Page 19 of Beneath the Quiet

He chuckles. “Village life, Detective.”

Ah. That makes sense.

“I don’t think you can make a solid decision before you’ve given living here an honest chance. At least a few months,” Aidan carries on, getting my full attention. “Nobody truly settles down in one place in such a short amount of time, and I think you’d do yourself a favour if you didn’t worry so much about whether you fit in so soon.” He pushes back from the fence and takes a step closer towards me.

“So, what you’re saying is that I’m overthinking things?”

“Well, yes.” His lips pull up at the corners. “I’m not saying this to be an arse. But since I’ve lived here pretty much all my life, I know a thing or two about the people living here.”

I let out a long sigh. “I do want to get to know them, it’s just…” I bite down on my lip.

“It’s just what?”

“I’ve never been good at making friends, so it’s hard. Where do the boundaries go between when I’m wearing my badge, so to speak, and when I’m off duty? There’s no anonymity here, not like when in a big city.”

“I get what you’re saying, and I can’t help you with that. But I think you’ll get there. You need to be more patient, though.”

I work my lips between my teeth. “Something happened today at the station that made me feel as if people don’t respect me or what I represent, and it made me uncomfortable in a way I haven’t felt since I was fresh out of school.” I shrug. “They defended Harry wandering the village instead of being sympathetic to the fact that the bull ruins Mrs. McCarthy’s garden all the time. That’s not right.”

Aidan breathes deeply and leans away from the fence, resting his hands on the top.

“For what it’s worth, I agree with you. I’ve told Murdoch many times that if he doesn’t keep Harry locked behind the fence, he’ll end up causing so much trouble that he’ll end up paying for it with his life.”

I snort. “He did accuse me of wanting to kill the bloody beast.”

Aidan shakes his head. “It’s probably not about a lack of respect. They just want to teach you about village life, to share their love for a simpler life and slower pace. Taking your sweet time can be healthy. Less stressful, at least, and that should be a good thing.”

Oddly, his words make sense, especially since the stress of the scene with Murdoch is well and truly behind me now.

“Now…” Aidan pulls out his phone from the pocket in his overalls and hands it to me. “Give me your number.”

I frown and glance down at it. “Why do you want my number?”

“Consider me your first friend in Cloonmara, and friends share their phone numbers with each other.”

I blink, surprised. “We’re friends now?”

That adorable grin with the dimples pops out again. “Yup. Go on.” He shakes the phone at me and swipes the screen. “Stop staring at it as if it’s a live snake about to kill you. I won’t take no for an answer.”

“Fine,” I grumble, tongue in cheek. “I suppose I can trust you.”

“Smart woman.”

Shaking my head, I do as I’m told, and once I’ve saved the number in his contact list, I hand it back to him. His lips tip up again at me in that half-smile that I’m becoming more used to, and he swipes the screen. The shrill tone of my phone ringing makes me start, breaking the moment. He only lets it ring once and places the phone back, never once breaking our stare, and the butterflies start up again in my belly.

“There. Now you have my number, too.”

Somehow, the moment has become a little more intimate than I was prepared for, but I prefer attraction over tears.

I bend and grab my bag. “I have to go. Please tell me I’m walking in the right direction.”

Aidan leans back and points. “Just head straight down the lane here and take a sharp turn next to the runes. Walk a little way up, and you’ll then see the gate behind the house. You can’t miss it.”

“Thank you.” I swipe my fringe back from my forehead and nod at him. “And thank you for listening, Aidan.”

“Sure. See you around.” He shifts but can’t move far because of the fence boxing us in. “You should come by Holly’s on Friday. I think it’s the monthly quiz night this week. Might be easier for you to meet people there.”

I smile softly at him, not committing to anything, and then move past him on the narrow lane. I have to angle my body awkwardly to get past him. Our height difference is even more significant now, and when our bodies brush against each other, hips bumping, I jump at the electricity shooting up my arm.