The Ties That Bind

studio. "I'm screening another order of cards. I was hoping to do some of the totes today, but one of the shops in town called up and said they had to have another order of greeting cards. I was just finishing as you arrived. All I have to do now is clean up." He followed her into the room and stood studying the array of small tools on the worktable, the rack of drying cards that had just received their third and last trip under the silk and the paint-covered squeegee and screen.
    "For every color of ink you use in the design on the cards you have to run each one through the process a separate time?" Garth frowned as he examined the screen.
    "That's right. I suppose that doesn't seem terribly efficient to someone who runs an electronics firm. I'll bet you crank out fifty billion doohickies an hour on your assembly lines, right?"
    "Not quite fifty billion, but I'm sure we get a lot more, er , doohickies out the door than you do cards," he retorted dryly. "Still, I can't market my products as handmade. Precision made, yes, but not handmade."
    "What exactly does Sherilectronics make, Garth?" Shannon had been realizing all week how little she still knew of him.
    "Circuit boards and other components for companies that manufacture computers," Garth responded absently. He wandered around the room as Shannon began cleaning red ink off the screen. "Nothing that would be of interest to you." He stopped beside a pile of canvas squares. "Are these the designs for the tote bags?"
    Shannon glanced over at the pile. "That's right. I wanted to have a variety to show the buyer when she gets here this week."
    Garth fingered one of the squares, a brilliantly hued letter A decorated with jewel-toned dragons and intricate scrollwork. There was a thoughtful expression on his face. "Will this buyer give you a contract to sign if she decides to buy your totes?"
    "Probably," Shannon said carelessly. "I'm sure there will be something in writing about deliveries and prices. Around here I don't worry too much about formal contracts, but I imagine a professional buyer will be used to dealing in a more businesslike manner."
    "I'm sure she will. She'll probably also be more accustomed to taking advantage of craftspeople who don't know much about the business world." Garth dropped the canvas he had been holding. "Don't sign anything until I've had a chance to look at it, Shannon."
    Shannon looked up in surprise. "But, Garth, that's not necessary. Besides, if she's interested, I'll want to get the deal settled as quickly as possible. This is the first really big buyer I've had. I don't want to do anything to wreck the deal."
    "She can wait a few days for the contract. If she were dealing with a large-scale operation, she'd expect to wait awhile. I don't want you signing anything I haven't checked out, honey."
    Dismayed, Shannon opened her mouth to argue and then promptly closed it again. Garth was here for such a short time. She didn't want to ruin even a moment of that time by arguing. It occurred to her that this was going to be one of the difficulties with a weekend affair. Problems would be glossed over or ignored because their time together was so limited.
    "How was your week?" Shannon asked with what she hoped was a comfortable amount of interest as she finished her cleanup work.
    "Long and hectic. I could use a drink. Are you done there?"
    She nodded. "I'll change my shirt while you pour us a drink. I've got some wine on the counter."
    Garth's mouth crooked as he walked out into the hall and headed for the kitchen. "I brought my own whiskey. Figured you wouldn't have any."
    Shannon winced. Next weekend she would be sure to buy some whiskey. She had a lot to learn about Garth, she thought as she went into her bedroom to change into a clean white shirt.
    Ice clinked in his whiskey glass as Garth came to stand in her doorway and watch her button her blouse.
    Shannon flushed a little under his intent regard. She wasn't accustomed to changing her clothes in front of a man, and the procedure was obviously going to take some getting used to before she could do it nonchalantly. Unobtrusively she turned her back to him and fumbled quickly with the buttons. "How's the bid package going?"
    "It'll be ready on time." He sounded totally disinterested in the topic.
    Shannon went still as she sensed him moving up behind her. When his hand came down on her shoulder, her fingers came to a halt on one of the buttons. "I see. That... that must be a relief to