“That’s a long time to be alone.”
“I didn’t say I was alone all that time. I said I hadn’t dated anyone seriously. My sister was,ismy priority. There was no time to invest in a relationship. Not to mention, when you’re a small-town sheriff, your time is never your own. It’s just not fair to ask someone to make that kind of sacrifice.”
She lifted her eyes to meet his, staring quietly as she studied his face. Again, her expressions were always so guarded and he couldn’t really tell what she was thinking. Whatever it was, he could feel the intensity of it tethering him to her from across the table.
“I don’t think I’ve ever met a man who thinks so much about others. You’re a rarity, Michael Park.”
The compliment had come from nowhere, landing a metaphorically unexpected slap upside his head. He sat there for a beat, wondering what other surprises she had hidden in the depths of those brown eyes. Whatever they were, he was eager to experience every one of them. He knew that was a problem. Yet as he watched her take her first forkful of food and relax into a wide, satisfied grin, for once, he wasn’t concerned with courting trouble.
His landline rang, breaking the friendly spell. He moved to the far end of the counter to answer it.
“Hello.”
“Michael, thank God.”
Panic rose from his gut as his sister’s alarmed voice traveled across the line.
“What’s wrong, Cindy?”
“I’ve been trying to contact you with no success. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. We’ve got terrible weather right now, so both landline and cell service have been iffy. What’s happening, Cindy?”
“Both Philly and Lehigh Valley airports are closed. I can’t get anywhere near Monroe Hills. They canceled all flights until this system passes.”
Michael could hear the frustration in her voice. It pained him that there was nothing either of them could do about it.
“It is what it is, Cin. It’s supposed to pass in time for the festival, so everything will be fine.”
“Not exactly,” she answered. “I’m supposed to make a stop in Boston tomorrow before we head home. I can’t catch my connection now. I have to meet this contact, Michael, but he doesn’t have another opening for a week.”
Michael glanced quickly at Vanessa and panic started settling in.
“Cindy, you can’t stay gone for another week. You’re needed back here. What about the festival?”
Yeah, because the festival was really what you’re worried about.
“I know Michael, I’m sorry. If I can just strike a deal with this exotic flower dealer, it will be a tremendous boost for the shop. I was hoping you would fill in for me to help me out, Oppa.”
The muscles in the back of his neck tensed. Cindy was a master at using the Korean endearment for “big brother” to convey tone and emotion. When she was pissed with him, the word was sharp and biting. When she was happy, it was colored with excitement and joy. And when she wanted something from him, she knew how to say it ever so sweetly to get him to give in to her whims.
“Cindy, I can’t take off a week from work to watch your shop.”
“Of course you can, you’re the boss.”
“Being the boss means being dependable, and taking a week off without notice is not responsible.”
As the firstborn and only son of second-generation Korean American parents, Michael had been groomed from the cradle to be an expert on responsibility. His parents’ job was to provide for him. His job was to follow the rules and do what his parents and his elders expected of him, to honor those who had come before him. As a result, Michael didn’t buck authority and responsibility. He embraced it, upheld it.
He supposed that was part of why he felt so at ease in law enforcement. Rank and file meant there was a defined chain of command, a right way and a wrong way to do things. Being fifteen years younger than him, Cindy hadn’t learned those lessons so well.
She huffed and if he were standing in front of her, he’d bet his badge she had her arms crossed and was pouting.
“Cindy, I can’t do this.”
“Fine,” she answered. “Can you at least handle the festival? I’ll ask Sarah if she can pull the extra hours to cover for me after that.”
He ran a frustrated hand through his dark strands, trying to keep his annoyance from bleeding into his voice.
