Handful of Heaven (13 page)

Tenderness filled him. He pulled his truck to a parking spot in front of the diner and checked his reflection in the visor mirror. His hair was still a little damp from his shower at the gym, but he’d had a good day, a good workout and he was looking forward to a good evening—because he’d be seeing Paige in about two minutes.

The evening was cool and bright as he stepped onto the curb and spotted her through the rose-hued window. Sunset blazed overhead, painting the street with a soft glow, and the light seemed to find Paige in the dining room, falling across her lovely face like a touch from heaven.

I’m not ready to care so much so soon.

This was not the take-it-slow, one-step-at-a-time pace that he’d planned. As he pushed through the door and she turned as if she sensed his presence, he felt a click in his heart, like a key turning in a long-unused lock, like a door opening and sunlight flooding inside for the first time. He felt renewed as their gazes locked.

There was no hiding the gleam of warmth that lit her sapphire eyes or the secret quirk of a smile in the corners of her soft mouth. Remembering their kiss, remembering the connection they’d shared last night, he took one step forward and another to his usual seat at the counter.

“I see you found your way here tonight.” Paige brought her smile and a menu. “You know the usual Monday specials, and we also have a grilled salmon special.”

“So, that’s how you’re going to greet me, huh?”

She blushed. “Now you want preferential customer treatment? How about a complimentary soda?”

When she looked down at the counter, as if it held some great interest, he could feel as plainly as if the emotions were his own, her shyness. This was new to them both. “I seem to remember how we said goodbye last night.”

Her cheeks blushed harder, but there was a twinkle in her eye as she reached for the soda cups. “Oh, and you thought you might get something similar with a hello?”

“A guy can hope.”

“This is a place of business, I’ll have you know.” She filled the cup with ice and then cola. “If it’s not on the menu, then it’s not served.”

Okay, he had a sense of humor, too. “So, what do I have to do? Ask for a rain check?”

“Maybe.” She slipped the beverage on the counter in front of him. “I’ll be back. The twins are not having a good day.”

“Is there anything I can do to help you?”

His question took Paige by surprise. He wanted to help her? Evan, I’m going to fall so hard in love with you if you keep saying things like that to me.

The pathway was so familiar, she could probably do an entire shift with her eyes closed tight, but suddenly moving forward seemed to take tremendous effort. It was as if the air had suddenly become heavy and she had to wade instead of walk.

Why did her entire being want to keep her from moving away from this man?

Because something in him drew her and the hold was stronger every time she was around him. She was a practical woman; she always prided herself on her good sense. Those traits seemed to have abandoned her now. One date and she was smitten. One kiss, and she’d hardly been able to focus on her day’s work.

Brandilyn was in deep conversation with the Whitley family at table sixteen. She’d gotten their orders wrong. While the customers had been polite, Brandilyn burst into tears.

Paige laid her hand on the girl’s shoulder, gave her a quick hug, and told her to take a much-needed break. By the time she’d sorted out what had gone wrong and how to fix it, and apologized profusely, several tables had finished and were heading up the aisle to queue up at the front counter to pay.

Instead of her mind being focused on asking Dave through the pass-through window to get a rush on the Whitleys’ changes and hurrying to the till to ring up the sales, what was she doing?

Watching Evan. Noticing the way he sat so strong and straight. How those wide shoulders of his looked solid enough to carry any burden.

What should she do? He was a dream, and she didn’t have time to dream.

T
he next time Paige was able to catch a breath, she noticed Evan’s chair was empty. Brianna was bussing his plate. The rush had hit, she’d been caught in the back, and now, an hour later as the dinner crowd was thinning, he was gone. And she hadn’t gotten the chance to say goodbye.

“He left about five minutes ago.” Dave gave a New York strip a flip on the grill and sprinkled seasoning across it. “Seemed to be looking around, like he was trying to find you to say goodbye. But that’s when the twins’ stepdad came to the back door and you went outside with him. Don’t worry, Evan’ll be back tomorrow.”

“He’ll be back as a customer.”

“As a customer only? Nah, no customer looks at you the way he does.”

“And what way would that be? As someone too busy to talk to him?”

“Nope.” Dave grabbed a baked potato from the warmer. “As a man who’s serious.”

Serious.
There was that word again. She’d never felt she had much in common with Cinderella before, but that’s what this reminded her of. Last night’s outing had been wonderful but it was way out of the ordinary. She was no beauty to make a man fall in love with her. She was no princess. Paige McKaslin had lines on her face, and gray hair she had her hairdresser color, and more responsibility than she would ever have free time.

Last night she’d put her bookkeeping aside to go out with him, thinking she could do it when she came home, and then the twins had landed on her doorstep. The girls had been in tears most of the night, distraught over their stepfather’s drunken behavior and his terrible fight with their mother.

Tonight looked to be filled with even more drama and upset for the girls. And now the bookwork needed urgent attention.

Everything needed urgent attention.

The door swung open, jingling the welcome bell overhead. Paige automatically put a smile on her face, ready to greet whoever had stepped into her family’s diner, and saw with relief that it was Alex and his girlfriend. She’d had a good talk with Beth before the lunch rush and had seen some real character in her. She was willing to work hard, and her reference from Misty at the drive-in was stellar.

