Page 34 of Take Me Slowly, Part 1 (Aurora Hollow duet #1)

LEAH

"I thought it would be a bigger mess," I admitted.

"Because it's two men? Or because one is my brother?" Whitney asked. She grinned at me before turning her attention back to the string of lights she was putting up between the pub and Snowdrop Café.

"Because they asked me to help." I held the end of the string, keeping it from tangling while she fastened it in place.

"I figured it was because they were disorganised, but they're not.

" All the invoices were accounted for, and the emails up to date.

Even the social media pages and website only needed to be added to as needed, not overhauled.

"You sound impressed." She climbed down from the ladder and moved it over a metre or so. Lights in one hand, she scrambled back up.

"Probably best if you don't tell them that," I said wryly.

She flashed me a grin and teased more string up from my hands. "I wouldn't dream of it. They wouldn't fit inside any of the buildings in town if their egos were any bigger."

"Do you mind me working for them?" I asked. I moved the string along in my hands to give her more slack.

"Of course not, why would I?" She fastened the next section in place before moving the ladder again. "If it means you'll stick around town for longer, I'm all for it."

"As long as me spending more time with your brother won't make you uncomfortable." What would I do if she was? She'd quickly become one of my closest friends, but my feelings for Connor and Riley were complicated at best.

The physical attraction was undeniable, but the emotional attraction grew quickly. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. At some point, did they expect me to choose between them? Could I? If they had to choose, would they choose me, or each other?

"I might question your life choices and taste in men, but you could do worse than either of them," she said. "Don't tell them I said that."

"My lips are sealed," I said.

"Of course they are." She stepped back to inspect her work so far. "Thanks for helping with this. The fall festival is one of the best times of the year. This place really comes to life. And we can have pumpkin spice everything."

"I can get behind that." As far as I was concerned, cinnamon and nutmeg were the taste of autumn. The perfect compliment to turning leaves.

I glanced across the street to where Fiona and Holly were putting up another string of lights. They were talking about something, and laughing.

"Can I ask you something?" I turned back to Whitney.

"Of course you can." She picked up the ladder and carried it over to the other side of the café's doorway.

Holding up the string of lights, I followed her carefully. "Riley and Connor, they're close."

"Since forever," she agreed. "I couldn't turn around without tripping over both of them. If you ever saw one, the other was never far away. Half the time they'd eat dinner at our house, and Riley's the other half. Mom never knew how many people to cook for." She laughed softly.

"You'd say they're inseparable?" When she gestured, I held up the lights to make sure they were fastened above the door and not in anyone's way.

"I’d say so. Why?" She glanced back at me before fastening the lights in place and adjusting them before climbing back off the ladder.

"They both seem interested in getting to know me better," I said slowly.

"As in dating?" She crossed her arms and leaned against the side of the café.

"I guess so." I chewed my lip and shrugged. "Have they ever been interested in the same girl at the same time?"

"This is probably a conversation you should have with them," she said. "Are you worried you'll cause trouble between them?"

"The thought crossed my mind. I don't want to be the reason they stop being friends.

" I came here to Aurora Hollow to find myself, not make trouble.

If Riley and Connor had a falling out, it would affect the whole town and their business.

I'd leave before that happened. What was I thinking, getting involved in their business deeper than the occasional tagalong on a tour?

"I don't think anything or anyone could stop those two from being friends.

" She toyed with a silver ring on her finger.

"I can't remember the last time either of them was in a relationship, but I've seen them both go home with the same woman.

That might be something to think about. Whether you want to be dating two men at the same time. " She didn't seem to be judging.

"Would you?" I asked.

She blinked at me a couple of times. "Date more than one guy at a time? I've never thought about it, but why not? If everyone agrees and everyone's happy, where's the harm? Three holes and two hands, remember?" She grinned.

I returned her smile. "I remember."

Yes, Riley and Connor took turns with me, but they seemed to be as into each other as they were into me. They seemed comfortable with each other. Like being together was nothing new for them.

"You could build yourself a harem," Whitney said. "Why not have three or four boyfriends?"

"That sounds like a handful, literally and figuratively," I said.

The image of Josiah and the way he looked at me popped into my head. Even if he was interested, where would he fit into things? Would the other two be able to put their animosity aside and accept him? That might be a hurdle bigger than the mountain itself.

"True, but imagine all the orgasms." Whitney sighed. "I'd be lucky if I'd be able to walk after the first night or two."

