Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Aaron

I didn’t think I was as brilliant as Hank and everyone else seemed to think I was, but it was nice to be praised. When Hank informed us that Patty would be happy to donate the wood, I was once again a hero even though I wasn’t the one who’d asked her.

I was regulated to the shoveling crew and then told to shift to the stage setup after that was completed. It would keep me busy for days. Daniel was working vendor stables and because there were so many needed, he’d be focusing on that.

I was a little nervous to be separated from him, which was ridiculous since I’d been on my own for years. Most of the time as I passed through towns and cities, no one paid me any mind. I did a job, I left, nothing to it. Usually, no one wanted to know a thing about me, but in Everlasting Springs everyone thrived on questions, was determined to figure me out.

“You just passing through, or you planning on staying?” Stanley, who I’d learned was a high school history teacher, was my partner. Hank didn’t want anyone alone due to the fact that these jobs could be dangerous.

“Passing through.”

“Friend of Daniel’s?”

The smaller walkways needed to be shoveled, and I wished I were doing the wider ones—then I’d have a snow blower and wouldn’t be subjected to this inquisition.

“Sort of.”

He nodded and worked silently for a blessed five minutes. “How do you know Daniel?”

I wasn’t one to lie—hated it, as a matter of fact. It was so hard to remember what story you’d told to whom, but at the same time I really had no desire to tell this guy about my life.

“I was stuck in the storm, and he offered me some help.”

“Ah,” was all he said. Ah? What does that mean?

“How’s it going?” I turned around and saw Daniel’s smiling face. He looked amazing in his charcoal-gray peacoat, black leather gloves, and red scarf.

“Great!” Stanley stuck his shovel into a mound of snow. “Aaron here was telling me how you helped him out of a blunder.”

Did I say blunder? I don’t remember using that word at all.

“Is that right?” Daniel’s brow jumped, and he flicked his eyes my way.

“Was just telling Stanley here how you helped me out in the storm, that’s all.”

Daniel nodded curtly. “Right. Well, I need to steal Aaron from you, Stan. Levy is going to take over.”

“Oh.” Stanley shrugged. “No big. Talk to you later, Aaron.”

Once we were a fair distance away, I thanked Daniel. “I felt like I was being interrogated by cops.”

He chuckled, and once more I reveled in this man’s beauty. He was gorgeous. “He used to be a principal in a New York school, if you can believe it.”

I hummed. “That explains everything. So, what did you need me for?”

He held up his pointer. “Once sec. Hey, Levy.”

“What’s up, Dan?” Levy was a tall, lanky teenager with dark curls and green eyes.

“Aaron’s back is hurting him. Any way you can swap out with him on the shoveling for a bit?”

Levy frowned. “Oh man, that sucks. Absolutely.” Levy placed the piece of wood he was holding on the ground and jogged over to where Stanley was watching me and Daniel.

“He’s staring,” I whispered.

Daniel patted my shoulder. “You’re new. Not a lot new happens here.”

“Right…okay, put me to work.”

Daniel and I returned to his house later than we’d originally thought we would. There was just too much to get done. When the sun had begun to go down, lights had been brought in so we could see. The good thing was, all the walkways were clear, and the oak from Daniel’s neighbors had been delivered.

“I’m starving,” Daniel announced as we divested ourselves of our winter wear.

“That was a long day. And to think, we get to do it again tomorrow.” I followed Daniel into the kitchen.

“It’ll be worth it in the end to see all the happy townsfolk enjoying the hard work that went into putting it together.”

Daniel pulled out a pie from the refrigerator and preheated the oven.

“Pie?”

“Chicken pot pie,” he corrected. “This is Eleanor Markman’s world-famous recipe.”

I chuckled and sat on the stool by his breakfast bar, watching as he slid the pie onto a cookie sheet. “You say that like I know who she is.”

“She’s a veterinarian. And no, the chickens weren’t hers.” He snorted. “But last week a couple of her dogs got out of the fenced-in area she has behind her business. I happened to be taking a walk and saw them coming. I tried to cut them off but was only able to stop two. Levy got the other one and as thanks, she made both of us her pot pies. They win every year at the Everlasting Springs Cook-off. She doesn’t sell them, only gifts them.”

“Wow.” I gestured to the pie he slipped into the oven. “Why did it take you a week to eat it if it’s so great?”

He shrugged. “Honestly, it’s big and I’m just me. I couldn’t eat it all. I was going to cook it next week, when my family comes in, but I’d rather share it with you.”

His gray eyes were sparkling—I swore they were—and my heart was beating so fast, I feared it would get away from me.

“Me?”

“You worked hard today, and I think if anyone is going to appreciate how amazing this is, it’s gonna be you.”

I swallowed, not missing how Daniel’s gaze darted to my throat. “Then I can’t wait.”

There was a crackle in the air, and normally I would think it was just my imagination, because people like Daniel Laverton—rich, gorgeous as sin, kind, and generous—weren’t attracted to me. But there was a fire in his eyes, and in my heart I knew that if I kissed him right now, he’d kiss me back.

If Mayhem hadn’t leaped up on the kitchen island and right between us in that moment, I’d likely have dived in and suffered the terrible awkwardness that followed.

“Hey, pretty girl.” Daniel scratched under her chin. “Let me get you your dry food. Sorry it’s later than I usually do it, but Aaron and I were making the town pretty for the festival. And don’t act like you don’t care. I go by Eleanor’s vendor stall just to get those homemade cat treats she makes.”

I grinned and happily watched as Daniel doted on his cat. How he spoke to her as if she were a human being, and she sat there perched on the counter waiting for him and listening.

“The pie will still need about an hour in the oven. If you wanted to shower and get comfortable, I put more sweats in your room.” He held up his hand. “Don’t argue with me about this, either.”

I rolled my eyes and slipped off the barstool. “Thank you. A shower sounds great, actually.”

Once I was under the gloriously warm spray, I jacked off thinking of Daniel bending me over that kitchen island. I just had to not embarrass myself for a little longer. I’d be gone in less than a week—I was sure of it. The car would be found, fixed, and Everlasting Springs would be in my rearview mirror.