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“I build hotels.”
Nick’s eyes got wider. “Like in Monopoly?”
Aiden laughed, shaking his head. “Kind of. Except I do it in real life. I work for a company that owns them all. It’s my job to find new areas to build in. We’re working on the Silver Sands Resort at the moment.”
Nick looked impressed. “Do you use diggers?”
“Not personally, though it would be really cool. But we have a lot on our site.”
“I love diggers. And tractors.”
“Well maybe you can come and take a look at the site some time.” He slid his gaze back to Brooke. “If your mom’s okay with it.”
Her eyes looked like mirrors. The sunlight was shining directly in them, and he could see himself reflected in their depths. “I’d be fine with it,” she said, her voice thick.
The waiter slid a plate of garlic bread into the middle of the table, taking their order. For the next few minutes the air was filled with discussions about pasta, about drinks, and whether the arrabiata was better than the carbonara. Finally, the waiter went away, leaving Nick busy with the garlic bread, munching merrily at a slice.
“He’s a good kid,” Aiden said, leaning his head toward Brooke. “You should be proud.”
“I’m very lucky to have him. He’s my life.”
It was strange, seeing how the girl he knew – the one he’d loved – had turned out as a woman. As a teenager she’d been kind, loving, and of course, she’d been pretty. But this woman – because that’s what she was now – her beauty could take his breath away if he let it.
But he couldn’t let it. Look what happened the last time he gave into his feelings. And anyway, she wouldn’t have him even if he wanted her. Not after the way he’d treated her when she’d told him the truth about Nick.
“Brooke?”
Somebody called from the sand. Aiden turned to see a man leaning on the wooden handrail separating the deck from the beach. A man, with perfect blond hair, and teeth too straight to be real.
The guy from last night. Great.
“Oh God.” Brooke visibly paled. “What’s he doing here?”
“Who is it, Mom?” Nick looked up from his garlic bread, turning his head to follow her gaze. There was no look of recognition in his eyes. Thank God. He wasn’t Brooke’s boyfriend, or at least if he was, he hadn’t been introduced to her son.
He wasn’t going to think about why that should bother him. Not yet.
“I’m so sorry, let me go say hi. I’ll be right back.” She lifted the paper napkin from her lap and placed it on the table, before walking over to the man who was still leaning on the rail. She was smiling at him, and that fact alone made Aiden frown.
“Who is that?” Nick asked again, this time directing his question at Aiden.
“I’ve no idea.” Aiden shrugged. “Maybe one of your mom’s friends?”
“Nuh uh. I know all of Mom’s friends.” Nick shook his head, helping himself to another slice of garlic bread. “Apart from you, that is.”
“Does she have a lot of friends?” His throat felt tight. He swallowed a mouthful of water, but it didn’t help. How old was Nick? Eight? It would be crazy to think Brooke hadn’t had a boyfriend in that time. Crazy to think she didn’t attract admirers like a flame attracted moths. He’d flown too close to the fire himself.
“Nope. She’s too busy. She has Aunt Ally and Aunt Ember, plus Max and Ellie – he’s the vet. He helps out at the shelter.”
“But she knows everybody in town, right?” Aiden tried to keep his voice light. Nick was a kid, after all. He shouldn’t be grilling him. It wasn’t right.
“Yeah, Grandma and Grandpa have a lot of friends. They all know us.”
And wasn’t that the truth? Back in the day Brooke couldn’t walk more than thirty yards without bumping into somebody her parents knew. God only knew how they’d kept their relationship secret for as long as they did. A mixture of clandestine meetings, and not being seen in public together. Maybe that was something he should have thought of before inviting her and Nick out for lunch at the busiest restaurant in town.
Brooke returned to the table a couple of minutes later. Her cheeks were flushed, although it was impossible to tell whether it was from the sun, or something else altogether.
“Sorry about that.” She pulled her chair out and sat down, reaching across to wipe a crumb of garlic bread from Nick’s chin. “Now, where were we?”
