The Family He Didn't Expect. Shirley Jump

and beautiful and light-years out of his league. He should take the hint and leave her be.

      Instead, he reached into the fridge for the jelly before she could grab it. “An extra set of hands makes the job go faster,” Dylan said. “I have no doubt you are fully capable of making a couple dozen sandwiches all by yourself. But there are hungry kids out there who don’t care who’s slapping on the peanut butter, just as long as it’s ready yesterday.”

      She glanced at the teenagers, who were watching the whole conversation from where they sat. At the same time, Mavis finished the book she was reading, and the little kids scrambled to their feet and dashed to sit at the tables. Mavis waved toward the door, a question in her face, and Abby nodded. “Okay. But only because the kids shouldn’t have to wait.”

      It wasn’t exactly her saying she’d been so charmed by his smile that she couldn’t say no, but he’d take it.

      Dylan slipped in beside her. Jake handed his mother a piece of bread, Abby slathered peanut butter on it, then Dylan spread jelly across the surface and topped it with a second slice of bread. “Are you always this difficult to help?” he asked.

      “I’m not difficult. It’s just...” She handed him the next piece of peanut-buttered bread. “In my experience, it’s better to do things on my own than to count on someone else to help.”

      Someone had let this woman down. More than once. Dylan wouldn’t consider himself Mr. Dependable, but he was the kind of guy who kept his word. He made three more sandwiches before he spoke again. “Well, maybe you’ve been counting on the wrong people.”

      She sent him a sideways glance. “Or maybe it’s just better to count on myself. No surprises that way.”

      “Maybe. Or maybe not.” He slapped the last piece of bread onto the final sandwich, then pulled a knife out of the drawer and cut the stacks in half.

      “Diagonal,” Abby said softly. “That’s how my mom did it.”

      “Mine, too.”

      They shared a glance for a heartbeat, heat filling the space between them, then she spun toward the fridge and filled a tote with juice boxes. A second later, they’d put the snacks onto the sill between the kitchen and the main room. The kids descended like locusts, and before Dylan could blink, every last crumb was gone. Jacob wolfed down half a sandwich, then dashed off with the others to play with a bucket of Legos. That left Dylan and Abby alone in the kitchen.

      “Well, I’d say you got a five-star rating on your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.” Dylan retrieved the empty tray and put it in the sink.

      A grin flickered across her face. “Maybe I should add that to my résumé.”

      “Seems to me like you’re the kind of girl who already has one hell of a résumé.”

      Interest sparked in her eyes. “And what makes you say that?”

      “Because you are smart and talented. Not to mention beautiful, which isn’t a résumé thing, I know, but—” He stopped before his mouth ran away from him.

      Her gaze narrowed. “Are you making a pass at me?”

      “I’m...” Was he? He wasn’t sure. He wasn’t in town long, and even if he was staying, he wasn’t a guy who did long-term. Abby was completely out of his league and definitely had long-term written all over her. That reality reined him back in. “Just making an observation.”

      “Oh. Well, uh, thank you. That’s...that’s very nice of you to say.” She spun away from the sink and started loading the leftover juice boxes back into the refrigerator.

      Dylan knew a brush-off when he saw one, and Abby had just flicked him off like a cobweb on her shoulder. Dylan gave Abby one more look, then headed back out to the main room.

      * * *

      Abby washed the platter and knives, then dried them and stored them on the shelves of the kitchen. She glanced around the room and noticed the peeling paint, the nearly bare shelves, the broken cabinets, the missing chunk of countertop. She’d been bringing her kids here for a year and had never seen it this...lonely. When Virginia had been alive, the kitchen had been full and sparklingly clean. Now it just seemed tired.

      Dylan stuck his head in the door. “Hey, we’re closing soon. Do you need anything?”

      “No. But I think this place does.” She let out a sigh. “Things started falling apart when Virginia got sick, but since she died...it just hasn’t been the same around here.”

      Dylan came inside and let the door swing shut behind him. “My aunt Virginia was one of a kind.”

      “I didn’t know her long, but I’d agree with you. She was like a second mother to the kids.” Abby folded the dish towel in thirds and laid it on the counter. Maybe it was his help with the sandwiches, maybe it was seeing him try so hard to talk to Cody, but Abby found herself opening up ever so slightly. “When I first started coming here with the boys, Virginia was the one who connected with Cody. Jacob, he’s the kind of kid who connects with anyone, but Cody...he hasn’t been the same since his father left.”

      Dylan leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked so solid there, like the kind of guy she could lean against. “My aunt was like that with me, too. I didn’t get along with my dad, and Uncle Ty and Aunt Virginia became more like my parents.” Dylan shifted his weight. “How long has it been since Cody’s dad left? Sorry. Ty told me a little about your situation.”

      She should have been angry. Abby tended to keep her personal life to herself. But she saw something in Dylan, something that reminded her of her boys. He had, after all, gotten Ty’s stamp of approval which wasn’t given to just anyone. Maybe this guy knew something about how hard it was for her to be mom, dad and breadwinner all at the same time. Or maybe she’d just liked the way he smiled at her earlier. In a day filled with stress, that had made her feel good for a second.

      “You want to hear about the first or the second time?” She shook her head. “I was stupid enough to take him back and try again. He was gone again the day I found out I was pregnant with Jacob. Despite all the promises he made, when it came down to it, my ex wasn’t exactly interested in being a father.” She shrugged, like it was no big deal. She’d gotten over the hurt long ago, but there were days when she wanted to throttle the boys’ father for the looks of disappointment in their eyes. He’d barely done more than send a birthday card while Cody was growing up, but she’d thought Keith had changed during those few months when he came back. Believed him when he said he wanted a second chance. She’d foolishly thought maybe having Jacob would change things. It hadn’t.

      “Well, at least the boys got a great mother,” Dylan said.

      She didn’t feel that great on the days when she got truancy notices about Cody and difficult questions from a curious Jake who was beginning to notice he didn’t have a father. “And how do you know I’m a great mother?”

      “I don’t. But your kids seem to be good kids, and that doesn’t happen by accident.” He pushed off from the counter and crossed to her. “I’ve never had kids, but I know how important it is to have a good influence in your life.”

      This was not a topic Abby wanted to discuss. All it did was remind her of how she had picked the wrong man—twice. She averted her gaze and concentrated on wiping up some crumbs. “It’s great that you’re helping Ty.”

      “Yeah, well, I’m not really doing much.”

      He seemed embarrassed by the praise. She wanted to know why, if he was just a naturally humble guy or if he didn’t think he deserved it. But she didn’t ask, because she had enough on her plate and caring about one more person would tip her over the edge.

      Cody was a minute away from being kicked out of school. Jake was doing okay, but he was having trouble paying attention in preschool, and she was worried that he was going to end up following his older brother down a difficult path.