The Ties That Bind

accustomed to betrayal never developed charming personalities.
    He considered that and winced. Even by his own standards he had been a particularly uncharming dinner guest this evening. Now as he sat drinking whiskey alone, it occurred to him that he'd probably destroyed a rather special and delicate bud without ever giving it a chance to flower, simply because he didn't trust flowers in general. Chances were Shannon would never give him a second opportunity to get to know her. He had seen the stunned embarrassment in her hazel eyes tonight and he'd seen something else there, too, something that he could have sworn was a degree of pain.

* * *
    SHANNON HAD WALKED into town to collect her mail the next morning without any sense of anticipation. Therefore, the letter on buff-colored paper with its distinctive return address took her by complete surprise. She tore it open on the post office steps and scanned the contents with mounting excitement. Then, feeling enormously more lighthearted than she had ten minutes earlier, she decided to treat herself to a cup of tea at the small cafe across the street. Maybe one of her friends would be there. She wanted to tell someone the good news.
    The cafe was busy with a healthy-sized morning crowd, but everyone she saw seemed to be a tourist. A little disappointed, she took a stool at the counter and ordered her tea, then read the letter a second time. She was poring over the contents when Garth Sheridan straddled the stool beside her.
    "Good news?" he asked calmly, signaling the waitress for coffee.
    Shannon frowned for an instant and then relaxed. She was too elated to be angry at anyone this morning, even Garth. "A buyer for a San Francisco boutique says she wants to visit me in a couple of weeks to talk about my new line of tote bags. She says she loves the sample I sent and wants to discuss production and shipping schedules. She isn't from one of the big chains, but this shop is a very elegant one off Union Square. It would be a wonderful outlet for the bags. Very classy."
    "Congratulations. What are your production and shipping schedules?"
    Shannon flushed, some of her elation fading. "I'm not sure. Do you think she'll be expecting a minifactory in my home? I wonder how many bags a week she'll want. It takes time to hand-screen the fabric and then it has to be stitched together. Annie is going to help me with the sewing, but we haven't really discussed how many she could do a week. She has to have time for her macrame work, after all. I can't expect her to devote all her time to the bags. Of course, this buyer may not want too many at first-" Shannon broke off, nervously tapping the buyer's letter on the countertop as she considered all the problems ahead.
    "If you want to impress the buyer you'd better have the logistics worked out before she arrives. You'll want her to think you're in complete control of the business end of things. Otherwise she'll probably think she can take advantage of you. And if she thinks that, she will." Garth stirred his coffee.
    'Take advantage of me? Why should she do that? Are you always so cynical, Garth?"
    "Usually. I've been in the business world a long time."
    "Don't remind me." Shannon's voice was laced with remembered chagrin.
    There was a pause and then Garth said carefully, "I'm sorry I gave you the wrong impression about my, uh, occupation. I suppose in your world businessmen aren't exactly at the top of the social heap."
    "Especially when they accept dinner invitations and then proceed to insult the hostess and her guests," Shannon retorted with spirit.
    He had the grace to wince. "If I'd been a surly brooding poet, would you find it easier to forgive me?"
    Startled, Shannon eyed him with a skeptical gaze. "Is this some sort of apology?"
    "Yes."
    "Why?"
    He met her eyes. "Now who's being cynical?"
    "After last night, I'm inclined to be cautious."
    A faint smile edged his mouth. "I doubt if you know the meaning of the word."
    "What's that supposed to mean?" she challenged as the waitress slapped the check on the counter. Before she could grab the slip of paper, Garth reached out and picked it up.
    "Never mind. I'll buy this morning. I owe you something for the excellent dinner last night. I don't think I even remembered to thank you for it."
    "No, you didn't."
    "Finished? We can walk back to the cottages together."
    Shannon struggled for an excuse and came up with what seemed a reasonable one. "I was going to pick up some groceries