Did the guy not own a shirt?
Stella stared at Aidan in disbelief. This time, at least, he wasn’t naked, but still, that towel was slung dangerously low around his hips…
“You, uh, needed the AC fixed?” she asked, averting her gaze.
“You’re Hank’s guy?” Aidan asked, sounding frustrated.
Stella help up her toolbox as evidence. “He said you were paying triple.”
It was the only reason she’d taken the gig. That, and she was just a tiny bit curious to see the inside of this place – and maybe erase that sweaty, bedraggled second impression she’d given him earlier that day. Stella usually dressed down on the job, but she hadn’t been able to stop herself from picking out a nice summery top and adding just a hint of mascara, too.
She at least wanted to show the guy she owned a clean pair of jeans.
“I guess you better come in,” Aidan said, and held the door ajar for her. But everything about him screamed reluctance.
Was she really such an unwelcome visitor?
“You know what? This is clearly a bad time. I can go—” Stella began, but Aidan cut her off.
“No! Stay!” He dragged a hand through his wet hair, suddenly looking worn out. “I’m sorry, I know you’re doing me a favor, coming on such short notice. Forgive me, it’s not you.”
Stella relaxed a little.“Long day?” she asked, following him inside.
“Long month.” Aidan sighed, and for the first time, Stella noticed the dark shadows under his eyes and the tense set of his jaw.
“Well, let’s see if we can take the temperature in here down a notch,” she said. Aidan looked confused. “The AC,” she explained gently. “Where’s the main unit?”
“Out past the kitchen.” Aidan nodded. “I’ll, uh, be right back.”
He disappeared up the stairs, hopefully in search of a shirt, so Stella took another few steps inside, taking a curious look around.
The place was immaculate, about as far from her cluttered farmhouse as it was possible to get. Steel girders. Vast flat-screen TV. White couches. White! Stella couldn’t imagine the kind of life that let you keep upholstery so spotless. Five minutes at hers, and they’d be smeared with ketchup and dog hair. Clearly, this guy had zero messy commitments in his life.
And a regular cleaning service, too, she was guessing.
“Did you find it?” Aidan’s voice called down the stairs, breaking Stella’s nosy exploration.
“Umm, yes, thanks!” She quickly headed in the direction he’d pointed, through the gleaming kitchen, and out to the side porch. Sure enough, there was a high-tech unit there, gathering dust. She was just checking the main screen when Aidan stepped out to join her, wearing a faded blue T-shirt and jeans.
She took it back: nearly naked might have been better. He had a whole ‘fresh from the shower’ look now, with the fabric of his T-shirt hugging his body, looking soft enough to touch. And as for those jeans…
Stella cleared her throat.
“I tried to figure out the problem,” Aidan said, looking awkward. “But I couldn’t get past the main menu.”
“You’re not the only one.” Stella gave a wry smile, starting to override the main control panel. “These high-tech systems are more trouble than they’re worth. Someone spent all their time designing how it can tell you the temperature in ten different languages, rather than, you know, actually keep the house cool.”
Aidan stood there in the doorway, watching her. “How did you wind up in this line of work?” he asked, sounding curious. She couldn’t blame him. She’d been voted ‘most likely to marry a celebrity’, not ‘future technician’.
“You mean, was I secretly rewiring control panels after cheerleading practice?” she shot back, teasing. “No, I fell into it a few years back. I got my certificate in plumbing, and the construction crews were always complaining about finding good heat and cooling guys. So, it seemed smart to get qualified in this, as well.”
“That’s… great.”
She heard the edge in his voice and gave him a sideways look. “It is, actually. Steady work, decent pay. Appreciative clients… most of the time.”
“Sorry.” Aidan at least had the decency to look chastened. “I didn’t mean to sound like a snob. It’s just not what I was expecting, that’s all. If you’d asked me fifteen years ago where I thought you’d be now—”
“It would be hosting tea parties, and getting manicures?” Stella finished for him.
“No,” Aidan shook his head. “You weren’t some airhead, you had a way of making people feel like friends. That’s a rare skill. I always figured you’d do something big, one day.”
His eyes caught hers, looking at her thoughtfully, and Stella was horrified to feel a lump forming in the back of her throat.
He was right, she had been planning to take on the world.
“Well, plans change.” Stella quickly swallowed back her emotions. “Although, clearly not for you. You were always going to be a big shot,” she said, turning back to the control panel.
“I guess so.” Aidan’s voice was quiet, and for a moment, they didn’t speak, as Stella ran a couple of programs and figured out the mess someone had made with the system.
“So, can you fix it?” Aidan asked eventually.
“I can get it working for now, but honestly? It’s going to crash on you again in a couple of days.” Stella told him. “I’ve replaced a bunch of these systems already this year. Some people just have more money than sense.”
“Myself included?” Aidan asked, but he didn’t seem annoyed, so Stella smiled.
“Maybe. I mean, you have to admit, this place isn’t the most practical home.” She looked around. “There’s more tech here than the control room at NASA.”
“What are you saying?” Aidan replied, cracking a smile. “That I don’t need a voice-activated shower, or a refrigerator that orders more groceries when they’re running low?”
“Wait, your fridge actually does that?” Stella asked in disbelief. “Now I’m jealous. I’m always out of milk.”
“Please, help yourself,” Aidan smiled back. “I grazed my hand on the shelf the other day, and I swear it already analyzed my blood for a calcium deficiency.”
Stella laughed, finally relaxing. See? This didn’t have to be awkward. She was a professional, and he was a client. Nothing weird about that. Even if there was still a massive elephant in the room that they hadn’t mentioned yet.
A huge, hot, kiss-sized elephant.
“That should do it for now,” she said, dragging her steamy thoughts back to the job at hand. “But you really need the whole thing replaced, especially since it’s running your heating system, too. If you think this sauna is bad, wait until the first snow hits, and you’re shivering in your boots,” she added. “That is, if you’re planning on staying through winter…?”
“I don’t know just yet,” Aidan replied quietly. “Maybe.”
Stella studied him, curious. Just a couple of months ago, Aidan had seemed determined to leave Cape Cod far behind. So, what had brought him back here?