It still wasn’t enough to work Aria Howard out of my system.
Twelve
ARIA
Despite the biting March chill blowing off the North Sea, the beach wasn’t entirely empty. A few people in the distance walked the shoreline, their dogs running in and out of the freezing water.
It had taken my Californian blood some time to get used to a winter-like spring in the Scottish Highlands, but I was acclimating. Last year I’d worn a coat someone might wear in Antarctica with a scarf half covering my face while an oversized woolen hat took care of the rest of my head.
Now, I strolled at Sloane’s side, looking more like a local in my lightweight but überwarm hiking jacket, scarf not covering my face, and jeans and hiking boots. Sloane pretty much wore the same thing. We were both hatless, our hair blowing back in the breeze as we walked in silence, enjoying the lulling sound of the dark sea roughly caressing the shore. Seagulls squalled in the gray sky above us. The golden, smooth sand of the beach followed the curve of the coast; grass-covered hills sloped down toward the sand but jutted out over the sea in the far distance.
I grew up by the beach, so it made sense that I felt at home living in a beach town. Malibu’s beaches were beautiful, but Ardnoch Beach could compete. Sure, it didn’t have the weather, but it was unspoiled and peaceful.
For the first time in weeks, I found myself relaxing.
“I can’t imagine living anywhere else now, can you?” Sloane asked as if she’d read my mind.
I looked into her pretty brown eyes that reminded me so much of Allegra’s. However, that’s where the similarities between my sister and friend ended. “I can’t.”
Sloane must have sensed something in my tone because she cocked her head and inquired, “But?”
I’m lonely here.
I wanted to force out the words, to admit the truth to my only real friend in Ardnoch. But I was afraid Sloane would take it personally. She was such a good human, she would make it her life’s mission to fix my loneliness, and she had enough on her plate to deal with.
“No buts.” I gave her a tight smile and turned back to the sea. “Hey, any news about your evil stepmother or Nathan?” I referred to the fact that Sloane’s stepmom had hired Sloane’s psychopath of an ex （Callie’s dad）， Nathan Andros, to kill her and prevent Sloane from inheriting her father’s fortune. She’d been estranged from her dad and had no idea he was dying. Unfortunately, he passed away before Sloane could be reunited with him. Her stepmom was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, and Nathan was charged with multiple counts of kidnapping and attempted murder, along with his friend Kyle Brixton, who’d tried to finish the job when Nathan couldn’t.
“We’re just waiting on trial dates. My lawyer said it could be another six months to a year before dates are set.”
At Sloane’s weary tone, I asked, “And how are you coping with all that?”
She gave me a smile that reached her eyes. “I have a lot in my life to be thankful for. It took me a while to get out of my funk over Christmas—”
“You were grieving,” I interjected. “That’s not a funk.”
Nudging me playfully, gratefully, Sloane nodded. “I know. I just hate Callie seeing me like that.”
“What? Human?”
She chuckled. “I guess. Our lives are so weird right now. Dad’s money came in a few weeks ago, and we’re about to close on the bakery.” Walker had secured a rental agreement from Gordon, a retired businessman who still owned a lot of property in Ardnoch, for Sloane’s birthday. Now that she was an independently wealthy woman, however, they’d convinced Gordon to sell the building to her. “I’ve been worrying about money since I was sixteen years old and not having to is taking some getting used to. In a good way … plus …” A very specific kind of smile touched her lips, and her eyes gleamed in the gloomy daylight.
“Plus?”
Sloane full-out grinned in giddy excitement. “My rental agreement is up on the cottage, and Walker asked Callie and me to move in with him.”
I stopped in the middle of the beach, joyful for her. If there was a part of me that experienced a pang of envy, I ignored it. “Sloane, that’s amazing. I take it you said yes?”
She nodded rapidly. “I’m a little worried about us invading Mr. Bachelor’s space, but when Walker makes up his mind about something … He said he wanted his girls with him always.” Tears of happy emotion filled her eyes, and she blinked them rapidly away.
“I would never guess that man was really just a giant marshmallow.”
“No one would. And don’t tell anyone. He doesn’t like anyone to know.”
Laughing at her teasing tone, I started to stroll again. “So your life is kind of crazy right now. Pending criminal trials, launching a new business, moving in with your boyfriend. That’s a lot.”
“It is. And it would be perfect if it weren’t for the pesky criminal trial part.”
I was glad she could make fun of such a dark situation, and I said as much.
“Well, that’s enough about me.” Sloane nudged my arm again. “What’s going on with you?”
“Where are Callie and Walker today?” I hedged.
She gave me a knowing look. “Walker took Callie and Lewis swimming. Now stop changing the subject.”
“Everything’s fine. Same old.”
“No.” She pulled on my arm to halt my steps. Her dark eyes swept over my face. “Something is definitely up.”
Had Lachlan blabbed to Walker? I couldn’t picture it. But Walker incited a kind of trust. I could see Lachlan telling the security guard things he would never tell others. Especially because I knew Walker had a close relationship with the Adairs through Brodan. “Did Walker say something?”
Sloane’s eyebrows shot upward. “What would Walker have to say? Has something happened?”
Damn it.
Realizing Sloane wouldn’t give up until I told her （and honestly, I needed someone to talk to about it）， I filled her in about Allegra locking me and North in the library. Then I told her what I’d told North. And like he’d been, she was furious at my moronic exes, particularly Lucas.
“North shared things too. Things he told me in confidence that I can’t tell you.”
She waved a hand in understanding. “I get it. So, whatever he told you, it made you like him?”
My heart raced at the thought. “I’m attracted to him. That’s been the problem from the start.”
“There are lots of hot actors at Ardnoch. Why did North make you so prickly?”
I shrugged. “Don’t you think there are just certain people who you feel an extra spark with? Like, you’re more aware of them for whatever chemical reason?”
“Oh, yeah.” Sloane grinned cheekily. “But I’ve only ever felt that way about Walker.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Have you felt it for multiple people?” She seemed surprised I might have.
Hating that it was true, I practically snarled, “I felt it for that asshole Lucas. I mean, I was attracted to my ex-boyfriends, but Lucas just has that thing that North has. That extra quality that makes your skin tingle when he’s near.”