Aidan ignored the panties comment. “Shelby and I are fine. We’re friends. I like it.”

“And her.”

Aidan drove the ax into the log and watched it crack in two. “If I didn’t like her, she’d be a lousy friend.”

“You know what I mean. You like her.”

“We’re not having sex,” Aidan said flatly. “If that’s what you’re implying. We can’t. If we have sex, we won’t be friends.”

“Interesting.” Nick put his beer on the floor and leaned back in his chair. “You’re saying lovers can’t be friends.”

“I’m saying it complicates everything. What Shelby and I are doing is different.” He wasn’t going to betray her trust by revealing why she wanted to see their project through, but his brother knew him well enough to guess at his issues. “It’s important. I want to change.”

“By not having sex? An interesting plan.”

Aidan sank the ax into a nearby log, then faced his brother and pulled off his gloves. He reached for his bottle of water.

“You’re missing the point. Sex is easy for me. Too easy. I want something more. Something of value.”

“Love?”

He wasn’t willing to go there. Love meant being stuck. But maybe something close.

“Real love,” Nick added quietly. “Not what Mom and Dad have.”

“Maybe.” Aidan knew his voice sounded doubtful.

“There are good ones out there, you know. Del and Maya, for one. All the guys in town. Most of our friends are married and they seem to be doing okay.”

“I don’t see you running down the aisle.”

Nick laughed. “I believe it’s the woman who walks down the aisle, bro. We stand and wait.”

“Who are you waiting for?”

Nick picked up his beer. “Not a question that has an answer.”

Aidan wondered what that meant. Nick didn’t know or he wasn’t interested?

Nick pointed to the pile of split logs. “Are they helping?”

Aidan was tired. That was a good thing. Maybe he would sleep tonight instead of tossing restlessly. “I’ll let you know.”

“How long are you going to do without?”

“Shelby and I have a deal for six months.”

Nick whistled. “That’s a long time. Especially for you. Until now wasn’t your personal best of doing without maybe fifteen minutes?”

Aidan put on his gloves. “Funny. Very funny.”

“You do like the ladies.”

“And they like me back. I can hold out that long. I need some things to change.”

“And Shelby’s not an option because you’re friends?”

“Right. I don’t want to screw things up.” Aidan paused. “You know what I mean.”

“I do.” Nick looked at him. “Most married couples would say they’re friends as well as husband and wife, and they sleep together.”

“Good for them. Now leave me alone. I have logs to split.”

Nick laughed. “Go for it. Charlie and I are happy to watch you work out your frustration. When you’re done here, I have a house that needs painting.”

“Go to hell.”

Nick was still laughing when Aidan split the next log.

* * *

THE SECOND MEETING of the single friends—and just friends—group went as badly as the first, with the added thrill of exes circling each other like wary wolves guarding territory.

“Why do they have to date?” Shelby asked, watching two people who had been making out by the end of the ice-skating party now glare at each other from opposite ends of the bowling alley. “The rules were very clear. Singles being friends. Not kissing, not sleeping together, being friends. Why is that so hard?”