brilliance, the sun glinting off the snow on the back of the Petersons' auto-yard shed. Paula stepped out into the alley, ignoring the wind cutting through the light sleeves of her blouse and raising goosebumps on her legs under her waitress skirt. She closed the door behind her and took a few deep breaths.
She was a middle-aged, divorced mother of two. She was too old and too jaded and most of all, too sensible to be mooning over a sexy stranger.
But what a stranger to moon over. She could still hear the deep, growly vibration in his voice, shivering all the way down to her toes.
Stop it. There has got to be a reason why a guy like that is taking care of the Rugers' kids instead of married with kids of his own.
She'd already had to deal with one fixer-upper. She didn't need another.
Even if he was absolutely gorgeous.
Dan
He had found his mate and chased her away by dropping a full bottle of ketchup on her floor and then dumping most of it into her hands. She had vanished into the kitchen and hadn't come out, not even to bring Sandy his Coke.
Inflicting three screaming kids on her probably hadn't helped either.
Well ... two screaming kids, neither of which was screaming now. Mina was coloring happily and Lulu had fallen back asleep. Sandy was engrossed in his game. Still bundled in his coat, he looked like a hunched-over little monk at the table.
"You sure you wouldn't be more comfortable with your coat off?" Dan asked, mopping industriously.
"Nope," Sandy said. Only the tip of his nose was showing and the game was three inches from his eyes.
"Watch your sisters while I put this back, okay?"
"Mmm-hmm."
Dan kept an eye on them anyway while he returned the bucket, mop, and paper towels where he'd gotten them from. He washed his hand in the bathroom with the door open—it was a small unisex bathroom that opened off the main dining area—and then went back to the table.
Still no mate. If he hadn't had the kids to keep an eye on, he would be tempted to go into the back and see if he had upset her.
Don't be ridiculous. She didn't act upset. She's just busy. Also, having a total stranger chase her into the kitchen is probably not going to make the best impression.
Then the swinging doors opened and his angel in a waitress apron breezed out again, and all rational thought flew out of his head.
She was carrying a large plastic cup in one hand and a small plate in the other. "I'm sorry this took so long, honey," she told Sandy, putting the cup in front of him. She set the plate of chicken fingers in front of Mina, which involved leaning over the table. A wave of her perfume came with it, something light and fresh and sweet. "The burgers will be up in a couple of minutes. Anything else I can get for you folks?"
"You could sit down and talk for a minute," Dan suggested. His bear was nearly paralyzed at her nearness, and he couldn't believe his own boldness. "Not if it'll get you in trouble at work or anything. But I'm new in town, and ..."
He floundered, running out of things to say, but she was smiling, really smiling, crinkling up her eyes and turning his chest inside out. "No boss to worry about. I own the place."
"That's amazing," Dan said honestly.
Her cheeks turned pink. "Amazing is a bit strong for it. I grew up working at the diner and inherited it from my parents when they retired and moved to Florida."
"So you've been running or helping run a successful business for decades. That's even more amazing."
Now she was even pinker. It contrasted beautifully with her blue eyes and curls. "I thought I was the one who was supposed to flatter you, if I'm angling for a good tip. Not to give away trade secrets or anything."
"I wasn't angling. Just telling the truth."
"Well, one thing I can tell you for sure, Dan the Manny, is that we're happy to have you here in Autumn Grove."
The bell at the door tinkled. Paula turned toward it, a bright, welcoming smile settling onto her face. It didn't seem any less genuine than her usual smiles, and Dan thought that she seemed like a natural to run a small-town diner like this. She clearly liked her customers, and liked people in general.
Then the welcome smile dropped off her face, replaced by