He's Got Her Goat Read online

Chapter Two

  The Northwest sky was clear for a change, enticing far more visitors to the farmers’ market than Paige ever remembered. By noon the two-day supply of soap she had brought was almost gone. She might have simply left the booth unattended to run home and get more, if it weren’t for Joe’s pump. Somehow every out-of-control kid from toddler to teen had to work the handle and experiment with it.

  It wouldn’t have been a problem except that her booth sat right over a part of the sidewalk inlaid with a brass crest of the city which got slippery. Two kids had skinned their knees, and an older woman had stumbled because of it. The girl from the Teriyaki place had lent her a roll of paper towels, and, since then, Paige had spent as much time wiping the ground as talking with customers. The last thing she needed was a lawsuit.

  A group of three young mothers entered her canopy with a bevy of kids around them, of course drawn by the water pump. Paige knelt, so she’d be eyelevel with the youngest and showed the towheaded toddler how it worked. He clapped his hands in delight and started to laugh. Naturally, she laughed too and invited all the children to try the device and wash their hands with her soap, accepting that she’d have to clean up the floor later. While she engaged the kids, their mothers walked around the booth, lifting the bars, smelling them and talking among themselves. Paige kept an eye on the women while she passed out paper towels for the kids to dry off with.

  “Hempseed and Meadowfoam? I’ve read about these,” one mom said.

  Paige approached her. “Yes. It’s a new blend I developed. It softens scar tissue and reduces skin discoloration.”

  “No way.” The young mother’s eyes widened. “If this works on my C-section scar, I will go through the moon.”

  One of them seemed skeptical. “Sometimes these herbal places make claims . . .”

  The children were getting soaked, and the overspray was leaving puddles, but Paige had to explain. “Not many people know goat milk contains beta-caseins that are easily absorbed into the skin. They act as an agent to allow for greater delivery of known healing agents.”

  “Sold,” the first woman said. “I’ll take three, and if it works, I know fifteen women that will be here next week.”

  Paige ran the woman’s card and was soon waving farewell to the cute little blonde boy who trotted after his mother and retreating friends. Rolling up her sleeves, she grabbed the quickly shrinking roll of paper towels and got on her knees to wipe up. She had barely begun when a cold hand clasped her shoulder.

  Startled, she leapt to her feet. When she saw her friend, Austin Ricks, Paige threw her arms around his neck. He still looked fourteen even though she guessed he was only about six years younger than she was. “You came!”

  Austin patted her back with the warmth of a robot until she pulled away. “I told you I would visit.” His tone was serious.

  How wonderful that he hadn’t changed. Sure, he floundered in most social situations and said whatever was on his mind even if it was entirely tactless, but she adored his lack of guile and his honest heart. “And when you say something, it always happens. I remember.” She handed him some paper towels and got back to her knees. “You can take that side if you want. So, tell me what you’re up to now that you’re a big graduate.”

  Austin scrubbed the cement and brass ground so hard his towel felt apart. Okay, so another of his faults was his tendency to be a bit too thorough, but that had saved her GPA the last semester of graduate school. He grabbed a second paper towel while he talked. “I’m still interning for that firm in the city but finish up next month and hope to get hired full-time. Next month, that is.”

  An older woman squealed from a distance and dragged her middle-aged companion toward them. “I finally found you! Your booth is so different I didn’t recognize it.” She marched up to Paige. “My daughter’s got this horrible crocodile neck. See it? I keep telling her cream is not enough.”

  The daughter reddened. “Mother.”

  Paige could see the family resemblance around the nose and cheeks.

  Ignoring her grown daughter’s clear embarrassment, the older woman opened her purse. “Your Apricot Almond Oil, that’s what she needs.”

  Paige could feel the heat in her cheeks and imagined she had turned almost as red as the daughter. “I’m so sorry. I’ve sold out, but I’ve got five other kinds, two of which might work. Would you like to try some—”

  “Sold out?” The older woman snapped her purse shut. “It’s only the first day. That’s like going to school without your homework done.”

  “I know.” Paige wished now she had left the booth earlier to restock. “I can have some here in about half an hour as long as Austin doesn’t mind covering for me.”

  The obstinate woman looked to her watch. “That would be adequate. We’ve got some other shopping to do and will be back. Half an hour, it is.”

