The Ties That Bind

she told herself.
    "Good morning, Garth." She didn't pause as she headed toward the stove to pour the coffee. "Did you finally get to sleep last night?"
    He leaned back in the kitchen chair and nodded a slow greeting. "I got a little."
    "You look dressed for the office." Critically she scanned his white shirt and slacks. "Going back early today?"
    "I have to leave right after breakfast."
    "I'm not surprised. You really shouldn't have wasted the trip yesterday."
    He let that pass. "I'll be back on Friday."
    "Ah, yes. The weekend."
    Garth eyed her speculatively. "You're in a lousy mood this morning, do you know that?"
    "Temperamental. Artists are very temperamental."
    "Correction. 'Frustrated' is the word that describes you this morning," he said blandly. "You're fighting a losing battle, and you know it." Before she could respond he picked up some papers lying beside him on the table. "I see you at least had the sense to wait and talk to me before you signed this."
    Shannon frowned, realizing he was holding the contract the San Francisco buyer had left. "I was just about to sign it yesterday when you arrived."
    "I went over it this morning while you were in the shower."
    "Garth, I never asked you to vet that contract. You had no business examining it. Here, let me have it."
    "Going to sign it as it stands?" he asked.
    Suspicious of the neutral tone of his voice, Shannon jerked the contract from his hand. "I don't see any reason why I shouldn't."
    "How about the fact that by signing it you'll be agreeing to give that boutique exclusive rights to sell not only your totes but anything else you design for the next six months? They're guaranteeing themselves first right of refusal on all your designs."

    "What?" Startled, Shannon scanned the fine print. "I never agreed to anything like that."
    "Take a look at clause six."
    She read it hurriedly, trying to sort through the jumble of legalese. "Oh, my God," she muttered in disgust. "I read it in a hurry yesterday. I didn't realize... I never intended to give the boutique exclusive rights to my products. It's a mistake. I'll have to cross out that clause before I can sign this thing."
    "You do that." Garth got up to help himself to more coffee. He stood at the stove, watching Shannon glare at the papers in her hands.
    "I don't understand," Shannon tossed the contract back onto the table. "That buyer never said anything about exclusivity."
    "Never trust someone who's trying to shove a contract down your throat," Garth advised easily.
    "I suppose this is all second nature to you. You're so damn accustomed to people trying to outmaneuver you or cheat you or steal from you." Shannon stalked to the window and stood with her hands on her hips, staring out to sea.
    "The buyer wasn't trying to cheat you. She was simply trying to ensure she got the best possible deal for herself."
    "Well, she can forget the whole thing. I'm not going to sign that contract, after all."
    Garth shook his head. "There's no need to get self-righteous about the situation. Just cross out that clause, sign it and send it back. If she wants those totes, she'll sign it, too, and you'll have a deal. Other than that single clause, it looks like a good contract."
    "It's the idea of the thing!"
    "It's business."
    She spun around. "Honestly, Garth, you're so damn cynical."
    He smiled. "Maybe that's why I need you."
    She faltered, unsure of how to respond. "I suppose I should thank you for catching that clause."
    He moved close and kissed her forehead. "No thanks are necessary. All part of the service."
    "The weekend service?" she shot back and immediately wished she'd resisted the retort.
    "Are you going to be this prickly every weekend?"
    Flushing, Shannon turned back to the window. "I don't know. Maybe. Will you lose interest if I am?"
    "What do you think?" he asked gently.
    "I don't know what to think."
    "Well, you'll have plenty of time to consider the matter before I get back on Friday." He didn't sound concerned.
    Shannon heard him move behind her, and then out of the corner of her eye she saw him put the copy of his precious bid proposal down on the table beside the buyer's contract. "What are you doing with that?"
    "I'm leaving it with you."
    Her eyes widened. "With me? You're leaving that copy of the proposal here? But, Garth, why?"
    "Maybe because I'm trying to find some way of showing you that I trust you. Nor do I think you're stupid, even if you are a little naive. There's a big difference between