Page 11 of When We Were More (Aron Falls #1)

I can’t tear my eyes away from her. Jesus, the woman is beautiful. So damn sassy, but gorgeous while she’s dishing it out. As if she is suddenly aware of how hot she looks in the get-up she’s wearing, she puts her thin jacket on, wraps her upper body in it, and stalks over to me.

“Why did Jake call you ‘Mr. Aron?’” She’s pulled her hair back, and I notice the tips of her ears are bright red. It must happen when she’s pissed—and it’s adorable.

“Because that’s my last name.” I’m confused as to why it’s this that makes her mad.

“What are you then? A cousin who works for Holden and his brothers?”

I scoff. Something about her saying Holden’s name irks me. I love him, but my brother is a relentless flirt, and I hate thinking of Tillie smiling or laughing at him the way she just did with Jake.

The way I want her to do it with me.

I set the box of tiles on the steps, realizing she’s not going to work with me on picking a backsplash until she gets the answers she wants. My ego is awake now and wants her to know exactly who I am.

“No, I do not work for Holden and the brothers. I am one of the brothers. I own the company, Tillie. Now, could you please sit and look at tile samples for your backsplash with me?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Her words come out clipped.

I can’t quite read her expression, and that concerns me.

There’s a mixture of anger and something else.

Maybe distrust? “You’ve been working here for weeks, and you didn’t tell me who you were?

That’s… It’s weird. My God, I’ve been a total bitch to you. ”

I can’t help but laugh. “Would knowing who I am have changed how you engaged with me at all?”

She’s quiet for a few seconds. “No… all the times I’ve been pissy with you have been warranted.”

“I’m not sure if I’d go that far.”

Her eyes widen as if she’s suddenly remembering something important. “You cleaned another man’s pee off my bathroom floor.” Her face crinkles in disgust.

“Ugh. Please don’t remind me.”

She unceremoniously plops herself down on the step above mine, then reaches down into the tile box and takes her time picking up a few of the different samples to consider. She sorts through them without looking at me.

“I don’t like being lied to. You should have told me who you were. Holden did when he came.”

I flinch and pull back. “What? I didn’t lie to you, Tillie.” She finally looks up at me, but it’s to roll her eyes in response. I sense she doesn’t see it that way. Shit.

“You never told me. I even made some comments about your boss that first time you were here, and you never corrected me.”

I search my mind and realize she’s right.

I guess I assumed I’d rarely, if ever, see her again, so why bother correcting her?

I have a company to manage, an offshoot blowing up so fast there’s now a significant waiting list for our one-of-a-kind log homes, and two kids at home who need my attention.

I don’t have time to be at sites regularly. Yet, I can’t stay away from this one.

I open my mouth to say something, but she beats me to it.

“Why are you still here?” Her head is cocked and her eyes narrowed like she’s trying to figure out a mystery. “You could have shown me the tiles some other time…”

My eyes betray me, darting over to the fence area where Jake is, then back to her. It’s a mistake because she sees it.

“Oh, my God. Are you serious? Because of Jake?”

I shrug. “You’re way out here with no neighbors close by, it’s getting dusky out…” I sound like an idiot. “I’m waiting until he leaves to make sure you’re safe.”

“Okay. That’s unnecessary. Honestly, you can go do—” she flaps her hands in the air “–whatever it is you do in the evenings. I can manage here by myself.” I swear she’s trying not to laugh.

I fix my gaze on her face. She’s incredibly pretty.

“Nope. I’ll wait.” I reach into the box of tile and pull out a subway tile in a cobalt blue that would be great behind the stove. “What do you think of this one?”

“Distracting me isn’t going to work. You can go.

First of all, I have pepper spray.” She reaches inside her bag and pulls it out as if I wouldn’t believe her otherwise.

“Anyway, if a psycho wanted to do something bad, they’d just pretend to leave and then park down the road and come back when you’re?—”

“Jesus, woman. You’ve pondered this, apparently?” She shrugs.

