Page 2 of Midnight Clear

He just smiled affably, as if they were talking about nothing more important than the weather. She noticed the little dimple at the corner of his mouth, and that he seemed to be unbothered by her anger.

“My youngest brother used to talk about you,” he said, changing the subject so fast she thought she might have whiplash. “His whole junior year all he talked about was how Sophie Jacobs was the most beautiful girl in school, but he said what impressed him the most was when you stood up in the middle of English class and went toe to toe with old Mr. Fortmeyer on how Shakespeare wrote weak male characters who were useless and whiny, and that he would never make you believe that they were heroes when it was obvious it was the women he wrote who had real substance. I never like Mr. Fortmeyer.”

“What?” she asked. “That was more than ten years ago. Have you gone looney in the head?”

He just chuckled. “My brothers might tell you I have. But last time I checked I’m right as rain.”

A woman peeked around Hank with eyes as wide as an owl, and her mouth opened in a littleOof surprise.

“Hey, Shannon,” Sophie said. “Come on up and put those on the counter. Looks like you’ve got a haul.”

“You sure?” Shannon asked, already moving to put her items on the counter. “I don’t want to interrupt.”

Of course you do, Sophie thought. She and Shannon had gone to school together, but they’d never run in the same circles. Shannon was a notorious gossip, and there was no doubt in her mind that Shannon had heard every word Hank had spoken to her and couldn’t wait to spread the news.

“Not at all,” Sophie said, feeling her lungs deflate in resignation.

“Hey, Shannon,” Hank said casually, moving to the side so she could maneuver around him. “How’s Drew?”

Shannon looked back and forth between the two as if she wanted to tell them to go ahead and continue their previous conversation but instead she said, “He’s working double shifts at the ski lodge up until the week before Christmas. It’s that time of year. We rented a place down in San Diego with Drew’s parents, so we’re going to spend Christmas there. I think Drew needs a break from the snow before ski season starts.”

“Can’t say I blame him,” Hank said. “He’s the best ski instructor on the mountain. A couple of my brothers went out heli-skiing with him last year. They said it was amazing.”

Shannon rolled her eyes. “He lives for that stuff. Too adventurous for my blood. He does nothing but talk about getting off the mountain during the busy season, and then as soon as we’re gone he can’t wait to get back.”

“Hank, I’m really busy today,” Sophie interrupted, giving Shannon’s purchases her full attention. “I’m sure you have lots of other things to do.”

“I’ve got a few things on my plate,” he said genially. “I don’t want to interrupt your work.”

She almost said, “Too late,” but she was able to bite back the retort in time.

The gossip mill would already be going into overtime. There was no reason to add fuel to the fire by letting Shannon think there was something going on between her and Hank O’Hara. The whole idea was preposterous. The two of them had never spoken more than a couple dozen words to each other in her whole life.

Hank just grinned and then winked at Shannon. “She’s a prickly one.”

Shannon preened and then flirted shamelessly. “I can see she’s just crazy about you.”

“Tell your family hello for me and Merry Christmas,” Sophie said to Hank pointedly. She bagged up Shannon’s books and added the red bow on top.

“Oh, I will,” Hank said, his grin growing even wider. “See you for breakfast in the morning at eight. Let’s meet at the tree. I like sitting outside, and the snow should hold off until the afternoon.”

And then he turned around and walked out of her shop like he hadn’t just upended her entire world.

Shannon cocked her hand on her hip and pursed her lips. If she’d had on a cheerleading uniform and had been holding a pom-pom she’d have looked exactly like she had in high school. Shannon had always been a little dramatic. “Whatwas all that about? You’re having breakfast with Hank O’Hara? When did that start?”

“It started never,” Sophie said flatly. “I am definitely not having breakfast with Hank O’Hara.”

“Didn’t sound that way to me,” she said. “Lord, that man is fine. All of those boys are good looking, but there’s just a little extra swagger in that one. He is one hundred percent man.” And then Shannon saw the look on Sophie’s face. “Oh, don’t give me that look. I’m married. Not dead.”

“I didn’t say a word,” Sophie said.

“You don’t have to, honey,” she said. “Your face says it for you. And you’ve got it bad.” Shannon took her bag and grinned cheekily. “Enjoy your breakfast in the morning. I’m going to come back next week so I can hear all about it.”

If she had breakfast with Hank O’Hara in the morning in the public square, there wouldn’t be a swinging soul in Laurel Valley who didn’t know about it. The only way to avoid the gossip was to not show up.

She had no time for whatever chaos Hank O’Hara wanted to bring into her life.

ChapterTwo

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