The Bridesmaid's Gifts by Wilkins Gina

Author:Wilkins, Gina
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silhouette Special Edition
Published: 2007-10-16T04:00:00+00:00

Curled into a chair next to Ethan’s, Aislinn arched her back and was rather surprised when several muscles protested. She glanced at her watch. Had they really been sitting here for almost two hours, staring at Joel’s computer monitor?

Ethan sat in another chair at the keyboard, a legal pad with several pages of scribbled notes at his elbow. He looked around when Aislinn moved. “Getting tired?”

“Just a little stiff.” She stood, stretching out the kinks. “Do you mind if I have a glass of water?”

“Of course not. There’s a filtered pitcher in the refrigerator. Help yourself.”

“Thank you. Can I get you a glass?”

“Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks.”

She was returning with a glass in each hand when the telephone rang. “That’s Joel,” she said without checking caller ID. “I assume you’re not going to tell him yet what we’re doing.”

“You assume correctly.” He answered the phone, chatting for a few minutes with his brother while Aislinn sipped her water.

She was beginning to think he wasn’t going to mention her at all when she heard him ask if Nic was nearby. “Aislinn’s here, keeping me company for a while,” he added. “They’d probably like to say hello to each other.”

Taking the receiver from him with a smile, Aislinn said, “Hi, Nic. How’s the honeymoon?”

“Paradise,” Nic answered fervently. “It’s so beautiful here, you wouldn’t believe it. It’s going to be tough coming back home and going back to work. And speaking of home, how’s everything there?”

“Same as always. I saw your mom earlier. She’s having a great time catching up with her old friends.”

“I talked to her yesterday. It did seem like she was enjoying her visit. I could tell she’s looking forward to rejoining Paul, though. She really loves it over there.” Changing the subject, Nic continued, “So, you’re spending the evening with Ethan.”

“Yes, we’ve been having a nice visit.”

“Have you?” Nic sounded surprised—and a bit suspicious, as if she wondered what exactly was going on between Aislinn and Ethan.

Aislinn didn’t blame her for being curious. After all, neither she nor Ethan were overly sociable types. And they hadn’t exactly gotten off to the best start.

“Has Ethan been giving you advice about your business? Joel said there’s nothing he loves to do more than talk to small-business owners about ways they can restructure.”

“Yes, he’s given me a few tips about my business.” He had advised her to add the chocolate-caramel cake and the lemon-orange cupcakes to her menu, which she supposed made her answer an honest one.

Looking around from the computer, Ethan gave her a quizzical look. She wrinkled her nose at him and returned her attention to the phone call.

“I’d better go,” Nic said. “Joel and I are going for a late-night walk on the beach.”

“Sounds very romantic.”

“I guess it would be if one of us didn’t insist on starting a footrace every time.”

Aislinn laughed. “Gee, I wonder which one of you that would be.”

They hung up shortly afterward.

“I appreciate you not telling them what you and I are really working on this evening,” Ethan said without looking around again.

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