“I guess, but since you won’t really talk about it, I can’t truly form an opinion. But I do trust your judgment.” Verna looked toward the sparkling Christmas tree in the corner. “You want to keep this up until after New Year’s?”
Considering Serenity had a tradition of keeping her decorations at her cottage up until Valentine’s Day…of course. “Yes. I’ll take it down next week.” She wasn’t ready to let go of the holiday magic quite yet, even though her life had become bizarre. She tossed the flower into the nearest trash can. “Let’s put the de-icer on sale.”
“On sale?” Verna reared back. “We have another storm coming next week. I say we double the price. We’re supposed to make money, you know.”
Serenity winced. “Yeah, but with more bad weather on the way, I thought we could give people a break.”
Verna shook her head. “You’re never going to be a multimillionaire who expands this place into other cities if you give people breaks all the time.”
Serenity blinked. “I have no intention of expanding this place. I like it the way it is.”
Verna sighed. “There goes my chance to work in Hawaii.”
Serenity looked over her shoulder where Earl was, once again, rearranging the shovels. “They don’t need a lot of shovels in Hawaii.” The door slid open, and everything inside her went still.
Rory walked inside and stood near the long umbrellas, his stance set, shoulders back, blue eyes blazing.
“I don’t suppose he wants to buy a shovel,” Verna murmured.
Chapter2
Among her friends, Serenity McDerny was known as someone who kept her head clear in a crisis. She was calm, collected, and a quick thinker. However, as she stood next to the sparkling Christmas tree, she could only stare.
Rory’s gaze swept the store until it landed on her. Even across the distance, a punch of power from those sapphire-blue eyes hit her hard. One of his dark eyebrows rose. His hair was jet-black, and he had the Albertini height at about six foot two with broad shoulders and muscled arms. He’d always seemed more sleek than bulky, but he could move fast if he wanted to, and at the moment…he did. Within seconds, he was standing in front of her.
She put her hands on her hips. “What do you want, Rory?”
An intense expression flashed across his face, but it was gone as quickly as it had arrived. Even so, her abdomen warmed. “We both know what I want,” he murmured, keeping his gaze locked squarely on hers. “Hi, Verna. How’s it going?” he asked without releasing Serenity’s gaze.
“Pretty good,” the woman said, a smile in her voice. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to the back room. I’m sure we have nails that need to be sorted.” There was a swish of sound as she quickly hustled away.
Rory’s cheek creased. “The entire town’s on my side. Don’t you think it’s time you forgave me?”
“Sure,” Serenity answered easily. “You’re forgiven. Now, go away.”
His lids half-lowered. “Darlin’, that’s not forgiveness.”
“Sure, it is. You are forgiven. I’m no longer mad. Now,you need to leave.”
She couldn’t take him in a fight, or she’d consider just wrestling him to the floor and tapping his head against the faded tile. But even if she could do that, she probably wouldn’t resort to violence. Still, she took a moment to enjoy the mental image and the ensuing shock on his angular face—after she let him up off the floor, of course.
“Whatever you’re thinking, I don’t think I like it,” Rory murmured.
“No, you probably wouldn’t,” she agreed.
His shoulders went back just enough to show his dwindling patience. He cocked his head to the side. “What’s up with the blond streaks in your hair?”
She’d been heartbroken and had made a dumb decision. Not that she’d ever admit it. “I wanted something different. Now, leave.”
One of his dark eyebrows rose again. “How about you stop asking me to go away?”
“I wasn’t asking.”
His phone buzzed, and he lifted it to his ear, watching her with a look that made her abdomen clench. “Albertini.” He listened, his contemplation dropping to her mouth. “Hi, Sheriff. No, I didn’t put anything in Tessa’s boxes, nor did I deliver them. I think my brothers did.”
Serenity tilted her head. Tessa was one of Rory’s many cousins.
Rory sighed. “I hadn’t heard that, no. Thanks for telling me. If anybody asks, please tell them Serenity and I are out of touch right now. We need to handle a few things before dealing with my family.” His grin was quick. “You’re a good man. Bye.” He ended the call.
