That Mccloud Woman. Peggy Moreland

then turned and left the diner.

      

      Alayna let the door to the diner close behind her, then stopped, drawing in a deep breath. Well, she’d expected an “I told you so” from Maudie, and she’d certainly gotten it. Not that it changed anything. She was still out several thousand dollars and left with a half-finished remodeling job.

      Things could be worse, she told herself, looking for the bright side of the situation as she started down the steps. Frank could have taken her money and skipped out on her before he’d made the house livable again. She could at least be thankful for that. After all, she was able to sleep and bathe in her own house, which was, in her opinion, a definite step in the right direction. She could even cook her own meals and no longer needed to take advantage of her cousins’ hospitality. Though she had enjoyed sharing her meals with Mandy, Sam and Merideth in their respective homes, and getting to know their families, the time saved in traveling to and fro gave her the opportunity to tackle other projects. She supposed she had that to be thankful for, as well.

      And there were the—

      “Excuse me, ma’am.”

      Alayna jumped, sucking in a startled breath as a man stepped from the shadow of the diner, blocking her path.

      “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, whipping off his cap and dipping his chin to his chest in apology. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

      Alayna pressed a hand over her heart to still its frantic beating. “You didn’t frighten me.”

      He glanced up, one thick brow arched high over a doubtful eye as he nodded toward the hand she still clutched at her chest. “Could have fooled me.”

      Alayna looked down at her hand, unaware that she had even raised it, then dropped it to her side in embarrassment. She laughed self-consciously as she lifted her gaze to the man’s again. She relaxed a little when she found nothing threatening in his eyes or in his stance. “Well, maybe just a little,” she admitted. She cocked her head, eyeing him curiously. “You were in the diner earlier, weren’t you?”

      He took his cap in both hands, curling and uncurling its bill. “Yea, ma’am, I was. And I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation.”

      Alayna wrinkled her nose. “You mean Maudie’s lecture.”

      He shrugged. “Sounded as if she had your best interest at heart.”

      She rolled her eyes, then sighed. “Yes, I suppose, though I feel rather foolish. Especially since Maudie warned me about Frank.” She angled her head, frowning just a little. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you around before. Do you live in Driftwood?”

      “Oh, no, ma’am,” he answered with a quick shake of his head. “I’m not from around here.”

      “I didn’t think so.” She laughed. “In a town the size of Driftwood, everyone pretty much knows everyone else—and their business,” she added sagely.

      Jack frowned upon hearing her echo his own sentiments about the town, but he was at a loss as how to approach her with the idea that had come upon him earlier as he’d stared out the window at the quiet street. He dropped his hands to his sides and tapped his cap nervously against his thigh.

      Alayna continued to peer at him. “Is there something I can do for you?” she asked helpfully.

      “Well, yes, ma’am, there is,” he began uncertainly. “I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation, and you mentioning that you were going to advertise for someone to complete your remodeling job. I’d like to apply for the job, if you’ll allow me, and save you the trouble of posting an ad.”

      Alayna’s eyes sharpened in interest. “Oh? Are you a carpenter?”

      “Yes, ma’am. I’ve worked in carpentry most of my life. My dad was a carpenter, and he taught me and my brother the trade. I can handle pretty much any job that pops up in a redo. Electrical. Plumbing. Painting. You name it.” He snorted what might pass as a laugh. “I guess you could call me a jack-of-all-trades.”

      Intrigued, Alayna studied him. He was close to her age, maybe a bit older, with strong features, and broad shoulders. Definitely fit enough for the work that would be required of him. She liked to think she was an excellent judge of character and could tell a lot about a person by simply looking into their eyes. That he could meet her gaze squarely attested to his honesty in Alayna’s estimation.

      Yet, there was something in his eyes—or rather lacking in them—that concerned her. There was a sadness, an almost emptiness to the brown depths. Not that that would affect her decision to hire him. It simply intrigued her. There was a story there, a loss or disappointment of some kind that had left him disillusioned and withdrawn. She wondered if he’d share it with her, and wondered further if she could help him deal with it.

      She gave herself a firm shake, forcing her mind to the situation at hand and her heart from the swell of sympathy she felt building.

      She knew Maudie would throw a screaming fit if she discovered that Alayna was considering hiring a complete stranger right off the street, especially after the fiasco with Frank. But Alayna was desperate. She had to find someone to finish the job Frank had started.

      “I pay by the hour, not the job,” she said, then named a figure, watching his reaction.

      He lifted a shoulder. “That’s fine by me.”

      “And I handle the purchase of supplies.”

      “Whatever suits you.”

      “You said you weren’t from around here.”

      “No, ma’am, I’m not.”

      “Then, where would you live?”

      He pursed his lips thoughtfully, then shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’m sure I could find a place.”

      She glanced away, looking down the street and away from him. “There’s a small cabin on my property,” she said thoughtfully. “I lived there until Frank made the house habitable.”

      Since she’d offered the information as a statement and not an invitation, Jack wasn’t sure what kind of response she expected from him, so he remained silent.

      “I suppose you could stay there,” she said, turning her gaze back to him. “It isn’t much, but it offers the essentials.”

      “I’m used to making do.”

      “Are you a man of your word?”

      His chest swelled as if in asking the question she’d insulted him. “My word’s as good as any legal contract you could have drawn.”

      “And I have your word that you’ll see this remodeling job through to its end?”

      He gave his chin a tight jerk of assent. “You have my word. I’ll see the job done.”

      “When can you start?”

      “When do you want me?”

      She arched a brow, a smile teasing one corner of her mouth. “What are your plans for this afternoon?”

      Jack shrugged. “Nothing in particular.”

      She quickly dug pen and paper from her purse, then turned the bag over, bracing it against her stomach while she used its side for a writing surface. “I have a few more errands to run,” she told him as she jotted down directions to her house, “but I should be home by three.”

      She held out the slip of paper and Jack took it, studying her neat handwriting. When he glanced up, he saw that her hand was extended toward him. Along with it she offered him a smile. “I’m Alayna McCloud.”

      Up close, he found her eyes an even deeper blue than he’d thought before, and he quickly decided that a man could probably drown in their depths if he cared to look long and deeply enough. Thankfully Jack didn’t He took her hand, if a bit reluctantly,