Page 27 of Summer Ever After

Chapter Nine

Beth tried to focus on the task in front of her—logging the camp T-shirt supplies and reordering those that were running low—but her hands wouldn’t stop fidgeting with the corner of the paper. The space felt oddly still since Aaron had arrived. He was leaning casually against the filing cabinet like he belonged after showing up and asking if he could lend a hand. He hadn’t explained why he’d suddenly shown up, and when Zoey had smiled and waved him in with a grateful, “Thanks for helping us out,” Beth’s curiosity had only deepened. Zoey had stepped outside earlier to talk to someone over the walkie-talkie. Was something going on?

She told herself she wasn’t going to ask. Not with Zoey standing there flipping through the order lists. But the longer Aaron stood there, calm, steady, watchful, the more it unsettled her.

Why was he here now?

When Zoey’s phone buzzed and she excused herself and stepped outside to take the call, Beth’s nerves finally snapped. She turned and faced Aaron. “Okay. Why are you here? And don’t tell me you’re just here to help. You said you wouldn’t hide anything from me. Remember?”

“Right.” Aaron’s eyes softened, but his voice stayed firm. “There was an incident at one of the cabins. Brett and the police are handling it. I’m here because it’s safer if you’re not alone right now.”

Her chest tightened like a vise. She didn’t need him to explain further. Ian was somewhere on the grounds. She pressed her lips together tightly and nodded once quickly. In truth, it was the only thing she could manage.

It wasn’t the first time he’d been called there on official business. Over the years she’d worked at the camp, the police had been called a dozen times. Almost every time, Ian showed up. She believed he waited for those calls, lived for the moment when no one could stop him from stepping foot on ground where he was not welcome.

For the next hour, she buried herself in tasks, forcing her mind to stay on forms and computer entries instead of the slow burn of dread in her stomach. Aaron didn’t hover; he just stayed close, steady as a shadow.

Zoey had returned, and once the supply lists were all caught up and orders placed, Beth gathered her things and walked with Aaron towards the main building, where she would spend the rest of her day.

The sun was high overhead, causing short shadows across the gravel path. She was just starting to breathe easier when a figure stepped out from between them and the pool house.

Ian.

Her blood went cold. It was obvious he’d been looking for her. Waiting in the shadows.

His eyes locked on hers, then flicked to Aaron at her side, and his expression twisted. “So this is what you’ve been doing?” His voice dripped with accusation. “Parading around with another man like you don’t have a husband?”

“I don’t have a husband,” she said firmly after a heartbeat. For what seemed like the first time, she was fighting back, even if all she could use were words.

Even with the old instinct to shrink back tightening her spine, she stood her ground. Maybe it was because Aaron’s hand brushed her elbow, somehow grounding her.

“Enough,” Aaron said evenly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Ian’s face darkened, his voice rising. “You think you can have her? She belongs with me. Not⁠—”

Aaron stepped forward, placing himself squarely between them and causing Ian’s words to drop away. “Beth doesn’t belong to anyone. You know what the restraining order says. If you don’t leave now, you’ll be escorted off the premises. We wouldn’t want to make a scene now, would we?” He motioned to the camp guests strolling along the pathways, heading to and from the pool.

Beth’s heart pounded in her throat, the words she wanted to say to her ex-husband stuck somewhere deep and unreachable.

For a moment, Ian bristled, his fists clenched like he might test his luck. Thankfully, Aaron didn’t flinch. He didn’t even move. He just stood there, steady as stone, radiating authority.

Finally, Ian spat out a curse under his breath, his glare cutting back to Beth one last time before he turned on his heel. “This isn’t over.”

Beth’s knees went weak at the venom in his tone. She hated that part of her still trembled at his voice, but she couldn’t hide it.

Aaron reached over without looking, gently took hold of her elbow, and held her against his side for a silent moment.

Once Ian disappeared down the path, she took a deep breath and swallowed hard, then, in a moment of strength, slipped her hand into Aaron’s.

They stood there in the heat of the day for just a moment. Then something primal took over her, and she began tugging his arm, pulling him towards the boathouse.

Only after they had stepped inside the cool, dark building did she drop her hold on Aaron’s hand. When the door closed behind him, she pressed herself against his chest, lifted on her toes, and kissed him until she felt his heartbeat in her lips.

His hands covered her hips, holding her lightly. If she’d wanted, she could have pulled away. She could have run away. But she didn’t want to.

She was exactly where she belonged. Here. With Aaron. The man she wanted to be with.

Everything she’d been feeling for him, everything that had bubbled up inside her, released when his tongue touched hers.