“What a beautiful compliment, Marge. Enjoy the decoration. Remember, every time the sunlight washes color into your home, Jesse will be right there with you.”
“I will.”
As she walked away from the counter, I took a deep breath. Maybe I’d get a dog at some point. I’d always wanted one. In fact, that’s all I’d ever wanted as a little girl. A dog to keep me company. To protect me from the evils of the world. Every year at Christmas, I’d written a letter to Santa and every year, I was lucky if there was a single present under the tree. Never a pup, not even a stuffed one. Given my transient lifestyle, I’d been told several times that the request wasn’t possible.
Every time I even thought about Danny, my mind drifted to the past. I’d realized several years before that I resented him forbeing forced from one home to another as well as everything else.
He’d been a precocious kid, difficult for people to handle. I’d believed he didn’t have a bad bone in his body. Then I’d learned otherwise.
No more lamenting about the past.
“If you keep giving away the merchandise, you’re never going to make a huge profit.”
I gave Ashley a side eye, shrugging. “That’s okay. As long as I can pay the bills, including the salary for my nosy assistant manager, then I’m happy.” While the truth, I also didn’t need to be worried about money. With the grant provided by the Prince family, I’d been able to open the doors with the initial stock items all paid for. The living expenses had been based on a small trust fund established by my parents. The funds had allowed me to stay afloat until the business had taken off.
I often wondered if they were smiling down on me from heaven about my use of the money. I’d often wondered why they’d set up the fund without thinking about what would happen if they weren’t able to finish raising their own kids.
Wow. Now I was getting morbid. No more family thoughts.
“By the way. You have a customer who specifically requested you.” I knew her mannerisms far too well. Whatever she was hiding had her close to being giddy.
The last time had been when the town mayor had asked me out in front of everyone. The only trouble was he was old enough to be my father and then some.
“What this time?”
“Just some guy. Let me tell you, one ooh-la-la hot guy.” She fanned her face, even dragging her tongue across her bottom lip for emphasis.
“Some hot guy, huh? Sure.” I’d forgotten all about Mr. Dark and Dangerous until I moved past customers glancing at the new landscaping sketches I’d placed on wire racks that morning. An unwanted flutter in my stomach was an indication my space had been invaded. There he was leaning against the wall near the entrance door. Mr. Dark and Dangerous wore the same angry and brooding expression and had yet to shave, but his hair was once against combed to perfection.
The big difference was that now he was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans and a chenille shirt in a vibrant emerald hue that matched the color of his eyes as if both had been painted at the same time.
The shirt was untucked and unbuttoned to his sternum, and I found it nearly impossible to take my eyes off him. He was even wearing a leather jacket with a sherpa lining and thick work boots. Nothing that I would ever have expected after seeing him the day before.
Far sexier than a man of his annoying personality deserved. When I noticed something hanging from the collar, I purposely bit my lower lip until I tasted blood to keep from laughing. Before he caught sight of me, I retreated, heading back to the counter and the drawers behind them.
“Please tell me you know that man,” Ashley asked, her voice decidedly breathless.
“In a manner of speaking and no, you don’t want to. Trust me.” I gave her a knowing look before heading toward him. When I wasa few feet away, he finally glanced in my direction. He appeared almost as irritated as he had only hours before, except I noticed a slight crack in his craggy veneer.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say his sneer momentarily turned into a slight smile. As soon as I closed the distance, I lifted the pair of scissors I had in my hand.
His eyes went wild, flashing a combination of uncertainty and admiration. How strange.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Prince. If I’d wanted to kill you, I would have used the hemlock.” He was so tall I was forced onto my toes, leaning into him just enough to grab the price tag he’d forgotten to remove. As soon as I did, I was rewarded with a hint of his aftershave.
Sweet Jesus.
The scent was alluring and primal, a touch of the untamed with smoky tones indicating intense passion on a cold winter’s day.
I was momentarily caught off guard just enough I leaned too far. Just before I crashed into him, he wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me in place. Blinking furiously, the warm leather and musk held me captive for two seconds too long. Exhaling, I managed to finish my task, cutting the string. Even so, my legs remained numb, requiring me to palm his chest just long enough my entire body was tingling as if plugged into a high circuit of current.
He obviously felt what I was experiencing as well, but he wasn’t happy about it.
“What are you doing?” he said, the timbre low and husky, which was both intimidating and alluring.
I held up the tag, twisting it back and forth. “While I’m glad you decided to take my advice about a jacket, I don’t think you want to announce the new purchase to everyone in town.” I also noticed there was no sign of his cane. Was he embarrassed at needing one?
He gritted his teeth once again, the dominant clench of his jaw a clear indication he wasn’t used to anyone challenging a single aspect of his life, his person, or his world.
