Free He's Got Her Goat by Christine

busy texting. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    With each step more doubt crept in. Could that be how he had gotten all those sales? By being a shameless flirt? Her eyes bore into the young jewelry maker giggling at Sterling across the way. Was that what he was doing right now with the female vendor? She stopped, trying to put things in perspective. He’d never really flirted with her at all. He’d only been a perfect gentleman and a hard worker. But, she couldn’t help thinking, what if he was smart enough to figure out those were the qualities she was looking for. Fancy words and flexing muscles only pushed her away.
    “Hey,” she interrupted him and could have sworn he looked like he’d been caught doing something inappropriate. “You’ve got someone at the tent waiting for you.”
    Sterling seemed alarmed. “For me? But no one knows I’m here.”
    “Well, apparently your secret is getting around. When did you plan on telling me?”
    He took Paige’s arm and guided her off to a corner. “I wanted to wait until I got more information but certainly at the end of this I would share my results. It’s only fair.”
    “Results.” Paige bit her bottom lip, trying to figure out what he was talking about. “From washing women’s hands?”
    “What? Uh, yeah,” Sterling let out a long breath. “I was trying out new sales techniques.”
    “I’ve got to see this.” Paige followed him back to the booth, actually wishing just the opposite.

 
    Chapter Ten

    S TERLING WANTED TO RUN AWAY . It was cowardly, but this whole situation was coming down around his ears, and sometimes the best course of action was to cut your losses and not look back. Isn’t that what he’d done with his family? He might have done it here, too, if Paige’s eyes hadn’t met his. There was something in them that seemed vulnerable, even hurt. It couldn’t be the little tiff they had in the car. He was only trying to protect her. Nope, it had to be Julie. She must have told her something. What were the chances the spoiled heiress would be right here right now?
    Could his secretary have told her where he was? No, Dotty didn’t have a clue he was here. This was a secret favor for Elaine. Then it hit him.
    Julie was here because Paige’s soaps were that good. For a girl that bought filet mignon for her schnauzer, going for a drive in the country to purchase an overpriced specialty beauty bar only available at certain times of year made total sense. Julie was right in Paige’s target market. Why should he be surprised?
    Paige folded her arms as she stood before him, giving him the same glare his sister used to when she heard a particular rumor about him at school. He was a goner. Might as well just ‘fess up’ and get it over with. “I can explain.”
    He wished she was still wearing overalls. It would be easier to disappoint her in those. “I’m waiting,” she said.
    “I never planned on that sort of approach.” He lifted his palms. “It just happened.”
    She pointed back to her booth. “How does washing women’s hands for them just happen? And now Julie’s expecting the same treatment.”
    Relieved, he let out a sigh that carried half a laugh. “Is that all she’s expecting?”
    Paige placed her hands on her hips. “No, what about a full strip tease act?”
    Sterling wouldn’t put it past her. “Really?”
    “Of course not.” Paige grew serious. “I don’t think we’re on the same page when it comes to what I’m doing here. My soap cakes don’t need gimmicks to sell. The formulas are based on proven scientific methods. I’ve spent years tweaking them. They really help people. Did you even know I have a degree in bio-chemistry?”
    “Wait, I heard it was in business.”
    “That’s my undergrad and not the point.” She shook her head. A spiraled tendril escaped her hair tie and framed one cheek. “I’m trying to build something here. To make a difference.”
    He laid his hand over hers and lowered his tone.