Carson could hear laughter as he approached The Tea Shop on that brisk Thursday morning. He'd worked it up in his head what he was going to say when he went inside. Of course, he couldn't wait to see Abigail's face when he walked through the door.

He assumed there would be some groaning, but it would be inaudible.

Her eyes would grow wide before she pressed a smile to those rosy lips. When he visited with Mrs. Winters, he'd been charming, as he always was when he was around Mrs. Winters. When he visited with his mother, he was polite and very interested. Now he would be there with an entire store full of women whom he supposed he could win over with his charm. Sure, some of them might know who he is and have the same opinion of him as Abigail did, but in the end he'd win them over, too.

Carson passed by the front window and looked inside to see that every table was occupied. Each woman had one of those fancy Prussian cups in front of her, and a plate of breakfast pastries. They were talking, sharing small needlecraft, and laughing. He could hear the laughter from where he stood outside the door. It was time to make his entrance. "Move over Prince Charming, here comes Carson Stone," he humored out loud to himself.

---

As far as Abigail was concerned, Clare had outdone herself for this morning's tea. There were scones, chocolate pastries, fruit pastries, fruit trays, and a chocolate mousse because Clare simply thought it was appropriate to have more dessert with such a sweet breakfast. Perhaps next month, Abigail thought, they could bring in an omelet station. Maybe she could work something out with the hotel down the street. Cross marketing was important in such a small area.

She had just gathered up a set of dishes and was bringing out another for Mrs. Duncan who adored her chocolate croissants, when the door to the shop opened, and the bell above it chimed.

As she moved from the kitchen to the table, she looked up to see Carson Stone walk through the door. Managing to keep the smile on her face, she greeted him. "I didn't expect to see you this morning. What can I get for you? Something to go I presume."

She watched him scan the room and each woman look up at him. He flashed that smile, oh that smile that had burned into her brain. It had the effect it was supposed to have on all the women in the room. A few of them said hello to him by name. Others asked who he might be.

Abigail dropped off the plates, asked if there was anything else she could do for Mrs. Duncan, and then made her way back to the front of the store.

She stepped around the counter and pulled out the biggest box she had. "Are you taking pastries to your office?" If he was going to keep coming into her store to bother her, she might as well make some money off of it.

Carson had taken a breath as if he were going to argue with her, but then he flashed that smile again. "I came in for a cup of coffee and to talk to your ladies. But you fix me up a box, and I'll take them into the office. Send me with some of your business cards too. I'll bet you'll have a busy lunch."

Abigail gritted her teeth. "I'll make sure you have the perfect assortment. Why were you coming to talk to the ladies?" she asked quietly.

Carson leaned in over the counter. "I was serious when I said I thought my mother should retire. I think it would be a good thing to have her in one of the sewing guilds. She would enjoy it immensely. Who might I talk to about that?"

Abigail looked up and scanned the room. Mrs. Duncan was enjoying her second chocolate pastry, so perhaps she might be pleasant to him. Abigail pointed at the woman who nearly overflowed the tiny chair that was positioned at the end of one of the tables.

"Mrs. Duncan has been the guild’s president for a decade. She's very picky. Are you sure you would like your mother to be part of that?"

"My mother is very picky too," he said as he turned around. "I think she should fit in just fine."

Abigail watched him walk away and make a path straight for Mrs. Duncan. Mrs. Duncan looked up at him with narrowed eyebrows. Carson stuck out his hand, said something, and a moment later Mrs. Duncan was laughing that jolly laugh that took over the store. Abigail began to fill the box of pastries. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised that even Mrs. Duncan had fallen victim to Carson's charm. After all, she knew what he was all about, and she fell for his charm too.

By the time Carson had returned to the front counter, Abigail had the large box full of pastries ready to go. She gave him his total and watched as he pulled his wallet from his pocket without even a thought. Though she was happy for the sale, she kinda hoped he might be put off by it.

"Will your mother be at work this morning?" She asked him, while she ran his credit card.

"I'm expecting her."

"I slipped in one of those chocolate pastries that Mrs. Duncan seems to favor. Before she eats them all." Carson laughed at that. "Tell her I look forward to her book club next month."

"So she called yesterday after we left, huh? I thought she might. She didn't mention it though."

"Does she run everything by you," Abigail asks snidely as she handed him back his credit card and slip to sign.

Carson scribbled an illegible line of squiggles on to the receipt and handed it back to her. In the exchange, their fingers touched, and for the first time, Abigail saw something that hadn't been there before.

"It was nice to see you this morning, Abigail. Enjoy the rest of your day."

She bit down on her lip hard enough she could taste a hint of blood. As Carson picked up the box and turned around to leave the store she called out to him to stop him.

Quickly moving around the counter, she hurried to the door and opened it. "Your hands are full. Let me help you to your car."

Carson studied her for a moment, perhaps considering whether she had lost her mind or not. "Perfectly able to carry this box. No need for any help. Thank you anyway."

She reached for his arm but his jacket covered his skin, and his bare hands held the box. Perhaps if she touched him once more, she’d know if what she saw was real.

He scanned another look over her. “Did I forget something?”

What was she supposed to say? She’d been so rude to him, and now she was holding on to him. “We over estimated for the party. Clare is great at planning. But I thought if you came by after work, you could pick up what we have left, pastries that is, and take them to the office tomorrow.”

With a slow and thoughtful nod he said, “Come tonight for pastries for tomorrow?”

Oh, that did sound dumb. Abigail smiled sweetly and gave his arm a gentle squeeze since she was still holding on to him. “It would be nice to see you again today. If you don’t want the pastries…”

“I’ll come back by,” he agreed. “What time do you close?”

“Six.”

“I’ll be here before then,” he offered as she released him. “I’ll see you later.”

Abigail watched him climb into his black Audi and drive away with a wave.

When she turned back to the store, she noticed an entire room of ladies with their noses nearly pressed against the window. So, she might have just saved the man’s life, but now she was going to have to fight off all the gossip. Seriously, she was too nice to have this curse. Why couldn’t it just go away?