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Seth frowned when Clary put her hand on his back. This time, it wasn’t because he wasn’t used to her touch. He was expecting it, because she wasn’t the type to hide behind him.
“That’s me,” Clary said and stepped out from behind him and up next to him.
“I didn’t mean to alert your bodyguard.”
Clary chuckled and tipped her head over to look at him. “Yes, he has the tendency to do that. But he’s not my bodyguard.”
“I’m Betsy Cladding.” The woman took a small step forward, then stopped as her gaze flitted over to Seth. “I saw you. At least I thought it was you.” She flipped the phone she had pressed against her toward Clary. “I googled to make sure I got the right person.”
Clary laughed softly. “I’m she. What can I do for you?”
Seth looked over at Clary. What can I do for you? Nothing.
Even if she wasn’t out shopping with him, she didn’t have to do anything for anyone. She wasn’t at work.
“I just wanted to thank you for refunding all the money from the unauthorized bank accounts. I filed a complaint over a year ago and was given the runaround. The bank kept taking money from me though I kept saying I didn’t open the account. Then it was impossible to close the account.”
Clary winced and opened her mouth.
“I’m not trying to make you feel bad.” Betsy gave Clary a sheepish smile. “When I first saw the news about you taking over and possibly making changes, I rolled my eyes.” She fidgeted and adjusted her bag’s strap higher on her shoulder. “I might’ve cursed you out a little.”
Clary laughed, and Seth took a step to the side so he could get a better look at her.
It never failed to amaze him how she could so easily brush off hostility. Seth had assumed that she extended that grace toward his brothers because of what they had gone through with Holly and, maybe, because of him.
But it wasn’t just the Andersons. It wasn’t just because she felt bad for what he and his brothers had gone through with Holly Eolenfeld.
“I was so surprised to receive the message about the refunds. I honestly didn’t believe it.” Betsy curled her fingers tighter around the strap of her bag. “I went to withdraw all the money in case it was a mistake. Then I was worried about overdraft fees if a bill was charged to my account, so I put it back.”
“You have every right to think that way.”
“It isn’t a lot of money. Not to you, of course.”
“Even if it’s just a penny, it’s your hard-earned penny. We had no right to take it.”
Betsy blinked twice as her eyes teared up. “Thank you.” Her chest rose. “It wasn’t a lot of money, but …” She stepped forward and threw her arms around Clary’s shoulders, then gave Clary such a tight squeeze that Seth could hear the air rush out of her mouth.
He lifted a hand and was about to pull Betsy away when Clary said, “Oh, okay.”
Seth forced his foot back to the ground when Clary wrapped her arms around Betsy and rubbed her back.
“The refund made it possible for me to buy my kids’ presents and for me to have something extra to make Christmas dinner a little better.”
The amusement faded from Clary’s face, and her gaze softened. “I can buy—”
“No.” Betsy released Clary and took a step back, giving her a stern look. “I didn’t come over to get money out of you.” She took another step back. “I just wanted to thank you for what you did.”
“I can’t really take credit for that,” Clary said.
Seth frowned. Why not? No one else at EB Co. had bothered to do so. Clary was the one who pushed—and prayed—for it.
“God sent a miracle in the form of Movement’s CEO,” she continued, “who in turn sent an IT team down to make it happen.”
“Then give him a big hug—” Betsy glanced over at Seth “—if your boyfriend—” she dropped her gaze to Clary’s finger “fiancé is okay with it.”
Clary tipped her head to look at him again. “I’m sure he will be.”
“I’ll make an exception,” Seth said.
