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“Is that all you wanted to tell me?” he said, his voice deceptively soft. “Because I have a lot of work to do. It was nice to see you again, Martin. Thanks for dropping by. Don’t forget to wear a hard hat on your way out.”
“You throwing me out, boy?”
Aiden squared his shoulders. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not your boy. I never was. I don’t owe you anything, and I sure as hell don’t want to spend my evening talking to you. So I’m suggesting you leave before you say something we both might regret.”
“You think you can waltz back in here and mess my family up? Well you’ve got another thing coming. You were scum when you were a kid and you’re still scum now. Though you learned to dress better.” Martin shook his head, his eyes narrowing to slits. “You don’t want to get on the wrong side of me. You should remember what I’m capable of.”
“You’re capable of terrorizing women and kids until they leave town? Well excuse me if I don’t cower at the thought. I’m not that boy anymore, Martin. I’m here to build a resort and I’m not planning on going anywhere.”
“I’m important in this town. I know people, influential people. I can cause you more problems than you’ll know how to deal with. You don’t want to get on the wrong side of me, and I’m pretty sure your boss wouldn’t want to either. Maybe it’s him I should be talking to.” His voice wavered, as though he had no idea what to do next.
“Go ahead.” Aiden walked toward Martin, leaning over the desk to pull out the drawer. “Here’s his business card. I think you’ll find he gives as many flying fucks about your influence in Angel Sands as I do.” His laugh had no humor in it. “You’re a big fish in a very small pond, Martin. Outside these town limits nobody gives a damn what you think.”
Martin’s jaw was so tight Aiden could see a twitch where he was biting down. He shook his head again, nostrils flaring as he took a breath in. “I’m leaving,” he announced, as though it was completely his idea. “But you listen to me, boy. You mess with my family, you mess with me. Leave my daughter and grandson alone. You’re nothing to them, and you should keep it that way.”
In that moment, Aiden realized he had absolutely no idea they were his family, too. No inkling that Jamie was Nick’s father. He could announce the fact right now, and watch as the realization washed over Martin’s face, relish the way it would cut him like a knife.
But something stopped him. It wasn’t his secret to tell.
“Goodbye, Martin,” he said firmly, watching as the older man stalked to the door, yanking it open, and stepping into the main office. He didn’t say another word as he made his way out of the cabin and down the metal stairs, heading toward the gate to the parking lot.
He’d forgotten his hard hat. Aiden didn’t bother to call after him. Maybe a piece of falling masonry was what he needed now. Grabbing the phone, he called the night time security guard, asking him to let Martin Newton out of the gate. Sighing, he walked back into his office.
He had so much work to catch up on, so many project plans to read and emails to respond to, but his head was reeling.
There was only one person he wanted to talk to, and it had nothing to do with the resort at all.
* * *
“I’m going to finish up here and I’ll be right home,” Brooke told her son, cradling her phone on her shoulder as she poured food into each cat’s bowl. “Are you being a good boy for Ally and Nate?”
“Of course.” Nick sounded indignant at the thought he might not be. He was growing up so fast. Only a few years until she had teenage tantrums and exaggerated eye-rolls to contend with. Brooke bit down a sigh. Part of her wanted to keep him exactly like this – her little boy. Although Nick would hate the description. In his mind, he was already big. Her arms ached to hold him and protect him from the outside world.
“Mom, can I go now?” Nick asked, bringing her attention back to the phone call. “Riley’s home, and I want to see if she’ll come to the beach with me.”
“Okay, baby, but give Riley a bit of space. She might need it after a day at school.”
“Ah, he’s gone.” Ally’s voice echoed down the line. Nick must have handed her back the phone. “And don’t worry about Riley, she’s loving having him around. He’s like the little brother she never had.”
“Well thank you. For everything. I mean it.”
“No need to thank me,” Ally said, her voice light. “We’re friends, we do things for each other. God knows I owe you enough. Oh, and Nate’s planning on cooking shrimp tonight. Will eight be okay?”
Brooke checked her watch. It was a quarter after seven. “Yep, that’s great. But you’ve got to let me do the cleaning up.”
Ally laughed. “Whatever. See you soon.”
Brooke slid her phone into the pocket of her scrubs and gave food to the last of the cats. Everything else was ready for the shelter to close. The dogs had been exercised, the smaller animals were safely in their cages. And the larger ones – the goat and the sheep that would be rehomed that weekend – were safely out in the paddock. Clara was in her office, ready to take the night shift. All Brooke had to do was lock the front door.
She was about to slide the bolts across the top, when Brooke noticed the door knob turning. Blinking, she pulled it open, fully expecting to see another animal being brought in.
But instead there was Aiden, his dark eyebrows pulled down, his hand raking through his thick dark hair like a comb.
“Aiden? Are you okay?”
“I was passing. I saw your car.” There was the strangest expression on his face. A mixture of confusion and something else – but she wasn’t sure what. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure. I’m about to close up. You want to come in?”
