* * *
Liz sat on the porch at Susie Franklin’s beautiful home on Beach Lane relaxing at the end of the day. On the nights when the guys played basketball, the women in the O’Brien family got together at Susie’s for what was purported to be a book discussion. To the total frustration of Shanna, no more than fifteen minutes ever seemed to be devoted to talking about whatever book they’d chosen. Tonight all the talk was about Aidan Mitchell and, to her everlasting regret, Liz’s connection to him.
“So, Liz, now that you’ve spent some time with Aidan, what do you think of him?” Susie asked as if they’d never before had this conversation. There was a mischievous gleam in her eyes that suggested she hoped this time they’d get a different answer.
“There have been plenty of other sightings of the two of them together,” Bree reported.
“All of which we’ve discussed, ad nauseam,” Liz reminded them to no avail.
“I wonder if he deliberately rented my old apartment over the shops just because your store is right downstairs?” Shanna speculated, a grin tugging at her lips.
“I’ve wondered the same thing,” Susie claimed. “And let’s not forget that I lived there, too, so I know what an incredible view it has of the green and whoever might happen to be walking by.”
“Stop it!” Liz said, laughing. “How many times do I have to tell you there is nothing between Aidan and me.”
“Until you make it sound convincing,” Bree said. “So far, not so much, especially when he seems to be underfoot every time we turn around.”
Liz frowned at her friends. She needed to set them straight before they manufactured a romance that was doomed before it even started.
“There’s not going to be anything between Aidan and me, except maybe a friendship. My only goal is to get him to take Archie off my hands, and just last night I finally found a way to do that.”
Bree gave her a triumphant look. “See what I mean? They were together again last night. You might as well admit the truth, Liz. There’s something going on.”
“I’m not admitting anything,” Liz said very firmly. “I talked him into taking the dog—that’s it.”
“Did it involve holding him hostage and torturing him till he agreed?” Shanna asked. She grinned. “That could be fun. Fur-lined handcuffs. Maybe feathers or whipped cream.”
Liz rolled her eyes at the suggestive comment, though it did stir up a few steamy images. She imagined those would be stuck in her head all night long.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “I just pointed out a few inescapable facts.”
“Such as?” Shanna asked.
“Archie already adores him. He’s more Aidan’s dog now than he is mine, even though I’m the one who’s been feeding him and taking care of him.”
“Okay, I hear what you’re claiming about Aidan not being in your life as a potential lover, but I’m not sure I understand it,” Heather said. “Do you have something against good-looking and sexy? I swear if I weren’t happily married to Connor, I’d give him a second look, I can tell you that.”
Shanna, who was pregnant with what would be a fourth child for her and Kevin O’Brien, patted her belly. Everyone knew they were desperately hoping for a girl this time. They already had Davey, Kevin’s son from an earlier marriage, plus Henry, and then Johnny, the son they’d had together just two years ago. She’d flatly refused to learn the sex of this baby in advance.
“Okay,” Shanna said, glancing around with a guilty expression as if she feared being overheard. “I should not even be looking at other men these days, but every time Aidan walks by the bookstore, I have to admit I admire the view. Kevin caught me the other day and dragged me into the back room and kissed me senseless. He said he just wanted to be certain if I was thinking about sex, he was the one on my mind.”
“And I’m sure you told him there was no question of that,” Bree protested with exaggerated dismay. “That’s my brother’s baby you’re carrying, after all.”
“Which means my hormones are in overdrive,” Shanna reminded her. “It’s a side effect of pregnancy I’d never anticipated. Liz, you really do need to go out with Aidan, so you can tell us all about it. We long to live vicariously.”
“And since I’m in the throes of morning sickness most days, I could use a good distraction, too,” Heather chimed in.
After a quick glance at Susie to see how she was reacting to all this talk of pregnancy, Liz frowned at Shanna and Heather. “I am not going out with Aidan just to satisfy your curiosity. Seriously, that would be crazy.” To say nothing of dangerous to her own mental health, she thought to herself. It would not take much for her to forget all these noble resolutions she’d made and see if he was half as clever with those lovely, strong hands of his as he was with charming words.
“Then go out with him to satisfy yours,” Bree suggested. “I know you want to. I’ve seen the way you look at each other whenever you cross paths at Sally’s.”
“Which seems to be every morning lately,” Heather commented, her expression innocent. “Quite the coincidence, wouldn’t you say?”
“Definitely,” Susie agreed, then reached over to give Liz’s hand a squeeze. “You do know we’re only interested in making sure you’re happy and stay right here in Chesapeake Shores forever, right?”
“What do I have to do to convince you that I am here to stay and that I am happy?” Liz asked in exasperation. “Just because you’ve all married the men of your dreams doesn’t mean I need a man in my life. Been there, done that.”
Bree frowned. “Hold on. What was that tone all about? It’s the first time you’ve even hinted that your marriage was anything other than perfect.”
Liz cursed herself for the faint slip of
