Page 23 of Tribulation Pass

“That’s lovely,” she said, smiling. “Tell her thank you. I just needed to catch up. I woke up this morning refreshed and ready to shop. I was going to check out the sporting goods store while I was out. I’m supposed to start work next week.”

“I can take you by,” he said. “You’ve got a good staff, and they’re all very knowledgeable. They’ve been unpacking inventory and getting things set up. October is a big bass fishing month, and then deer season starts in November. Then it’ll be time for all the skiers to come in. You’re going to be very busy. Do you know anything about sporting goods?”

“No,” she said, letting out a nervous sigh. “But I know a lot about business. If I’ve got good employees, then I only need for them to know a lot about it. But I’m sure I’ll pick up things along the way.”

Mac chose that moment to deliver their order, setting down the tray of food with a practiced hand.

“They’re really excited to meet you at the store,” Mac said, not even pretending like she hadn’t been eavesdropping. “Mom said Hank really went above and beyond on the building. There’s no place like it at any of the other resort towns. And Grandma said you’re going to be great. She said Atticus told her you’re a business genius and that when the other stores open you can manage the whole region.”

“A bunch of gossips,” Duncan said, inhaling the aroma of the food set before him. “Ahh, talk about genius. No one comes close to Johan.”

“I’m gonna tell Grandma that,” Mac said, shaking her head.

Duncan shrugged. “Aunt Simone retired and she hasn’t left cookies on my doorstep in weeks. I don’t even know if she can cook anymore.”

“Maybe if you’d come to Sunday dinner every once in a while,” Mac said.

“Now you sound like my mother,” Duncan said. “Besides, that has nothing to do with this family’s gossip problem. Hattie just got here. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.”

“It’s not gossip if it’s news,” Mac said. “And Hattie is news. How’d you know she was in town today?”

“Yeah,” Hattie said, narrowing her eyes. “How did you know?”

Color rose in Duncan’s cheeks.

“I can answer that,” Mac said. “It’s because Raven called my mom the second you left her store. And then my cousin Jillian called her mom when you left the bookstore. Besides, after Duncan told Aunt Anne that he wanted to paint you everyone is dying to meet you. He’s super picky.”

“You told your mom you want to paint me?” Hattie asked.

Mac raised her eyebrows and then made a quick exit from the table.

“Sure,” he said, shrugging. “I’m pretty sure I mentioned that to you when you fell into my house. By the way, I’m supposed to invite you to family dinner. O’Haras are very big on family dinners.”

Hattie saw him shudder. “You don’t like family dinners?”

“I love my family,” he said. “But there are a lot of them. And by a lot, I mean it’s ridiculous. And while I love my family, crowds are not my forte. There’s no privacy, everyone is always talking at once, and someone always ends up getting tossed in the lake. It’s exhausting.”

“And you love every minute of it,” she said. “I can tell by the look on your face.”

“Yeah, well, I go from time to time. When I’m not working.”

“How often are you not working?” she said.

He shrugged and said, “It’s been a pretty hectic year. I’ve had seven major shows all over the world to get ready for. I pop in when I can.”

There was more there than he was saying. It was obvious he loved his family, but it was also obvious he was keeping his distance. She decided there was no point in pressing. He had a stubborn set to his mouth that told her he was done talking on the subject.

“You said you saw my art in New York,” he said.

She froze, fear taking hold of her, and the food she was trying to swallow seemed like it was swelling and almost impossible to swallow.

“No I didn’t,” she said, taking a drink.

“Right before you went to sleep,” he said. His voice was steady. There was no condemnation or accusation. “You told me you knew who I was. I’m assuming you put it together after you saw the painting in my guest bedroom. And you mentioned New York when you said you’d been to the Dynamis Security offices there. Is that where you’re from?”

“Yes,” she said. Stay as close to the truth as possible.

“Laurel Valley takes care of its own,” he said.

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