Startled, and a little embarrassed at having been caught, she jerked - and got another ornament in the eye for her trouble.
"Tom!" She blinked rapidly, trying to soothe her eye. "Where'd you-" Then she broke off and fixed him with her good eye. "You watched me suffer and didn't help?" She slackened her arms so he could take her plants. "Please do take these - so I can swat you."
But the corner of her mouth was turned up, amused, even though her nose was still tingling and her eye was now stinging.