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“I heard that.” Miss Marla came out of the kitchen with her heels clicking on the floor. She wore a pink floral sundress with big white flowers and looked lovely.
“As you were meant to,” Mandy said.
“I just popped in to see how Miss Sarah was.”
“That’s very sweet of you, dear, and she’s doing better.”
“I just spoke to Mr. Dupont, who asked me to send his wishes for a speedy recovery to your sister.”
Mandy shot her aunt a look.
“That fiend,” Miss Marla snapped.
“Why is he a fiend?” Luna asked. “He seemed a very nice man when I talked to him.”
Of course, whatever this feud was, was none of her business, Luna reminded herself. But Albert had seemed harmless, and it wasn’t a tea shop he was opening.
“He is starting a business that will take our customers away, and only a short distance from Tea Total,” Miss Marla sniffed.
“That’s not fair, Aunt. Phil’s has no impact on us, and neither do any other food-selling businesses in town, so why will the chocolate place be any different?”
Miss Marla huffed out a breath.
“It’s actually a well-known fact that competition can increase the business of those around them,” Luna said.
“And I spoke to Mr. Dupont this morning, and Luna is right, he’s a nice man,” Mandy added. “It’s not fair you’ve urged those loyal to us into boycotting his opening, Aunt. You’re a better person than that.”
Miss Marla walked back into the kitchen.
“Stubborn,” Mandy muttered, handing Luna a bag with her scone in it.
“Once they see that the chocolate place makes no difference to Tea Total, I’m sure they’ll come around.”
“Let’s hope so, and thanks for looking after Aunt Sarah this morning.”
Luna said her goodbyes and left. Standing outside the shop, she took a selfie with the tea shop name in it, then posted it to her Instagram page with the words, “best tea and scones ever!”
Wandering up the street, she reached the grocery store. Her phone rang but she let it go to voice mail. Whoever it was could do without her for twenty minutes. Grabbing a basket, Luna headed for the fresh produce.
She turned into the first aisle and saw GHG. Retreating, she walked down the next, and kept moving until she found the natural food section of the store, sure he’d not end up there. Luna didn’t avoid confrontation, but she wasn’t ready to go at it with him again. She didn’t need someone like him constantly judging her when he wasn’t exactly bachelor of the year.
“I need to apologize.”
The words came from over her shoulder after she’d been randomly throwing things in her basket for a few minutes.
“Fine, now go away.” Luna didn’t turn to look at him, just kept browsing.
“I was rude and had no reason to be.”
“Whatever.” Luna picked up a box of her favorite seed crackers.
She knew he hadn’t moved, because she could feel him behind her like the mountains that stood sentry over the town of Ryker. Big and intimidating.
“Let’s just leave it that we don’t like each other,” Luna added.
“Sure, and that will work.”
She turned to watch him walk away, but he hadn’t left. He now stood only a few feet away. His clothes were creased, hair damp and curling all over his head. Luna saw a lot of well put together men who had faces to match at functions in Chicago. None of them made her react like Nash Winter did. It was like something lodged in her chest when he was near. Really uncomfortable and hard to breathe.