  Paige knew that one bad review on her website could be a real setback. If her predictions were correct, she could double output within the year. Once her inventory was up, she’d need every testimonial. A woman as determined as that could push sales either way.

  Hoping Austin wouldn’t mind, she turned back to the pump, but he wasn’t there. She combed the walkway and was surprised to see him huddled beside a man she’d never met before. Going up to the pair, she had a strange feeling they were talking about her. “Can I have Austin back for a second?” She shoved her hands in her pockets, waiting for a response. He didn’t move.

  Austin looked as though he’d sucked on a lemon. “I must go, Paige.”

  “Really?” Her shoulders slumped. “I had hoped you’d cover for me. I’ll only be gone half an hour. Tops.”

  “I can do it,” Austin’s friend said.

  “And who are you?” Paige guessed they were close to the same age, but something about this guy was off. His teeth were bleached, and his nails impeccable, but his clothes told a completely different story. The plastic snaps on his wrinkled plaid shirt would have groaned if they could, it was stretched so tight. At least he had washboard abs. But, his too short jeans were so worn she could make out the edges of his wallet. She wouldn’t have considered his offer, except for one thing. His arm was around Austin in a protective, kind way, and Austin was beaming at this guy like at an older brother. She remembered Austin’s reaction to meeting her last boyfriend three years ago. He’d never liked the cheat even before she'd realized he was unfaithful. No, Austin was usually right about people. But was his adoration enough of an endorsement to trust a total stranger?

  Austin gestured with a stiff hand. “Meet my friend, Sterling Keller. Now I have to go.”

  “You’re sure?” It was a long way to come for the short time he had stayed, but there was no use arguing with him. Austin rarely changed his mind. She gave him another hug. “Thanks for coming.”

  “You’re most welcome. Sterling will work hard and be very punctual.” Austin smiled as if he had told a joke that only he knew the punchline to. Then he shook Sterling’s hand formally. “Looks like the booth is yours, Mr. Keller.” Without another word, he left.

  Standing across from the complete stranger, Paige tried not to stare at his face. Her eyes drifted to his defined pecs and toned thighs, before jolting back to reality. “Okay then.”

  As she headed toward her booth, he hustled to walk beside her. Her gaze flitted his direction, and he smiled and tipped his worn Stetson in a way only a true cowboy can. A rush of warmth bubbled through her, pushing laughter from her lungs.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked.

  “Nothing,” She couldn’t help but think how proud Elaine would be of her current predicament, even if it would only last a few hours. “Well, let me give you the run down, so you’ll know what to do while I’m gone.”

  Only nine cakes of soap were left. At least he wouldn’t have to sell anything. “On second thought, why don’t you simply tell people I’ll be back soon? Oh, and be careful to keep the kids away from the pump.”

  “You don’t li
ke children?”

  She turned to face him, not realizing he was standing so close. He smelled of fresh hay and Old Spice like her uncle used to. It took her a second to find her voice. “I adore kids, but the water makes the ground slick, so they might slip and fall.”

  Her answer seemed to brighten his pale blue eyes. Their unusual color intrigued her as much as the way he looked at her. As though she was the only person in the world. As if he wanted to listen to anything she had to say.

  “If only you were what I needed right now.” The words slipped out unbidden, and she reddened for the second time in less than a half hour. Paige covered her cheeks with her hands and spun away from him, mentally kicking herself. She knew nothing about this guy. That kind of friendliness had got her into this mess with Blanche. You say hi to a stranger, and before you know, it they all but move in with you. Wanting to be as far away from him as possible, she grabbed her purse. “Do what you want. It’ll only be twenty minutes.”

  “As long as it takes.” His deep voice rang through her like a bell.

  She had walked all the way to her car and still couldn’t wipe the silly grin leavening her cheeks at the thought of him. Yup. No faking feelings here. Elaine would be thrilled.

  Sterling watched her go and breathed a long sigh of relief. When he had seen Austin at Paige’s booth, he'd thought he was done for. Luckily, she got distracted, and he convinced the intern that his ticket to full-time employment was an introduction. In return, Austin had made Sterling promise two things. To be punctual when she called, and to be nice to her. The first wasn’t a problem since Sterling always fulfilled his commitments. And the second, from what little he’d seen of Paige, would be even easier.

  ***