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“Thought so too. I’m carrying you, Spitfire.”
“Yes, but why?”
“If you wanted to know why, then why didn’t you ask why in the first place?”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re annoying?” she grumbled before she thought better of it.
“Nope,” he replied as Grady opened the door to the shop for them.
“Surprising,” she muttered.
“The only person who’d dare call me annoying is Grady. And he doesn’t find me annoying.”
“Not necessarily true,” Grady muttered.
She shot him a grin before it fully registered what Steele had said.
No one would dare?
Except for Grady and her . . . the woman who hadn’t even secured a job with this guy yet.
She really needed to watch her mouth.
People won’t like you if you’re you, Effie. Be more agreeable. More pleasant.
Thanks, Nan.
“Why have you gone all stiff? Don’t you like this shop?” Steele asked.
Effie took a moment to look around. There was nothing wrong with this shop, except that the shoes looked far more expensive than she was used to.
Then she realized she was still in his arms.
“I’m good. You can put me down now.” She blushed as she saw an older woman eyeing them curiously as she spoke quietly to Grady.
“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing is wrong.”
He just stood there, not moving. Not setting her down. And not saying anything.
Grr.
“Anyone tell you that you’re stubborn?”
“Hmm, I have heard that once or twice.”
“Grady?” she asked.
“Yeah, and my sister.” A strange shutter came over his face as he said that.
To her surprise, he set her down on her feet, holding her steady as she wobbled slightly.
She opened her mouth to say something . . . she wasn’t sure exactly what, but then Grady spoke up.
“Sweetheart, come here.” His tone was velvet but with a core of steel. And she instinctively went to him even as she wondered whether she ought to be doing something about the way Steele had shut down.
Not your business.
