Page 24 of Pumpkin Spice Promises

“You implied it.” She tsked.

“I just made an observation, and you got offended.”

“I’ve observed that you’re irritating.”

“So I’ve been told,” I grumbled fastening my seat belt.

“Frequently, I imagine.”

“Mostly by my siblings.”

“That doesn’t count. Siblings are obligated to find each other irritating.”

I started the engine and glanced over as she pulled the seat belt across her body. The movement was careful and slower than I expected, but any concern I might have voiced remained behind my teeth. She had already made it clear that hovering would earn me nothing except another argument.

I backed out of the garage lot while Jax stood beneath the overhang, watching us leave. Beside him sat the remaining crates of milk he planned to deliver once the rain eased enough to see the road properly.

Clover had already collected June Whitaker’s order on her way home from the bakery. She had asked approximately twelve questions about Carson before I finally ended the call, none of which I’d been able to answer.

I didn’t even know whether Carson preferred coffee or tea.

Though, after watching her add two sugars and enough powdered creamer to turn the shop coffee beige, I could make an educated guess.

Rain swept across the windshield in heavy sheets as I eased onto the service road. The wipers struggled to keep pace, forcing me to lean forward slightly and concentrate on the faded yellow line disappearing beneath the truck.

Carson twisted in her seat to look through the rear window.

“You’re sure the milk will be cold enough?”

“The refrigerator in the parts room is industrial.”

“What temperature?”

I glanced at her. “Cold.”

“That isn’t a temperature.”

“Thirty-seven degrees.”

Her shoulders relaxed a fraction. “Okay.”

“You thought I’d put twelve crates of milk beside Jax’s lunch and hope for the best?”

“I didn’t know what kind of refrigerator you had.”

“One capable of refrigerating things.”

She stared at me for a moment before turning toward the window. “I’m beginning to understand why you’re single.”

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “I don’t remember telling you I was.”

“You have the energy of a single man.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re very comfortable saying whatever comes into your head without considering whether it makes you sound insufferable.”

“Maybe I have a girlfriend who finds me charming.”