Love on the Lake (Lakeside #2)(40)

“Really? I would have thought a farmers’ market would do well here. It’s such a great way for local businesses to connect with the summer folk. I wonder what it would take to get it up and running again.”

A shadow passes over the table, and I look up as a body drops down on the bench seat beside me, with it the scent of Aaron’s cologne. I startle, sucking in a shocked breath.

“I thought when you said you were having a girls’ night you’d all be sitting at your place painting your nails and watching cheesy rom-coms.” He stretches his arm across the back of the bench seat, his fingertips brushing along my shoulder.

Tawny and Allie look from me to him and back again, mouths agape.

I tip my head up so I can look at him. It’s clear he’s been working late; he’s still wearing his work clothes, and he smells like a combination of sawdust, gas, and fresh-cut grass. His shirt is clean, though, because he always keeps an extra in his truck or his backpack, which he brings with him everywhere he goes.

His storm cloud gaze meets mine, roving over my face, a half smile tipping up the right side of his mouth.

“The night’s still young, you never know where we might end up,” I say with a wink at the girls.

I have no idea what the protocol is here. He’s naturally flirty. That’s just the way he is. So him sliding into the booth and putting his arm around me is par for the course. I should definitely not read into it.

“Like the next town over at the Steel Sword!” Tawny slaps the table, eyes alight with excitement. She’s already on her second glass of wine since Allie is the designated driver of their pair.

“The Steel Sword? Is that the name of a bar?” I wrinkle my nose. It does not sound like a place I want to go.

“Oh, it’s a bar, all right.” Dillion grins widely.

Aaron’s playful smile drops, and he looks over my head at her. “You’re not taking Teagan there.”

“Why not? What’s wrong with the Steel Sword?” Troy used to monitor where I went and with who, but I realize now it was so he could sneak around behind my back with Portia. I don’t think this is anything close to the same, but I don’t like that my head goes there at all.

“Yeah, what’s wrong with the Steel Sword?” Allie props her chin on her fist.

“Didn’t they get shut down for violating the health code?” Aaron’s eyes swing her way and narrow. “And Teagan doesn’t need to see a bunch of second-rate strippers fumble their way out of their clothes when she has me around.” He turns his hot gaze on me. He’s close, his sweet breath washing over my face. He’s been drinking root beer. His fingers sweep up the side of my neck. There’s a hint of vulnerability and maybe the tiniest bit of worry lurking behind his eyes, as though he’s not fond of the idea of me going there. “Listen, babe, you don’t need the Steel Sword. You want a lap dance, you come to me.”

“Hey, Saunders, stop hitting on the locals. They know better than to let you into their beds!” Billy, Dillion’s younger brother, calls out from the pool tables across the room.

Aaron flinches, and his brow pulls into a furrow. He turns his head slowly in the direction of the heckling. “I’m having a conversation!”

“I’m gonna let Tommy take your shot if you’re not over here in thirty seconds.” Billy sets his nonalcoholic beer on the table and starts chalking up his cue.

Aaron rolls his eyes and turns back to me. “I gotta show them what real pool looks like.” He pushes up off the bench and unfurls to his full height. “Don’t leave without saying goodbye.” He takes a step toward the pool tables but stops and turns back to us, narrowed eyes on Allie and Tawny. “And I mean it: don’t take her to the Steel Sword.” He braces one hand on the back of the bench and leans down, the fingers on his free hand settling under my chin, and he tips my head up. “By the way, you look fucking delicious tonight. If I lose this game, it’s your fault for being such a distraction.” He brushes his lips over mine.

It’s all too brief. He winks and saunters across the room, toward the pool table.

My table suddenly feels like there’s an earthquake happening under it. Allie and Tawny both look like their eyeballs are going to pop out of their heads.

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh,” they both whisper-shriek.

Tawny leans forward and looks around the bar. I do the same and notice there are quite a few people looking at our table. “I guess now we know who Aaron’s mystery woman is!”

“Mystery woman?” I echo.

“I saw Billy in town, and he was complaining last week about Aaron not being around to help him with something. I guess he kept blowing him off because he was busy with you, but he wouldn’t give him a straight answer. Billy figured it had to be a woman, because Aaron has been in a great mood lately,” Tawny says.

“Aaron is usually pretty upbeat, though,” Allie says.

“Yeah, but he’s been whistling, with a hop in his step and a twinkle in his eyes,” Dillion adds.

I give her a look. “What is this? A Hallmark movie?”

She laughs. “Seriously, though, Aaron is a fun guy, but there’s always been an edge to him, like there’s something dark hiding behind that smile of his. He’s different than he was in high school, which I guess is to be expected. I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it, but what I do know is that he’s been in a ridiculously good mood lately and he hasn’t been flirting with everyone.”