Page 18 of Thanking Her Brother's Best Friends

"Whoa, these guys work harder than the Amazon's mosquitoes," he grumbled. "I've never been so traumatized."

"Wait until Harvest and Hearth gets bigger," I replied, giggling. "You'll learn to work around them."

Inside the restaurant, I finally exhaled. Aiden's smile grew warm. "Ready to escape the madness for a bit?"

A soft, spontaneous laugh slipped out. "Never been readier."

Harvest and Hearth was one of the prettiest restaurants I'd been to. It blended rustic charm with sleek minimalism.

Warm wood accents contrasted beautifully with contemporary furnishings, building something that was both welcoming and soothing. Polished marble floors led to a grand staircase.

"It must be beautiful when the sun sets, no?" I asked wistfully.

"Oh, the rooftop is a literal heaven. We hang back after the guests leave, y'know. Nothing like standing near the water at night with a cold beer or two."

Aiden led me to the rooftop. As I climbed, the scent of the sea mingled with the warm breeze. In due course, the seafront view stretched before me like an open embrace of blue and gold.

"We designed this place to showcase the harbor's natural beauty." I could sense the pride in Aiden's voice, and it touched me.

It reminded me of the same possessiveness I felt when my own shop was in the making—it was a different kind of a baby, a different love, but a very fulfilling one all the same.

"You did good," I replied, taking in the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows framing the panoramic vista. In the distance, there was sparkling blue as far as the eyes could see. Lively sailboats bobbed up and down on the distant outline of the city's skyline.

"I love the seating. It just maximizes the view." Plush loungers and intimate tables decorated with simple, clean linens were positioned to capture the waterfront experience.

And I loved that the boys hadn't tried to go too heavy on the music. The gentle lapping of the waves was the best soundtrack they could have.

Lush greenery, carefully curated to enhance rather than distract from the backdrop, lined the rooftop’s perimeter. Fragrant flowers added bursts of color, while tall potted palms swayed gracefully in harmony with the ocean breeze.

I was impressed.

"You've really captured the spirit of this place. It's warm, inviting, and stylish. How did you strike the golden balance? From what I remember, you were pretty clumsy back at school." I grinned at the last sentence, my words teasing a small smile from his mouth.

God, that mouth—even now, I just kept wondering what it would feel like to kiss it.

"I won't deny I wanted to go all out, but the boys helped with the balance. It was like mixing the perfect batch of chowder—ya gotta have just the right amount of tradition and innovation."

"What have you guys done for the menu?"

"Dominic is the resident expert on that. We source our seafood from the local fishermen. Our vegetable-forward options celebrate the nearby farms. Other than that, he's your guy. The man is a literal beast in the kitchen."

"I love this place." I sighed, unable to stop sounding happy. "It feels like a haven."

"Aye, it does. When it comes to good food and good company, we Southies don't hold back. It's about keepin' it real, servin' up dishes that make your heart sing, and creatin' a place where everyone feels like family."

Everything about Aiden screamed straight-up honesty. And this propelled me to ask my next question. He was leaning against the railings, with the sea wind doing magical shit to his hair.

His green eyes had a different kind of light in them now. They looked calm, settled, almost like a deep ocean. I could make out the ripples of muscles on his biceps against the crisp white shirt he'd donned.

What would they feel like under my palms? He turned his head to me and offered a cocky little grin, almost as if he could read my mind. "What are you thinking?"

That I'd like you to take me somewhere private and bang me senseless.

I gulped. No, the least I could do in this situation was ask about his past—maybe get some sense of who he had been all these years.

"You've told me so much about your love for food. What about women?"

His grin became a tad feral. It should have made me feel afraid, but somehow, I just ached for him all the more.

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