Hannah heard a click, and she found herself listening to a tape of winter driving tips, read by someone who sounded as if he had a cold. She already knew about carrying a candle and matches in a coffee can so that if she was stuck in her car, she could heat the interior and melt snow for drinking water. The announcer was just pontificating about the wisdom on putting a twenty-pound sack of kitty litter in the trunk for traction when Barbara came back on the line.

“It’ gone, Hannah. Mike must have taken it with him.”

Hannah had all she could to keep from groaning. It would be bad enough if Mike tasted the brownies at work in front of the other deputies, but if he bit into one when he was alone in his cruiser, navigating an icy patch of highway, he might just end up in the ditch. “Do you know when he’ll be back?”

“I don’t think he will be, not today. He’s coordinating with two other law enforcement agencies, and that means conferences and meetings all afternoon. He’ll probably go right home when he’s through. He could call in, though. If he does, do you want me to give him a message?”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll see him tonight. Thanks, Barbara.”

Hannah did her best to grin and bear it as she dashed to the community center with Edna’s meatballs. She got back just in time for the noon rush, when dozens of people wanted their after-lunch cookies and coffee. Hannah manned the cash register and took care of the take-out cookies customers ordered, while Lisa waited tables. It was a system they’d worked out together. Things were just slowing down again when Hannah looked up to see a familiar face at the door. It was Norman, and he was carrying something in a Granny’s Attic bag.

“Hi, Norman!” Hannah greeted him, smiling warmly. Norman certainly wasn’t movie star handsome, with his slightly thinning brown hair and stocky frame, but Hannah considered him one of the most attractive men she’d ever met. He had an open, friendly look about him and his sense of humor meshed with hers perfectly. As Delores and Carrie were fond of saying, especially if they’d just come from one of their Regency romance group meetings, Norman and Hannah made a perfect match.

Hannah waited until Norman had hung his parka on the coat rack near the front door and taken a seat at the counter. “Coffee?”

“Of course. You make the best in town. And a couple cookies of your choice. I’m in the mood to live dangerously.”

“Dangerously?” Hannah turned and glanced at the glass serving jars behind the counter. “How about a Cherry Bomb?”

“What’s that?”

“It’s one of Grandma Ingrid’s recipes and I’m trying it out for the first time today.”

“I’ll be your guinea pig,” Norman declared, twitching his nose.

“That’s exactly what the guinea pig at Kiddie Korner does!”

“I know. Janice Cox called me with a dental emergency on Wednesday when Mr. Whiskers got a see stuck between his front teeth.”