Sweet Surprise by Candis Terry Page B

bread. “You just ate.”
    “He’s a growing boy, sugarplum.”
    He grinned. “Yeah.”
    If he grew any more, those muscles would explode. Not that Fiona minded those muscles one little bit.
    “Brought you a big ol’ pitcher of sweet tea too,” Jana announced on her way out the door. “Y’all make good use of your time.”
    Mike watched Jana and her big hair disappear out the door. “She always talk in code?”
    “Afraid so.” Fiona chuckled. “It’s a family trait. If you get them all in a room together, it’s sometimes hard to decipher the conversation. I think it’s a Texas thing.” She plucked a sandwich with cheddar off the top of the display case and peeled back the plastic wrap. She took a bite and let the tangy flavor of spicy mustard roll over her tongue.
    One dark brow lifted. “So you’re not a local?”
    “Nope. I’m a transplant from the East Coast.”
    He chewed thoughtfully. “Then how did you manage to get all the way to Texas?”
    She tried to give him a “do we really have to go there” look. But interest sparked his dark eyes, so apparently they did. “In all honesty, I wanted to get as far away from my parents as possible.”
    “Uh-oh.”
    “They’re divorced, and I got tired of being a pawn in their game of ‘screw me, screw you.’ I moved in with my Gma G for my last couple of years in high school and throughout college. When I earned my degree, she gifted me with a three-month course at a pastry school in France. That’s where I met Sabrina. When my grandmother passed away, there was nothing holding me on the East Coast. So I made the big leap.”
    “I’m sorry about your grandmother. I know how special they are.”
    “Thank you. And yes, she was very special.” Fiona smiled at the memory of her grandmother’s sweet face and warm heart. “So how’d you get to Texas?”
    “Army. I was stationed at Fort Sam Houston. Decided I liked it in Texas and stayed after my contract was up.”
    “Were you ever deployed to the Middle East?”
    “Several times.” He took another bite of sandwich. “Gives you a real appreciation for the simple things in life.”
    “Like?”
    “Long hot showers. Good air quality. Movies without the smart-asses you’re sitting with making up the dialogue.”
    “I don’t know.” She laughed. “Jackson and his brothers do the same thing. They love to have big get-togethers, which usually includes barbecued brisket, beer, and B-movies. One time, during Attack of the Crab Monsters, Jana and I had to get up and leave the room because the boys’ ad-libs got so bad.”
    “I’ll have to remember that if I ever get an invite for movie night.”
    “Actually, you’d probably want to go. It’s pretty hysterical. For a guy.”
    “The Wilders are a pretty special family.”
    “Yeah. They are.”
    “Which probably made your divorce from Jackson even more difficult.”
    “I got lucky.” She shrugged. “I know that with most divorces, the family completely divides. Takes sides. Not so in our case.”
    “Believe me, you are very fortunate.”
    The shadow of emotion that crossed his face told Fiona there had to be a very big story and a whole lot of heartache behind Mike Halsey’s words.
    She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d ever get the chance to hear it. But when he wadded up his sandwich wrapper, tossed it in the trash, and—without a peep—went back to his work, she got the message loud and clear.
    Case closed.

 
    Chapter 6
    F iona knew it was strange to miss Mike. He’d only been around for a couple of days. It wasn’t like they were friends or anything. She’d just enjoyed their conversations. She’d enjoyed watching him work.
    Okay, truth.
    She’d also enjoyed looking at him.
    She might have instituted a “take it slow” policy where men were concerned, but she’d yet to tell herself she couldn’t look. Looking was free. And harmless. Like admiring a brilliant diamond ring or a flashy sports car, looking was an