Page 32 of Carpenter's Christmas Bride

There was a slightly hurt look on her face, like she had expected him to at least exchange the polite minimum number of words with her.

He felt a pang of guilt. But he knew that if he let himself chat or take a cup of coffee, she would get under his skin again and it would be harder to steel himself and harder to walk away. And Aidan just didn’t have it in him.

“Don’t get up,” he said, hurrying to the door.

“See you tomorrow,” she called after him in that sweet, happy voice.

“See you then,” he called back over his shoulder, his own voice sounding cracked and rusty to his ears.

It would be an easy walk to town, and probably good for his attitude to get some fresh air and exercise, but there was no way he was risking bumping into Kenzie again today by leaving his truck here. So he got back in and drove the block and a half into the village, parking right out front of the hardware store.

Once he had slipped a few coins into the meter, he headed inside. Michael kept the place nice and warm, and the familiar sawdust scent embraced Aidan’s as he entered, making him feel right at home.

“Aidan Webb,” Michael called to him over the sound of the key grinder he was using behind the counter.

“Hey, man,” Chad Stransky said, leaning against the front of the counter, waiting for his key. “How’s it going?”

Chad was about the most laid-back guy Aidan knew. He was from another little Pennsylvania town two counties over, but Trinity Falls had embraced him ever since he’d moved here to help Trudy over at the inn.

“I’m fine, thanks,” Aidan replied. “How are you?”

“Oh,” Chad said, ignoring his question. “That’s good, because you looked a little bummed out.”

“No, no,” Aidan denied, surprised he was so easy to read.

“Well, I guess you shouldn’t be,” Chad said, winking at him. “I saw you with that ballerina girl at Tanner’s lighting thing last night. She’s super nice, and it sounds like everyone around here loves her.”

“Oh yeah,” Michael said, stopping the grinder for a moment to agree. “MacKenzie’s a real sweetheart.”

“Congratulations, man,” Chad said. “Really, you deserve it.”

“We’re not together,” Aidan told them a little too loudly, breaking up the warm and fuzzy atmosphere in an instant. “I’m just doing a job for her, and we bumped into each other there.”

“That’s too bad,” Michael said, shaking his head.

“Probably not a bad plan to ask her out,” Chad suggested. “She looked like she was having a blast, and she was so into your little guy.”

“She’ll be heading back to New York as soon as she’s healed up,” Aidan said. “No point any of us getting attached. Excuse me for sec, I need to text my cousin.”

The other two nodded respectfully and he headed into the gardening aisle to pull out his phone. He didn’t really need to text Josh as much as he wanted out of that conversation.

need anything from michael’s?

A moment later, he could see that Josh was typing. He stayed hidden away, hoping Josh took his time making a list of items.

Josh:

No, but if you have time after we could use an extra pair of hands. I’m sorry to ask. I know you never get a break.

Relief swept over Aidan at the idea of having some work to do. He replied right away.

glad to help

be there asap

By the time he got up front, he was even more relieved to see that Chad had gone. He placed an order for the materials he needed for Kenzie’s project, and Michael confirmed that he could have it all in by the next morning.

When he was done, Aidan headed out to his truck again, ready to forget about Kenzie and her pretty smile, at least for a little while.

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