“I’ll give you a battery charger next week.”
“You don’t have to. I’ll buy one.”
“Paris?”
“Yes?”
“Just say thank you.”
It was her time to sigh. “Thank you. I’ll bake you some more muffins.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Just say thank you.” She laughed when he didn’t say anything.
Richard cleared his throat. “Thank you. There’s a reason we didn’t say more than a few words to each other before you saw the cottage.”
She leaned against the front door. “There is?”
“We’re both too stubborn to know what’s good for us.”
“Are you saying I’m good for you?” Paris clamped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.”
“I meant we’re too stubborn to ask for help.”
She held the drill against her chest. She’d turned a perfectly lovely moment into an awkward conversation they’d never get past.
Richard sighed. “But you could be right.”
A slow smile replaced her frown. “Why am I good for you?”
“You make really good muffins. Jack and I could get used to them.”
That wasn’t what she thought he’d say. Her disappointment wasn’t helped by Richard’s gravelly laugh. “I thought you were going to say my unique fashion sense is rubbing off on you.” Liar, she thought. But a girl had her dignity and she wasn’t going to admit that she wanted to make a difference in his life.
“There isn’t a lot of room for creativity in my wardrobe. I wear jeans and sweatshirts most of the time.”
She wouldn’t tell him he wore them very nicely. “You realize I can’t resist a challenge, don’t you?”
“I’d noticed.”
How two little words could bring back the warm, fuzzy tingles so quickly was beyond her. “Do you want to be my next challenge?”
“I can’t be anyone’s challenge.”
The sadness in his voice made her frown. “Why not?”
“I have issues.”
If that was all he was worried about, she could put his mind at ease straightaway. “So do I.”
“You’re the most confident, assertive person I’ve ever met. What issues do you have?”
“Should I list them alphabetically or group them by subject?”
“I’m more of a numbers kind of guy.”
Paris smiled. “I should have known, although comparing statistics can be unhealthy.” Andrea waved at her from the sidewalk. “I have to go. Andrea’s just arrived and we’re going for a walk around the lake. Thanks again for the drill.”
