âYou have always been safe from me, Spence. You know that, donât you?â She tossed the ice cream scoop and it landed with a plop in the de-icer bag. âIâm not on the hunt for a husband.â
âYou donât automatically want a sparkling diamond ring?â
âIâm the exception to that rule.â She watched his shoulders visibly relax. Poor Spence. He believed that. He must have a poor opinion of women and marriage. âWhen I decide to hunt for a husband, Iâll set my sights on a quality man.â
âAre you suggesting Iâm not?â He was grinning wide enough to show that hint of a dimple again.
She forgot to feel uncomfortable around him when he smiled like that. âIâm just saying that Iâm not looking right now. But as far as quality goes, youâre a good man, Spence. You shouldnât work so hard to hide it.â
âI know your secret, mister.â
Spence McKaslin jerked his attention away from the spreadsheets and frowned at his sister, Danielle. She was leaning against the doorjamb to his office with her arms crossed in front of her. Somehow she managed to look kindly and meddling all at once. He frowned. âWhat secret do you think you know? I donât have any secrets. I donât have time for any.â
âSure. I know youâre a busy man.â She laughed. A loving soul, she always had a smile for everyone these days, especially since her hardship at home was over. Her wedding ring sparkled as she shook her head at him with utmost disapproval. Mischief flashed in her dark eyes, and she gave an eye roll. âYou canât fool me, big brother. Iâm on to you.â
âWow, Iâm really worried.â What on earth was she talking about? he wondered. What did she think she knew? It had to be really good, considering the amusement on her face. He didnât approve of amusement.
Amusement had never helped him. He shoved his chair back and moved a little. His muscles were stiff from sitting in the same position for the past hour or so.
Snow was falling harder outside his officeâs corner window, obscuring the buildings across the parking lot and disguising the pavement so it looked like a winter wonderland. He scowled. He didnât like wonderlands either. âTalk to me about something real. Something that matters. Howâs the traffic?â
She flashed him that glimmer of humor. âItâs November, you know that, right? I heard that itâs snowing. This morning it was sunny, and now thereâs a surprise winter storm advisory out there. The roads are a mess.â
It was his turn for an eye roll. This is what he got for working with family. Family you couldnât choose, and they were impossible to order around. Harder to fire. He tried to hide his great affection for Danielle behind a bigger scowl. He had a reputation to protect. âI was asking about the store.â
âI know.â That stubborn cheerfulness didnât dim one iota. âSpence, you would be an incredibly handsome man if you would just put a smile on your face.â
âNow youâre sounding like Dorrie.â Dorrie was his stepmom and Danielleâs mom. âIâm not falling for that handsome line. I donât mind looking homely and disagreeable.â
âSure, you donât, but the rest of us have to look at you, brother dear.â She gave him a wink, still lighthearted and apparently distracted from the topic of his secret.
Whew. He had only one secret and no oneârepeat no oneâknew about that. There were days when that secret was so secret that he almost couldnât remember it himself.
âWe havenât had a customer for the last two hours.â Danielle gave him the lookâthe mom look she used on her kids. âIâve counted down the tills, Iâm turning over the sign and Iâm going home.â
Good thing he was immune to the mom look. âThis is my store. We stay open until closing time.â
âIâm driving home while I can still navigate the roads. I sent Kelly home, too.â
âWhat?â That brought him to his feet. This was his store and Katherine, whom Danielle had replaced as his assistant manager, understood that. He and Dani were still figuring out how to work together. She was still new, but that didnât mean she could go usurping his authority. âCustomers depend on us to be open.â