“Thank you for hiring me, Mrs. McKaslin.” Beth’s thick hair was tied back at her nape and she’d come in comfortable shoes. “Here’s the paperwork that you wanted, all filled out.”

“You’ll have to call me Paige, since you’re working for me. Go ahead and put your things in back. Alex will show you where. Grab a bin and we’ll start with bussing.”

The teenagers headed off into the back, and Dave had an order up. Paige served the Monday meatloaf special and a cheeseburger to the young married couple she recognized as being new to the area, and hurried to tell the twins they should head on home—to her house. They were emotionally distraught, they’d gotten enough hours in to meet their income needs, and, as she reminded them, they’d had little sleep last night. A little relaxation was in order.

The twins seemed grateful about that, and Paige hugged each girl between ringing up the Redmonds’ dinner, and sent them on their way. She kept an eye on Beth, who looked well practiced at bussing, while she whipped up a milkshake for Alex to nourish him while he studied at a table in back.

Already exhausted, she kept going, relieving Dave at the end of his shift. Taking calls for to-go orders, a follow-up call from Phil, who had put the estimate for the plumbing repairs in the day’s mail for delivery tomorrow, and a frantic call to her CPA at his home, explaining the taxes were going to be, again, a last-minute thing. Good thing he was an understanding sort.

Then there were the bills to gather up to take home, orders to serve, customers to look after, especially old Mr. Corey who’d come in, alone and confused, to meet his wife for sundaes.

Paige sat him down to wait for his Rosie, who’d been buried eight years before, asked Beth not to let him out of her sight, and called his daughter. Shirley was frantic; her dad had wandered out of the house again. Dementia was a cruel enemy, and Paige sat with Mr. Corey trying to comfort him as he became more upset and saddened worrying over why his wife was late, until Shirley and her husband arrived to gently guide him home.

“That’s so sad,” Beth commented as the door swished shut behind the family.

“It is. There’s a list of phone numbers tacked to the wall next to the register. Shirley’s number is on it. Just so you know what to do.”

Paige then seated the Everlys, who were out with their new baby girl. Family, she thought, was not only everything, it was the only thing. She’d taken care of her family for so long, and what would she do when they no longer needed her? She was losing them.

Her son was growing up. Her sister Rachel was now married and living in Florida, with a Special Forces husband and a stepdaughter she was close to. Amy was married and happy, and it was Heath’s job to take care of her now. And her brother? Soldier Ben had finally married his high-school sweetheart and was currently serving in the Middle East.

One day Alex would be like this couple, she thought, as she took their beverage orders and took time to admire their newborn wistfully. Alex would be a strong, good man with a wife and family of his own.

All things change, but somehow the passing of time came bitterly. Maybe it was the punch of sadness over seeing poor Mr. Corey, who could not find his dear wife, and who had spent the last three years, as his mind deteriorated, looking for her always.

While she was sorry for Mr. Corey’s condition, she couldn’t help thinking what a great love he must have known. Real love. She believed in it.

She wasn’t so sure if she believed it was possible for her. Or was it?

It was such a risk. Relationships failed all the time. Her gaze strayed to the chair where Evan usually sat in the evenings, occupied now by a couple of junior-high girls downing milkshakes and giggling.

When she was near to him, it seemed easier somehow to believe—just a little. The day was brighter, the shadows gentler with him nearby.

But now, as the night deepened and the demands of life remained, she didn’t know how if she could possibly find the heart—or the faith—to really believe.

Evan pulled his truck to a stop in front of Paige’s ranch house and killed the headlights. The night shadows were so thick, he could see nothing except for the thin line of lamplight between the seams of one of the large picture windows.

He imagined her sitting behind those curtains with her hair falling loose around her face as she bent over her bookkeeping.

His chest cinched up tight. Yep, he definitely had it bad. Whether he wanted to or not. Whether he was ready or not. He cared for the woman. So much for going slow and careful.

He opened the door, and his movements echoed in the stillness around him. He shut the truck door, careful not to spill the contents of the large grocery sack he carried. The night air was chilly, but the pungent aromas of greening grass and rising sap scented the darkness. The change of seasons rustled in the limbs overhead like a promise.

Paige. He could see her through the crack in the curtains. She sat at the kitchen table with paperwork spread out all around her feeding numbers into an adding machine. Her head was bent to her task with her dark hair spilling over her shoulders and hiding most of her face. Those dark rich strands shone like burnished silk in the lamplight, and he’d never seen anything more beautiful than this woman. His spirit stilled.

She’s the one.
He felt the truth deep in his soul. She’d brought him back to life.

He rapped lightly on the door. He could see her look up from her work and squint in his direction. Their gazes met. He felt her intake of breath and watched her eyes widen in surprise and then pleasure. Her smile was enough to jump-start his heart. She pushed away from the table, rising in her graceful, confident way and disappeared from his sight.

When the door opened, it was all he could do not to draw her into his arms and never let go. “Surprise. Someone has had a long work day.”

