Maverick for Hire. Leanne Banks

no,” Nick said, quickly cutting him off and scooting a chair toward the table. “So, you like school, Sara?”

      Will cleared his throat. “Princess Sara,” he corrected.

      “Oh,” Nick said. “So, you like school, Princess Sara?”

      She nodded and pointed at two tiny teapots. “Would you like tea or water?” she whispered.

      “Tea is Kool-Aid,” Will said. “She’s giving me water because of the diabetes.”

      “Smart girl. I would like water, please. Princess Sara,” he added.

      She gave him a shy smile and poured a tiny cup full of water for him. Nick ate a cookie and made conversation with Will and Sara then said he had to go. Will walked him to the door.

      “Thanks for indulging her,” Will said in a low voice. “She’s been asking for her mother lately.”

      Nick nodded sympathetically. He knew that the children’s mother had died in an automobile accident when Sara was just a baby. “That’s tough. Are you sure there isn’t something I can do?”

      “Not unless you can send a woman out here when Sara’s wanting female companionship,” he said.

      “You’re doing good,” Nick said and patted the man on his back. “You wear that apron well. With all the women in town from this gal rush, you would think I could find one for you.”

      Will shook his head. “Not for me,” he said. “I’m way past time for romance. I just wish I could find someone to help Sara when she’s feeling down.”

      Nick nodded. “I’ll see what I can do,” he said. “You call me if you need anything, you hear?”

      “I’ll remember your offer. Thanks for stopping by,” Will said.

      Nick returned to the rooming house with the Duncan family on his mind. As soon as he entered he smelled something baking in the kitchen. Although Melba did a lot of the cooking, she’d hired a part-time woman to help since the rooming house had always been full since the flood. Melba also gave Cecelia free rein in the kitchen. Cecelia usually doubled her recipes in return for the use of the kitchen.

      Nick’s mouth watered. If Cecelia had baked something, he was going to be first in line for any extras. That woman could cook. He strode into the kitchen and saw a batch of cupcakes cooling on a rack while Cecelia bent over to pull more from the oven. Nick eyed Cecelia’s backside appreciatively then shook his head at himself and focused on the cooling cupcakes. He shouldn’t be feeling these kinds of feelings for Cecelia. He was influenced by the scent of her baking. That was it, he told himself. Besides, these cupcakes didn’t look as if they needed frosting to him.

      “Don’t even think about it,” Cecelia said as she turned around. “These are for the elementary school kids. They’re having a Harvest Festival and I’m donating fifty cupcakes.”

      “Don’t you need a taste tester? You need to make sure they’re up to snuff. I can help with that.”

      Cecelia rolled her eyes.

      “Tell the truth. You’re making extra. You always make extra,” he said.

      “You act like you’re deprived, but I know you have a different woman cooking for you every other night,” she said.

      “None of them cook as well as you do,” he said.

      “Flattery,” she muttered. “Okay, you can have one, but I’m not frosting them until—”

      “Don’t need frosting,” Nick said, then grabbed the nearest one and took a big bite.

      “I’m surprised you don’t have a date tonight,” she said.

      “I canceled,” he admitted. “I’m going to be working a lot more on the lodge, so I’m going to have to rework the rest of my schedule.”

      “Oh, poor Nick. No admiring ladies for a while,” she said.

      “I didn’t say none. Just less,” he said. “I also stopped by Will Duncan’s to check on him.”

      Sympathy immediately softened Cecelia’s gaze. “Oh, how is he doing? I stopped by with a meal last month, but I haven’t been back.”

      “He could use some female companionship,” Nick said, and finished eating the cupcake.

      Her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, really?”

      “Not so much for him, but for that little kindergartner. Poor guy was wearing a pink feather boa to get his granddaughter out of a funk,” he said in a lowered voice.

      She bit her lip in smothered amusement. “Now, that’s a man,” she said. “A veteran grandfather dressing in feathers for his granddaughter. It doesn’t get better than that.”

      “Well, I joined the tea party, but drew the line with the feathers. Thank goodness she was a little afraid of me or I would have been wearing a tiara, too,” he muttered.

      “What I would give to see that. Better yet to get a photo and share it with the world,” she said in a wistful voice.

      Nick narrowed his eyes at her. “You are a tough woman,” he said. “Maybe you should act a little softer. That might help you get a couple dates.”

      Cecelia snorted. “If I’m too tough for a guy, then he’s not the right one for me.”

      “Maybe you shouldn’t be so picky,” he said, eyeing the cupcakes.

      “I’m doing okay,” she said. “Brent Mullins took me for wings yesterday afternoon.”

      Nick frowned. “Brent Mullins. That name is familiar.”

      “He’s a supervisor at the mill. He moved out of town for a while after he and his wife split. He’s back now because he doesn’t want to be too far from his son.”

      “Hmm,” Nick said, unable to keep the disapproval. “So he’s divorced. Are you sure you want that kind of baggage?”

      “Look who’s being picky now,” she said. “He seems nice enough. He coaches his son’s soccer team.”

      “Well, you be careful. I don’t want you getting your heart set on him,” he warned.

      “I’m surprised you’re so concerned. You told me I need to be softer and nicer,” she said.

      “Not with the wrong guy,” he said then glanced again at the cupcakes. “Can I have just one more?”

      “Okay,” she said in a mock grudging voice. “You are such a kid when it comes to sweets. While I’m at it, I’ll make an extra batch for the Duncan kids.”

      “I’ll deliver them,” he offered, reaching for his second cupcake.

      “That’s okay. I’ll find another way,” she said.

      “Why?” he asked.

      “Because I want the cupcakes to arrive intact,” she told him in a crisp voice. “Not half-eaten.”

      * * *

      The next morning, Cecelia crossed paths with Beth Crowder, the part-time cook at the rooming house, as Cecelia loaded her car with cupcakes for the elementary school.

      “Hey there,” Beth said. “Those cupcakes look awfully good. You’ve been a baking machine.”

      Cecelia smiled at the friendly middle-aged woman. “Last night I was,” she added. “I made an extra batch for the Duncans after I talked with Nick. Will Duncan sure has taken on a lot with his grandchildren. It may not be much, but the kids will enjoy these. Oh, darn,” she said. “Will has diabetes. What was I thinking sending these cupcakes to them?”

      “The kids can have them,” Beth said and thought for a moment. “He can have fruit and nuts. He would be able to share