A Soldier's Valentine. Jenna Mindel

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СКАЧАТЬ just head back the way I came.”

      Zach waved them off. “Inspectors. I can show you around.”

      Ginger stepped forward and hit a piece of Bubble Wrap, causing a loud snap and pop.

      Zach ducked. His gaze homed in sharp and deadly while his whole body tensed. He coiled like a spring ready for action. But this wasn’t combat, nor was he under fire.

      “Sorry.” Ginger tried to shake off her unease, but his reaction proved his training must be hard to forget.

      Maybe he carried things, dangerous things, deep inside still. She’d seen the documentaries on TV. Captain Zach was a civilian now, yet the sound of popping Bubble Wrap had gotten to him. Was that normal? Was he?

      He called to the two inspectors who’d stepped out to see about the noise, as well. “Just Bubble Wrap.” Then Zach gave her his hand. “Come on, there are obstacles through here.”

      Okay, maybe she made too much of his reaction. She slipped her hand into his. His skin felt cold, clammy even, before heat radiated between them. It wasn’t comforting. Not by a mile. It was all she could do to keep holding on. And holding on was a must because wide steps in the slim wool skirt she wore over black tights and heels was impossible.

      He steered her around the cardboard land mines, but she still stumbled against the edge of a box. His grip tightened and he growled, “Careful.”

      Ginger’s pulse sped and she pulled her hand away. Maybe if he hadn’t dragged her like some caveman. She straightened and breathed deep. “I’ll walk slower.”

      “Hmmph.”

      Seriously? She lifted her chin and glared right into his eyes. Big mistake. Captain Zach’s eyes were blue. Really, really blue and mesmerizing. And he hadn’t shaved, making him look even more rugged.

      And powerful.

      Ginger shivered. She needed to focus on the reasons why she didn’t want to find him attractive. She forced a smile. But once she looked around, she forgot everything else. “Wow, you’ve really made a lot of changes.”

      The corner of his mouth lifted, and then he was all business. “This is where it happens, or will once I’m given the A-OK.”

      The changes to Sally’s shop had been huge. Walls had been taken out and the glassblowing studio part took up most of the space, leaving only a small area for retail displays. A wrought iron safety fence separated the two.

      Her heart pinched. No more Sally, the elderly woman who’d taken Ginger under her wing. And no potter’s wheel in the corner by the back window. She was used to seeing Sally there, her hands covered with clay. In its place was a big steel table, a heavy workbench with rails and some freaky-looking tools and hot ovens. This place now looked like something out of an old horror movie.

      “Scary.” She meant it.

      Zach chuckled. “Hence the partition to keep my customers from wandering too close to the hot work.”

      “Why more than one furnace?”

      Zach pointed. “The large one is the tank furnace where the molten glass is kept. Next, the smaller round one is the glory hole. That’s used to reheat pieces I’m working on to keep the glass malleable. And then that over there is called an annealing oven. I’ll use that once a piece is finished, to slowly cool it down to prevent shattering. That’s the plan, anyway. And that’s Sally’s kiln. I’m not sure yet how I’ll use it.”

      Apparently to get Captain Zach talking, all she needed to do was ask about his craft. “Have you unpacked any of your work?”

      “Not yet.”

      Ginger glanced toward the men who must have interrupted him while he’d been opening boxes. “What about a name for your store?”

      “ZZ Glassworks.”

      “Good ring to it.” Ginger nodded. “Do you have a sign?”

      He shrugged. “I might etch it on the window or door.”

      Ginger scanned the empty window that was exactly like hers and shook her head. “It’ll get lost in your display.”

      “My display?”

      “Your artwork. An outside sign would be better and easier to spot from the street. You’ll want your window stocked with product to lure customers inside.”

      He narrowed his gaze. “Ah, yeah.”

      “I know a sign guy in town who’ll give you a good deal.”

      He laughed then. A harsh bark of a sound. “Of course you do.”

      “What?” She settled her hands on her hips. Did he think she got a kickback or something for referring business? In a small town, shop owners looked out for each other. And recommended a deal if they could.

      “Are you always this cheerfully helpful?”

      “Pretty much. Are you always this grumpy?”

      He chuckled. “Pretty much.” Then he scanned her from head to toe. “You’re taller today.”

      She lifted her foot. “It’s the heels.”

      “I noticed.” His voice lowered a smidgen, but disapproval shone from his eyes.

      What? Didn’t he like high heels? It wasn’t as if he had to wear them. And then it dawned on her that just maybe he liked them a lot, especially on her.

      Ginger checked her watch. Almost ten. She had to open. She had to get away from this new sense of awareness between them. “I better get back. Thanks for the tour.”

      Walking away, she swung back around. He’d made her forget all about the importance of the upcoming Valentine’s Day contest. No time. “After you’re settled in, we can chat more about your window display and the contest the chamber is sponsoring.”

      “Can’t wait.” His voice sounded flat.

      Ginger felt her cheeks flare yet again, right along with her ire. The man might not talk much, but he sure got his message across.

      Captain Zach did things his way.

      She backed up and nearly tripped over another box.

      Zach grabbed her arm to steady her.

      She did a little growling of her own. Ginger needed to get back to her home base before she made a bigger fool of herself. “Thanks.”

      “It’s the heels.” He gave her platforms of black suede a pointed look.

      “I found them at a thrift store,” she blurted.

      Not that it was any of his business how she spent her money, but she didn’t want her landlord to think she spent frivolously. Maybe because when she was a kid coming home with an expensive treasure she’d found for a song, she’d had to explain her actions. How many times had she played defense to her father’s offense? СКАЧАТЬ