Charlotte grinned. “That’s what Elsie said when I asked her.”
He looked across the room and saw Elsie watching them. She immediately dropped her gaze and stepped forward to pick up the serving knife, cutting out pieces of cake with laser-like focus. Nope, he hadn’t thawed her yet.
He hated store-bought cake, so he declined a piece and went to his room and shut the door. He’d had about all the Bennet fun he could take and it was better if he separated himself from Elsie. He put some headphones on and got work done, answering emails and going through purchase orders. He checked an hour later and the noise in the living room was still going strong. Would those Bennets ever leave?
Chapter 9 ♥Shuffling
Elsie wasn’t sure who had told Collin about their T-shirt business, but he came over bright and early Saturday morning to see for himself. She should have left Collin and his long list of stupid questions on the front porch and never invited him in. Hours later, he was still parked on their couch with no plans to leave.
Elsie decided to withhold food until he returned to her parents, but she should have mentioned it to Jane first. She watched in horror as Jane brought him a sandwich and put him to work packaging and affixing labels to boxes.
There was no way she’d let those go to the post office without double-checking everything, and that would mean time spent reopening boxes and reprinting labels. His help was nothing more than a lot of extra work.
Elsie stepped in front of him. “Collin, my mother just texted and said she’s preparing a special lunch for you.”
“How nice,” he murmured, jamming a T-shirt into a plastic bag and clumsily affixing the adhesive along the side.
Jane gave her a pointed look. Their mother did not text, nor was she making lunch, but that wouldn’t keep Elsie from trying.
“Elsie, would you be a dear and hold this box closed while I tape it?” He turned pleading eyes up at her and held out the package.
She reluctantly leaned down and kept the sides closed while he fumbled with their tape dispenser. His hands pressed against hers when he was done, all in the name of securing the tape, and she pulled away, grossed out by his obvious attempt to touch her. The smitten look on his face wasn’t helping either.
“You know,” Collin said as he tossed the box off the side of the couch. “I could offer you two a generous loan in return for a small percentage of your company. I’d have to run it by Catherine, of course, but it could be lucrative for both of us.”
Never. “That’s nice.” Elsie met her sister’s eyes over his head. “Jane? Will you help me with something in the office?”
Elsie stalked down the hall and closed the door behind them as soon as Jane entered. “If I ask him to leave, it’ll probably end in a shoving match, possibly with limbs jammed in the door. Please use your sweet persuasion and get him out of here before I murder him.”
Jane sighed. “He’s harmless. And he’s bored at Mom and Dad’s house.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s our job to entertain him. Please, please, please. I’ll rub your feet. I’ll make that peanut brittle you love. Anything.”
“Anything?” Jane raised an eyebrow. “Charlie wants to play cards tonight and we need a fourth. Could you get along with Will for one night?”
Elsie immediately pictured Will’s intent gaze, felt his hand resting lightly on her hip, remembered the scent of his cologne. “I don’t know…”
“Well, I guess I could let Collin try a hand at the T-shirt press. He did ask.”
Elsie’s eyes widened. “Fine. I’ll go with you tonight. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Jane let out a little squeal. “Yay.”
She went down the hall and with very little convincing, got Collin outside to inspect their tree in the front yard. As a tree expert (Jane’s words) he would know exactly why it was weeping sap onto the trunk. He determined the tree had a cold.
While they chatted outside, Elsie called her mother and did some persuading of her own. Soon the special lunch she’d mentioned was a reality, and they sent Collin on his way, thanking him for his help.
***
“Put your computer away, Will. Jane and Elsie will be here any minute.”
Will looked up from his spreadsheets and frowned at Charlie. It seemed there was nothing he could do to get Charlie and Jane to stop setting him up with Elsie. Not that he didn’t want to spend more time with her, but he knew Elsie resented them dragging her along as much as he resented them worrying about him being a third wheel.
“Why don’t you and Jane go out tonight? I have enough work to keep me busy here. And don’t try to tell me Elsie would be disappointed. I know that’s a lie.”
Charlie plopped down on the couch next to him. “You have your whole life to make money, Will. Try doing something besides calculating how rich you are.”
“Because playing cards is a much better use of my time.” Will snapped his laptop shut. “Speaking of time, what does your boss say? How much longer do you have in Meryton?”
