Page 107 of Beneath the Quiet

He tips his head at me. “Thanks.” Then he frowns and peers down, his gaze flickering over my loot. “Wait, let me just get you a few more things.”

He backs away from me and reaches for a box from one of the double-sided racks I noticed earlier. Then he moves to a small fridge at the very back, opens it, and pulls out two bottles of a cloudy, honey-coloured liquid. I blink when he makes one final turn around the stand and reaches for another small basket with potatoes. His arms full, he returns to me, and all I can do is gape as he carefully puts everything in my basket.

“You can’t leave without my potatoes. First of the season.”

I look down at my now full basket and peer into the other box he brought me. It’s got leeks, scallions, and a bundle of carrots as well. I’m lost for words, overwhelmed in the strangest way.

I fiddle with the paper, my mind reeling so fast that I grapple for words. “So, are strawberries good with the pickled walnuts?”

I look up at the sound of his chuckle. “It’s the fucking best.”

I gulp. “Great. How much do I owe you?”

I make a grab for my purse, but his hand covers mine, pulling it back to rest on the handle of the basket.

“Nothing at all, Mae. Consider it a gift.”

My heart thaws a little more at his sweet gesture. “I can’t. It’s too much, Aidan.”

“You can argue all you want, but I still won’t take your money.”

I huff, shaking my head. “Fine. I’ll find another way to thank you, then.” I pick up the basket, needing to escape his probing gaze, handsome face, and his too sexy eyes that won’t stop leaving a hot trail over my skin. “I need to get home with all these goodies. I’ll see you tonight at the concert.”

Slowly, he lets his hand slip from on top of mine, leaving my skin buzzing. “Can’t wait.”

I pull at my scarf again and wrench my eyes away from his. Without another word, I lift my heavy basket and turn on my heels. The longer our distance grows, the harder my heart beats in my chest. Already on edge, needy, and so freaking horny for him, I walk home, wondering what the best way to reward him would be.

When the answer comes to me, my lips tip up in a slow smile.

Aidan Lynch won’t know what’s hit him when I see him again.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Aidan

We stand close, but not too close, listening to the band playing from the far back of the field. Katie has left me to spend some quality time with her friends, and my parents went with her to keep an eye on them.

No doubt they see this as the perfect way to give Maeve and me a chance to enjoy the evening together. Every few moments, I look away from the folk band to watch the woman standing next to me from the corner of my eye. The soft smile playing on her lips and the way she sways from side to side, her foot tapping to the music, or her fingers beating out a rhythm on the paper cup of wine in her hand, has me mesmerised.

I lean down to speak in her ear and take a discreet whiff of her hair.

Lemongrass this time.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

She grins up at me, and I swear my heart fucking stops. “So much, yes!” She looks back at the stage and takes a small sip of her wine. “I didn’t think I’d be so into folk music, but these guys are fantastic.”

Her smile is infectious, and I nod in reply. My fingers itch to touch her, but that will only draw attention to us. Instead, I push my hands into the pockets of my fleece vest.

Another few seconds tick by, and then I’m back at staring at her again.

It’s the first time I’ve seen her so relaxed in public.

She’s always so guarded when she’s on duty, and I understand why. Her job demands it, but still, the serious woman is not here tonight. A softer version is with me, and both of them have me curious.

She has me obsessed, full stop. There’s no other word for it.

We’re only a few weeks into our friends-who-fuck arrangement, and I can’t see straight from how badly I lust for her. Even here, where we’re in public, I crave her. My body is drawn to hers, strung tight and ready to spring on her the moment she gives me the tiniest hint that she wants me.