Chapter Six

Andrew shrugged out of his coat and hung it in the garage. Opening the door to the kitchen, he moved to let Smokey through first.

“You were out there a while.” Chloe poured him a fresh mug of coffee and cut a slice of apple pie.

“I cleared the Potters’ driveway and deck.” He swallowed a mouthful of the hot liquid.

“I thought you might be avoiding our guest.” His sister leaned against the counter. “I like your blonde friend.”

Andrew ran a hand through his damp hair. “I bet the conversation revolved around clothes and makeup.”

“You’re wrong, but I do want to know where she bought her outfit.” Chloe wiggled her eyebrows. “We actually talked about you. I told her at thirty-one you need to find a wife.”

He dropped his fork and it rolled off the plate. “You didn’t?”

“Don’t get your boxers in a twist.” She snickered. “I didn’t, but I’ll be an old grey aunt at the rate you’re going. However, I did tell Danielle many single ladies in town would love to be in her shoes right now. If she’d been wearing shoes.”

“A long story, which I don’t want to talk about.” He chewed another forkful of pie. “Don’t get too friendly with Danielle. She’s here to help Jackson. Her stay won’t be long.”

“She wasn’t here long the last time, but she made a lasting impression. I saw the fire in your eyes when she complained the restaurant didn’t have specialty coffees or low-calorie menu choices. You liked sparring with Danielle. She puts the spark back in your eyes.” Chloe pointed toward the living room. “She saw the legendary rabbit. Could the furry cupid be shooting love arrows again? I saw the googly-eyed gazes going on in there.”

Andrew cursed under a breath. He should have known his sister would spot his lingering stare in Danielle’s unpredictable blue-green-brown eyes. That indiscretion—and knowing about Thumper—if Chloe sensed he had a smidgen of attraction to Danielle, she’d have them married before the ice thawed the water falls in Redford Falls Park. He had to extinguish his sister’s suspicions. “The fable isn’t true.”

“But Jackson and Candy. He saw—”

“Stop.” He held up a hand. “They were already in love. They didn’t need any outside help to find their way back to each other. As for Danielle, she isn’t my type. She’s a spoiled city girl. I am not interested in Miss Blondie from Victoria—”

Seeing Danielle standing in the kitchen entry, Andrew dropped his fork again. Its clatter onto the plate echoed in the quiet kitchen. She had to have heard his statement and possibly Chloe’s rant. He fought to find his voice. “I thought you’d be sleeping.”

“Sorry to disappoint.” Shrugging, she turned to Chloe. “I’m still on west coast time. My body wants sleep, but my head says it’s seven, instead of eleven at night.”

“You must be freezing,” Chloe said.

“I expected colder temperatures, but not this frigid.” Danielle tightened the blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

Andrew looked down to get a quick view of pink satin pajamas brushing the top of Mrs. Bishop’s striped slippers.

Chloe pushed away from the counter. “I have another housecoat. It’s big, but will keep you snuggly warm.”

“Thank you.” Danielle nodded.

“I’ll leave it on your bed.” Chloe glanced at Andrew. “Night, boss.”

Ignoring his sister’s jab, Andrew waved a hand at the chair across from him. “Hungry?”

“Starving.” Danielle’s stare widened. “I haven’t had a bite since lunch.” She sat at the table. “Chloe works for you?”

“She is co-owner of the restaurant, but prefers the role of waitress over management.” He stood and opened the fridge. “We have leftover lasagna.”

“Sounds delicious.”

“You haven’t eaten in hours. You’d probably eat anything.”

“Not true. I have a very fussy palate. But you already know that.”

Andrew met her determined stare then cut and placed a square of lasagna on a plate before popping it in the microwave. “Look, I’m sorry about what I said earlier.”

“You’re entitled to your opinion. You don’t like me.” She flicked a hand. “Whatever.”

Her facial expression portrayed detachment. He wanted to correct her, because if he was honest—he did like her. “I had to say those things to discourage Chloe. If she thought we were…”

“What?” She rested her elbows on the table and turned a wide-eyed gaze his way. “Interested? Attracted? Involved?”

“Any of the above.” He shook his head. “You don’t know Chloe. When she gets an idea in her head, she runs full throttle.”

“Well, we have no reason to worry. We’re not interested, attracted, or involved.” She raised an eyebrow.

Andrew stalled his what-if thoughts at the buzz of the microwave. He passed her the plate, a fork, and a napkin.

“Your serving technique is much better.” Grinning, she slipped her arms from the blanket. “We don’t want tomato sauce on this beautiful quilt.” She lifted the fork and dove right in, licking her lips between mouthfuls.

“Had you not barged into me that day…” Andrew dropped the desire to provoke another argument over their original encounter. “Milk, water, juice? Maybe a slice of apple pie?”

“Mmm, milk please and yes to pie.” Danielle glanced up. “I understand your concern over your sister’s misinterpretation. She does think you should be married, and you aren’t getting any younger.”

Son-of-a-biscuit! His sister had said too much to her new blonde friend.

Danielle raised her fork and held it in mid-air. “We do have a problem though.”

Andrew leaned against the counter; anxious to hear what she had to say.

“Nine or ten months ago. Whenever it was.”

Eight months. He remembered the exact date.

