Polly shook her head. “Nothing. Consider it a ‘welcome to Serenity’ gift.”
An unexpected warmth filled her heart that strangers she didn’t know could be so kind, simply because they knew her mother. “Thank you. That’s sweet of you.”
She picked up the box and started to turn when the door opened, letting in a blast of frigid air. She shivered but it had nothing to do with that cold wind. No, indeed. It was thepresence of Wyatt MacLean coming into the store, looking as handsome as ever.
He stopped, his hands on his hips as his gaze roamed over her, touching her without touching her. “Well, fancy meeting you here, Miss DuBois.”
That funny little tickle started in her belly again as he came closer. It felt like her stomach was giggling, which was the only way she could describe it. “Hello, Mr. MacLean.”
“I thought we agreed you’d call me Wyatt.”
“You two know each other?” Merril asked, his surprise evident.
Wyatt nodded and smiled, showing off the dimples in his cheeks. “We’ve met a few times.”
“Well then, you just saved me from having to make introductions.” The big man chuckled. “Actually, I’m glad you stopped by. A group of us are going ice skating tonight. Larson’s Pond is frozen solid, thanks to all this freezing weather. Why don’t you join us?”
Wyatt’s smile widened. “I think that’ll be fun, but my folks are here.”
“Bring ‘em along. If I recall, your mother knows how to skate very well.”
“I’ll ask her and Royce if they want to come.” Wyatt turned toward her. “What about you, Sheridan? Would you like to join us?”
Sheridan forced herself to stop staring at him and shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t know how to skate.” That wasn’t her only excuse, just the one she was willing to admit. In truth, she wasn’t sure how she felt about being with other people. She’d always been alone, sometimes by choice, sometimes not.
“I can teach you. I even have an extra pair of skates that just slip onto your shoes.”
“Oh, please come,” Polly said. “It’ll be fun. We’ll have a bonfire, and Mrs. Dunlevy will be there, selling her hot chocolate and spiced cider. Even Mr. Palmer said he’d come. He’s got a new popcorn and roasted peanut cart he wants to try out.” Her eyes sparkled with the promise of a good time. “Maybe Mr. Larson will come and play his concertina while we skate. He’s done that before.”
“I’ll think about it.” Sheridan conceded with a slight nod, though she wasn’t certain she wanted to.
“Please do.” Wyatt gave a quick nod then turned his attention to Polly for a moment, but only a moment, before his gaze returned to her. There was such warmth in that gaze, she almost forgot about the cold. And she didn’t want to leave the shop either, not with him standing so close to her.
Wyatt finally returned his gaze to Polly. “I’m in the mood for some Boston Cream pie. Do you have any?”
“I do. It’s my last one. Just made it this morning.”
“Perfect.” Polly pulled the pie from the glass case and placed it in a fancy box. He paid for it, taking the money from his pocket, but his focus remained on her. “I’ll take you home, Sheridan. It’s too cold for you to be walking, though that cape looks plenty warm.” He took the cake from her hands, then placed it atop his own box.
“I wasn’t going home. I was going to stop by Goldwater’s to mail a letter then Sullivan’s Emporium for some new gloves.” She wiggled her fingers. “These don’t keep my hands warm at all.”
Wyatt smiled. “That’s fine. I’ll take you wherever you need to go and then I’ll take you home.”
“It really isn’t necessary, Mr. Mac?—”
He raised an eyebrow, his expression questioning.
“Wyatt. I’m sure you have things you have to do.”
“No. Not really.” He adjusted the boxes in his hand then gestured to the door.
Such a gentleman. Her grandmother had been wrong. There were good men and, yes, they could be trusted…at least, a little bit. Sheridan preceded him to the door, though he sped up a little so he could open it for her.
“See you at Larson’s,” Merrill called out just before the door closed behind them.
Wyatt placed the boxes in a wooden compartment in the back of the buckboard, then helped her to her seat. He climbed in himself then took the reins in his hands. “Goldwater’s?”
“Yes, please.”
