OK, she knew the reason, and it was six-foot-two of taut, tanned muscle, standing there in the water like some kind of Greek god. Aidan was still turned away from her, looking out across the pond, giving her a prime view of his muscular back and honed—
Other parts.
Stella blushed. In an instant, memories of that impulsive kiss came flooding back to her in all their steamy, heart-pounding glory. She barely even knew Aidan, she’d just seen him around Sweetbriar Cove those summers when she was growing up, the oldest Kinsella boy. He’d always looked so focused, even as a teen, and although her friends tried to flirt with him, he’d seemed high above their high school games. Until one night at a beach party, he’d joined a game of Spin the Bottle… and Stella’s turn had landed on him. She could still remember it now: that jump-start flicker of exhilaration, catching his eye across the flames. She’d started to make her way over, her heart beating faster—
But before she could claim her prize, a fight broke out down the beach, and the cops came to break things up.
She never did get that kiss.
In the back of her mind, she hoped she’d see him the next summer, and teasingly flirt over their missed connection. But Aidan hadn’t come back that next year, she heard he’d landed some fancy finance internship in New York, instead. Stella had met a cute college guy at the fireworks, and started dating him, and soon, she had bigger things on her mind than an almost kiss. Aidan hadn’t crossed her mind in almost fifteen years…
…Until she’d run into him a couple of months ago. He’d been stuck on a back-country road near the farm, blocked in by her stubborn alpacas, and he was just as handsome – and buttoned-up – as ever. He’d been running late, and hadn’t even recognized her at first, but Stella didn’t blame him. She was a long way from the pampered debutante she’d been back then. But he still owed her a kiss, and Stella couldn’t resist feeling sixteen again, just for a moment.
Only it turned out that her moment of madness was back on her doorstep again.
Stella finally snapped out of her daze. The last thing she wanted an awkward reunion after the stunt she’d pulled. What was she supposed to say? “Sorry for mauling you like some kiss-starved spinster?”
No, she needed to get out of there before he was any the wiser. She began slowly backing away, into the trees, and she was almost out of sight when her foot came down on a dry branch.
Crack.
Aidan spun around. “Is someone there?”
Stella cringed. Why hadn’t she changed out of her clumpy work boots?
“Um, hi Aidan!” she called, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She gave a wave, and then quickly slapped her hand over her eyes. “I didn’t see anything!” she lied. “Well, not nothing. I mean, you have something…”
Just stop.
“Anyway, I didn’t mean to disturb you. I’ll just…” Stella tried to keep backing away, her eyes still covered, but she stumbled on the path and almost went tumbling to the dirt.
“It’s fine, you can look now.” Aidan’s voice was curt, and when Stella opened her eyes, she found him standing on the shore, wearing a pair of jeans… and nothing else. His dark, damp hair was still dripping water over his square jaw and blue eyes; he looked like he’d just stepped out of one of Stella’s steamy fantasies and into real life.
Down, girl.
Stella cleared her throat, trying not to stare, and said the first thing that came into her head: “What are you doing here?”
Aidan arched an eyebrow. “What am I doing here?” he echoed. “You’re the one trespassing on private property.”
“The pond is public access!” Stella exclaimed, flushing.
“But the land behind you isn’t.” He nodded to the backyard she’d just cut through, and Stella put two and two together… and came up with a whole lot of trouble.
“You took the Death Star?” she asked, barely hiding a groan.
Aidan’s mouth quirked in amusement. “That’s what you’re calling it?”
Stella couldn’t help smiling. Matty had been the one to christen it, thanks to his favorite Star Wars movies. “You have to admit, it’s not exactly welcoming,” she pointed out. “It sticks out like a sore thumb.”
“It’s architecturally significant.” Aidan corrected her. “And yes. I’ll be staying there for a while.”
A while? Stella gulped. He was supposed to be a fleeting memory, not a permanent fixture on the other side of the fence. “But you told me you weren’t ever coming back to Sweetbriar Cove!” she protested.
Aidan narrowed his eyes. “So much for the small town welcome,” he drawled, with a sarcastic edge to his voice.
“You’re the one who made it clear this place was beneath you,” Stella shot back. “I seem to recall you couldn’t wait to get out of town and back to your high-speed internet and concierge service.”
“That’s right. The last time we met.” Aidan’s gaze skimmed over her, unreadable. “I recall a few other things about that day, too.”
Stella flushed even hotter. She was suddenly painfully aware of her damp, sweaty T-shirt and tangled hair. Not to mention the fact her legs hadn’t seen the right side of a razor in a good few weeks…
What had she been thinking, kissing this guy? Even half-naked and dripping wet, he still carried himself like he was wearing a three-piece suit. And had the snooty attitude to match. Stella chided herself for her reckless behavior. This was exactly why she always kept romance outside the county lines: sure, it was all fun, and games, and impulsive make-outs to start, but soon enough, reality set in, and those heart-stopping moments turned into a lead weight in the pit of her stomach.
There were always consequences. Hadn’t she learned that by now?
“Well, I have to go,” she said, backing away again. This time, thankfully, she kept her footing – and what was left of her dignity. “I have… Things to do,” she added vaguely. “Important things.”
“I’m sure you do.” Aidan said, with an annoyingly handsome smirk. “Like finding a new route home. One that doesn’t cross my property line.”
Stella glared. Was he serious? It was at least a mile to go the long way around. “Most people would want to make a good first impression, arriving in town,” she pointed out through gritted teeth.
Aidan just shrugged. “Oh, believe me, you already made your impression,” he replied. “Besides, you know what they say: good fences make for good neighbors.”
Her jaw dropped. Of all the infuriating, arrogant, unbelievable… Stella took a deep breath, and prepared to give him a piece of her mind— but Aidan had already turned away, looking out across the water like she wasn’t even there.
Clearly, she was dismissed.
Stella spun on her heel, and began stomping her way through the woods. Frustration surged, hot in her veins, driving her on. But maybe that was a good thing.
After all, she was going to need it for the hike home.
Aidan Kinsella listened to Stella stride away, those enormous work-boots of hers crunching through the leaves as she disappeared into the woods. He felt bad for baiting her, but what did she expect, sneaking up on a man like that? He’d been floating out on the water, savoring the first moment of calm he’d felt in forever, when suddenly, he’d come face-to-face with the one woman guaranteed to scramble his thoughts and put him on edge again.