Love on the Lake (Lakeside 2)

He shifts his knee pad over so he’s only a few feet away. “Yeah, Van talked about that a little. Your younger brother is in jail for fraud.”

“He tried to frame Van. It was awful. And I’m not justifying what he did, but I think a lot of it stems from not having stable, active, involved parents around growing up. At least I hope that’s it and he’s not some narcissistic douche hole who will never be a better person.”

“That had to be hard on your family,” Aaron says quietly.

“It was. But it was also the wake-up call my dad needed. I think he finally recognized he wasn’t even present in his life. That he was just . . . existing. Van helped him consolidate his debt, and we moved into a house he could afford. I couldn’t see what a pampered brat I was until we had to sell pretty much everything and start over. And I didn’t want to leave my dad on his own, not after what happened with Bradley and with all the changes, so I moved with him rather than get my own place.”

Aaron flips his ball cap around so the brim is backward. “That seems like a pretty selfless thing to do.”

“I don’t know if I would consider it selfless. I did it as much for myself as I did for him. It gave me a sense of purpose, a reason to hold on to something familiar in a sea of change.”

“You still put him before yourself. That’s a selfless act.”

“I needed to be needed, at least by someone.” I wave the metal spatula around, not sure if I should be embarrassed that I’m sharing my sob story with a man I find hopelessly attractive, who might only be listening to me ramble because he likes my muffins. Still, I keep talking. “Anyway, while all that was happening, my dad went for grief counseling and met Danielle, his girlfriend. He absolutely deserves to be happy, and that’s what she makes him. But last week when she moved in, I saw that everything I’ve been doing—working for the same company as my dad, as his assistant, living in the house with him—none of it was for me. I don’t even know what I like, or what I’m good at, or if there are things I’d like to be good at that I’m not.”

“You’re good at a lot of things as far as I can tell.” Aaron motions to the loft.

“I’m good at talking, that’s for sure.” Filling people’s ears with my nonsense is one thing I excel at. “Anyway, I need to figure out what I want because I honestly have no idea, so here I am.”

I force a bright smile and look up.

I don’t expect Aaron to be right beside me, his storm cloud eyes fixed on me. And for once he’s not looking at me with annoyance or pity.

“That’s my story.” I focus on filling holes again.

“It’s quite the story.”

“Everyone has one.”

“This is true.” He’s quiet for a moment before he continues. “And I mean it, Teagan: I think you’re probably good at more things than you know. You already know you can fill holes like a pro.”

I give him the side-eye and roll my eyes at his grin. “I’ve heard that’s your specialty.”

“Is that right? Already jumping on the small-town-gossip train?” He’s still smiling, but there’s an edge to his tone.

“You flirt with literally everyone,” I point out.

“That doesn’t mean I sleep with everyone.”

“Just the ladies whose lawns you mow?” I know I’ve taken it a step too far when his expression shutters.

“You don’t know shit about me, Teagan.”

“I didn’t before, but I do now.” I don’t know why I’m needling him like this. It’s obvious I’ve hit a nerve. But I feel like I’m finally figuring him out, and I like the reaction I’m getting.

“And what exactly do you think you know?” He pushes to a stand, and his abs, all eleven million of them, ripple as he rolls his shoulders back and glares down at me.

“That you don’t like the reputation you seem to have earned.” I push to my feet too. “I also know that you flirt with everyone except me. Why is that, Aaron? Why are you only nice when I have something you want? What’s so off-putting about me?”

“That’s not true. What’s off-putting are rumors and gossip. I hadn’t pegged you for someone who fed into that garbage, especially with your history.” He starts toward the door, so I jump in front of him, blocking his way. Which is essentially pointless since there are two doors to choose from.

“I was kidding about the lawn mowing. I didn’t realize you were going to take such offense to it. And less than a minute ago you basically agreed with me about you flirting with everyone. Why are you so angry all of a sudden?”