turned to look at her.
“Hey, Ms. Mayor.” He was all deep-voiced charm and that amazing smile, warmth igniting in his blue eyes that she knew was just for her. “I’ve been looking for you.”
She didn’t want to smile back, but not smiling was impossible when he looked at her that way. “Well, you’ve found me.” Somehow, even though she knew turning around and walking out was better, she found herself going up to the counter instead. “Anything I can help you with?”
“We didn’t finish our conversation earlier.” He raised a brow. “Got a minute now?”
No, she didn’t have a minute. And talking to him was a very bad idea.
“Sure,” she said, hoping she wasn’t blushing like an idiot because he seemed to have that effect on her every time he even looked in her direction, and she didn’t need an audience to that right now. “I need to have a word with Mal first.”
Amusement glinted in Mal’s eyes, as if he knew exactly the kind of effect Damon was having on her.
Curse the man. Both men.
“About the growers,” Astrid began.
“Yeah, I already know,” Mal said before she could go on. “I thought you’d have a bit much on your plate with all this tourism stuff, so I called them both this morning to find out how your meeting with them went.” He grinned. “It’s all fixed up. First lot of produce will be boxed up and ready to go tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, good. That’s great.” Her momentary irritation vanished. “Thanks, Mal.”
Excellent. Another project safely off the ground. Hopefully it would be viable and end up being good for everyone.
“Phil’s wanting more books though,” Mal said casually. “I spoke to him this morning on the phone. He got through the last stack quicker than he thought, and he said could you get him some more.”
“No problem. I think the title he specifically requested last week has just come in, so I’ll get it up the hill to him.”
“Phil?” Damon glanced at her. “As in ‘animal sanctuary’ Phil?”
Ah yes, she’d mentioned that to him, hadn’t she?
She nodded.
“I’ll take them up if you like.” His eyes glinted from beneath his lashes. “Someone told me to go and speak to people in the town, and I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet.”
Her. That had been her. A small glow of warmth centered itself in her chest for absolutely no reason at all, because who cared if he took her suggestion? Certainly she didn’t.
The women clustered around the counter—Debbie Long, Jenny Anderson, Melissa Evans, and Maria’s friend Coco Smith—all murmured admiringly.
“That’s a lovely thing to do.” Jenny put a hand on one of Damon’s powerful shoulders. “Phil would appreciate that so much.”
Jenny liked a handsome man—hell, most of those women did, and Astrid couldn’t blame them for falling all over Damon. Men like him didn’t turn up in Deep River often. No, scratch that. They didn’t turn up in Deep River at all.
Still. The way they were looking at him irritated her the way it had after hot yoga this morning.
Jealous maybe?
How stupid. There was nothing for her to be jealous of. Yet the sight of Jenny’s hand on his shoulder, touching the textured fabric of his shirt, a fabric she wouldn’t mind touching herself, was…annoying.
“He would appreciate it,” she agreed coolly. “I was just on my way to the library, so why don’t you come with me and I’ll give you his books?”
Damon’s smile curved his beautiful mouth. “I was hoping you might say that.” Pushing himself away from the counter, he stood at his full height, turning that smile on the adoring female crowd. “Ladies, thanks for your time. It’s been a pleasure.” He glanced at Mal and held out a hand. “Appreciate your time too.”
“No problem.” Mal took Damon’s hand and shook it, smiling back. “Good to talk to you. I like a man who makes an effort to get to know the locals.”
The warmth in Astrid’s chest glowed hotter. He really had taken on board her suggestion, hadn’t he? It made her feel ridiculously pleased, though she had no idea why.
“You do know that Phil’s is a good half-hour walk?” she said as Damon turned toward the exit.
“You don’t think I can walk a half hour carrying a couple of pounds’ worth of books? Maybe I’m falling behind in my workout regimen.”
A patently untrue statement given he was built like a Greek god.
“Hmmmm.” She made a show of examining him as she followed him out of the market. “Seems