personal territory than either of them had predicted. Still, he replied matter-of-factly, “At the time I enlisted, I was considering other options for my future. My brother, Charlie, was going to take over the family business. But he died in Afghanistan two years ago, and when Dad passed away last year, I made the choice to help keep the company going. It’s been a challenge, but we’re doing well now. I made the right decision.”
It was more information than Elle had expected, perhaps more than Shane had intended to reveal. A lot to digest at once. He had suffered two major losses in a very short time. Though he’d spoken without inflection, she still sensed the deep emotion in him. Having lost her own much-loved father only four years ago, she knew how it felt and how the pain lingered.
She couldn’t help wondering if Shane was unconsciously defending his resulting career choice as much to himself as to her. Far be it from her to criticize anyone for sacrificing for the sake of family, but she couldn’t help thinking of her ex-husband’s long-pent-up rebellion against following a path that hadn’t felt true to him. Which didn’t mean Shane was anything like Glenn, she reminded herself rather crossly. Maybe the family business was exactly what Shane wanted.
She gave him a look of apology. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t interrogating you. I tend to ask too many questions sometimes when I’m getting to know someone. A habit I picked up from my mother, I’m afraid.”
He wiped a dot of chocolate from his lips with a napkin. Even as that movement drew her attention to his sexy mouth, she was gratified to see that he didn’t look annoyed. “How else would you get any information?”
“Right?” She was pleased he understood, despite her gaffes. “But just so you know, I don’t take offense when I’m told to back off.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for future conversations,” he murmured, those very nice lips quirking into a half smile.
He seemed to be taking for granted that there would be future conversations. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She wasn’t looking for a romantic involvement at this busy stage of her life, and certainly not a long-distance one. Still, she had to admit she was intrigued by the possibility of future interactions. As much as she’d unexpectedly learned about Shane Scanlon in the past ten minutes, she’d only scratched the surface.
A small group of employees from the pharmacy down the street entered with a burst of rather noisy laughter. Elle stood quickly. “This was nice, Shane, but I should get back to work.”
Abandoning whatever he’d been about to say, Shane stood as she did. “Of course. I have to be going, anyway. Thanks for the coffee and conversation. I enjoyed it.”
She smiled up at him. “Questions and all?”
“Questions and all.”
Oh, those dimples were dangerous! Stifling a sigh, Elle turned to check on her daughter. Seeing that Charlotte was still playing with her toys, she glanced back to Shane. “I hope your meetings go well.”
His eyes looked very blue as they locked with hers. “Thank you.”
“I’ll see you again?” she couldn’t help asking, totally flirting.
He inclined his head just slightly. “Count on it.”
Slowly rounding the counter, she watched as he left the shop and strode down the sidewalk. A little sigh escaped her.
“You see?” her mom startled her by asking from directly behind her. “I was right, wasn’t I? Something exciting is about to happen for you, and I think that charming man has something to do with it.”
Elle shook her head as if to physically clear it. “We have customers, Mom. And more will be in soon. Maybe you could take Charlotte for a potty break while I take orders?” Potty training was still an act-in-progress, but Charlotte was cooperating, for the most part, and Elle’s mom was fully on-board with the program.
“I would be delighted.” Her mom picked up the babbling toddler, but glanced meaningfully at Elle as she did so, just to make it clear she recognized the deliberate distraction.
Elle ordered herself to concentrate on her work. Her mother’s prognostications notwithstanding, it remained to be seen whether Shane Scanlon was just another engaging tourist...or a man who was as interesting as he seemed.
* * *
SITTING BEHIND THE wheel of his car in a motel parking lot, Shane looked down at the printed snapshot in his hand. When he’d received the photo a week or so earlier, he’d been struck by the attractiveness of the woman in the center of the shot. Now he knew the picture didn’t do full justice to the vibrant, animated woman who’d shared coffee with him that morning. Elle O’Meara.
In the photograph, she smiled brightly as she pushed a stroller through a park. The wind lifted her honey-brown hair and the sunlight glittered in her warm brown eyes as she gazed down at the laughing, pink-cheeked child. The wholesomely appealing scene could have been staged for a magazine ad. During the past few days, Shane had studied the photo enough to memorize every detail, but still he’d been startled by how strongly seeing Charlotte—and Elle—in person had affected him.
Elle had been gracious to him during their two brief encounters. Funny, encouraging. Inquisitive in a friendly, interested manner, though she’d backed off quickly when she’d stumbled into painful memories on his part. He’d seen the compassion on her face when she’d learned of his losses, but she’d obviously understood he hadn’t wanted to go into details. As it was, he’d told her more than he’d intended. Elle was certainly easy to talk to. He could easily imagine having long, wide-ranging conversations with her. The fantasy was as enticing as it was unlikely.
He stuffed the photo back into its envelope, then stashed it under the passenger seat, feeling rather foolishly furtive as he did so. It wasn’t as if Elle would see into the envelope if she strolled past the car. He really wasn’t cut out for this undercover stuff.
He wondered how Elle’s hospitable attitude toward him would change if she found out his biological connection to her daughter. He’d debated how best to approach her since he’d learned her name a few weeks ago. He still wasn’t certain that telling her everything would be the best move on his part.
Judging just by his first impressions, she seemed to be family-oriented. She’d arranged her work schedule to maximize time with Charlotte, though he wasn’t sure a coffee shop was the best place for a toddler to spend her days. Elle had even hired her oddball mother to work with her. So perhaps she’d at least somewhat understand the family commitments that would compel a man to hire a private investigator, to put his own life on hold, to be prepared to bargain or bribe if necessary just to track down one small child. Or maybe she wouldn’t.
Elle could send him away once she learned the truth. Could refuse to even talk with him again if she found out who he was. But for both business and personal reasons, he was going to risk hanging around a little longer. For his family’s sake. For his own. And most of all, for the promise he’d made to his late brother, Charlie.
Charlotte’s biological father.
“SO WE’RE AGREED? We’ll stay with the schedule we have now at least through the end of the year?”
Kristen Boyd nodded in response to Elle’s question, but her faraway expression made Elle wonder if her partner had been paying attention during their Thursday afternoon business meeting. “Kristen? You’re listening, right?”
“What? Oh, right. Yes, the weekend menu is fine with me.”
Elle swiveled in her seat to frown at her partner, who sat next to her at the small desk they shared in the tiny office tucked into a corner of the shop, just off the kitchen. She noted that Kristen’s eyes were clouded and her right hand was tangled in her thick blond curls, a sure sign Kristen’s thoughts were far away.
“We