Her words hit home, but not in the way she intended. Shuffling along behind her wasn't too strenuous, but if we had too many more lights to put up, I was going to have regrets later.

“Are you okay?" She must have seen the expression on my face. "I just meant all that dick would be a lot, but in a good way.”

"I know," I said quickly. "It would. I…" I adjusted my ponytail.

"Don't like dick?" she asked, her expression deadpan.

"What? No. I like dick," I said quickly. "I have ERA, it makes being mobile difficult sometimes." I quickly explained, not wanting to make a fuss, but wanting her to understand my reaction.

"Oh," she said slowly and thoughtfully. "That explains why you look uncomfortable sometimes." Her eyes widened. "Oh, shit, I shouldn't have asked you to help me do this. I'm sorry, I had no idea." She started to take the string of lights from my hands.

I drew them away from her. "It's fine. I want to help. If it becomes too much, I'll say so."

"Would you though?" She gave me a sidelong, disbelieving look. "I know first-hand how stubborn people can be. They'd prefer to push through than admit they're struggling."

She wasn't pulling any punches.

"Okay, I've done it a few times," I admitted. "I'm trying to get better at pacing myself. This is fine though, I can do this."

People all over town had been talking about the fall festival for the last week. Everyone was so excited. I wanted to be a part of that.

"Promise me you'll tell me if it gets too much." She looked at me like I was one of her students, who better do what the teacher says.

"I will," I assured her. "As long as you promise not to treat me like I'm fragile. I'm not going to break into a million pieces just because I'm standing up." It was my turn to give her a firm look.

"Anyone who can put up with my brother for an extended period of time is not fragile," she said with a smile.

"Far from it. If you were, he'd eat you alive.

Besides, I know him. He doesn't like people like that.

My brother has always enjoyed a challenge.

Which is ironic, considering he poses one more often than not. "

We both laughed.

"Poor Connor." I shook my head. "He's not that bad."

She gave me a speculative look. "No he's not. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were falling for him. Riley too, perhaps?"

"They… They keep life interesting," I said.

She dropped her head back and laughed. "They certainly do that.

Like I said, you could do worse than them.

Aurora Hollow could use more men… I could finish the sentence there, to be honest, but what I meant is they're good men.

They can be absolute assholes at times, but deep down, their hearts are in the right place. Deep, deep down."

"There must be plenty of single men in town trying to get your attention," I said. I'd noticed them looking, even if she hadn't.

"One or two," she conceded. "I might even go out with them sometimes."

I had a feeling there was more to what she was saying. Someone she had her eye on. I wouldn't pry. When she was ready to tell me, if she was, I'd be here to listen.

"We should get finished with this." I nodded toward the lights still held in my hands.

"Yes, we should," she said. "Don't want you standing for longer than necessary. Honestly, I don't want to get up on this ladder more times than necessary either." She made a face that made me smile.

"The things we do for our community," I said tentatively.

Was I assuming too much in including myself in that? What was the old saying? In some places, you had to live there twenty or thirty years before you were considered a local. I'd be in my fifties before that happened.

"Exactly," she said without hesitation. "We wouldn't have it any other way, would we?

Just wait until the festival, you're going to love it.

We have live bands in the park and in the pub, and one down by the lake, in the little amphitheatre there.

BYO blanket or chair. The streets will be lined with vendors selling every kind of food you can imagine.

Word of advice, don't eat breakfast on Saturday morning.

You'll want to keep some room in your stomach for a bit of everything. "

"Noted." I followed her to the next spot when the lights needed to be attached. "That sounds amazing."

"It is," she agreed. "I think it's my favourite event of the year. Closely followed by Christmas. And the entirety of the summer. And the first snowfall. And the last snowfall."

"So, everything?" I teased.

She laughed. "What can I say? I adore living here. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. This place will always be home."

"I don't blame you." I handed her the last section of lights. "This town could easily be home for me as well."

The longer I was here, the more I could imagine spending the rest of my life here.

Life in the city seemed unappealing and distant.

Like that was another life a long time ago.

Possibly one lived by someone else. It all seemed like some kind of dream.

The kind that became less and less real as time went on.

"Good, because you're one of us now." She fastened the last of the lights and jumped off the ladder. "You know what I forgot is amazing around here? Halloween. There's nothing like Halloween in the hollow."

"I look forward to it," I said sincerely. What would Connor or Riley dress up as? I'd be curious to find out.