Jan King © 2008
All rights reserved, The Wild Rose Press
"Well, hi," she said, struggling to be casual. "Taking a walk
around the village?"
Gabe looked at her, sitting behind the counter. She
seemed utterly at home, and she'd greeted him as she would a brother or a casual
acquaintance. He bristled inside. Being around her made him feel as nervous as a
cat. He could feel butterflies playing tag in his stomach, and she sat there as
cool as you please. He was used to women, if not actually falling all over him,
at least showing considerably more interest in him than Catherine Gallagher was.
It bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
"I guess you could say that,"
he said, leaning against the counter. "I think it took all of twenty minutes to
walk through the place."
"You obviously weren't terribly interested, then.
People come here and spend the whole day, just browsing the shops and going to
dinner or the theatre."
"The theatre? Oh, you mean that little white building
that looks like an old-time schoolhouse. Very charming and quaint. What kind of
performances do they have there, spelling bees?"
She eyed him. "Theatre
groups come here from all over the country. I guess that wouldn't be up to your
hight standards, though, would it? You're not in Manhattan any more, you
know."
"That's obvious." Surly. He was being surly, but he couldn't seem to
stop himself.
"Why did you come in here if you're just going to complain
about everything?"
"I'm not complaining. Just stating facts. It's not exactly
a hub of activity and excitement around here."
"Maybe you should just go back
to New York, then." A faint line appeared between her brows, warning him her
temper was rising. Her eyes shot daggers.
"Hey, just a minute. I didn't
mean…" He backed up a step.
"Just what did you mean, then? We work hard to
keep this side of the island a peaceful place, where people can come for rest
and relaxation, something it's obvious you know nothing about." Arrogant
mainlander.