking for the next couple of hours till I open the doors.”
The women exchanged an amused look.
“Will Aidan be helping with that?” Shanna asked slyly.
Liz felt her cheeks turn pink. “Why would you ask that?”
“Because he was there till closing last night,” Heather said. “Just so you know, I wasn’t spying. Connor walked by your shop on his way to meet me for dinner and he mentioned it to me.”
“And Mick noticed Aidan was in the yard with Archie when he was driving past Dogwood Hill on his way home,” Megan added, then patted Liz’s hand sympathetically. “Don’t freak out. It’s not as if we’re all nosy, just observant, especially when it involves someone we like. In this case, two people we like.”
Bree came in just then, grabbed a chair and pulled it over. “What did I miss?”
“Liz looking like a deer caught in headlights when we mentioned all the attention Aidan is paying to her,” Shanna said, her grin unrepentant.
“Oh, yeah, about that,” Bree said, a twinkle in her eyes. “I heard Pamela Hobbs had him in her sights at your store yesterday.”
Liz frowned. “Did you also hear he turned her down? Emphatically, I gather.”
“Smart man,” Megan said. “I’d say I can’t understand what gets into Pamela, but that’s not true. If I were married to Porter Hobbs, who knows what I might do to keep from drinking myself into a stupor every night. He’s not only a big blowhard, he’s terminally boring.”
“Why don’t you tell us what you really think, Mom?” Bree said, laughing.
Megan looked momentarily taken aback, then laughed. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“I surely can’t do that,” Bree said. “He was in Abby’s class, not mine, but he was no better back in high school.” She turned to Liz. “Ask my sister next time you see her. Porter made a few passes at her before she and Trace got serious. Pamela was his fallback girl and she always knew it. Still, she likes that big fancy car dealership he has in Annapolis and the money it brings in.”
Heather sat back, a grin on her face. “Sometimes it hits me just how much fun it must have been to grow up here. I lived in a fairly small town, but it was nothing like this.”
“It didn’t have O’Briens,” Shanna suggested.
Megan laughed. “Yes, I’m sure that made all the difference. Chesapeake Shores was definitely
