and suggest that they just be friends, because he wasn’t ready to deal with all the responsibilities in her life. And she would have to smile, and pretend like she was fine. Like she hadn’t been waiting for this date all week, and changed her outfit half a dozen times before leaving the house this morning.
Like she didn’t want to go hide away and cry.
Finally, he looked up. “I lied.”
Stella blinked. Whatever she’d been expecting him to say, it wasn’t that.
“When I said I worked in finance,” Aidan continued, reluctant. “That wasn’t exactly the whole story. The truth is, I got fired.”
For a moment, she was so relieved he wasn’t giving her the ‘it’s not, you it’s me’ speech that she didn’t process what he was saying. Then she saw the emotion in his eyes, and realized, this was a big confession for him.
“What happened?” she asked gently.
He grimaced, and told her the whole story, about his big trade gone wrong. “I got cocky,” he said, sounding regretful. “A classic case of pride coming before a fall. I guess I got what I deserved.”
But Stella frowned. “Don’t say that,” she said. “You weren’t reckless, you didn’t set out to hurt anyone. I already know you’re not that kind of guy.”
He gave a faint smile. “Thanks. But whether I saw it coming or not, the consequences are the same. Nobody’s returning my calls.”
“So, what are you going to do?” she asked, her heart beating a little faster. Because now she knew he’d wound up in Sweetbriar Cove to escape his problems, she had to wonder, was it only a matter of time before he regrouped and went back to his old life just as soon as he could? “Are you applying for other jobs, or…?” She trailed off.
“I should be,” he said, looking rueful. “But the truth is, I’m fixing up Earl’s old sailboat right now.”
“Really?” she asked, surprised. “I can’t picture it.”
“What does everyone say that?” Aidan protested. “Luke’s not the only handy one in the family.”
She looked at him, dubious, and he smiled. “OK, so he’s helping me out. But I can learn. Beats leaving voicemails for old colleagues who’ll never call me back.”
Stella reached across and squeezed his hand without thinking. Aidan slowly turned her palm over, tracing a circle on her bare skin.
She shivered, sensation racing through her as their eyes caught; something smoldering in his gaze.
Damn, could this man smolder.
Her phone suddenly buzzed, breaking the moment. It was Matty. “Sorry,” Stella said, before she answered. “Everything OK?”
It was. So much so, that Matty begged to sleep over for the weekend and keep the party going. “There’s a midnight showing of Rocky Horror,” he said, sounding hopeful. “Everyone dresses up in costume, and Mr. Johansson says he’ll take us.”
“Oh, hon, that sounds like fun, but you don’t have a change of clothes, or your retainer.” Stella reminded him. But clearly, her kid had been planning for this all along, because he coughed.
“Well, actually, I packed them. Just in case,” he added quickly. “You know, like they told us in Boy Scouts. Be prepared.”
“Mmmhmm,” Stella couldn’t help smiling. “And this is all OK with the Johanssons?”
“Yup! Mrs. Johansson is right here, she can tell you.”
“That’s OK.” Stella cut him off. “I’ll call you right back.”
She hung up, pulled up her address book, and found the number herself. “In case they have any ideas about faking permission,” she explained to Aidan, as she called.
“I like your style,” he chuckled.
“Trust but verify,” she agreed. “He’s a good kid, but he’s too smart for his own good sometimes.”
Mrs. Johansson picked up, but sure enough, the invitation was above board. “We’d love to have him stay. The kids were talking about trick or treating together tomorrow night, and he’s welcome to join that, too.”
“We’ll see,” Stella said. “And thank you.”
She called back Matty long enough to remind him about good manners and brushing his teeth, and then finally hung up. She exhaled. “Having a kid requires way too much scheduling,” she said, taking another bite of pie.
There was a pause, and then Aidan gave her a speculative look. “So, if Matty’s staying over in town… Does this mean you’re free tonight?”
“I guess it does,” she said, suddenly breathless.
“Any big plans?”
There was a teasing smirk on the edge of his mouth, so she played along. “I don’t know, some laundry, maybe…” Stella pretended to muse. “Maybe catch up on my reading. Unless you have any better ideas?”
“Oh, I’m sure we can think of