For just an instant, Susie looked vaguely guilty. Then she chuckled. “Got you!”
Aidan frowned. “Got me? What does that mean?”
“There’s no pet clause in the lease, and even if there were, Uncle Mick and my dad would never enforce it. I just wanted to see for myself if Liz was right and you really are attached to that dog.”
The level of relief that washed over him startled him. Apparently it was true. He liked the dog. And, as much as he’d grumbled about taking him in, he wanted Archie to stay.
“You are a sneaky, sneaky woman,” he told Susie.
She looked surprisingly pleased by the comment. “I’d almost forgotten how much fun that could be,” she told him. “I’ll have to work on honing that skill again.”
Somehow Aidan doubted that Mack or anyone else in the family would encourage it.
“So, are you through getting me all worked up over nothing?” he inquired lightly.
She tilted her head thoughtfully, then said, “Yeah. I think that will do it for now. Stay alert, though. You make such an easy mark, I might be tempted to try something else.”
Given what Aidan knew about her health history, he couldn’t get truly angry over her prank. It was nice to see this playful side of her. He suspected even though they might not want it directed their way, most of the family would agree.
He gave a gentle tug on Archie’s leash. “Come on, boy. We’ve got places to go.” He waved in Susie’s direction as they walked away.
At Connor’s office, he was forced to endure yet more teasing the instant Connor spotted Archie tied up to a post on the porch of the house that had been converted into a law office.
“So, the rumors are true? Liz won, and you now have a dog?”
“Seems that way.”
“You don’t seem as distraught by that as you did when she first backed you into a corner,” Connor observed.
“Archie and I have an agreement,” Aidan explained. “We’re not going to do anything to make each other’s lives miserable. I think it’ll work out. In fact, it may be a whole lot less complicated than most relationships with humans.”
Though he’d made the remark lightly, Connor’s expression turned serious. “Does that mean you’re giving up on Liz? I know a whole bunch of people who are going to be unhappy about that.”
“I’m not giving up. It’s just on hold,” Aidan told him, then quickly amended, “By mutual agreement, so tell all those women in your family not to get their drawers in a knot.”
Connor didn’t seem pacified. “Mutual agreement? You sure about that?”
“A hundred percent,” Aidan insisted. “That’s the way we both want it. Liz even more than me, if I’m being honest.”
Connor regarded him doubtfully. “Okay, if you say so. And since you apparently didn’t come by here for my expert commentary on women not always meaning what they say, what did bring you by?”
“Basketball,” Aidan told him. “Are you all getting together to play again anytime soon?”
Connor’s lips twitched. “I’m sensing a desperate need to work off some frustration.”
“Bingo.”
“The kind of frustration generally brought on by woman problems,” Connor continued as if Aidan hadn’t spoken.
“I never said that,” Aidan protested.
“You didn’t have to. I’m a guy. I’ve been where you are. I played a lot of basketball.” He grinned. “I imagine I can make a few calls and put a game together for tonight. Seven o’clock?”
“That’ll do,” Aidan said. “I appreciate it.” He glanced out the window and noted that Archie was straining on his leash, trying to get to a window, apparently so he could spot Aidan. The dog probably wasn’t strong enough to pull down that post he’d been tied to, but better not to find out for sure. “I should go.” He gestured toward the window. “Archie seems impatient and that’s probably not good.”
Connor nodded, a grin tugging at his lips. “See you tonight. Prepare to sweat.”
Aidan laughed. “As if you ‘girls’ present any real challenge,” he taunted.
Connor shook his head. “Did you learn nothing last time? Trash talk only gets us all riled up.”
“Not enough to beat us, though. I’m just hoping to make it more interesting this time.”
“I’ll be sure to pass that along,” Connor promised. “When O’Brien pride is on the line, things can get ugly.”
Aidan wasn’t impressed by the implied threat in his tone or the words of warning. “You do whatever you need to do.”
He gave Connor a casual wave on his way out the door, untied his dog, then jogged back to his apartment. All in all, he considered his first day out of school to have been an interesting one. Tonight he’d find out what sort of price he’d pay for his possibly ill-advised taunts. It didn’t much matter, though, as long as it kept his mind off Liz.
* * *
Liz was going through catalogs looking for new inventory to replace everything that had sold out already when Susie Franklin came in.
“Where were you earlier?”
Liz regarded her with confusion. “I’ve been here all morning. Why? What did I miss?”
A broad grin spread across Susie’s face. “I really got Aidan.”
“Got him how?” Liz asked.
“I told him there was a No Pet clause in his lease. There’s not, of course, and Uncle Mick would have given him an exception if there were, but you should have seen his face. I don’t care what he says to you about not really wanting that dog, he’s totally attached to Archie.”
Liz laughed. “Of course he is. I knew those two were a perfect match from the first moment I saw them together.”
“And so much less complicated than claiming Aidan for yourself,” Susie commented slyly.
Liz frowned at her. “No idea what you mean.”
“Oh, of course you do, but I won’t push. That’s not why I came in. Apparently the guys are having an impromptu basketball game tonight so Aidan can work off some sort of stress.” She looked even more
