One Snowy Night (Sweet Home, Alaska #1) - Patience Griffin Page 0,31

bottom, as if beholding her kingdom. “Anything interesting going on down here?”

Donovan stopped pushing his cart and said, “Do you have a minute, Piney? I have a few questions for you.”

Chapter 6

“SURE.” PINEY LOOKED in Donovan’s cart, as if checking for perishable items. “Let’s sit in the diner.”

“Yeah.” Donovan parked his cart out of the way and followed Piney. He had to work very hard not to look in Hope’s direction, something he’d been doing way too much.

As he approached one of the tables, Rick and Sparkle came in the front door. Piney looked floored, which was typical, as Rick had that effect on women.

Donovan took the lead. “Piney Douglas, this is my friend and business manager, Rick Miller.”

“He can’t live without me,” Rick teased, smiling at both Piney and Sparkle.

“It seems that way,” Donovan said. “We’ve been working together since the Marines, seventeen years now.”

Piney stared at Rick, then at her daughter, with an eyebrow raised, as if to say, Are you really buying all his charm?

Donovan elbowed Rick to answer the unspoken question.

Rick held out Boomer for Piney to see and then handed him off to Donovan. “Sparkle was helping me with Boomer, Donovan’s new puppy.”

“As long as that’s all she’s helping you with,” Piney said. “Put a dog in front of Sparkle and that girl will go anywhere with anyone.”

Rick laughed. “Good to know.”

But Piney wasn’t laughing.

Rick was handsome, and women loved him, but Donovan wouldn’t call him a player. Rick just enjoyed the company of women. Later Donovan would talk to Rick about not messing with Sparkle’s emotions. Sparkle was Piney’s daughter, and Piney was one of Sweet Home’s finest.

Back in high school, Sparkle wasn’t the kind of girl who drew attention to herself. The opposite, actually. He remembered her wearing only black and gray. Not a goth girl, but one who wanted to blend into the scenery. She had straight, strawberry-blond hair that hung to her shoulders and a face full of freckles. Donovan noticed now that she was kind of cute. But in high school, no one seemed to notice her or talk to her. He was guilty on that count as well, as he couldn’t remember them ever having a conversation, which seemed odd, since Sweet Home was the size of a postage stamp.

Sparkle wasn’t Rick’s type. Come to think of it, Courtney would be a better fit for Rick. For some reason, though, Rick had latched onto Sparkle and had gotten her to talk. Something Donovan hadn’t seen when he lived in Sweet Home.

“You two go find something to do,” Piney said. “On second thought, Rick, help Sparkle get ready for the lunch crowd. I need vegetables cut up.” She glanced over at Boomer. “Don’t forget to wash your hands before you touch anything in the kitchen.”

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Douglas,” Rick said, and then he turned and followed Sparkle into the kitchen.

Piney watched as well until they were gone. “Is that boy up to no good?”

“No, ma’am.” Donovan would have to make certain of it.

“Do you promise that he’s not toying with Sparkle, because she’s an easy target,” Piney said, glaring at Donovan as if to get the truth out of him.

“I promise,” Donovan said. “Rick is a good man.”

Piney switched gears, gesturing to where Hope stood at the cash register. “What’s going on with you and her?”

“Nothing.” Donovan started to point out that she’d sent Hope on a fool’s errand the other night, delivering groceries to them. But Piney’s motives were obvious.

“Donovan Stone, you owe that girl for the hell you put her through. Don’t you forget that.”

“What about the hell she put me through?” he asked.

For a long moment, he and Piney had a stare-off, but he caved first. He had too many questions for her, so he got right to it. “I found a newspaper clipping in my grandmother’s office saying the town had gone dry.”

“Your grandparents are sorely missed here in Sweet Home,” Piney said with genuine emotion in her voice.

“I noticed the bar is boarded over and that you don’t have any alcohol on your shelves,” Donovan said. “I assume the town is still alcohol-free?” He noticed Hope was sweeping near the diner and he was certain she was trying to listen in.

“Why are you asking whether the town is still dry?” Piney looked at him as if he were being insensitive with Hope standing so near.

“I should’ve explained myself first. I want to bring back Nan’s Wines of Alaska tasting for one last time.