Time After Time (Sweetbriar Cove #14) - Melody Grace Page 0,60
him.
If anything, it would be a promotion.
“Well, I’ll have to think about it,” Aidan replied, playing it cool. “I have a few options I’m weighing right now.”
“Of course you do,” Mason cheered. “I knew you’d be back on your feet again, a guy like you doesn’t stay down for long. I’ll get the partners to circle back with a firm offer. Talk soon!”
He hung up, leaving Aidan to mull his words. He’d put his career firmly to the back of his mind, not wanting to think about the rejection and failure, but now it seemed like the cloud might be lifting from over his reputation.
If he could get it all back again…
But Aidan stopped himself, before he could go down that road again. It was way too soon to be taking anything as a done deal. Mason was full of plenty of hot air, this might be just another one of his ‘genius’ passing ideas, nothing to base a real plan on. And in the meantime, well, Aidan may not have been burning up the trading floor with any mega-deals, but he had plenty occupying his mind.
He couldn’t resist taking out his phone again and sending Stella another text.
‘I’m in the mood for pastries…’
‘Do you mean pastries, or pastries?’ Her answer came.
‘You’ll see.’
Aidan’s grin grew wider, and he was practically whistling by the time he reached the harbor. He found his grandpa laying claim to one of the picnic benches by the waterfront; a line already snaking out of the door of the seafood shack.
“You’re looking mighty chipper,” Earl said, greeting him. “It wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with the woman you brought breakfast for this morning?”
Aidan stopped. “Seriously?” he asked, almost impressed by the speed of the gossip mill. “Did they send out a bulletin with my order?”
“Close enough.” Earl said. “Cinnamon buns, eh?”
Aidan shook his head, smiling. “Now, I take it I’m buying lunch?” he said, changing the subject.
“Good of you to offer.” Earl grinned. “Fried oyster po’ boy, and don’t forget the fries.”
Aidan took his place in the line, and when he reached the counter, he found Stella’s friend, Jenny, there with a ‘manager’ tag on her shirt. “Well, hello!” she greeted him, smiling wider. “If it isn’t Mr. Johnny Cash himself. Did you have fun the other night?” she asked. “Your family costumes were a blast.”
“We didn’t exactly plan it that way,” Aidan admitted. “Well, most of us,” he added wryly, thinking of his sister’s sneaky move.
Jenny grinned. “You looked very dapper. You and Stella.”
She gave him a knowing look, and Aidan cleared his throat, wondering just how much of their night together had become public knowledge. “Uh, I better not hold up the line.” He placed his order with the girl at the register, but Jenny just looked even more amused.
“Enjoy your lunch. See you around, I’m sure!”
She swanned off, and Aidan collected the food and went to rejoin his grandpa.
“Which is why I ordered double.” Aidan pushed his plate over, and got stuck in. He was ravenous, but when he glanced up from his sandwich, he found Earl studying him with an unreadable look.
“So…. Stella,” he said slowly.
Aidan sighed. “Don’t tell me, you have an opinion on my love life, too?” he asked. “What is this, a Kinsella family intervention day?”
Earl slowly ate a fry. “She’s a good kid,” he said at last. “I’m not so sure you should be messing around with her.”
Aidan tensed. Since when were his romantic affairs up for discussion? But he already knew the answer: Since he was in a town where he couldn’t toss a rock without hitting a family member, that’s when.
“She’s a grown woman,” Aidan pointed out.
Earl pressed his lips into a thin line. “She was a kid when she got here, and she went through hell getting on her feet. I’ve known her a damn site longer than you have, and I’ve watched her build a good life for herself.”
“I know.”
“A good, stable life that doesn’t need any drama,” Earl added, giving him the eye. “She’s got a son to think about, remember? She’s not just looking for a good time.”
Aidan took a deep breath. “What Stella is or isn’t looking for is up to her,” he told his grandpa, trying not to get riled up. “Not you, or Luke, or Aunt June, or even me.”
Earl nodded. “True enough. So what’s your plan?” he asked instead, “What is it that you’re looking for