Page 89 of Heating Up (Nugget)
More silence. “Sue, you there?”
“I’m here.” Her voice quivered. “Are you in love with her?”
“I just met her.” He could hear her crying on the other end of the phone.
“I miss you, Aidan.”
The call was veering into inappropriate territory. Time to go. “You’re married to Sebastian now, so you probably shouldn’t be telling me these things. Look, Sue, I’m gonna hang up now. Thanks for passing your friend along.”
He pressed the End button on his phone, dumbfounded. What the hell was that about?
Chapter 17
Aidan waved from the other side of the Ponderosa’s dining room and Dana’s stomach did a flip. He looked so hot in his faded jeans and polo shirt, better than any other man in the restaurant.
“Remember, you promised not to pepper him with questions about the fires,” Dana told Harlee.
“But I can casually ask if there’s anything new, right?”
“Yes. But if it’s obvious he doesn’t want to talk about it, you have to stop.”
Harlee’s lips quirked up. “You’re cute.”
“I think it’s nice she wants to protect Aidan from the likes of you,” Darla said.
“Hey,” Harlee called out, “whose side are you on?”
Harlee’s best friend shook her head, her big plastic peace-sign earrings swinging. Today she had on a purple pageboy wig. Her unconventional look was starting to grow on Dana. Hey, let your freak flag fly, right?
“Firefighters are so hot,” Darla said. Apparently, Aidan was having the same effect on her as he was on Dana.
All three of them watched him walk their way.
He hadn’t even had time to sit down when Harlee said, “You better have news for me.”
Dana glared at Harlee and Aidan laughed.
“I’ve got nothing,” he said, and Harlee pierced him with an I-don’t-believe-you glower. “Seriously, if I had something, I’d tell you. I like the press.” He winked at Dana. “Is that alcohol free?”
She poured him a glass of Arnold Palmer from the pitcher. “It’s iced tea and lemonade.”
“How are you ladies?” He turned to Dana. “How did it go with your clients?”
“Got an offer on a Sierra Heights house.” She put up her hand for a high five. Instead, Aidan leaned across the table and kissed her.
Darla started fanning herself. “You guys are so cute.”
Dana felt her face turn a dozen shades of red. Not only wasn’t she used to being the center of attention, she didn’t like it.
“You joining us for dinner?” Aidan asked Harlee and Darla.
“I’ve got to get home. Colin’s making linguini tonight. When do you think you’ll have something for me?”
Boy, Dana thought, Harlee never quit. Must be why she was such a good reporter. But when she found out Dana had been holding out on the news of Gia Treadwell moving to town . . .
“I’ve got to go too,” Darla said. “Wyatt and I are going to the Indian place in Glory Junction.”
“Does that restaurant have an actual name?” Aidan chuckled. “Ever since I moved here I’ve only heard it referred to as the ‘Indian place.’”
