Seeking Shelter by Angel Smits Page A

next to Katie. “Good afternoon, ladies.”
    Katie grinned back at him. Amy nodded, her manners firmly in place. “What can I get for you?” she asked.
    “What’s good?” A blackboard above her head had dozens of drinks written in various colors of chalk. Some of the names were familiar to him, some were definitely concoctions unique to this place, like the Rattlesnake Shake. “What are you having?” he asked Katie.
    “She’s already had her after-school snack. It’s too close to dinner.”
    “But, Mama,” Katie whined. “I told you he was coming over here to have a drink with us.”
    “Sorry, sweetie.” Amy frowned at her daughter and Jace rubbed his chin, wondering what to do next. He’d promised Katie, but Amy wasn’t even slightly interested in giving. The determined gleam in her eye reminded him of Mac, and he smiled. Katie wasn’t winning this one.
    “How long until supper?” The little girl leaned over on the counter.
    “Not long.”
    “Can Mr. Jace stay for supper?”
    He nearly laughed at the stricken look on Amy’s face, which would not have been a good idea. Katie saw it, too, and grinned. The little minx. He’d have to remember that bit of information about her. Her manipulation skills were primo.
    “Oh, that’s not necessary,” he protested, not feeling as reluctant as he should. He’d like to spend some time with Amy. Talk with her on a level that wasn’t so confrontational.
    “I don’t think—”
    “Please, Mama?”
    Few Hollywood actresses had what this kid had. Pure moxie. Jace could only sit back and watch. Amy was doomed, he realized. When this kid was a teenager? Yeah, seriously doomed.
    “Well...” Amy said the word slowly, as if it were being dragged out of her. “I suppose.” She looked up at Jace then, a forced smile on her lips. “It’s nothing fancy. Just grilled burgers.”
    “That’d be nice.”
    Katie giggled and jumped off the stool to run to the back of the store. “I’ll go get washed up for supper. Butcher?” she called, and the dog went trotting after her, his tail flapping wildly behind him.
    Jace looked at Amy and the breath hitched in his throat. She was watching Katie with a look on her face that was pure mom—loving and disgruntled all at once.
    He laughed. “Hey, if it’s a problem, I can come up with some excuse to bow out.” He didn’t want to, but he would.
    “No. That would disappoint her. She invited you. You’re welcome to join us.” Amy actually smiled, and though it wasn’t the wide, warm smile he’d prefer to see, it would do.
    “I’d still like a cup of coffee, if you don’t think it’ll spoil my dinner,” he teased.
    Shaking her head, Amy poured him a cup and took his money without another word. She wasn’t smiling, but she hadn’t thrown him out, which gave him hope that he hadn’t screwed up everything. She was about to move away when he spoke. “Just to warn you, she overheard us talking last night.”
    Amy froze, and turned wide eyes on him. “What do you mean?”
    “She heard us out on the porch.” He tilted his head toward the back of the store. “She came by the garage on her way home from school and asked if I knew her grandpa. That’s why I came over here. To tell you.”
    “Great.” Amy leaned back against the counter and crossed her arms over her waist. “I didn’t want her to know about my father. Not...not now. Maybe when she’s older. Maybe.”
    Jace wasn’t sure she was talking to him or to herself. She looked so damned defensive standing there, and at the same time vulnerable. She was tough, he knew that, but he also knew she shouldn’t have to fight the world all on her own. She wasn’t going to like what he said next, but he wasn’t keeping secrets from her anymore.
    “She also said she doesn’t sleep when you leave to cook. She worries about you.”
    “What?”
    “That’s what she told me.” He didn’t say any more, just slowly sipped his coffee, giving Amy time to digest