She turned away from him and started for the barn door. "The only thing on my mind is keeping this farm solvent." Did he think she was going to fall into his arms? She glanced over her shoulder as she reached the door. "If I need any help, I can always depend on Josh."
His crestfallen look should have been a victory, but instead she wished she could eat the words. It was a mean thing to say, especially since he had been working so hard to help. She paused in the doorway and stared at the floor. It served no purpose to smash his magnificent ego.
"I'm sorry. No wonder you think I'm insensitive. The truth is, you've been a lot of help to us." She glanced up and met his wary gaze. "I didn't mean to be disrespectful."
He brushed his hands on his pants. "Yeah, well no offense taken." He eyed her appreciably. "And just for the record, I think you're quite a woman."
He was quite the man with flowery statements, but did they mean anything? It didn't matter, anyway. In only three more days he'd be gone. Three more days and she'd have the dairy back to herself again.
She stepped into the dairy, leaving him pondering over one of the goats. It wasn't his ego - or the way he did everything so well. It was the weather that made her so irritable. She switched on the radio and picked up the broom. Oh, spring, hurry up. A slow waltz began playing and she closed her eyes, imagining the bright sunlight and flowers bursting from swollen buds. She moved in rhythm with the music, brushing the floor softly as she hummed along.
Suddenly strong warm hands were on her waist, sweeping her into gentle arms. She opened her eyes and gasped as Alex took the broom away and pulled her into the middle of the room.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"We're going to dance." His bronze features were smooth except for the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes. Those eyes were warm, reflecting a mood somewhere between sober and light humor.
"That's silly," she said, hesitantly following his steps.
"Is it?" His deep voice was as soft and warm as his gaze.
He gracefully swung her around. It was silly, but it was also fun. She laughed as she put an arm on his shoulder and fell into step with him. They dipped and whirled and danced around the dairy floor until the music ended.