Hometown Courtship. Diann Hunt

meet for lunch today, I can do it,” Heather said.

      Shifting her keys to her phone hand, Callie’s free fingers searched her jacket pocket for money. “I’m a community servant today, remember? I’ll probably get bologna and water.”

      Heather laughed. “Oh, that’s right. I forgot.”

      “Great. I’m serving time and my attorney forgot. Maybe if my attorney had been a little more—”

      “I wouldn’t go there if I were you. It’s never a good idea to make your attorney mad.”

      Speaking of making her attorney mad, Callie hadn’t told Heather about the new parking ticket. No point in starting her week off on the wrong foot. Besides, she’d pay this ticket on time. It was right in her handbag. Somewhere.

      “Point taken. Listen, I’ve got to go or I’ll be late. Call you tonight.” While Callie stuffed her cell phone back into her handbag, her keys slipped from her fingers and crashed against the tile floor. Just as she reached down to pick them up, her hand fell upon another, much larger, stronger hand.

      “Oh,” she said in surprise. Straightening, she looked up, up, up, until she stared into eyes so inviting that she wanted to RSVP on the spot. “I’m so clumsy.”

      Tall, Dark and Handsome leaned closer, and she caught a whiff of citrus and peppermint.

      “It happens to me all the time.” He smiled, shifted on his leg and tucked his thumb into a belt loop on his jeans.

      Something about the way this man’s dark hair was combed told her nary a stray would be tolerated. He was precise. She liked that in a man.

      Just beyond him she could see the rain had quieted to a soft pattering against the windowpanes. The thunder murmured a romantic chant. Her insides whirled like a gentle breeze. If he lifted her on a white horse, she was so going with him.

      “You’re sure you’re all right?”

      The sincerity in his face and the compassion in his eyes caused her to hiccup. Her hand flew to her mouth, and she mumbled an apology.

      A quirky smile lit up his face, giving him an impish look. “You’d better get some peanut butter for that.”

      She nodded and whipped around. Hiccupping was a family curse from her mother’s side. Staccato hiccups punctuated almost every embarrassing moment. And nothing—not peanut butter or sugar or holding her breath—cured them.

      He tapped her shoulder and she turned back around. “You might want these.” The keys dangled between his fingers.

      The brush of his hand caused her pulse to stumble. Her mind drifted to a summer’s day in a park. She was wearing flowers in her hair and a long, flowing dress. He was pushing her on a swing. They were laughing together—

      “What can I get you today?”

      The nasally voice of the barista shook her loose from her dreaming. She wanted to thwack him. “I’ll take a mocha latte and a—” she started to order her usual peach scone but quickly changed her mind “—fat-free blueberry muffin, please.”

      Boring, no-taste muffin in hand, Callie edged over to wait on her coffee, feeling quite proud of her self-control. Hopefully, Tall, Dark and Handsome had noticed. Unfortunately, when she turned around, her knight in shining armor was gone.

      Maybe she’d exchange her muffin.

      Chapter Two

      Brad cranked up the engine of his old work truck. “You’d better get a grip on things, Brad, old boy, or Ryan will get his way.”

      Tail wagging, tongue hanging, Hammer, his yellow Lab, pranced across the seat. Brad scratched the top of the hound’s head.

      “She was a looker, Hammer.” Brad thought about how soft her golden hair looked against the nape of her slender neck, how the lights of the coffeehouse danced in her blue eyes. Yet there was something in those baby blues—something sobering. Oh, he was reading too much into it.

      “Yes, sir, she sure improved my morning.” The gears groaned and squeaked as Brad shifted them into place and pulled into traffic. Too bad he hadn’t gotten her number, but he’d hardly earned the privilege in that length of time. Besides, he didn’t want to get serious with anyone. Though a couple of dates might have been nice.

      Hammer nudged Brad’s arm.

      “We’ll be there in a minute.” Brad laughed. “It’s gonna be muddy today, though. Probably not a good idea to bring you to the work site.”

      The dog cocked his head sideways and let out a whine. Sometimes Brad wondered if Hammer really could understand him.

      “And to think I went back so I could have that strong espresso.” He sighed. “If only there’d been enough time. But I can’t be late for work, Hammer.”

      Even when it means walking away from a beautiful woman.

      

      Flying high from her chance encounter at the bakery, Callie practically waltzed onto the job site with her coffee and muffin in hand. She didn’t care that it was raining and her hair had gone flat. Let the lightning flash and the thunder rumble. The misty air rejuvenated her. In fact, she didn’t even care that she was holding a fat-free muffin. She took a deep breath. Nothing like a spring rain to make her spirit soar. Absolutely nothing could ruin this day—not even the smell of lumber, which personified her dad and magnified the ache he’d left behind.

      When she stepped up to the circle of people, she noticed a man standing in the middle, his back to her, talking. A Lab sat on his haunches as though listening intently to the man. It tickled Callie to watch the dog. Maybe he was a service dog who actually helped build houses. She stifled a giggle, nibbled on her muffin and took a sip from her coffee cup. He led them into a simple prayer for the day, then dismissed them for coffee and donuts. She’d remember that tomorrow—though she didn’t want to miss another opportunity of possibly running into the hunky guy at the bakery. Maybe Aunt Bonnie could tell her if he was a regular customer. On the other hand, she didn’t want to encourage her aunt’s matchmaking schemes.

      She went to the obvious crew leader to apologize for arriving late. “I’m sorry I’m—”

      The man swiveled around. His dark eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

      Her pulse kicked into full throttle, and she decided right then and there this was the best day ever. Obviously, her aunt had been praying extra hard for her today. “Well, hello. Looks like we meet again.” She gave her most pleasant smile to the man from the bakery.

      His eyes lit up and a grin that put her heart on hold spread across his face. “Well, hello.”

      “Callie Easton reporting for duty.” She stretched out her hand to him.

      His heart-stopping grin faltered.

      Maybe her aunt should try fasting next time.

      He looked at his clipboard, then back at her. “You’re Callie Easton?”

      She wasn’t sure whether to smile or apologize. Call her optimistic, but she could think of worse things. “That’s me.”

      “Brad Sharp. I’m overseeing this project,” he said, his words suddenly tight and professional. He probably had to be that way in front of the others. Okay, she’d play along.

      She wanted to get out a pen and jot down his name, but one look in his eyes told her she would never forget it. All at once she realized her hand was still hanging out there between them, suspended, lonely and cold, while he ignored it completely.

      “I see you got your coffee.” His tone told her he hadn’t gotten his.

      Thankful she had taken the time to polish her nails, she lifted her cup and smiled. “Yes. Everyone will be happy I got it.” She leaned toward him. “I’m not fun to be around if I haven’t had my morning