“I never had any intention of leading you on or going out with you,” she said. “I’m sorry if you thought otherwise.”

“Because you’re fucking Aidan?”

Their gazes met and held. She couldn’t be surprised he knew about Aidan. Cedar Ridge was a small town, and the people in it enjoyed talking. A lot.

“I’ve seen you with him,” he said. “Funny thing about body language. It’s always honest.”

“This conversation is over,” she said.

“Look at that, you even talk like him. I get it, you know,” he said. “He’s a Kincaid. Owns the resort. Of course you picked him.”

“Out,” she said. “Now.”

He jerkily packed up his tools and left.

Jonathan came close. “Heard the tail end of that, which didn’t go well.”

“Seeing as the alternative was me kicking him in the nads, I think it went really well.”

“Oh, I most definitely agree there,” Jonathan said. “I just meant that in my experiences, dickheads like that don’t go quietly into the night. And Lily? You need to let Aidan and Gray know what happened here. If you don’t feel comfortable saying anything, I’ll be happy to do it.”

She blew out a sigh. “I’ll handle it.”

“Sure?”

“Yeah. I clean up my own messes.”

The door opened again, and in came Penny.

Lily let out a breath and managed a smile. “Hey.”

“Hey. I want the baby-butt skin you gave Aidan,” she said.

“Baby-butt skin coming up,” Lily said.

Penny stared at her. “And also I want that glow you’re wearing. What’s that from?”

An all-nighter with your brother-in-law … “Um, I think I’m sunburned.”

Jonathan choked and spilled his coffee. “Dammit.”

Penny was still staring at Lily. “You slept with him.”

“What is it with you people?” Lily asked the room.

“Jealousy,” Jonathan said.

His client, an eighty-five-year-old woman, nodded. “Sure is, honey,” she said in a three-pack-a-day voice. “None of us are getting any.”

“Hey,” Penny said. “I’m getting some.”

“Yes, but that’s married sex,” Jonathan said. “Married sex doesn’t count.”

“Hmph,” Penny said.

The rest of the day spun by pretty quickly with the exception of several people asking Lily if she was going to finally be the one to tie down the elusive Aidan Kincaid.

“It’s a compliment,” Jonathan told her as they were cleaning up at the end of the day. “People are fascinated by the Kincaids. They’re all wild as hell—though marriage has tamed Gray—somewhat. People are wondering about the woman who’s looking like she might snag another brother. Really, the gossip and questioning are inevitable.”

“It’s ridiculous,” Lily said. “Love is a private business.”

“Whoa.” Jonathan went brows up. “I didn’t say anything about love. But since you went there—”

“Sorry,” she said, grabbing her purse. “Gotta go.”

“Fine, but Lily Pad?”

She looked back.

“Tell Aidan about Lenny.”