“Don’t be such a worry wart,” Griffin chided. “There’s a box of long matches here. Which candles shall we light, the strawberry or jasmine scented?”
Darcy reached for one with a subtle vanilla fragrance. “Let’s begin with this one. Come on down here, Jeremy. There are towels in the bathroom behind the register, and you two ought to at least make an attempt to get dry. Don’t think about leaving either, because you wouldn’t be safe with all the streets flooded.”
Griffin removed his hat and resisted the temptation to shake like a dog before peeling off his coat. “Am I safe here?” he whispered.
“For the time being,” Darcy replied. “I’m sorry we don’t carry any men’s pants, but our extra-large sweatshirts ought to fit you.”
After stifling another sneeze, Jeremy made his way down the stairs. “No, you ought to save them to sell.”
“Well, I sure don’t see anyone clamoring to buy anything today,” Darcy countered. “Which color do you want?”
“I don’t suppose you carry black?” Griffin asked.
“No, this is a nursery, you big dolt, and we stock several shades of green along with blue, purple, yellow and pink.”
Griffin couldn’t help but laugh at her sudden show of temper. “I want whatever color you have so we can wear them together and look like we’re on the same team.”
Darcy thrust a dark green sweatshirt into his hands. It was of excellent quality and would keep him warm. Across the front, the words Defy the World Tomatoes were embroidered over a bushel basket of vine-ripened tomatoes. It was a colorful logo and, while they sold more T-shirts, they did a steady business in sweatshirts as well.
“How about you, Jeremy, what color would you like?”
“Better give me that same green, and I’ll pay for it.”
“Nonsense, you’ve been working here all morning. A free shirt is the least I can do. Go on into the bathroom and dry yourself off before putting it on.”
“I’ll give it a try,” Jeremy promised, but he waited until she’d handed him a lit candle to go.
Griffin carried another vanilla candle over to the counter and set it down. He dropped his coat and hat onto a stool and then pulled his flannel shirt off over his head.
Darcy tried to avoid staring at his muscular torso, but failed miserably, although she hauled her glance to a halt at his belt buckle. She watched him dry his hair on his shirttail and, after pulling on the sweatshirt, re-comb it with his fingers. Not surprisingly, he’d given little thought to grooming and yet still looked better than most men did on the way to a job interview.
“Twink appeared real upset to see her mother kissing Jeremy. Hasn’t Christy Joy dated much?” he asked.
Startled by his question, Darcy responded with a shrug. “No, she hasn’t dated anyone since her divorce. Like most kids, I suppose Twink hopes her parents will someday get back together.”
“Is it a possibility?”
“Not unless J. Lyle forced Christy Joy back with threats of a custody suit.”
“Is he that heartless?”
Griffin was leaning against the counter, apparently sincerely interested in her response, but she shared her partner’s fears, compounded by the certainty should J. Lyle press for custody, it would be entirely her fault. Seized by a desperate desire to confide in him, she described the terrible afternoon when Twink had disappeared.
“If J. Lyle ever found out Twink had walked down to the docks alone and gone on one of the boats, he wouldn’t hesitate to use it against Christy Joy,” she swore.
Griffin nodded and exhaled slowly. “Why didn’t you call me when it happened?”
She angled away from him. “I didn’t want to bother you when I was sure we’d find her.”
“And if you hadn’t?”
Afraid she would insult him no matter how she phrased it, she chose her words with special care. “Well, there would have been no point in calling you then either. You couldn’t have done anything from Chicago.”
“I could have offered some moral support, and a call would have kept me from walking right into a buzz saw when I got home. Damn it, but I knew there was something wrong, and you didn’t give me a clue as to what. That wasn’t fair.”
“Perhaps not,” Darcy sighed, “but it wouldn’t have been fair to call and scramble your emotions just before a concert either.”
He straightened. “Do you honestly believe I give a damn about a concert?”