Angel Smits - Last Chance At The Someday Café

How many secrets can one man really have?

Tara Hawkins may be the baby of the family, but she’s ready to prove to her siblings she can make it on her own. And she’s betting everything on the success of her diner. Trucker Morgan Thane quickly becomes a repeat customer...and a tempting distraction she can’t afford. The energy between them is overwhelming, yet Tara wonders just how she can trust a man who is hiding so many secrets—a man who’s almost out of hope. When she discovers his heartbreaking reason for being in Haskins Corners, her feelings for him only grow. And the deeper she falls, the closer Tara comes to losing her dream and her heart.

“Are you going to answer me?”

Morgan wanted to reach over and haul Tara close. He knew he had to resist, but what a temptation she was. He ached. He knew he had to face her, had to look at her, had to tell her the truth and risk—no, probably guarantee—it would push her away.

“Go home, Tara. Or back to the diner,” he said softly, slowly turning his head to look at her, clenching the steering wheel in a death grip.

“Not until you answer me.” She settled into the truck’s seat. “Are you coming back?”

The silence was thick. “No. Coming back would be a mistake.”

It took her a while to digest that. “Why?” she finally whispered.

Morgan’s heart sank to somewhere deep in his gut. He paused, not wanting to see the reaction on her face, not wanting to see her hurt, anger or disappointment. He squared his shoulders. The words sat bitter in his stomach before he let them go.

“Tara. I’m...married.”

Dear Reader,

The A Chair at the Hawkins Table series continues with Tara and Morgan’s story. If you’ve read my other books, you’ve met Tara. Her talent and desire to cook great meals for the people she loves is a big part of what defines her.

When I sat down to figure out her story, I struggled with what kind of man would be her forever love.

At that time, I’d reconnected with a childhood friend on social media and we were revisiting a ton of memories from the old neighborhood. My friend was the youngest child in her family, just like Tara, and her father was a trucker who was often gone for long stretches at a time.

It occurred to me that the man for Tara would come into her life through her cooking. The Someday Café and Morgan were born with that realization. I saw him in my imagination sitting on that stool at the end of the counter—just like where Tara first meets him.

I hope you enjoy Tara and Morgan’s story, and visit the rest of her extended family, here and in their respective books. They really are quite a family.

Please feel free to contact me at angel@angelsmits.com, www.angelsmits.comor at 5740 N Carefree Circle, Suite 120-4, Colorado Springs, CO 80917.

Angel Smits

Last Chance at the Someday Café

Angel Smits

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ANGEL SMITS shares a big yellow house, complete with gingerbread and a porch swing, in Colorado with her husband, daughter and Maggie, their border collie mix. Winning the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Award was the highlight of her writing career, until her first Harlequin book hit the shelves. Her social work background inspires her characters while improv writing allows her to torture them. It’s a rough job, but someone’s got to do it.

This is for all the kids who grew up with me in the old neighborhood. Lisa, Barry, Larry, Greg, Debbie, Matt, Dan, Julie, Steve, Janet, Jamie, Colleen, Betty and April. Riding bikes, running the streets, climbing trees, shooting fireworks and trick-or-treating were that much more fun with all of you. Thanks for the memories.

And to Ron, for making being a grown-up just as much fun!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

TARA HAWKINS WALKED in through the front door of her childhood home for the last time. She’d only been here a couple times since Mom’s funeral, and now the house had sold. Tomorrow, someone else would start a new life here.

But tonight, one last time, it was theirs.

The foyer was empty. No coats on the hall tree. No shoes distractedly kicked off. The living room beyond was just as empty. Everything was stripped from the walls. No pictures. No furniture. Only the curtains at the front window fluttering in the breeze. It looked abandoned.

Her running shoes slapped against the newly polished wood floor. She kept moving, hurrying down the hall to escape the emptiness that threatened to reach out and suck her in.

Tonight, everyone was supposed to be here—all five of her siblings, maybe a couple in-laws and at least one nephew, possibly two. She was the last to arrive—again. They’d all give her a rough time about it. As usual. But this time, she had an excuse. She didn’t want to be here. But then, neither did they. Not really.

They’d gather in the kitchen. The big kitchen had always represented home to Tara. She heard their voices in a harmonic flow that reached to her and soothed her grief.

Wyatt’s deep growl. Mandy’s high-pitched voice cooing to little Lucas. DJ’s laughter mingled with Jason’s soft chuckles. She didn’t hear Addie, which meant... Tara hustled down the hall.

Addie stood at the counter, a big glass bowl of cookie dough in front of her, and scattered tools that she’d obviously brought with her at her elbow. Addie made the best cookies. Looked like there would be one last batch made here in Mom’s kitchen.

Playful cheers went up as Tara entered. “About time,” DJ teased.

“I was hoping to get her share of the cookies,” Wyatt added with mock disappointment.

“Very funny.” Tara rolled her eyes as she snagged one of the folding chairs. The dining table was staying with the house, too big and heavy to move, and the new owner, according to Addie, was happy to have it. All the chairs, however, were gone. When Mom had passed away, the chairs had been precious reminders of home. They’d each taken theirs with them. Tara’s was in the spare bedroom of her apartment.

But she had plans for it. Such big plans. Her stomach flipped as she settled next to DJ. They didn’t know. Well, most of them didn’t know. Jason, her older brother and one of the smartest attorneys she’d ever met—and she was only slightly biased—knew. She’d consulted him and sworn him to secrecy. He’d never violate lawyer-client privilege—even for family.

He winked at her, and she mentally grinned. She sat back and watched Addie work, enthralled with her sister’s confident actions. Was that what Tara looked like in her own kitchen? She hoped so.

She’d grown up helping their mother cook, and it had been the one thing she’d shared with Mom. Her sisters helped with big meals like holidays, but mostly it had been just Tara and Mom. The ache in her chest eased just a bit as she watched her big sister step into Mom’s role.

“I’ve never asked you where you got that recipe.” It hadn’t been Mom’s.

Addie shrugged. “I made it up.”

“You what?”

“Yeah.” Addie looked over her shoulder and smiled at Tara’s surprise. “You’re not the only cook in the family.”