His eyes narrowed. “We’re not having that conversation.”

“But you—”

“Nope. Not going there. Everything is fine. This is working, Shelby. We’re both different. You’re trusting me and I’m getting to know you as a person. We’re doing what we set out to do. I’m not going to mess that up.”

“But you have needs.”

“I’m fine and we are done talking about this.”

He stared at her until she nodded slowly. Fine. They wouldn’t talk about it anymore, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t think about it. Her friend had a problem and somehow she was going to have to fix it.

* * *

AIDAN SPENT A week waiting for the other shoe to drop, but Shelby kept her word. There weren’t any discussions of his needs, or anything else that made him uncomfortable. Which was exactly how he wanted it to be. Only every now and then he found himself wondering how she would suggest solving the problem. He could think of a couple of great ideas, all of which involved them naked.

Unfortunately thinking about the problem only made it worse. And bigger. So he suffered through several cold showers, a few stern talking-tos and another log-splitting session back at Nick’s. If this kept up much longer, his brother was going to have firewood for six winters.

The following Friday, he followed Charlie to the front door and opened it to find Shelby on his porch. The cold weather was less intense and she’d replaced her down jacket with a lighter leather coat. She had on high-heeled boots, instead of ones designed for snow, and tight jeans. A sexy package.

He told himself none of that mattered and that he should instead focus on the basket she carried.

“Come on in,” he said, taking it from her.

She relinquished the surprisingly heavy basket and stepped into the house. After hanging up her jacket, she crouched down to greet an ecstatic Charlie, then straightened.

“We’re blending,” she said with a laugh. “I like that.”

He led the way into the kitchen. “I know how to compromise.”

They were having dinner together and just talking—a girl thing. Followed by the second half of a basketball game—a guy thing.

Two months ago he would have groaned at the thought of sitting around and talking. What was the point? But now he understood the appeal. He wasn’t going to call his friends and suggest they have a boys’ night in. But every now and then it was good to talk things over. Not just problems, but what was happening in life. He liked Shelby’s perspective on everything from the latest festival to who was pregnant or dating.

Shelby picked up Charlie and hugged him. “How’s my best guy?” The little bichon licked her chin and gave a happy yip.

While they greeted each other, Aidan emptied the basket of a casserole and four tall dessert glasses filled with what looked like parfait. Because dinner with Shelby always meant amazing dessert.

“What did you bring?” he asked.

She set down Charlie and walked into the kitchen. “That’s the taco casserole that won the Great Casserole Cookoff,” she told him. “I got the recipe in my email this week and decided to try it.”

He chuckled. “Yet another difference between men and women.”

“What do you mean?”

“I got that email, too.” The same online service that sent out information about their two singles events sent out recipes. “I never thought about making any of the casseroles.”

“After tonight, you’re going to change your mind. It wasn’t hard.” She motioned to the dessert. “Chocolate bread pudding parfait. The recipe said to use bread soaked in espresso and rum, but I used chocolate pound cake instead. I think the texture will be better.” She smiled. “Of course I still soaked it in rum.”