“We made a scene. You dropped food on me. I spilled water over your head. Yada yada. Not a good first impression, but according to Nurse Bishop and your sister…our yelling match is one people remember.”

“You yelled. I tried to apologize.”

“Minor details.” She pointed the fork. “We have to re-channel our inner loathing.”

Andrew raised an eyebrow.

“Before I continue, I should apologize.” Danielle scraped the last piece of lasagna off her plate and swallowed a mouthful of milk. “I may have been slightly upset—over a conversation I had with Jackson—when I walked into your restaurant. And…it is possible I may have taken out my frustration on you. I called you an undeserving name. I’m sorry. You’ve been nothing but kind to me this evening.” She leaned an elbow on the table and held a palm upward. “Now it’s your turn.”

“For what?”

“You called me a spoiled city girl, which is quite unfair. I’ve worked my butt off for my career. I’m not a personal secretary taking calls and fetching coffee—not that there is anything wrong with that job. But, my point is, I’m only twenty-eight and I’m Jackson’s right-hand assistant for a reason. Property development is a tough business. I wear the look and play the part because my job requires me to be a quick thinker and a mover-and-shaker. I make good money and sometimes I spoil myself.” She tilted her head. “Does that make me a bad person?”

“No.” Running a hand over his chin, he owned up to his misjudgement. “Okay, I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted.” Danielle nudged aside her empty plate. “Now, we deal with the problem ahead by moving backward.”

Shaking his head, he lifted her dish and rinsed it under the hot water tap. “I’m so confused.”

“Our dislike of each other blew away in the snowstorm. You rescued me. I’m grateful. You were worried about my well-being. I’m grateful again. Too easy for people to get the wrong idea.” She tucked an arm inside the blanket. “Nurse Bishop kept looking back and forth between us. I’m not from here, but I know matchmaking when I see it.”

He smiled, thinking how cute she looked when grimacing. “You gave her a reason.”

“I did no such thing.”

“You had to go and mention your rabbit sighting. And not only to Mrs. Bishop, but to Jackson and Candy, and Chloe. The whole town will know by sunrise.”

She threw her arms in the air, causing the blanket to fall from her shoulders. “What is everyone’s problem with Thumper?”

Andrew fisted his hands, resisting the urge to run her satin pajama collar through his fingers. He explained the alleged story of the matchmaking rabbit.

“Wow.” Danielle pulled the blanket up to her neck. “So, they think because I saw Thumper that you and I…are next?”

He nodded.

“I shouldn’t have voiced my enjoyment of having you carry me around.”

He raised a brow. “You enjoyed being in my arms?”

“I…um…” Frowning, she stuttered an explanation. “I was trying to provide us with an escape. Mrs. Bishop bit my flirtatious ruse. Hook, line, and sinker.” She waved a hand when he opened his mouth to speak. “I know. I fueled the fire. But in my defense, I didn’t know the mere mention of a rabbit would trigger this much interest.”

“The older folks in town take this myth or fairy tale—whatever you want to call it—very seriously. They claim countless people have fallen in love.”

“People fall in love all the time.”

“Within a few days after seeing a mysterious rabbit?”

Danielle rolled her eyes.

“But no one has mentioned your Thumper in years. Come to think of it, there haven’t been any weddings in a very long time. Until Jackson and Candy, and Jackson claims he saw a rabbit on his return to town.”

“Good gracious, the town is surrounded by forests. Isn’t that prime breeding ground for animals?”

“Look, I’m with you. I don’t believe in the fable. But those who do…swear by it.”

She rested her elbows on the table and placed her chin in her hands. “What a mess.”

“My thoughts exactly.” He held onto a chuckle, though the situation was anything but humorous.

“I don’t need the good doctor and his wife, or your sister, or my boss thinking we’d make a good couple. Your wanted-by-every-woman-in-town bachelor status doesn’t help.” Her stare reprimanded his snort. “I’m not staying in Redford Falls. I’m here to train someone to help Jackson. Then, I’m returning home. End of story.”

Earlier, he couldn’t wait to be rid of the buttery blonde. Now, a piece of him splintered at the thought of her leaving. “You have an answer to our problem?”

“Yes.” Danielle pointed a manicured fingertip. “Stop being so nice. Stop carrying me around and being a gentleman. We need people to believe we still dislike each other. Tonight changed nothing. Our ploy shouldn’t be hard. I’ll play the part of the snobbish city gal, which will irritate the heck out of you.”

Andrew considered her plan. Denying an attraction existed would be difficult, because she did fascinate him. Her smile. Her lips. Her eyes. She’d occupied his thoughts the whole time he plowed the Potters’ driveway. He quickly reminded himself she wasn’t in town to stay. No pointed harbouring an interest for someone out of reach. Her suggested charade gave reason to put more distance between them. “Agreed.” He held out a hand.

Danielle slipped her hand into his.

He lingered the hold, enjoying the softness of her skin against his. She met his stare. He inhaled a breath, getting lost in her beautiful eyes. Thank goodness the table separated them. Andrew shook his head and drew away his hand. “I’m off to bed. I have to be at the restaurant at six. Goodnight.” He stepped past her.

“Wait.” She spun on her chair. “What about the slice of pie?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “No more Mr. Nice Guy, remember? Pie is on the counter. Get it yourself.” Smiling, he continued out of the kitchen, taking too much pleasure in the sound of her surprised laughter.