“Wow. That was a really bad day for you.” When she tore another chunk, she swiped it into some of the crème before sliding it in her mouth.
“A game changer.”
From the top, she peeled more donut. Angling her head so she didn’t drip the filling, she ate another piece. “Hey. How’s your son?”
He hadn’t expected Jack to get brought up. “Good.” He stopped in front of the hardware store and watched her.
Licking her fingers, she balanced what was left of the shredded pastry. Creamy goop landed on her thumb and she licked it off with a giggle.
He shook his head. “Plan to finish that sometime today?”
“Eventually,” she said with a little of that playful streak that had lured him when they first met. “Why?”
He pointed to the sign on the window: No food or drink.
“Whoops.” She stuffed the last bit in her mouth, but looked at her palms.
He sighed. “Towels and sanitizer inside.”
She bunched her shoulders sheepishly and availed herself of the supplies, while he grabbed a new bolt lock and went to the cashier.
“How’s it going with the lodge?” Darrell, the manager, rang up his purchase.
“Good. You?”
“Better since that ray of sunshine came into the store.” Darrell grinned, bobbing his head toward the front.
Stone looked in that direction and found Brighton thumbing through a brochure. He scowled at Darrell. “How much?” His growl had the intended effect, snapping the clerk’s eyes back to the register.
“Twenty-two-fifteen.” He shifted as Stone dropped the money on the counter. “So … she with you?”
“Yes.”
“Ah.”
“Thanks.” He snatched up the brown paper bag with the bolt and stalked toward Brighton. “Let’s go.”
She hurried behind him, oblivious to the attention or his irritation. “Did you see this?”
“No.”
“It’s that indoor aquatic center I’d told you about.”
“Can’t afford it right now.”
She paused in the middle of the sidewalk.
“Keep moving,” Stone muttered.
Confused at his tone, she hustled to catch up. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He crossed the street to the grocery store and tugged out his list.
“I feel like I missed something back there.” Brighton peered through the window. “Like something happen?”
Darn fool of a clerk now stood in front of his store, staring back in their direction.
“Did something happen?”