“Longer than most, not that I’m complaining.” She swept a shock of lustrous hair out of her eyes and stepped back, as if to welcome him in.

He stepped into the warmth and the light. “I’ve come to interrupt you.”

“Good. I’m trying to come down with a headache.”

“Accounting will do that. There is a remedy.”

“I’m afraid to ask.”

“Lead me to your kitchen and I’ll show you.”

“I’m not sure I should let you into my house. Maybe you should turn around and go back where you came from.”

His eyes laughed at her as he closed the door. “Smart woman. But if you don’t let me in, you’ll never know what you missed.”

“Oh, I’m not falling for that. I’m perfectly aware of what you want.”

“I came to collect on my rain check. Remember?”

Oh, she remembered, all right. He’d wanted a hello kiss at the diner right in the middle of the dinner rush. “I don’t seem to recall that kisses were offered on the menu.”

“Something so rare and fine wouldn’t be.”

It was a sweet thing, how he came to her. Her heart fluttered with longing. It seemed unbelievable that he was here, that his warm hand was twining with hers, but this moment was real in a day that hadn’t been the best.

Every heartache, every trouble, every worry eased as he brushed his lips across hers. And then there was only the silence of her soul, and a single moment of perfection.

When he moved away, it was as if he took a piece of her heart with him.

She was falling for him, and if she wasn’t careful, she was going to fall so hard, she would never be able to get up again. What if this didn’t work out? True love took time. Strong relationships took work. She couldn’t go rushing into something she couldn’t trust.

It was smarter to take a step back. “Now that you’re here, can I get you something? I have hot tea.”

He set the bag on the entryway table and stepped behind her. “Tea is fine, but let’s get something straight. You will not wait on me.”

“I won’t?”

His hands settled onto her tense shoulders and began to knead at the knots there. “Did you stop long enough to eat supper?”

“I’ve been busy. I’m shorthanded down at the diner—”

“I bet you’re always shorthanded at the diner. That’s no excuse not to take care of yourself.” His fingers dug into the sore flesh around her vertebrae.

I could stand here forever. She let her eyes drift shut. She hadn’t realized her neck muscles were so tight. Stress, that’s what it was. She knew she needed to slow down, but there would be time for that later. She had to get the diner in good enough shape to sell it. And once the business was off her shoulders, then she could take time.

But until then, all she could see was full steam ahead. It was as simple as that. As wonderful as Evan’s neck massage was, she told herself that she didn’t have time for closeness.

Or maybe, a small truthful voice said inside her, it was safer to step away.

“Did you want to come into the kitchen?” She took a step, twisting to break his hold, but his grip was like iron.

“I want you to take five minutes off.” His words tingled against her ear. “I’ll stay and help you for five minutes to make up for time lost.”

“What do you know about bookeeping, exactly?”

“Uh, nothing. But what I lack in knowledge, I make up for in the willingness to work.” His fingers stilled, and his hand settled against the curve of her neck, a heavy, possessive touch.

It was nice. It took every ounce of willpower she owned not to lean into him. Not to move closer. It was what she wanted so much. “Tea. I’ll pour some tea. What’s in the sack?”

He grabbed it with his free hand as he steered her toward the kitchen archway. “I noticed when I was at the diner that you were pretty busy. It’s my guess that you work all evening serving other people their meals and never take the time to get dinner for yourself.”

Good guess. But was she going to admit that? No! “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. I eat when I’m hungry. And when I can fit it in.”

“Not good enough.” Evan set his grocery bag on the counter and released his hold on her.

She stepped away with an odd sense of disconnection. Distance was what she wanted, but as she handed down two cups from the overhead cabinet, her heart wasn’t so sure. She had to take down the tall walls she’d built so thick and sturdy that she would be safe from every harm.

Well, not
every
one. Evan. There he was in the edge of her peripheral vision, pulling covered plates from inside the paper sack. His powerful masculinity shrinking the large kitchen until he was all she could see. Every breath felt squeezed into her too-tight chest. She didn’t want to feel this way. She couldn’t help feeling this way.

He moved behind her and took the cups from her, his touch like warm steel against her. His voice was an intimate hush against her ear. “Take five minutes off. I meant it. Now go sit.”

“I
am
taking five minutes off. You don’t see me working do you?”

“This is what you do all day. Go to the table and let me do this for you. Please.”

She twisted around to get a better look at him, and the affection she saw on his handsome face made something melt inside her. She was afraid it was a section of her defensive walls, and that just couldn’t be good. “This is my kitchen. I don’t take orders from men here.”

“There’s a first for everything.” Humor tugged at his mouth as he leaned to brush a kiss to her forehead.

Sheer tenderness. It flowed from him and into her heart like the rising of a tide.

“You like honey and cream, right?”

She blinked up at him, her mind strangely blank. Oh, in her tea. “Uh, yes.”

Call her stunned, but he was actually working around her. He poured the tea and then opened the fridge for the small container of half-and-half. Her taxes were calling her, but for some reason she didn’t care so much about the work needing to be done as about the man moving around her kitchen. See why it was a bad idea to let a man into her life?