Aidan looked sheepish. “About that…” he began to say.
“It’s fine,” Stella grinned. “But really, does every woman you meet wind up propositioning you?”
“Well…” Aidan pretended to think about it.
Stella snorted. “It must be tough being so irresistible. How do you manage?”
Aidan gave an exaggerated sigh. “It’s a burden, for sure,” he agreed, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “But I try not to complain too much.”
“So brave.” Stella laughed.
She sat back, surprised to be relaxing. But it was hard to stay self-conscious as the festival continued, and the rest of the Kinsella family brought a stream of adventurous cranberry dishes to try. Cassie gossiped about her latest interior design projects, and Luke’s girlfriend, Natalie, arrived with a plate of cranberry chocolate truffles from her shop that even Alice and Stella were happy to sample. The night continued in a pleasant haze of conversation, and Stella could almost forget how awkwardly it had started out, until the music changed to an upbeat number, and Cassie brightened. “I love this song!” she said, “Where’s Wes?”
She looked around, and then disappeared towards the dance floor. The other couples soon followed, until Stella and Aidan were the only two left.
“Well?” she asked, before she realized what she was saying.
Stella cringed. How many spritzes had she had?
It didn’t matter, because Aidan shook his head. “Don’t think you’ll get me on the dance floor,” he said lightly.
“Scared of making a fool of yourself?” Stella asked playfully.
He just smiled. “I just don’t want to show you all up with my expert moves.”
He didn’t seem likely to change his mind, so Stella gave a shrug. “Suit yourself.”
She went to join her friends, and soon was spinning and dancing her way across the makeshift dance floor – with no great skill. But she didn’t mind. It was fun just to feel the rhythm and stumble through some steps, trying a makeshift waltz with Hank, a kind of jig with Poppy and baby Emma, and even treating Earl to a nifty two-step.
“Do you think that’s his girlfriend?” Alice asked, nodding when Earl went to join Debra for a dance.
“Earl has a girlfriend? I’m surprised that isn’t front-page news.” Stella grinned.
“Whoever she is, it’s top secret.” Alice explained. “He’s keeping her under wraps.”
“Well, the list of suspects looks pretty long,” Stella said, amused, as Earl moved on to take a turn with Franny, and then Helen, too.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get to the bottom of it.” Alice winked. She spun away with Jackson, looking happy in his arms.
The music shifted to a slower song, and everybody around her paired up: resting hands on the small of backs, and heads on steady shoulders. Stella moved to the side of the dancefloor, feeling a lonely pang. She couldn’t stop her gaze wandering back to where Aidan was sitting, watching the scene. But he showed no sign he was going to come ask her to dance, and of course, why would he?
This wasn’t a date, she reminded herself. Far from it.
If romance wasn’t on the cards tonight, then she would just have to settle for the next best thing. Stella got herself a slice of delicious cranberry-rhubarb pie, and found a seat at the edge of the crowd, trying not to feel like the most single woman in town.
“Please, let that be edible.”
A voice at her elbow startled her, and the plate of pie nearly fell to the ground – until Aidan grabbed it at the last moment.
“Nice save,” Stella said, flushing. Had she been sending out ‘come dance with me’ vibes? She gripped the plate tighter. “And I hope so. I’m not sure my stomach can take any more wild concoctions.”
Stella winced as soon as she said it. Indigestion. A really sexy conversation topic, there.
But Aidan just gave a wry smile. “How do you think I feel after six rounds of the Kinsella Cranberry Eat-Off?” he replied. “I’m getting too old for this.”
“So why compete?” Stella asked.
He shrugged. “Tradition. It’s what our family does.”
“You’re lucky,” Stella found herself saying. He looked at her quizzically. “To have those kinds of things to share.” She explained. “To have all your family so close.”
Aidan paused, looking out onto the dancefloor, where his siblings were all swaying with their partners. “You’re right,” he said thoughtfully. “I take it for granted, but it is nice having everyone here together.”
Stella offered him the plate of pie and a spare fork, and he dug in. “What about you?” he asked, through a mouthful.
“Oh, I don’t have any traditions,” Stella said, neatly sidestepping the question. “At least, not unless you count coming to every single one of these festivals for the past fourteen years.”
“Every one?” Aidan asked, clearly not believing her. “But… There must have been hundreds of them.”
“There have been.” She grinned. “LobsterFest, the Starbright festival, fireworks on the Fourth of July… If they gave out ribbons for perfect attendance, I would have them all. In fact, I should mention that at the next town meeting,” she said, teasing.
“It does sound like the Sweetbriar Cove thing to do,” Aidan agreed.
“Don’t joke,” Stella said. “Before you know it, Franny and Debra will have roped you into hosting the steering committee, and drawing up a list of candidates.”
Aidan laughed. “It would be something to do with my time, at least.”
Stella paused. She wanted to ask exactly what he was doing with his time out here. Had he moved? Quit his big city job? As far as she could tell, his days involved watching people from the sidelines and glowering at her from over their fence. But the last time she’d come close to asking, Aidan’s easy smile had snapped shut, and she didn’t want to ruin the relaxed mood, so instead she just took another bite of pie.
He was entitled to his secrets. After all, she had plenty of her own.
One drink, three dances, and two slices of pie later, Stella was feeling the day catch up with her. “I should get going.” She let out a reluctant yawn. “I’m not made for these late nights. Not since I was younger, anyway.”
“You were a party girl, huh?” Aidan asked, teasing.
Stella gave a wry laugh. “Sure, that was me. Up until three every morning.” She didn’t mention that she was awake all night dealing with a fussy infant. “Anyway, I should be heading back before it gets too dark to see the path.”
“You’re walking?” Aidan asked with a frown. “Let me give you a ride.”
“No, it’s fine,” Stella said automatically.
But Aidan just gave her a look. “It’s not exactly out of my way,” he pointed out, amused. “I’m right next door.”
Stella paused. He was right. What would she be proving by taking the two-mile stroll alone? “Well, then thanks,” she said slowly. “I’d love a ride.”
And so would her feet after all that dancing. The moment Stella slid into the passenger seat of Aidan’s sporty BMW, she eased off her sandals and gave her aching arches a rub. “I haven’t danced like that in forever. Not since I was younger, at least.”