Best of My Love (Fool's Gold, #20)(77)

Jo brought over four glasses and a pitcher of iced tea, then left without saying a word. Which made Shelby think she’d been warned off.

“Now I’m scared,” she said. “Is one of you sick? Am I sick? Is a meteor about to hit Fool’s Gold and kill us all?”

The other three women exchanged a look. Madeline nodded.

“I’ll go first,” she said firmly, then reached across the table toward Shelby. “You know we all love you,” she began.

Oh, God. This was going to be bad. “Yes,” Shelby said slowly. “And?”

“And this is an intervention.”

Which was pretty much the last thing Shelby had been expecting. “Excuse me? A what?”

“An intervention,” Taryn told her. “Shelby, you’re wonderful. So creative and giving. And delightfully naive.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Aidan,” the three of them said together.

What had been nerves quickly turned to dread. Aidan? No. What could they want to tell her? That there was another woman? That he’d been seen with someone else? What if it was true? What if he’d slept with one of his campers? It had happened before. It used to happen all the time.

No, she told herself firmly. No. They were wrong. Aidan would never do that. They were sleeping together and he wasn’t the kind of man to betray that. She believed in him down to her bones.

“He’s a good guy and you can’t convince me otherwise,” she told her friends.

“We’re not trying,” Patience said quickly. “It’s not that at all. I’ve known Aidan all my life and you’re right. He’s great. In fact, that’s the problem.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

Taryn rolled her eyes. “I’ll just say it. Shelby, you’re in love with him.”

She wouldn’t have been more surprised if little green men had jumped onto the table and taken off with her drink.

“Wh-what?”

“You’re. In. Love. With. Him.” Taryn’s expression turned sympathetic. “I’m sorry to be blunt, but we thought you might not have figured it out for yourself. Judging by the wide-eyed shock, you didn’t.”

“I’m not,” she breathed, stunned by how they’d gotten it all so wrong. “We’re friends.”

Taryn groaned.

“We know you keep saying that,” Madeline said. “All the time. That’s what has us concerned. Me concerned,” she amended. “Shelby, you’ve gone through a lot and your effort to change was so inspiring. You figured out what was wrong and how to fix it. Aidan was the perfect choice. Maybe too perfect.”

“You’re all crazy. It’s not love. It’s friendship.”

Taryn shook her head. “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Shelby, honey, you’re a down-to-the-bone, honest-to-God duck.”

“I’m not. We like each other. We hang out.”

“You’re having sex.”

Patience’s voice was quiet, but firm. Shelby stared at her.

“How did you know?”

“What?” Madeline gasped. “You didn’t tell me!”

“Seriously, you’re going to get hung up on that?” Taryn asked. “Of course they’re having sex. She’s been glowing for about two, maybe three weeks. They are so doing the deed.”

Speaking of glowing...Shelby felt her face heat. She kept her gaze on Patience, who gave her a rueful smile.

“I go to work really early, too,” her friend admitted. “I saw you leaving his house at four in the morning. There was no other reason for you to be there.” Patience held up her hand. “I’m not judging. I’m just worried. I think it’s great you’re in love with him. We’re just worried that you can’t admit the truth to yourself.”

Shelby pushed aside her embarrassment and stared down her friends. “I’m not in love with Aidan. You’re all sweet to be concerned, but it’s fine. I’m fine. We’re—”

“We know,” they said together. “Friends.”

“We are.”

The four of them went silent. Madeline drew in a breath.

“Okay then. If you’re sure. I’ll end this the way we started. We all love you very much and we’re concerned about you.”

Shelby smiled at her. “I know, and thank you. But there’s really nothing to worry about. I’m totally and completely fine.”

“Famous last words,” Taryn muttered.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”





CHAPTER NINETEEN

WHEN THE FOX AND HOUND restaurant closed for its annual week of vacation, Shelby was able to use the kitchen for her baking. That allowed the contractors to pull a couple of all-nighters and finish their work one entire week early. Which was why, the week before Memorial Day, she found herself standing in front of her brand-new business, key in hand.

“You did it,” Aidan said. “Are you excited?”

“Yes. And scared. The usual conflicting emotions.”

He put his arm around her. “You’ll do great.”