Page 20 of The Wedding Favor

“Maybe I can’t stay away from you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I’m a real charmer.”

He grinned. A few strands of his hair had escaped his messy attempt to tie it back. With his hair like this, the gauges in his ears were impossible to miss.

In Two Harts, nobody missed anything.

For example, the three people sitting at the counter were staring at him and not bothering to hide it. One of them clutched her purse to her chest, her expression somewhere between fear and curiosity. I recognized her as the mother of a couple of kids I’d gone to school with. She was one of those stay-at-home, PTA mom types who volunteered at every opportunity, never forgot a holiday party or spirit week, and upon discovering a kid had a working mom said things like, “You poor thing. You know she’d be here if she could.”

She was so busy staring at Abe, she didn’t see me round the counter and slam down a coffee mug in front of her. With a squeak, she pressed a hand to her chest.

“Coffee?” I asked sweetly.

“No, thank you.” Her voice was not so sweet. “Water is fine.”

I quickly poured her a glass and slid it in front of her. “Seriously, Ilene, put your purse down. He’s not going to steal your lipstick and cough drops.”

Ilene had the decency to blush. With a huff, she set her purse on the counter next to her glass of water and the fruit bowl she’d ordered. Why a person would come to a diner that served pancakes any way you could imagine only to order fruit was beyond me.

“I didn’t think that at all.” She dug into her purse, her eyes fastened on me. “I was just looking for…” From the depths of her bag, she pulled out a curling iron. “This.”

I rolled my eyes. “Right.”

Two Harts was one of those towns you’d picture in a Hallmark movie with the shop-lined Main Street and quirky town folk, except we never got snowed in and no lawyers had given up big city life to run a failing bed and breakfast only to butt heads with the local lumberjack. Most people made just enough money to survive and every now and then get a beer with friends. There were good people here, but they were sheltered. Sometimes in small towns, different wasn’t better, it was something to be kept at arm’s length and examined from every angle before deciding if it was accepted.

Abe was different.

“Hey.” I turned back to Abe. “Can I get you something?”

He nodded at Ilene and she hastily looked away. “No, I’m good. I wanted to let you know I checked out your car.”

“It’s not good news, is it?” I rubbed my forehead. I really needed some chocolate right now. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure how that car was still running, to be honest.”

“Spite.” I caught Ilene staring again and shot her a dirty look.

A corner of his mouth curled into a lopsided grin. “I could fix it.”

“Do that. Just tell me how much.” I’d have to dip in my savings, but it had to be done. I could only stand the barely working air conditioner in Mae’s car for so long. I wanted to keep as much money in my savings account for… well, I wasn’t sure yet, but I’m sure it involved money.

“Maybe more than the car is worth.”

I groaned.

“But I think I can find some refurbished parts and make it work.”

“Really?”

“It shouldn’t be too hard, and it will save a little. I’ll even discount the labor.” He leaned a hip on the edge of counter.

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I don’t mind.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “There was something I wanted to ask you. You know that favor you owe me?”

“Yeah?” I eyed him suspiciously.

“I am looking for someone to watch Hallie and I thought…”