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He dropped my hand and shoved his in his pockets. “Do you put a tree up in your place in the city?”
“I never have the time. I wasn’t home long enough to enjoy it, and I had no one to share it with.”
“Now that you’re here, and helping me with this place, I’d like to show you some of the holiday events. The Monroes have a light display.”
My breath caught. That sounded like a date. But he’d said it was payback for me helping him. I could have told him I was busy or that I had a million other things to do while I was home, but I wanted to see the lights with him. “That sounds nice.”
Aiden grinned, and I was struck by how handsome he was. No longer the boy I dated, he was all man. For a second, I almost wished for more. But this was two old friends reconnecting. It wasn’t our second chance at love. I couldn’t forget how he ended things. He’d turned down my proposal of marriage. There was no getting over the humiliation of that. “Good night, Aiden.”
“Night, Fiona,” he murmured as I shut the door firmly.
Our relationship had been over for years. There was no reason to think of starting things up again. My life was in Chicago, and his was here.
* * *
The next morning, I got up early, showered, and drank my coffee in front of the window facing the front of the property. I’d seen Aiden go for his morning run. But I hadn’t seen him come back. Not that I was stalking him or anything. I was just bored.
I’d checked my emails, disappointed not to see any from work. I’d hoped they’d say they reconsidered and thought I deserved a promotion or even a raise. Or at least an email saying to cut my vacation short, that they needed me back. But there was nothing. I’d never felt more expendable than I did now. I always thought my work was valued, but now I wasn’t so sure.
A red truck with lettering on the passenger side door rumbled down the lane. There was a tree in the bed. I wondered if Marley had ordered another tree for the inn.
At some point, I’d need to meet Aiden to check out the theater, but I didn’t have any set time for that, and there was nothing else on my to-do list.
A few minutes later, there was a soft knock on the door. I looked through the peephole and saw Aiden. I opened the door. “Aiden, what are you—”
He was carrying a tree along with another man.
“That’s for me?” I asked as I moved out of the way.
Aiden strode inside. “I thought you could use a tree while you’re staying here.”
They set it against the dresser, and the second man placed a tree stand on the floor.
“You remember Heath.”
“How could I forget your best friend?” I said, wondering if Heath knew about us.
Heath threw a thumb over his shoulder. “This guy thought you needed a little holiday cheer.”
I smiled. “This should do it, but I don’t have any decorations.”
“Let me get the tree up first. I have some extra decorations downstairs,” Aiden said.
I sat on the edge of the bed. “You thought of everything.”
Heath grinned. “We take our holiday cheer seriously around here.”
Aiden looked up at him from where he knelt on the floor. “Are you going to help get this tree up, or you just going to talk?”
Heath chuckled. “I’m helping. Don’t get your panties in a wad.”
Aiden grumbled something too low for me to hear.
I liked their banter. “You and Marley are engaged?”
“He used to be my best friend. But now he’s Marley’s,” Aiden said when he stood and backed up to see if the tree was straight. “A little to the right.”
Heath adjusted the tree in the stand. “I’m still your best friend. Although you’ve been a grumpy ass lately.”
