Time After Time (Sweetbriar Cove #14) - Melody Grace Page 0,59

I’m all for it.” Luke said. “If it keeps you busy, and out of trouble.”

Aidan snorted in amusement. “What kind of trouble could I get up to in Sweetbriar Cove?”

“I don’t know, you seem to be finding it already.” Luke kept examining the boat, but his voice took on a cautious tone.

Aidan paused. “What do you mean?”

“This thing with Stella…” Luke finally straightened up, and turned to look at him. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

Aidan had a sudden flash of Stella peeling off that dress, giving him a breathless smile.

He cleared his throat. “Not a clue,” he said, snapping back to reality. “But I’m having fun finding out.”

Luke paused. “Look, this is a small town, and word gets around quickly,” he said. “And you two weren’t exactly keeping a low profile on the dance floor…”

Aidan had to laugh. “You’re making it sound like we were grinding in front of the grannies,” he said, amused. “This isn’t Footloose. There isn’t a city ordinance against a slow-dance. If there was, Aunt June would have been arrested by now. Trust me, her hands were wandering way more than mine.”

Luke nodded slowly. “I know, but… Stella doesn’t make headlines, not usually. Natalie says, she likes to keep a low profile.”

“Good. That’s something we have in common.” The alarm on Aidan’s phone sounded. “And… That’s my cue.”

“Hot date?” Luke asked, still looking wary.

“If you mean lunch with grandpa, then sure. I’d tell you all about it, but since you’re going to hear about them on the grapevine anyway…”

“I get it, I get it.” Luke raised his hands in surrender. “I am officially butting out.”

Aidan grabbed his keys and wallet, and headed out. It was a glorious day, all blue skies and blazing fall leaves, so he decided to walk the mile to the harbor and enjoy the day. He set off down the winding country roads, breathing in the crisp air, and trying to forget that exchange with his brother.

What was Luke trying to say?

Aidan shook it off. Whatever was getting under his brother’s skin, it wasn’t Aidan’s problem. Stella could make her own choices – and so would he.

His phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket, hoping to see Stella’s name on the screen. But it was an old finance buddy of his back in New York.

Aidan answered, curious. He hadn’t heard from Mason in months – just like the others, he’d gotten mysteriously busy right around the same time Aidan’s career went down in flames.

“Hey,” he said, wondering what this could be about. Had the next scandal already come along to knock Aidan’s spectacular failure off the front page? “How’s it going?”

“Aidan, my man.” Mason sounded enthusiastic, as ever. He was always ‘pumped’, and ‘ready to rock’, even just for a coffee and catch-up. “Where have you been? You’re not at the club, you’re not at the links. Nobody’s seen you forever!”

“I didn’t think they were looking,” Aidan replied dryly. “I’ve been taking some time out, you know, reassessing things.”

“I hear you,” Mason agreed immediately. “Sometimes, you’ve got to just chill. There’s a great dude ranch in Wyoming, supposed to get you back to nature. I’ve been meaning to go.”

“You, in nature?” Aidan snorted. Never mind missing a Starbucks in Sweetbriar Cove, Mason would have just about withered away the moment he dropped his cellphone signal. “I’ve believe that when I see it.”

Mason laughed. “OK, you got me, but still, it’s a nice thought. So, what have you been working on? I know Aidan Kinsella wouldn’t just let himself get rusty.”

Aidan paused. What had he been doing with his time? Besides boat restoration, and his ballroom dancing skills, not much.

“Oh, you know,” he answered vaguely. “Some consulting, some research. There’s a hot new investment guy out here, Wes Banner, we’ve been talking about some things.”

Technically, it wasn’t a lie. Cassie’s boyfriend was successful, and they had been talking. Just about sports and movies, not finance.

“Playing it close to your chest, huh? Typical Kinsella.” Mason said. “Well, when you feel like getting back to the real world, let me know. I’ve heard the partners here rumbling about needing fresh blood. Could be a good opportunity for you.”

“A job, at Wealthfront?” Aidan asked, stopping in the street.

“Partnership, maybe.” Mason replied. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ve already told them you wouldn’t take anything less.”

Aidan’s mind raced. Mason’s hedge fund was one of the big players on the scene. A partnership there wouldn’t even be a step down for