Pamela Stone - Second Chance Dad

Hanna stood and stretched. “Good morning, Mackenzie. Ashton is spending the weekend with his father. He won’t be home until late tomorrow evening.”

Shrugging, Mackenzie selected a comic book off the shelf and studied the front cover. “I knew that. But I thought maybe he’d come home early.” Mackenzie placed the comic book precisely where she’d picked it up, even straightening the arrangement. “Yeah, well, he wasn’t too thrilled with going so I just figured he might’ve gotten out of it.”

Sudden warmth bubbled up inside Hanna. “Dallas is four hours away. Unless something unforeseen happens, he’ll spend the entire weekend. But just for the record, I wasn’t too happy he left either. I miss him.”

Mackenzie jabbed the helmet on her head and buckled the strap. “I figured. So, just tell him to call my cell if he gets back early.”

Hanna’s day brightened. Not that she wanted to deprive Ashton of time with his father, but it was certainly a boost to know he hadn’t been eager to go. She poured another cup of coffee and hummed as she arranged the children’s section to accommodate the little wooden table and benches that had arrived.

She opened an adorable book of bedtime stories and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” chimed from one of those tiny embedded music boxes. Putting thoughts of Ashton out of her mind, she snapped the book shut just as the bell on the front door clanged again. She hoped they’d have this many patrons next week when the store actually opened.

“May I help you?” she asked, standing up from behind the low bookshelf and coming nose to shoulder with Vince Keegan’s Henley T-shirt.

His blue eyes twinkled as he noted the tiny children’s book in her hand. “Kenzie said she stopped by. I wanted to make sure she was on good behavior.”

Hanna carefully placed the book back on the shelf and gave her heart a second to stop fluttering. Why did she let his presence do that to her? “She did stop by. Looked bored.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Now there’s a dangerous combination. Kenzie and boredom.”

“The town should be put on alert, I’m sure.”

Hanna was still grinning as Norma came out of the back room, wiping her hands down the front of her navy knit slacks and leaving streaks of dust. “Did I hear someone come in?”

“Good morning, Norma.” Vince twisted his cap in his hands and turned back to Hanna. “Kenzie tells me Ashton’s in Dallas this weekend. I thought maybe I could persuade you to join me for lunch at the Falls Diner.”

To discuss the kids? Hanna blinked. Lunch with a friend? Lunch as a—gulp—date? He didn’t elaborate. Just lunch.

Remembering the scene the other night at his house when Vince’s knees bumped hers still made her break out in a sweat.

Although her feminine ego was pleased by his invitation, she just wasn’t ready. Her heart still felt numb toward anything that remotely resembled romance. Besides, half the town gathered at the Falls Diner every day for lunch.

What happened at the bustling little diner did not stay at the diner. As in any other small town, the locals gathered at the local eatery as much for the daily gossip as for the food and wonderful selection of homemade desserts.

She watched her mom frown and move to a closer shelf to rearrange the books.

Nodding toward the coffee area in the front of the shop, Hanna led him out of her mom’s earshot. “With Blue bonnet Books so close to opening, I just can’t spare the time.”

“Fair enough.” Tilting his head, he grinned, flashing those deep dimples. “Maybe another time.”

She smiled. When was the last time a sexy guy had unexpectedly asked her out? A sexy guy with just a touch of mischievousness that if she wasn’t careful could suck her in.

For a long moment, he just stood there then pulled a card out of his pocket and handed it to her. “I realized after you left in such a hurry the other night that we didn’t exchange numbers. Just in case.”

Phone numbers? She paused. Not a bad idea, given the kids and all. She grabbed a brochure for the bookstore out of the rack and scribbled her cell number on the front. “Here you go.”

Vince folded the brochure and slid it into the front pocket of his jeans. “Thanks. And Kenzie mentioned a comic book she wanted.”

Hanna grinned. “Let me get it.”

She rang up the comic book and took the money from Vince. Their fingers brushed as he took the bag from her and tingles shot up her arm. She quickly pulled her hand back, rubbing it down her blouse. He’d been a gentleman and not stopped her from leaving the other night. But she reacted to his slightest touch and the worst thing she could do was send out sexual signals she was not ready to follow through on.

He slung the bag by the handle as he backed toward the door. “See ya.”

“See ya.” Hanna stared at his denim-covered ass as he left the shop. The guy did know how to fill out a pair of jeans. “Hmph. What was that all about?”

Norma walked up and followed the direction of Hanna’s gaze. “Heartache in faded denim, if you’re asking me.”

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