“Want a beer?” she asked. “You must be tired.”
“I am. A beer sounds great. Then I need to get home and take a shower.”
She walked to the refrigerator. “You could shower here.”
She’d meant the statement innocently enough. She really was offering the shower. But something in the air changed when she said the words. She turned and found Aidan watching her from across the kitchen.
His dark eyes brightened with an intensity that stole her breath. Wanting pooled in her belly and quickly moved out to every corner of her body. She shivered and not from the cold.
“Want to join me?”
Four simple words that individually didn’t mean all that much. But when strung together...well, they were a lot more significant.
She thought about what it would be like—the small, steamy space, the hot water and a very naked, wet Aidan to do with what she would.
She smiled. “You’re saying the beer can wait?”
“That I am.”
* * *
AIDAN WAS UNPREPARED for the high pitched sounds that ten sixteen-year-old girls could make. His first thought was he was grateful he’d left Charlie at home. The poor pup would have been whimpering from the loud noises. To be honest, Aidan felt a little overwhelmed himself.
Starr’s party was held in a section of the town’s convention center. He never would have thought of that venue, but Shelby had talked to party planner Dellina Ridge, who had suggested it.
They’d taken over about a quarter of the open area near the industrial kitchen. There was plenty of room for tables and chairs and their 1950s theme.
Destiny and Kipling had provided the portable sound system and Gideon, who owned the local oldies radio station, had loaned them plenty of era-appropriate music. There were cutouts of Elvis for selfies, rented poodle skirts and a makeup station with printed instructions on how to do cat eyeliner.
Beyond the tables was a basketball court-sized concrete floor—perfect for roller skating. The menu was simple—hot dogs, mac and cheese and a salad bar. There was an ice cream sundae station and the guitar cupcake cake.
The party had started at three and dinner was still about an hour away. Aidan could see the girls were nearly finished with roller skating. He crossed to Shelby, who was setting the big table for the girls.
“We’re going to need another activity,” he said. “Otherwise, they’ll get restless.”
She smiled. “You sound nervous.”
“Yeah. My female training has been with adults. Teenaged girls still frighten me.”
She patted his arm. “They frighten us all. Don’t worry. I have it covered.” She pointed to the big double doors.
A woman walked in. She was tall and lean, with green eyes and blond hair. It took him a second to recognize her.
“She’s that dance lady.”
“Evie Jefferson,” Shelby said, waving her over. “She owns the dance school in town. She’s going to teach the girls some dances from the 1950s. That will keep them busy until dinner. Plus they’ll be exhausted.”
“Kipling will be thrilled.”
Because after the dinner, the girls were all heading back to Starr’s house for a sleepover.
“I think there’s a slight chance that he and Destiny will get some sleep tonight.” She laughed. “Well, except for the baby waking them up.”
Evie explained the dance to the girls, then walked through it with them. Kipling moved over to stand by Shelby and Aidan.
“It’s the same dance they’ll see on American Graffiti tonight,” he said.
“You know that movie takes place in the 1960s, don’t you?” Aidan asked.