Sweet Little Lies (Angel Sands 3)

“Yeah. I didn’t know either until Aiden told me the other day.”

Ally squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, I know you were close to her for a while.”

“She was like a second mother.” More of a mother than her real one, truth be told. When she’d left town with her sons, it had been devastating. “I wish she’d met Nick before she died.” Brooke bit her lip. “I guess Aiden deserves to know.”

“Okay, so when are you going to do it?” Ember asked, whisking up a salad dressing in a small jug. “You want to talk to him now?”

“No!” Brooke replied. “Not today. Not with Nick here.” She swallowed hard, though her mouth was dry. “I’ll do it next week.”

“You’re so brave.”

“I don’t feel it.” Brooke took another sip of her coffee. “I feel scared and frightened. What if he freaks out at me?”

“You think he will?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him for ten years, I don’t know anything about him anymore.”

“Aiden was always one of the good ones,” Ally said softly. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Ember?” Lucas called into the cottage. “The steaks are ready. Can you bring out some plates.”

Ember looked up at them both, her eyes soft. “We should go back outside,” she said, “If you’re ready for it.”

“I’m ready,” Brooke said, her voice more resolute than she felt. “You bring the salad and I’ll bring the plates.”

Ember smiled. “Okay.”

6

Aiden raked his fingers through his hair, surveying the construction site. Dust danced through the air, a thin coating lining his jacket and hard hat, coloring everything the mellowest of yellows.

This was the slowest project he’d ever overseen. The site was a historical location – rather than a parcel of land they were building on from scratch – and it gave an added layer of complications. Well, more like six added layers, if he was honest. In trying to keep the renovations as close to the original resort as possible, they were having to source materials from locations they wouldn’t normally use, and employ artisans who would usually have a long waitlist. Thank God money talked – and Carter Leisure had enough of it.

“Hey,” Brecken Miller greeted him as soon as he walked into the trailers they’d shipped in and placed on the edge of the site. “Can I have a quick word?”

“Sure.” Aiden took his hat off, shaking the dust from his body. He’d long since given up wearing the suits that were his normal uniform when he was working out of LA. Instead, he wore dark tailored pants and a white shirt – sleeves rolled to counteract the constant beating of the sun.

He’d forgotten how warm it was this far south. It was coming back, as well as a whole host of memories he’d hoped he’d forgotten.

“The Spanish rooftiles have arrived,” Breck was telling him. “But half of them are cracked. They’re sending another shipment, but they won’t be arriving until late Friday night. Either we lay on some overtime for the weekend or the schedule will be put back a week. I’m sorry, man.” Breck sighed. “I know it’s not what you want to hear.”

“How many men do you need?”

“I’m thinking twenty. Eight hours each day should work. I’ll be on site to supervise them.”

“Okay, do it. But see if we can charge the suppliers for some of it. It’s their fuck up.”

“I will.” Breck slid his hard hat back over his dark hair. “I’ll call them now.” With a nod he was gone, and Aiden made his way across the main lobby of the office trailer to his office. His laptop was loaded with emails and messages he’d ignored while he’d been out on the site. He opened them up as he slid into his seat. It was already six o’clock – late enough that the rest of the office staff had left for the day. Even the construction vehicles were silent. As always, he would spend another hour or so here trying to play catch-up, replying to the accountants and marketing teams, and updating Old Man Carter on the progress they’d been making.

Avoiding going home where his mind would be too free to wander. Because there were some thoughts he’d been avoiding all week.

In the main lobby the buzzer vibrated, signaling somebody waiting at the site gate. Aiden frowned. They weren’t expecting any deliveries this late in the day, and any visitors had long since left for the evening. Pushing himself off his chair, he made his way in, leaning over to press the intercom.

“Hello?”

“My name’s Brooke Newton. I’m here to see Aiden Black.”

Aiden’s head snapped up as though she was standing in front of him. For a moment he considered telling her he wasn’t here. She wouldn’t know it was him, after all. But curiosity got the better of him. She hadn’t been far from his thoughts all week – at least when he’d allowed himself to acknowledge them. At night when he’d closed his eye