“Yes, there are.” Mia printed out the mail-order requests that had come through her computer. “Without them we’d have no balance, no challenge. She’s running from something, Lu, but not the law. And fate pointed her here. It brought her to me.”

“And sometimes fate’s a backstabber.”

“I’m well aware of that.” With the printouts in hand, Mia walked out of the office, Lulu on her heels. Only the fact that Lulu Cabot had essentially raised her prevented Mia from telling her to mind her own business. “And you should know I can protect myself.”

“You take in strays, your guard goes down.”

“She’s not a stray, she’s a seeker. There’s a difference. I felt something from her,” Mia added as she started downstairs to fill the orders. “When she’s more comfortable I’ll look closer.”

“At least get a reference.”

Mia lifted a brow as she heard the back door open. “I just got one. She’s prompt. Don’t poke at her, Lulu,” Mia ordered as she handed the printouts over. “She’s also tender yet. Well, good morning, Nell.”

“Good morning.” Arms full of covered trays, Nell breezed in. “I pulled my car around back. That’s all right, isn’t it?”

“That’s just fine. Need a hand?”

“Oh, no, thanks. I have everything stacked in the car.”

“Lulu, this is Nell. You can get acquainted later.”

“Nice to meet you, Lulu. I’ll just start setting things up.”

“You go right ahead.” Mia waited until Nell climbed the stairs. “Looks dangerous, doesn’t she?”

Lulu set her jaw. “Looks can be deceiving.”

Moments later Nell jogged downstairs again. She wore a plain white T-shirt tucked into her jeans. The little gold locket lay against it like a charm. “I started a first pot of coffee. I’ll bring some down next trip, but I don’t know how you like it.”

“Black for me, sweet and light for Lu. Thanks.”

“Um . . . would you mind not going up to the café until I’ve finished? I’d really like you to see the whole presentation. So just . . .” She backed toward the door, face flushed, as she spoke. “Wait. Okay?”

“Eager to please,” Mia commented as she and Lulu filled the orders. “Eager to work. Yes, definite psychopathic tendencies. Call the cops.”

“Shut up.”

Twenty minutes later, breathless, jangled with pleasure and nerves, Nell came downstairs again. “Can you come up now? I still have time to change things around if it doesn’t suit you. Oh, could you come, too, Lulu? Mia said you know everything about the shop, so you’d know if it doesn’t look the way it should.”

“Hmph.” Grudgingly Lulu stopped ringing up the mail orders. “Café’s not my department.” But with a shrug, she followed Mia and Nell upstairs.