Page 23 of The Harborer
“I don’t think so. I mean, youcanwalk, but it’s freaking cold out there.” He waved a hand toward the big picture window at the front of the tavern. “I’m about to leave. Why don’t I give you a ride?”
“Um, I d-don’t think so,” she stuttered as her pulse picked up its pace. “I couldn’t inconvenience you like that. I mean, don’t you have a date with Estelle tonight?”
He shook his head. “Nope, no dates, and you’re not inconveniencing me. I’m the one who offered. Actually, I’m insisting.” He looked down at her with the same warm smile he’d been giving her all evening—the same one he’d given her for years—but this time, it caused cartwheels to turn in her tummy.Lord, Iamtired!
She surveyed the crowd, but no one was watching them. Not even Estelle, who seemed to have vanished. As for Micky … Nope, still nowhere in sight. “I need to stop by the shop first, so it’s really best if I just go on my own.”
“I disagree. Have you noticed anything else out of place lately?”
“Not at all. I must’ve dreamed it.”
“I’m still coming with.”
She snorted. “Is this an accident prevention thing that’s part of your civic duty? You know how clumsy I am, and you’re afraid I’ll fall down and freeze to death on my way there, and then you’ll have to scrape me out of the ice?”
His russet brows furrowed. “You’re not clumsy, but you do look tired. A four-block walk is fine in the summer, but not on a night like this. I watched you work your ass off all day, and I hatethe idea of you trudging through the cold tonight. So while it might be part of my civic duty, it’s also plain old courtesy. Let me do this for you, Amy.” His kind words were like a caress that soothed her jagged nerves.
“Let me do this for you.”Who says that? Whodoesthat?
Shane.
He lifted his chin toward her glass. “So you’re not going to drink that?”
“No. Do you mind?” She winced, feeling guilty about leaving a full flute of champagne that Shane would pay for. It wasn’t Veuve Clicquot, but it wasn’t cheap either.
“Not in the least.” Shane cuffed her arm. “Let’s grab your coat and get you home. First stop, the coffee shop.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
After he helped her on with her coat, he led her outside and opened the passenger door of his pickup, giving her a hand up. “Hop in. I’ll have it warmed up in a sec.”
Amy glanced at the tavern’s big picture window, once more strafing the crowd for Micky, but the only face she clearly saw was Estelle’s peering out the window. The woman’s glasses couldn’t hide the displeasure flashing behind her glasses.
Chapter 9
The Ride Home
“I don’t think Estelle’svery happy about you leaving, especially with me in your truck,” Amy remarked as she buckled herself in.
Shane strapped on his own seat belt. “Why do you say that?”
“Because she’s glaring at us from the front window. Or she’s glaring at me anyway.” Amy ducked her head and peered past him as if to verify that Estelle was, in fact, glaring at them.
“She’s probably trying to gauge what the weather’s doing. That usually makes people glare when they look out the window,” he deadpanned.
Shane wouldn’t have been surprised if Estelle was annoyed with him, but he bristled at the notion she’d direct her anger Amy’s way. Amy had no part in what had gone down tonight, and he wasn’t about to clue her in either. Doing so would mean confessing to some less-than-stellar behavior on his part. After he had spent time with Estelle during her last visit, he’d made uphis mind to nip her expectations in the bud the next time around. Now was that next time. Maybe he hadn’t handled the nipping as tactfully as he could have, but sometimes folks interpreted “no” as an invitation to push harder. And Estelle had pushed.
Amy straightened but kept her gaze trained on his window. “It’s obvious she likes you. Why don’t you let me walk home so you can—”
“Hold it right there. I told you I was driving you home, and that’s what I’m going to do.” He threw the vehicle into reverse and backed the hell up.
Amy turned her head and looked out the passenger window, her perfect profile illuminated by the glow reflected in the snowflakes sifting from the sky. “Men are so dumb sometimes.”
“What doesthatmean?” he snorted.
“It means you’re missing her signals.” She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. “You should stick around and see where things might lead with her. She’s very pretty. ’Course I guess you can always come back after you drop me.”
