“This is where we build the custom tanks and the housings that will hold their equipment.”
Aaron walked toward them. Seeing him when he wasn’t sitting at a booth made Ethan realize the guy was built like a football player, although the short hair and tattoos peeking out from his shirtsleeves made him look more like former military. Aaron stuck his hand out. “Nice to see you again, Ethan.”
“You too, Aaron. So this is your department out here, huh?”
“More or less.” Aaron stuck his hands on his hips. “How’d you like that peach cobbler?”
“Man, that was so good.”
“You can’t go wrong with Howler’s cobbler.” With a grin, Aaron pivoted toward the open space behind him. “We don’t have a tank being built at the moment, but I’m happy to walk you through the process.”
“Great.”
Undrea held her hand up. “If you could excuse me for a moment? I just remembered something I need to check on. Be right back, Ethan. You’re in good hands.”
“No problem,” Ethan said. He got the sense this was preplanned, but he was okay with that.
As Undrea left, Aaron walked him to where the big sheets of acrylic were. “These are what we build our custom tanks from. Acrylic is lot lighter than glass and allows us great flexibility in our designs.”
“My tank will be acrylic?”
“Most likely. That’s a pretty big tank you’re talking about. Going with glass would really increase the weight load. The downside with acrylic is that it does scratch, but that’s just something you have to be aware of. If we’re doing your maintenance and cleaning, it’s not something you have to worry that much about.”
“Good to know.”
Aaron paused for a moment, a little smile bending his mouth. “You like Undrea, don’t you?”
Ethan smiled. This was why she’d left them. He was sure of it. “I do.”
Aaron’s gaze narrowed, and Ethan prepared himself for some sort of big brother speech. “Don’t you have a fiancée?”
Ethan frowned. “A fiancée? No.”
Aaron’s brows popped up. “Really? Because that’s how your girlfriend introduced herself to Undrea when she called. Ethan Edmond’s fiancée.”
Ethan grimaced. “That sounds like Nina. She’d like to be my fiancée, but I’m not there yet. Girlfriend is as far as I’d go.” And soon that wouldn’t be true either.
“But you live together. And yet you’re flirting with my boss.”
“Okay, let’s back up a step. You’re clearly protective of her, which I appreciate very much. And yes, I like her. A lot.” He took a breath. “So much so that it’s made me rethink some things. Well, one thing anyway. Nina.”
Aaron frowned. “What does that mean?”
He was about to confess something very personal to this man. That wasn’t something he ever did. But he didn’t want Aaron to think he had nefarious intentions toward Undrea. “It means that I have come to the realization that Nina is not my future.”
Aaron blinked. “That’s heavy.”
Ethan nodded. “I didn’t get to where I am by being afraid of taking risks, and I take a lot of them. But attaching myself to a woman who doesn’t feel like the right choice isn’t the kind of risk I like to take. I plan on talking to Nina this afternoon when I get home. I’m going to lay it all out.”
He didn’t relish that, but it had to be done. “Part of the reason I came here today was to see your operation. The other part was to see if the chemistry I felt between myself and Undrea was real or imagined.”
“And?” Aaron asked.
Ethan smiled again. “I really do like her. Enough that I want to get to know her better.”
Aaron seemed to take that in but said nothing.
“You want to weigh in on that?” Ethan asked.
“You’re both adults. You can make your own choices.”
“But?” Ethan waited.
Aaron stared like he was trying to see into Ethan’s soul. “But if you hurt her, I will kick your—”
The warehouse door opened and Undrea walked out. “How’s it going?”
Aaron gave her a big smile, which Ethan took as a positive sign. “Going great, boss.”
Ethan nodded and wondered if he’d just passed some kind of test. He asked some questions during the rest of the tour, but his mind was working overtime. Not enough to keep him from having a very enjoyable time and learning a little more about Undrea, but two things became very clear.
Not only did he need to talk to Nina, but he needed to talk to Undrea as well.
As his visit came to a close, he made his move. “Would you walk out to my car with me?”
She looked surprised but nodded. “Sure.”
He said goodbye to Aaron and Whitney, then he and Undrea went outside. He didn’t waste any time. He stopped by his car and turned toward her. “I understand you think Nina is my fiancée. Because she introduced herself to you that way.”
“That’s right. She did. And I do.”
He put a hand on the trunk. “She’s not. We aren’t engaged. Never have been. We’ve been together for two years, and as much as she hints at an engagement, it’s never happened. Nor will it, despite the fact that we’re living together. Which basically came about because she kind of gradually moved herself in with me. And I was too caught up in the sale of Blnk to pay close attention.”
“Okay. Can I ask why you’re telling me this?”
“Because I like you. And I didn’t want you to get the wrong impression of me. That I was involved but also looking for something else.” He frowned. “That’s just shady and underhanded and not my style. At all.”
“That’s good to know.” She crossed her arms. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re still living with her.”
“I am. At least for a little while longer.” He exhaled. “When I get home, I’m going to tell her how I really feel. I’m going to break it off. I’m also going to let her know I expect her to move out immediately.”
“Wow.” Her eyes widened. “I did not see that coming. And I do not envy you that conversation.”
“Thanks. I’m not looking forward to it either, but you’ve made me realize that I want a different kind of woman in my life. I need a different kind of woman. One…more like you.”
Her eyes went even wider. “Ethan, I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything because I know this is a lot to take in. I like you. I think you like me. If you don’t, that’s fine. But I wouldn’t mind knowing that this chemistry I’m feeling isn’t one-sided.”
“And if it is? Are you going to stay with Nina?”
He shook his head. “No. That relationship is over regardless.”
“It’s not. One-sided. The chemistry, I mean. I like you too.”
He smiled. “Great. Once I’m unencumbered, why don’t we go out to dinner and see how that goes? Take it slow. Get to know each other. I’m in no rush.”