After Tobias ordered his coffee, someone stood up to leave, enabling him to snag a seat at a small corner table near a window that had a Christmas wreath hanging in the middle of it. The guy who’d just walked out had left his newspaper behind, which was lucky. Tobias wanted to take a look at the sports page and hadn’t thought to buy one on his way over, but before he could even turn to that section, he heard the barista call out a name that made him look up.

“Harper!”

He’d only ever heard of one Harper.

A quick glance at the faces lingering around the counter confirmed it was Harper Devlin, the woman he’d noticed at the Eatery last night.

What were the chances that he’d run into her again, especially so soon?

She didn’t hear the barista. At least, she didn’t react when he called her name. Standing to one side, out of the way of the line that snaked out the door, she stared off into space, obviously a million miles away.

That was when Tobias realized there was a song by Pulse playing on the sound system. He could hear Axel Devlin singing, “I will always love you.” Had he written those lyrics for her?

“Harper?” the barista called again.

Still no reaction. She was completely lost in thought.

Dropping the newspaper, Tobias got up and claimed her drink for her. But even as he approached, she didn’t seem to see or hear him.

“Hey, you okay?” He gave her arm a slight nudge as he held out her beverage.

Startled, she looked up and, as her eyes finally focused, he noticed the shimmer of unshed tears—which she immediately blinked away. “You,” she said, recognizing him.

She took her drink, and he shoved his hands in the pockets of his sweatshirt. “Yes, me. But don’t worry, I’m not following you. When I heard the barista call your name, I looked up and there you were.”

She didn’t so much as smile. “Thanks.”

“Are you okay? Because it looks like you could use a minute to sit down and relax, and I just happen to have a table.” He motioned to where he’d left the paper.

She seemed as lost or bewildered as she’d been last night. “Do you know my sister or my brother-in-law?”

“I’ve only been in town for five months, so I doubt it. What are their names?”

“Karoline and Terrance Mathewson. He’s a podiatrist. She’s a housewife who gets involved in about every good cause that comes along—even helped out with the tree lighting ceremony downtown a week ago. They have two twelve-year-old daughters, identical twins—Amanda and Miranda.”

“They sound like stellar citizens, so I’m sorry to say no, I’ve never heard of them.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You have no frame of reference where I’m concerned. I’m a total stranger to you.”

“Last night the waitress told me you were Axel Devlin’s wife. I guess that’s a frame of reference.”

Glancing away from him at the crowded coffee shop, she took a sip of her drink. “Is that why you bought me the rose? Because you thought I was married to someone famous and that makes me more desirable by extension?”

She wasn’t wearing makeup. She had on a pair of yoga pants and a parka with ear-warmers and looked as though she’d just rolled out of bed. But he couldn’t see how fancier clothes or makeup could make her any more appealing. He loved her golden, dewy-looking skin and the cornflower blue of her eyes. He could all too easily identify with the pain he saw inside them.

Actually, that was what drew him more than anything else.

“Your connection to Axel had no bearing on it whatsoever,” he said. “I just thought you were beautiful, and it seemed as though you could use the encouragement.”

Tucking the fine strands of blond hair falling from her ponytail behind her ears, she stepped back. “I’m sorry. I’m—I’m not open to a relationship.”

The compliment had spooked her, as he’d known it might. But he was only being honest. “That’s good.”

She seemed taken aback. “It is?”

“Yes—because I’m the last guy you should ever get with even if you were.”

Her mouth fell open. “Why’s that?”

“Never mind. Now that you have your drink, I’ll leave you alone.”

She caught him by the sleeve as he turned away. “You’re leaving?”

“Isn’t that what you want me to do?”

She bit her bottom lip. “I don’t know. You’re … confusing. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like you.”

He couldn’t imagine she’d associated with many ex-cons. No doubt she’d be horrified if he were to tell her he’d done time. Chances were good she wouldn’t even be willing to talk to him.

He’d met other women like that, who thought he must be the devil incarnate, especially here in Silver Springs where so many people knew Jada’s family. Some women were drawn to the “danger” of associating with a “bad boy” like him but, sadly, those who were drawn to him were often a mess themselves.

“That’s probably a safe assumption,” he said with a grin.

She seemed further confused by his response and the fact that he not only accepted her words, he agreed with them. “So let me get this straight—what, exactly, are you offering me?”

He gestured at the table. “A seat.”

“That’s all?”

“What more do you want?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything right now. I feel like I’ve just been put through a meat grinder.”

He’d never experienced heartbreak on the level she seemed to be experiencing it—not the romantic kind. But pain was pain, and he was well-acquainted with that. “Well … I’m a good listener, if you need to talk.”

She kept her gaze fastened to his as she took another sip of her drink. “A man who looks as good as you do is never quite that harmless.”

He heard the barista call his name above their conversation and that of everyone else in the shop. His coffee was ready. “How long will you be in town?” he asked.

“Not long. Just a few weeks.”

“How much damage could knowing me do in such a short time?”

“I’m already a wreck. I doubt knowing you could do any more damage,” she admitted.

“Then what do you have to lose?” He held out his hand. “Can I see your phone?”

She pulled her cell out of her purse and, somewhat skeptically, let him take it, watching as he added his name and number to her contacts. “I’ll leave you alone for today. You can even have my table. But if you need a friend while you’re here, you’ve got someone to call,” he said and claimed his drink before walking out.

Christmas in Silver Springs—now available for preorder