Substitute Father. Bonnie Winn K.

vanished and he wondered if he’d imagined the transformation.

      “I haven’t thought about burning leaves in years,” Kealey murmured. “It does seem more memorable than stuffing them in garbage sacks.”

      “Funny, the world spins faster in so many ways. But the seasons still change in their own time, un-rushed by frenetic human activity.”

      Again she looked pensive. “I suppose they do. I hadn’t thought about it that way.”

      “We get so caught up in our schedules, there’s not a lot of time to think beyond the moment.”

      “What about you, Luke?” she questioned. “How do you manage to stay apart from the craziness?”

      Surprised, he glanced at her. “I don’t always. But my occupation helps. It’s difficult not to stay in the moment when you’re dealing with sick or hurt animals. They have a way of bringing you back to the basics, to what matters.”

      She averted her face, staring ahead so as not to meet his gaze. “And what matters to you?”

      Luke tried not to let his continuing surprise show. He also wanted to be honest with her. “Probably about the same as everyone else. Family, friends…doing a job that makes a difference.”

      Kealey didn’t reply, but her expression dimmed.

      “How about you?” he asked, wondering why she continued to look so pensive.

      She shrugged. “Like you said, it’s probably the same for most everybody.”

      Somehow, he doubted that, but they’d reached Carmach’s. Opening the door for Kealey, he followed her inside, inhaling the aroma of freshly cooked doughnuts. “I hear those empty calories calling.”

      “You don’t look as though you indulge very often,” she retorted.

      Nor did she. But then he didn’t think of Kealey and indulgences in the same vein. She seemed too stiff and reserved to allow herself to revel in junk food.

      So he was surprised when she ordered two gooey doughnuts for herself. He’d expected her to stick to black coffee.

      She glanced at him. “You did say you wanted to eat here, didn’t you?”

      Luke smiled. “Absolutely.”

      Kealey reached for her wallet.

      He held up one hand in protest. “My treat.”

      “But—”

      “I remember, you pay your own way,” he replied, referring to their only date. “But this was my idea. Humor me.”

      Looking flustered, she replaced her wallet, then accepted a mug of steaming coffee. Luke carried a tray with their doughnuts and his coffee to the table. Once settled, Kealey dug into her selection.

      When she finally looked up, Luke grinned.

      Self-consciously, she dabbed at the corners of her mouth. “Am I wearing most of the filling?”

      “Nope. Most women pick a meal to death like food’s the enemy. You’re a refreshing change.”

      “I suspect that’s a backhanded compliment at best,” Kealey retorted. “But then I’m not like most women.”

      “No,” he admitted, realizing it was true. “You aren’t.”

      Her eyes narrowed. “I also suspect I’d rather not know exactly what you mean by that.”

      “Maybe you’d be surprised.”

      She stopped midbite, removing the doughnut and staring at him. “Does the analysis come with the doughnuts?”

      He shrugged. “I think you have some preconceived notions about me. And I’m not sure whether they’re specific to me, or just to men in general. Either way, I don’t want them to get in the way when dealing with the kids.”

      Something flashed in her eyes, something reminiscent of hurt, but surely he was mistaken.

      “I don’t allow my personal feelings to sway my judgment in regard to the children,” she told him quietly.

      He leaned forward, seeming to unsettle her with his proximity. “They’re great kids, Kealey. Scared, orphaned and uncertain, for sure. But I’d like to do something about that—I mean until some family member is found.”

      She met his gaze, searching. After several seconds had passed, she picked up her napkin, dabbing at the frosting on her lips. “Then I suppose you’d better buy those backpacks.”

      For a moment Luke simply stared, wondering if he’d heard correctly. “Does this mean I have temporary custody?”

      She sighed. “For a smart man, you’re being a little thick today.”

      He felt the grin that split his face. Leaning even closer, he reached forward, grasping her shoulders. “I could kiss you!”

      Startled, her eyes widened.

      Releasing his grasp, he leaned back. “Sorry. Guess my enthusiasm got the best of me.”

      Kealey nodded, but her formal, professional demeanor was firmly back in place. “That’s all right. But you need to understand that this situation is strictly temporary. Either the children’s relatives will be located within a short time or they will be placed in a two-parent home. And that’s something I won’t budge on.”

      Meeting her gaze, he realized just how set she was on those conditions. Which meant he had two options. Resign himself to the inevitable, or win Kealey over. He picked up his coffee mug, meeting her gaze with a noncommittal one of his own. Resignation wasn’t part of his makeup. Now, he just had to learn what made Kealey tick. And that talent was one he possessed.

      CHAPTER THREE

      KEALEY WASN’T CERTAIN how Luke had talked her into going shopping with him. Yet they were standing in front of the display of backpacks, discussing their merits.

      “This looks like a good standard style,” Luke mused, pointing to one. “And it’s roomy enough for Brian who’ll probably have more to carry.”

      He picked up a navy-colored one. “This comes in both large and small versions. That way no one can disagree over the style. I could get them in different colors so they won’t get mixed up.”

      “Hmm,” she responded, her eyes on a girlish, pink model.

      “Don’t you agree?”

      Kealey held up the one she’d been eyeing. “Well, actually, I think Hannah might prefer something like this. It’s probably closer to the kind the girls carry.”

      He studied it. “Do you think she’ll really care?”

      Kealey’s throat tightened, remembering how desperately she had wanted to fit in with the other girls when she’d been growing up, how impossible that had been. Her clothes and accessories had screamed outsider as clearly as a label would have.

      Luke reached for the pink backpack, then met her gaze. “If you think she’d like this one, we’ll get it. Now, what about Troy?”

      Amazed that he’d so willingly accepted her advice, she felt an unexpected warming, a rush of appreciation for a man so tuned in to children.

      Together they located a backpack emblazoned with a cartoon-character for the youngest child.

      Luke held up the two smaller backpacks. “I have to admit you’re right. The kids will like these much better than the plain variety.” Then he glanced at the sturdy, but unimaginative one he’d selected for the oldest child. “Now, we have to find another for Brian as well.”

      She smiled. “Since you were able to deal with the pink, girly model, I don’t think you’ll have too much trouble with one for Brian.”

      He