a look.
Beau blinked in surprise, looking back and forth between them – until he was distracted by his hippogriff letting forth an almighty cry
Yes! Listen to the woman! This is what we should do!
Beau firmly shoved its performance to one side – as much as he was able to, anyway. It was true Annie was an attractive woman, and it was true that he wanted to help her any way he could, if she needed it. But it was also true that if she seemed reluctant – which she did – he wasn’t about to force her to do anything.
“I don’t want to intrude,” he said quickly. “I just thought I’d offer you the help, if you needed it. And the offer still stands in a day or so, if that’s what you decide. Just let me know. I can leave my number.”
Annie’s brow furrowed, as if she was confused or troubled by his words. “Thank you. I appreciate that. Honestly.”
Beau nodded. “It’s no problem. Anyway, I’ll pick out a few things and then get out of your hair.”
It was both difficult and easy to pick out a few of the goods the bakery had on offer: on the one hand, Beau’s keen sense of smell told him everything here would be delicious, and there were no bad choices. But on the other, making the choice in the first place was a challenge, since piling the bakery’s entire stock into the back of his car wasn’t an option.
“Seems like you’re buying for a family of a hundred,” Annie said as she carefully put his boxes of sugar cookies, gingerbread and lemon bundt cake into bags.
Beau laughed. “Not quite, but they’re all hungry. Hopefully this’ll keep them going for a while, though.”
“Well, I hope they enjoy it,” Annie said. She hesitated, licking her lips. “Before you go – I mean, I don’t want to hold you up or anything, but… can I offer you something on the house? It’s the least I can do, after you helped me out.”
Beau shook his head, smiling. “No, there’s no need for that. I’m just happy I was able to give you a hand.”
“I – I insist,” Annie said, her voice nervous, but firm. “Please. I’d really like to say thanks. If you’ve got a big family, it really would mean a lot to me to be able to thank you properly.”
Beau opened his mouth to tell her again that she really didn’t have to do anything of the sort, but at the determined look in her green eyes, he quickly shut it again. Clearly, she wasn’t going to be talked out of this.
“If you really insist,” he said, smiling, “then there’s not a lot I can do, is there?”
Annie shook her head. “Nope. And I do insist.”
She leaned down, opening the sliding door to the display beneath the counter, pulling out a large, succulent-looking cherry pie. Beau couldn’t help but smile – he loved cherry pie.
Annie boxed up the pie, her movements quick and efficient. She clearly knew her job well.
“Here you go,” she said, sliding the box toward him. “On me.”
“You won’t get it in the neck for giving stuff away?” Beau asked.
Annie shook her head. “No – it won’t be an issue. It’s all yours.”
“Well, all right then. Looks like I’ve exhausted all my arguments – and believe me, I appreciate this. I’ve got about six nieces and nephews who’ll appreciate it even more.”
A sad, wistful smile seemed to ghost across Annie’s face at his words, but then, it was gone as quickly as it’d come. “I’m glad,” was all she said.
She’s lonely.
Beau’s hippogriff spoke up again, its tone weirdly insistent.
You don’t know that, Beau told it – though to be honest, he didn’t even sound convincing to himself. You don’t know anything about her. Probably she’s got her own family to be getting home to soon.
You’re wrong. His hippogriff tossed its head. I know.
Beau shook his head, doing his best to dismiss the hippogriff’s concerns. He’d helped her out, and now it was time to be on his way.
“Thanks aga–” he started to say as he reached across the counter to take the box of cherry pie from her – and as he did so, the tips of his fingers brushed against the tips of hers.
Immediately his hippogriff reared up on its back legs, raising its head, spreading its wings wide. A frisson of electricity seemed to shoot from Beau’s fingers up through his arm and into his chest, where it