really needs
you, she’ll let you know. You’ve put in more hours than anyone else the past two
weeks, and we all know it.”
Facing him, she shrugged. “My social life is fairly bleak at
the moment. Working is better than sitting at home being bored out of my skull.
And I like helping.”
“I know you do. So, how about a compromise? Do something fun
for a few hours and then check in with the folks?” He grinned, thinking of the
dinner-table conversation the other night. “Go lurk in the bookstore and see
what you can do about livening up your social life.”
“Ah...no.” A rash of red spread over Haley’s cheeks. He knew
his sister well enough to recognize the flush of anger, not embarrassment, when
he saw it. “That’s over.”
“That was quick. Didn’t you just go out last night?” he asked
in a genial tone. “Did something happen, or just a change of heart?”
“Something happened, but it isn’t important enough to
discuss.”
He gave her a closer look, didn’t like what he saw, and concern
rode in to replace his earlier amusement. “Haley?”
“Cole?” she fired back.
“You know I’ll get it out of you eventually, so you might as
well spill.” He waited, she didn’t speak, so he said, “You two did have a date
last night, correct?”
“Yes,” she said in a low, I-don’t-want-to-talk-about-this
voice.
“And?”
“I’m fine, Cole.” He didn’t speak, just worried. Watched her
wrap her hair around her finger. Ten seconds later, with a stubborn lift of her
chin, she said, “He was a little too touchy-feely for a first date and he didn’t
seem to comprehend the word ‘no,’ which ticked me off.”
It ticked Cole off, too. But unlike his two older brothers, he
had zero doubts that their sister could take care of herself. “I assume
you...taught him the meaning of the word ‘no’?”
“Oh, yes,” she said with a wide grin. “In no uncertain
terms.”
“Good.” He might have to pay a visit to the bookstore later.
Just to be sure. “Let me know if he requires another lesson.”
“Will.” She started to turn toward the door again, but stopped.
In a too-casual-to-be-casual way, she said, “This guy came by yesterday to see
you. He might try again today. He was curious if you were hiring any ski
instructors for the season. I told him I didn’t know what your plans were, but
that he should talk to you.”
“I think we’re all set this year, but if he stops in, I’ll get
his name for next.”
“His name is Gavin. Gavin Daugherty,” Haley filled in. “From
what he said, I believe he recently moved here. He...ah... Are you sure we
couldn’t use one more instructor?”
“I’m sure.”
“Really, really sure?”
Cole narrowed his eyes. “Yes, Haley. Why?”
“I don’t know. I... He’s new here.”
“You mentioned that.”
“So he probably needs a job, and...” She trailed off, darted
her gaze to the side of Cole’s. Her cheeks, which had resumed their normal
color, grew pink again. This time, though, her blush had zip to do with anger.
“You know what?” she said in a huff. “Forget I even mentioned it.”
“Gavin...Daugherty? That his name? I’ll be sure to tell him you
said hi. If he were to drop in today, that is.” Cole walked behind the sales
counter and grabbed a pad of paper, scrawled Mr. Daugherty’s name in oversize
letters. “There. Now I’ll be sure to remember.”
Certain things, like teasing your younger sister, never grew
old.
“You do that,” Haley said with a sweet-as-sugar smile. “Okay,
I’m off. I wonder if Rachel is around? Might just call her and see if today’s a
good day for that visit.”
“Go for it,” he said with an equally sweet smile. “She’ll
probably be happy to see you.”
“We might have a nice, long chat,” Haley said. “I’m sure the
topic of men will come up. It almost always does, you know. And relationships.
Us women love to talk about men...who they’re
dating, who they used to date,
you, she’ll let you know. You’ve put in more hours than anyone else the past two
weeks, and we all know it.”
Facing him, she shrugged. “My social life is fairly bleak at
the moment. Working is better than sitting at home being bored out of my skull.
And I like helping.”
“I know you do. So, how about a compromise? Do something fun
for a few hours and then check in with the folks?” He grinned, thinking of the
dinner-table conversation the other night. “Go lurk in the bookstore and see
what you can do about livening up your social life.”
“Ah...no.” A rash of red spread over Haley’s cheeks. He knew
his sister well enough to recognize the flush of anger, not embarrassment, when
he saw it. “That’s over.”
“That was quick. Didn’t you just go out last night?” he asked
in a genial tone. “Did something happen, or just a change of heart?”
“Something happened, but it isn’t important enough to
discuss.”
He gave her a closer look, didn’t like what he saw, and concern
rode in to replace his earlier amusement. “Haley?”
“Cole?” she fired back.
“You know I’ll get it out of you eventually, so you might as
well spill.” He waited, she didn’t speak, so he said, “You two did have a date
last night, correct?”
“Yes,” she said in a low, I-don’t-want-to-talk-about-this
voice.
“And?”
“I’m fine, Cole.” He didn’t speak, just worried. Watched her
wrap her hair around her finger. Ten seconds later, with a stubborn lift of her
chin, she said, “He was a little too touchy-feely for a first date and he didn’t
seem to comprehend the word ‘no,’ which ticked me off.”
It ticked Cole off, too. But unlike his two older brothers, he
had zero doubts that their sister could take care of herself. “I assume
you...taught him the meaning of the word ‘no’?”
“Oh, yes,” she said with a wide grin. “In no uncertain
terms.”
“Good.” He might have to pay a visit to the bookstore later.
Just to be sure. “Let me know if he requires another lesson.”
“Will.” She started to turn toward the door again, but stopped.
In a too-casual-to-be-casual way, she said, “This guy came by yesterday to see
you. He might try again today. He was curious if you were hiring any ski
instructors for the season. I told him I didn’t know what your plans were, but
that he should talk to you.”
“I think we’re all set this year, but if he stops in, I’ll get
his name for next.”
“His name is Gavin. Gavin Daugherty,” Haley filled in. “From
what he said, I believe he recently moved here. He...ah... Are you sure we
couldn’t use one more instructor?”
“I’m sure.”
“Really, really sure?”
Cole narrowed his eyes. “Yes, Haley. Why?”
“I don’t know. I... He’s new here.”
“You mentioned that.”
“So he probably needs a job, and...” She trailed off, darted
her gaze to the side of Cole’s. Her cheeks, which had resumed their normal
color, grew pink again. This time, though, her blush had zip to do with anger.
“You know what?” she said in a huff. “Forget I even mentioned it.”
“Gavin...Daugherty? That his name? I’ll be sure to tell him you
said hi. If he were to drop in today, that is.” Cole walked behind the sales
counter and grabbed a pad of paper, scrawled Mr. Daugherty’s name in oversize
letters. “There. Now I’ll be sure to remember.”
Certain things, like teasing your younger sister, never grew
old.
“You do that,” Haley said with a sweet-as-sugar smile. “Okay,
I’m off. I wonder if Rachel is around? Might just call her and see if today’s a
good day for that visit.”
“Go for it,” he said with an equally sweet smile. “She’ll
probably be happy to see you.”
“We might have a nice, long chat,” Haley said. “I’m sure the
topic of men will come up. It almost always does, you know. And relationships.
Us women love to talk about men...who they’re
dating, who they used to date,
Similar Books
