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beat. His calm demeanor spoke of rock-solid maturity. Something 99 percent of the men she’d encountered didn’t have.
    All the same, she had enough stress in her life. Studying. Staying hidden.
    The smell of eggrolls and sweet-and-sour chicken wafted thick and heady through a small, fast-food restaurant in the mall. As a matter of fact, too thick. Piper detoured to the pizzeria, enticed by the tomato sauce aroma. She stepped to the counter and ordered a slice of veggie pizza and water.
    “Four eighty-three,” the cashier said.
    Piper dug into her purse—just as a hand slid past her with a five-dollar bill. She snapped her gaze to its owner.

CHAPTER 2
    A quart of oil would’ve pumped faster through his heart. Colton managed a smile. “It’s the least I can do.”
    Her caramel eyes peered at him, digging deep into his soul. Piper straightened, brushing her long, silky hair from her tawny face. Her features had wrestled his mind over the last eight months as he tried to pin down her heritage. Almost a Middle-Eastern touch, but with a slightly American aspect. Intriguing.
    “That is not necessary,” she said in a quiet, embarrassed voice as she watched the greasy cashier snatch the bill from his hand.
    “Yeah, actually it is.” He tucked his fingers in his pockets and leaned against the counter. “See, when I get home, Mickey there will tell her nana what happened back at Hastings. My mother’s interrogation about how I lost my daughter will pale in comparison to her questioning on how I showed you my gratitude.”
    Her laughter was natural and light. Nice. Real nice. “Thank you.” She gave a slight nod as a rosy tinge crept into her cheeks.
    Dawg. She twisted up his heart and mind in ways that made him wish he’d kept his dealings with her professional—only behind the counter at Hastings. Not here in everyday life where normal things like pimple-faced teens and greasy food amplified her beauty.
    “Hey!” Mickey rushed toward them, caught Piper’s hand, and tugged her toward the table. “Come eat with us!”
    “McKenna—” Colton moved to intercept his daughter. “Now hold on there. We can’t be intruding on her day any more than we already have.”
    “Daddy.” Swiping her bangs from her face, his daughter rolled her
    eyes. “She has to eat
somewhere
.”
    “You aren’t intruding,” Piper said with another stop-him-cold smile.
    “See?” Mickey led the graceful woman to their table in the corner. It looked right and good the way Mickey took to the woman, natural like the fields welcoming the sun into a new day.
    Shaking himself from the thought, he cringed. She’d taken his seat, the one facing the door. The one that kept him alert, able to anticipate sudden noises that could render him a fool. “Sir?”
    He jerked toward the employee, who slid a red tray with a slice of vegetarian pizza and a drink across the counter.
Vegetarian?
What’s the point of a pizza with no meat?
    Tray in hand, Colton glanced toward the entrance once more, then pushed himself to the table and placed it in front of Piper.
    “Thanks, again,” she said as he eased himself onto the seat across from her.
    “My pleasure.” As soon as the words escaped his big mouth, Colton wondered how common courtesies like that took on new, full meanings in her presence. And then that meaning received appreciation with another melt-his-heart smile.
    He ran a hand down the back of his neck, wishing he could push off the thoughts as easily so he could eat in peace.
    “What’s your name?” Mickey munched a fry, assembly-line style.
    “Piper.”
    Mickey scrunched her nose, which made Colton wince at what would come out of his daughter’s mouth. “That’s a funny name.”
    “It’s different.” Piper agreed as she sipped her drink. “What about yours? Mickey seems more like a name for a mouse.”
    “That’s my nickname.”
    “Oh, I see. So, what’s your real name?” Smiling, Piper cut through the pizza and used a fork to