First Impressions
sent a surprised Shane a grin. “I’ll tell my husband he’s just bought me a Christmas present.”
“I’ll wrap it for you,” Shane decided, as pleased as Mrs. Trip with the idea.
“You have a lovely shop,” the woman told her as Shane began to box the glass. “I must say, I only stopped in because the sign at the bottom of the hill intrigued me. I wondered what in the world I would find. But it wasn’t a big barn of a place with nonsense packed around like a yard sale.” She pursed her lips, glancing around again. “You’ve done very well.” Shane laughed at the description and thanked her. “And it’s so nice to have the little museum too,” Mrs. Trip went on. “A very clever idea, and so tidy. I believe I’ll bring my nephew by the next time I’m in the area. Are you married, dear?”
Shane sent her a look of wary amusement. “No, ma’am.”
“He’s a doctor,” Mrs. Trip disclosed. “Internal medicine.”
Clearing her throat, Shane sealed the box. “That’s very nice.”
“A good boy,” Mrs. Trip assured her as Shane adjusted the sales ticket to include the tea set. “Dedicated.” She dug out her checkbook, pulling her wallet along with it. “I have a picture of him right here.”
Politely, Shane examined the snapshot of a young, attractive man with serious eyes. “He’s very good-looking,” she told his aunt. “You must be proud of him.”
“Yes,” she said wistfully, tucking the wallet back into her purse. “Such a pity he hasn’t found the right girl yet. I’m going to be sure to bring him by.” Without a blink for the amount, Mrs. Trip wrote out a check.
It wasn’t easy, but Shane maintained her composure until the door shut behind her customer. With a shout of laughter, she dropped into a button-back chair. Though she was uncertain if the nephew should be congratulated or pitied for having such a dedicated aunt, she did know what appealed to her sense of humor. Her next thought was how Vance would try not to grin when she told him of the lady’s matchmaking attempts.
He’d lift a brow, Shane thought, and make some dry comment about her charming the old ladies so that they’d dangle their nephews under her nose. She was beginning to know him very well. Most of him, Shane corrected with a considering smile. The rest would come.
She checked her watch, finding herself impatient that two hours remained before he would be with her. She’d promised him dinner—a more elaborate dinner than the soup and sandwiches they had eaten the night before. Even now, the small rib roast was cooking gently in the oven upstairs. She considered closing early, calculating she had just about enough time to whip up some outrageous, elaborate dessert before he arrived. As the thought passed through her head, the door opened again.
Laurie MacAfee stepped in, buttoned to the neck in a long tan coat. “Shane,” she said, observing her casual posture in the chair. “Not busy I see.”
Though she smiled in greeting, some demon kept her seated. “Not at the moment. How are you, Laurie?”
“Just fine. I took off work early to go to the dentist, so I thought I’d drop by afterward.”
Shane waited, half expecting Laurie to comment on her good checkup. “I’m glad you did,” she said at length. “Would you like a tour?”
“I’d love to browse,” Laurie told her, glancing around. “What sweet things you have.”
Shane swallowed a retort and rose. “Thank you,” she said with a humility Laurie never noticed. Shane thought again how well suited she was to Cy.
“I must say, the place looks so much different.” In her slow, measured step, Laurie began to wander the old summer parlor. Though she hadn’t expected to approve, she could find nothing to condemn in Shane’s taste. The room was small, but light and airy with its ivory-toned walls, and the gleaming natural wood floor was scattered with hand-hooked rugs. Furniture was set to advantage, with accessories carefully arranged to give the appearance of a tidy, rather comfortable room instead of a store. Loosening the first few buttons of her coat, she roamed to the main showroom, then stood perusing it from the doorway.
“Why, you’ve hardly changed this at all?” she exclaimed. “Not even the wallpaper.”
“No,” Shane agreed, unable to keep her eyes from skimming over the dining room set. “I didn’t want to. Of course, I had to set more stock in here, and widen the doorways, but I loved the room
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