At least, she hoped he would, because one more kiss like that and she’d forget her own name.
And then where would she be?
7
“Where would you be? Hmm, let me think about that…” Jenny teased. “Having a wild, passionate fling with a handsome, single man?”
They were at the bakery later that week, taking advantage of the mid-morning lull to help Summer decide on her new fall menu. And analyzing Stella’s minor romantic meltdown too, for good measure.
“A handsome, single man who can dance.” Jenny added, amused. “Where did you find this Prince Charming? Your fairy godmother must be looking out for you.”
“You mean a wicked witch,” Stella sighed, “Because Aidan coming to town feels more like a curse.”
“Did someone call for me?” Summer asked, appearing with a platter of baked goods – and a witch’s hat on her head. She struck a pose. “Spells and sugary treats, at your service.”
The whole bakery was already decked out for Halloween, with carved pumpkins on the tables, spooky lanterns, and fake cobweb on the pastry display case. “Now, these are the new scones I’ve been testing,” Summer said, presenting them with a mountain of buttery, crumbling goodness. “I’ve tweaked the cranberry orange since the festival, and amped up the cinnamon. Then there’s pumpkin walnut, and double chocolate nutmeg chunk.”
“Ooh, I want to try those,” Jenny said immediately, reaching to dig in.
“I’m noting these reactions,” Summer said, and she wasn’t even kidding – watching with a pencil and scrap paper at the ready.
“Note away.” Jenny said, through a mouthful of crumb. “Because these pumpkin ones are a fall party in my mouth.”
Stella took a bite. It was delicious, but all the pastries in the world couldn’t distract her from the thought of Aidan, and the look on his face when she’d turned and fled. “I bet he thinks I’m crazy, running hot and cold like this. Which is probably a good thing,” she tried to convince herself. “Now I won’t have to come up with some awkward excuse if he ever asked me out. So, we can just be neighbors. Friends.”
Summer and Jenny exchanged a look.
“Sure,” Jenny said, looking amused. “A friend who shows up at a ballroom dancing class, literally sweeps you off your feet, and then kisses you senseless on a street corner. Real friendly.”
“It was just a kiss.” Stella protested.
Her friends looked at her.
“Well, OK, a soul-shaking, heart-stopping, world-ending kiss,” she corrected herself. “But that doesn’t mean anything—”
Jenny cut her off. “Look, I know you’re rusty, and you have the romantic instincts of a small mammal coming out of hibernation,” she said gently, “But that makes two mind-blowing kisses so far, and you’ve seen the guy naked.”
“That’s more of a committed relationship than most of the men I dated before Grayson,” Summer cracked, but Stella wasn’t in a laughing mood. She groaned, and stuffed another scone in her mouth. “But I don’t want a relationship with him,” she muttered mournfully.
“Really?” her friends looked confused. “But you like the guy,” Summer said, sitting down at the table.
“I never said that.” Stella insisted. “I mean… OK, he’s fine and all.”
Jenny smirked. “Yup. Fiiiine.”
Stella couldn’t help but laugh at the way her friend dragged out the word and waggled her eyebrows. “You know what I mean. He’s attractive enough, and nice, and…”
“Well dressed,” Summer offered.
“And ridiculously wealthy, from what I hear on the Kinsella grapevine.” Jenny added. “Of course, what was I thinking? You would never want to date a man like that!”
“You should invite him to the Halloween Hoedown this weekend,” Summer suggested.
“Ooh yes,” Jenny agreed. “Dress up as something sexy. He won’t be able to resist.”
Stella didn’t reply. Wanting to date Aidan wasn’t the problem. But if there was one thing she’d learned from her checkered history, it was that wanting would lead her nowhere good.
The bell above the bakery door dinged with a new arrival, as Paige burst in, looking queasy. “Bathroom break!” she called, making a beeline for the back of the bakery.
A few moments later, she re-emerged, dabbing at her lips and looking a little less green. She sank down into a seat at the table and groaned. “Between the vomiting, and the hormone swings, I’m still waiting for the radiant glow of pregnancy to arrive. Any idea when it’ll be coming?”
“Oh no,” Stella sympathized, patting her shoulder. “I’m sorry, this stage is the worst. Well, until you get swollen ankles, and your bladder feels like the size of a pea,” she added.
“So, what you’re saying is, I’ve still got plenty to look forward to?” Paige looked exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes, and her blonde hair hanging in limp strands. “I just had a tearful meltdown in line at the grocery store. I full-on wept in the middle of the paper goods aisle. I won’t be able to show my face there again.”
“Don’t worry, I did that the other week, and I was just PMS-ing.” Summer emerged from the kitchen again, this time with a mug of something steamy. “Peppermint tea,” she explained, handing it to Paige. “It’ll help settle your stomach. At least, Poppy swore by it when she was having morning sickness.”
“Thanks.” Paige took a sip, and gave a weary sigh. “It’s supposed to be over by now, but I guess this little peanut has decided to be contrary.”
“What are you, twenty weeks?” Stella asked. “The peanut’s more of a banana. I had a whole chart of sizes pinned up beside the refrigerator,” she said, remembering. “Although, it made me feel really weird about eating fruit.”
Paige managed a weak smile, as the bakery door swung open again. Declan stepped in. “They said I’d find you here,” he said, moving over to greet Paige with a sympathetic hug. “Bad day, baby?”
She nodded, looking miserable. “The worst.”
Declan gave her a kiss on the forehead, and rubbed her back. “How about we get you home? I’ll give you a foot massage, and make you some brunch.”
“Homemade French fries?” Paige looked a tiny bit happier.
“Whatever you want.” Declan helped Paige to her feet. “Thanks, ladies,” he said, steering her to the door.
“Feel better!”
Stella watched them go, feeling a little wistful. What would it have been like, having a partner like that by her side for Matty? Holding her hand in the doctor’s appointments, and bringing her peppermint tea. She’d had to waddle home alone every night, and try to rub her own feet. And as for homemade snacks… What a dream. She’d gotten by on neighbor casseroles, and microwavable soup.
But Jenny must have misread her expression, because after they finished up the scone-tasting, and were strolling back towards town, she gave Stella a knowing look. “Do you ever think about having another one?” she asked.