“I watch a lot of true crime shows.” She glances toward the backyard. “Plus, I know Jake probably as well as I know you. I’m no safer with you over him.”

“What? You just met him.”

“No, I didn’t.” She says it like it’s no big deal and continues looking at a piece of tile. Why does it bother me? I’m sure I’m not hiding the irritation consuming me, but apparently, she doesn’t notice.

She finally glances up.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, I know him.”

“ Know him or have met him?”

Her eyes meet mine for a second, then she quickly looks away as she grabs the tile I’m still holding and focuses her attention on it. She traces her finger across the smooth porcelain.

“I like this one. The color is gorgeous.”

“Distracting me isn’t going to work.” I intentionally use the words she used with me just minutes ago.

She carefully places the tile back in the box, then fixes her gorgeous blue eyes on me and clasps her hands.

“I’m not sure why you’re being such a weirdo because I don’t know you very well.

You’ve been coming here for a few weeks, but it’s not like we’ve been meeting for coffee and Danishes and chatting it up.

I know very little about you. I didn’t even know who you were before today.

Not that it’s any of your business, but I met Jake when his grandma and his nosy Aunt Ruthie tried to hook me up with him on a date last?—”

“Did you go?”

“Huh?” Her face implies she’s genuinely confused by my question.

“Did you go on a date with him?” Jesus, I’m being inappropriate in so many ways, but I can’t fucking stop myself. The idea of her out with him makes me almost feral. “He’s twenty-five, Matilda.” Her cheeks and the tips of her ears redden, and her jaw tightens.

Before either of us can say anything else, my phone rings, and it’s my mother. I need Tillie’s answer to my question and why she suddenly looks upset, but I also have to take this call.

“I’m sorry. I need to take this, but I’ll only be a minute.”

I swear she almost looks relieved. She’s probably starting to genuinely worry that I’m the guy she has to avoid being alone with.

I step a few feet away from her and answer my phone.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Daddy!” It’s my sweet Layla.

“Hey, sweetheart, I’m glad you called. I miss you.” I step further away. “Are you having fun with grandma?”

“Yep. She’s feeding Lena now, but I ate all my food. That’s why I got to call you from the cell phone myself. Whatcha doing?”

I smile at the joy in her voice. The resiliency of this kid is amazing.

“I’m finishing up work, and then I’m going to spend some time with your uncles.”

“Ooh, even Uncle Harrison?” The excitement level in her voice rises ten decibels. It makes Holden nuts that he’s not her favorite, but hey, he can’t be everyone’s first choice. Harrison wins this one.

“Yep, he’ll be there.” I glance back at Tillie and see that Jake is back, and he’s most definitely into her. By the smile on her face, perhaps she’s into him as well.

“Tell Uncle Harrison, I love him most after you and Lena, ‘kay? But don’t let the others hear. I don’t want them to be sad.”

I laugh. “I will. Should I tell Uncle Hayden and Uncle Holden you love them, too?”

She pauses for a second. “Yes, but make sure to tell Uncle Harrison he’s my first favorite.”

“Okay, baby girl. I’ll do that. I love you very much.”

“I love you too, Daddy. Want me to tell Grandma and Lena that you love them?”

“Yes, please. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Kay.” Then I hear the exaggerated sound she learned to make that she insists sends kisses through the phone before she hangs up.

When I walk back over to Tillie and Jake, there’s a mask over her face, hiding the softer, more vulnerable side of her that I’ve seen glimpses of. I suddenly wonder who should leave first, Jake, or me.

Tillie solves the problem for me.

“I’m going to grab a shower. You both have a good night. Jake, I’ll get back to you about… the thing.” The kid grins like he won the lottery.

Just like that, she’s gone from my sight. But she stays in my mind long after that… her and her last words to Jake. Words that piss me off for reasons I don’t have the energy to explore.