The Baby Arrangement. Lisa Dyson

made perfect sense. Maybe this meeting between Bree and him had been accidental all along.

      “So how did you hear about the pop-up?” she asked. “Do you know Pinar?”

      He shook his head. “No, we’ve never met. But, apparently, she takes the same yoga class as my mother. Pinar gave her some tickets for tonight.”

      “Ah, I see. And your mom coerced you into coming,” she surmised with a grin.

      “That about sums it up. When she came into my restaurant today she admitted to having an ulterior motive.”

      “An ulterior motive?” Hannah cocked her head to one side.

      He nodded. “She’s become a matchmaker, hoping for grandchildren. Right now, she’s got Pete and Pinar in her sights.”

      Hannah laughed. “Good for her.” She glanced around the room and then back at Nick. “You said your restaurant? Are you a chef or the owner?”

      “Both.”

      Hannah nodded. “Where is it?”

      He swallowed the last sip of his watered-down soda now that the ice had nearly melted. “It’s called The Fresh Pantry and it’s in Old Town. We serve American classics with a twist, using fresh, local ingredients. Meat loaf, steaks, fried chicken, pastas. Then we have things like spaghetti and tacos that have become Americanized.” He shrugged. “You get the picture.”

      “Sounds great. We’ll have to come by.”

      He took a business card from his wallet and held it out to her. “When you call for a reservation, make sure you mention that you’re a friend of the owner.” He smiled, wondering if she’d bring her friends, including Bree, with her. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that after tonight’s run-in. “How’s the food here?” he asked, instead. “I haven’t had any yet.”

      “Delicious.” She took his arm. “Come on, let’s get you some.”

      He allowed himself to be led, but abruptly stopped when the crowd separated and he came within a few feet of Bree. Roxie and Amber stood with her. From the concerned expressions on their faces, he inferred that something was wrong with Bree.

      “Do you need some air?” Roxie was asking her. That’s when Nick noticed how pale Bree was.

      She didn’t answer as her eyelids fluttered closed. She began to crumple to the floor and would have injured herself on the hardwood if Nick hadn’t stepped forward quickly to catch her.