happy, stopping people as they passed to greet them and catch up. It looked like she knew everyone – and everyone knew her. But of course, she’d lived here half her life. This place was home to her.
“Wow, I’ve never seen her out of her overalls.” Jackson commented, following Aidan’s gaze.
“Eyes on your own date!” he said, only part-kidding. Jackson grinned.
“I didn’t take you for the jealous kind.”
“Yeah, well, I’m just full of surprises these days,” Aidan replied.
And it was true. A couple of months ago, he could never have pictured himself here: all dressed up and a willing volunteer for the town shenanigans. But that was before Stella smiled at him with that infectious joy in her eyes, and made him consider the unthinkable.
Like the fact that Sweetbriar Cove had a lot going for it – even without a Starbucks on hand.
Stella looked over, and saw him staring. She smiled, and beckoned him over, and Aidan didn’t think twice about going.
“Oh boy, do you have it bad.” Jackson snorted behind him, but Aidan ignored him, and went to rejoin Stella.
“What do you think?” she asked, slipping an arm around his waist. She tilted her face up to him, her eyes smoky and tempting, and Aidan couldn’t have mustered a coherent thought if he’d tried. “Want to try our luck at some of the games, or check out the buffet spread?”
“Do you even have to ask?” he joked.
Stella laughed. “Good point. Food it is!”
She led him through the crowd, weaving past ghouls and vampires, as the party raged around them. Aidan told himself the hand he was keeping on her back was to steady her; that the pull in his chest was just desire. But who was he kidding?
He would have followed her anywhere.
12
Stella was having the night of her life.
She’d spent the first hour of the party still tense, on the lookout for judgmental stares. But despite the fact that she and Aidan were drawing plenty of curious looks, she didn’t see a bitchy side-eye among them.
Instead of being scandalized, everyone seemed… happy for her.
“It’s about time,” Debra said, giving her arm a squeeze as they collected drinks from the makeshift bar.
“He’s a looker, isn’t he?” Hank agreed, spinning her around the dance floor.
“I haven’t seen you smile like this in a long while,” Poppy said, over by the apple-bobbing.
“See?” Natalie told her, as they took a break by the dessert table. Again. “I told you, everyone’s rooting for you.”
Stella was touched. She’d been so busy worrying about what people might say, she hadn’t stopped to consider that it might all be good.
Well, aside from the usual suspect. Mindy gave her a saccharine smile as she passed, dressed in a dull, demure princess outfit. “My, what an interesting costume. It’s a good thing the kids aren’t around to see!”
Stella narrowed her eyes, but Mindy was already gone.
“Ignore her,” Natalie said. “She’s just jealous. You get to dance with a Kinsella, while she has to settle for Mr. McDonnegal.”
It was true, Aidan cut a fine figure, gamely trying to keep up with Franny’s two-step. Stella smiled. Had it been just a month ago he’d refused to even step foot on the dance floor at the Cranberry Festival? Now here he was, laughing with the locals, even humoring Aunt June with a dance; a million miles away from the stiff, taciturn guy she’d thought he was. He looked happy and relaxed, like he was having a great time.
Like he belonged.
Stella quickly grabbed a slice of cake and took a bite, trying to block out thoughts of the future. Never mind what next month, or next year might bring, she was still tangled in knots of anticipation over what might happen tonight.
Aidan glanced up, and saw her watching. He broke into a slow, sultry smile, the one that melted her from the inside out, and was tempting enough to make her put down the cake, and make her way over to him.
“They’re playing our song,” he said, and it took her a moment to realize, this was the music that had been playing during Madame Polkoff’s dance class.
She smiled. “I better try to keep up.”
Aidan took her hand, and smoothly pulled her into his arms. The mood shifted, as around them, people paired off; but this time, Stella wasn’t watching, wistful on the sidelines.
This time, she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
Aidan drew her close, one palm on the small of her back; the other, encircling her hand. Stella melted