Page 54 of Hidden Resolution

Shonda stiffened. “You know what? I think I’ll take my business elsewhere. And you can be sure I’ll let Stuart know how catty his employee was today.”

Her threat landed, and Candy’s arms uncrossed instantly. “You know Stuart?”

“Yes, the owner of the dealership. You know him, right? We go way back,” Shonda replied breezily. “I had dinner with him and April a couple of weeks ago. Lovely couple.”

Candy blanched, but Mason didn’t feel bad for her. Instead of with cruelty, Shonda had handled the situation with finesse, making her point without going nuclear. With a few well-phrased sentences, she’d guaranteed the other woman would put professionalism above personal feelings.

Candy forced a smile. “There’s no excuse for my behavior. If you’d prefer, I can find another associate.”

The embarrassment staining her cheeks bothered him. The longer he stood on the lot, the more he recalled from their lonedate. She was a single mom with two kids to support. How many cars could she possibly sell in their tiny town with a competing lot across the road?

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Mason cut in. “You’re a highly trained staff member, or Stuart wouldn’t have hired you, Candy.”

Shonda’s gaze pinned him, and a blend of awareness and admiration shone from her eyes.

She knew. Of course she did. Small-town gossip reached everyone eventually. Her smile was full and warm, making him uncomfortable. He hated that she believed him to be a better person than he was.

“I’ve changed my mind,” she said, glancing back at the line of cars. “I’ll take the red one.”

It didn’t come as a total surprise to Shonda when Mason disappeared a few hours later, and Dane showed up in his place.

“I brought Chinese,” he stated with bags raised high, as if tempting her.

“Shopping for a family-sized sedan freaked your brother out, huh?” she asked as she swung the door wide for him to enter.

“Pretty much.”

“Pfft. If it wasn’t pathetic, it would be funny.”

“True,” he agreed. “I ordered crab rangoon. Erica said it was your favorite.”

Shit! If Dane had told Erica he was coming here, she’d know something was up. “How much does she know?”

Dane froze in place, confusion written all over him.

“Was she not to know I was bringing you dinner because you’re lonely?”

“Wait, what? Who said I was lonely?”

“My brother.”

“In case you’ve forgotten, you have two,” she replied dryly.

“In caseyou’veforgotten, onlyonehas been hanging out with you,” Dane countered with a laugh. “But if he’s so forgettable, maybe he’s doing it all wrong.”

She laughed, charmed by his easygoing manner. “I’m pretty sure I adore you.”

“Don’t tell me you told Mason that. He’ll be on the next plane to anywhere.”

“Pfft. Do you take me for an idiot?”

“Nah.” He grinned as he unpacked the food cartons. “I can already tell you have a higher IQ than his last three conquests combined.”

Shonda laughed again, surprised she could, and removed two plates from the cabinet. “Does he know you talk about him like you do?”

He shrugged. “If he doesn’t, he should gethisIQ tested.”

They bonded over orange chicken and verbal digs at Mason’s expense.