“No, it was my fault.” The man said with a smile. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with sandy brown hair and a boyish smile. “I was distracted by the whole hog roast,” he said, nodding to a stall nearby. “What do you think, is it worth the wait?”
“With Declan manning the spit? Definitely,” Stella said. “He’s the best chef in town.”
“Sold,” he declared. “I’m Noah, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you.” Stella could see Mackenzie still waving, and flashing a thumbs up. Stella frowned, but Mac kept waving, and Stella finally put two and two together. “Wait, you wouldn’t happen to be the firefighter cousin, would you?” she asked Noah.
He noticed Mac gesturing wildly, and chuckled. “That’s me. You know, when I mentioned it would be good to meet some new people, I didn’t expect her to focus solely on female people. Not that I’m not happy to make your acquaintance,” he added, flashing a smile. He had a slight Southern drawl, and friendly blue eyes, and Stella couldn’t for the life of her think why a man like him would need any help meeting anyone. Just stand him in the middle of the town square, and she could guarantee, he’d have a date lined up in ten minutes flat.
Five, if Aunt June had anything to do with it.
“Looks like the line is slowing,” he said, nodding to Declan’s booth. “Want to join me?”
Stella was about to respond, when she suddenly caught sight of Aidan across the square. He was wearing faded jeans and a navy shirt rolled up at the elbows, sitting with his family under the trees. He smiled at something his sister was saying, then reached over to steal food from one of his brothers’ plates, looking about as casual as she’d ever seen him.
Casual, and delicious.
Stella cleared her throat, feeling flustered, even though Aidan didn’t even notice her there. She turned back to Noah. “Maybe another time,” she said quickly. “But welcome back to town!”
Stella moved off, blindly taking a place in the next line she could find. What was she thinking? That cranberry spritz must already be going to her head, because why else would she turn down a perfectly good invitation from a hunky firefighter? She had zero other commitments, and Aidan had already made it clear, dating her was the last thing he wanted.
Stella sighed. So much for putting her handsome new neighbor out of her mind. She needed to focus less on the ‘handsome’ part, and more on the ‘insufferably arrogant’ side of things, she reminded herself. And if she found herself forgetting… Well, she would have plenty of time to remember, the next time she had to hike the long way around to the pond.
“Next!”
Stella realized she was now at the front of the line, for… “What is this?” she asked, peering at the display.
“Cranberry-pickle fritters,” the woman said. “It’s a family recipe.”
Maybe not.
“I’ll take four.” A voice beside her made Stella turn. It was Cassie Kinsella, wearing dungarees, and a friendly smile. “I hope you don’t mind me jumping the line,” she said. “But I have a bet going with my brothers that they won’t eat every cranberry-flavored dish here tonight, and I think this might be a winner.”
“Please, be my guest.” Stella stood aside, as Cassie paid for her goods. “Are you competing?”
“Ha, no!” Cassie laughed. “I learned a long time ago, trying to keep up with them only leaves me with killer indigestion and a ton of regret. But that doesn’t mean I can’t laugh at their foolishness,” she added with a smirk.
Stella smiled. “I can’t imagine Aidan stuffing his face with junk food,” she said, falling into step with Cassie as they crossed the square. “A Michelin-starred meal, maybe. And even then, he’d use the correct silverware.”
Cassie snorted with laughter. “You’d think so, but you haven’t seen him at Thanksgiving. He won the official Stuffed Turkey Trophy three years running. He’s not always such a stick-in-the-mud,” she added, and Stella must have looked dubious, because Cassie grinned wider. “I mean it. I bet you I can make him eat all four of these pickle fritters – with a side of the cranberry tapioca.”
“Well, good luck with that,” Stella said, planning to keep her distance from Aidan – fritters and all – but as they reached the picnic benches, her friend Alice bounced up, greeting her with an enthusiastic hug.
“A friendly face! Thank god.”
“What does that make me?” her boyfriend, Jackson teased.
“A Kinsella.” Alice replied, grinning. “I need backup. A voice of reason. Here, Stella, come sit by me.” She scooted down, and Stella didn’t have any choice but to slide in next to her.
At least, that’s what she told herself, when she wound up sitting directly across from Aidan. She braced herself for more awkwardness, but maybe he’d been drinking that spritz too, because he gave an almost-friendly smile. “I apologize in advance.”
“For what?” Stella asked.
“For whatever these doofuses are about to say.”
“Gee, thanks.” Cassie smacked him around the back of his head. “Remember, you’re a doofus, too.”
“Do we get matching T-shirts?” Aidan asked, teasing.
“Ooh, great idea!” Cassie exclaimed, and Aidan shook his head in mock-exasperation.
“And you wonder why I never visit.”
Stella watched them curiously. It was new, seeing Aidan with his guard down like this: relaxing back in his seat as his siblings bickered and teased. He still carried himself a little apart from the others, but there was a casual warmth to his smile she hadn’t seen before.
Except in that moment right before she’d kissed him, that was.
Aidan glanced up, and she quickly looked away.
“So, what is this, Round Five?” Luke asked, setting out the takeout boxes. “Jackson is winning so far.”
“If you want to call it that,” Alice quipped. She gave Stella a wry smile. “Remind me to stop by the pharmacy for some antacids on my way home.”
“Gee, so much for unconditional love and support.” Jackson gave an exaggerated sigh.
“You can have love, I just draw the line at… whatever that is.” Alice said, peering at the tub of something red and green.
“Cranberry curry,” Luke said proudly.
“Eww!” Alice and Stella both recoiled.
“Do it! Do it!” Cassie chanted, banging her fists on the table. “Eat the cranberries!”
Jackson and Luke whooped, and beat their chests with their fists. “Bring it!” they cried, before grabbing forks and diving in. Even Aidan began chowing down, through obvious winces as Cassie cheered them on.
“You see what I have to put up with?” Alice asked Stella with a sigh.
Stella laughed. Alice might pretend to complain, but Stella had known her for years – and she had never seen her looking happier.
The brothers finished their food, with Aidan still in the lead. “There’s got to be something here to unman you.” Chase narrowed his eyes in determination.
“Go ahead and try.” Aidan grinned. He gulped down a glass of water, then looked around to refill it. The pitcher was by Stella, so she nudged it towards him, then paused. “Unless I should sign some kind of legal waiver first,” she said, playfully. “Promising you this isn’t a proposal of marriage.”