“Um, whatever. You are being...plain ridiculous.” Tansy forced a smile. She didn’t want anything to do with Dane—she certainly didn’t want anything to do with his hands or his broad chest or any other part of him.
Nicole spoke quickly, “And he’s—”
“Nicole,” she sighed, picked up an empty wood crate and turned, plowing into the poor person who had the misfortune of being right behind her.
“Right there,” Nicole murmured.
“Oh, I’m so...” Tansy sputtered to a stop.No.Couldn’t she catch even the slightest break?
“Sorry?” Dane gripped her shoulders and frowned down at her. “Yeah. Ow.” He released her and rubbed the center of his chest, right where the corner of the wooden crate had slammed into him.
“Yes. I am.” Tansy wasn’t going to stare at him or his hands or his chest. “I didn’t see you,” she breathed, glancing at her sister and Nicole.
Nicole’s mouthedSorrymight have helped—if she wasn’t smiling.
“Glad to hear it wasn’t on purpose.” But the usual teasing wasn’t there. If anything, Dane sounded snippy.
“Why would I...” She broke off. “Of course, it wasn’t on purpose.”
His dismissive snort was all kinds of infuriating.
She glared up at him, braced and ready—but he wasn’t even looking at her. He was scanning the growing city of canopies for something or someone. “It might help if you watch where you’re going.”
His blue eyes locked with hers. “Something tells me you’d have found a way.” Impatience rolled off him in waves.
She gripped the wooden crate so tightly there was a good chance she’d be using tweezers to pull out splinters later. “A way to what? Wound you?”
“Wound? No. Irritate and inconvenience?” He shrugged. “Something like that.”
Dane was always hurling teasing, yet barbed, insults at Tansy but this was different. Mean and outright nasty. There was no sign of his condescending smile or gleeful sarcasm. In his eyes there was...anger. When his attention returned to scouring the crowd, Tansy took a deep breath.
“Um...” Astrid’s flustered expression didn’t help.
“What’s up, Dane? You’re not your usual charming self.” Nicole smiled.
It was Dane’s turn to take a long, deep breath. He rolled his neck, a long blond strand of hair falling along his face, before giving Nicole a pinched smile. “Not a thing.”
Which is a bald-faced lie. “Perusing the competition before things get started?” Tansy set the wooden crate down. “I didn’t see a Texas Viking Honey booth.”
“You were looking for me?” Dane countered, a hint of amusement in his voice. “I’m flattered.”
No. “Don’t be. I wasn’t looking for you.” Tansy swallowed, her earlier thoughts resurfacing with vivid details. Her throat tightened but she managed, “More like scanning the tents and faces.”
It was silly to blame Nicole but shewasthe one who’d brought Dane up and then, out of nowhere, he appeared. Now who was the ridiculous one?I am.
There was a definite smile in Dane’s voice now. “But you did notice that mine was missing.”
Really?Tansy shot him a look.
Dane’s delight faded. “You’re looking a little red there, Tansy. Everything okay?”
“Peachy keen.” She’d be better if she could rein in her imagination. And if he’d take one big step back. He did, in fact, smell just as good as she remembered.Not helping.
“Glad to hear it. I don’t suppose Leif has wandered by?” Dane studied her for a few seconds longer than necessary.
What was the look for? Why were his eyes so brilliantly blue this morning? It was harder to swallow this time. “Not so excited about working in the Texas Viking Honey booth?” Tansy crossed her arms over her chest.
“No booth today.” He looked at Tansy and grinned. “You’re welcome.”
