She’d insisted on meeting Mason there. She didn’t need some stranger knowing where she lived. He’d agreed, and waited outside the entrance for her. Her eyes immediately sought out Mike at the bar when they walked inside.

He was there, staring right at her as if he’d been watching the door. She smiled and waved, but he didn’t return either one right away. He looked a little like a lost puppy. She couldn’t help looking back over her shoulder at him as she and Mason followed Kelly to a booth by the front windows. Mike hadn’t moved. What was his problem? Did he know Mason from somewhere? Was the guy an ax murderer or something? She mouthed what? at Mike. He shook his head and mouthed back have fun. She couldn’t decide from his expression if it was a warning or a genuine wish.

Mason turned out to be charming, and he stood by his promise that this was just a friendly meal. They talked about their work for a while, laughing over their more challenging clients and the differences in repairing appliances from various manufacturers. Most of the time, customers got the extra quality they paid for, but sometimes...all they got was a machine so complicated in design that it was nearly unfixable once it broke.

Over dessert, she talked about her growing business in repairing antiques. Mason was more into contemporary, European design in his appliances and home decor. The more stainless steel, the better, that was his motto. She gave an exaggerated shudder that made him laugh. Stainless steel always made her think of operating rooms.

He showed her a few pictures of his gleaming kitchen on his phone. It lived up to his motto—not only stainless appliances, but also stainless counters and backsplash, against stark white walls. Interestingly, the floor was a mosaic of black, gray and white, providing the only real “punch” in the space. It wasn’t her style, but he’d obviously put a lot of thought, time and money into it.

“Wow. It looks like something you’d see in a design magazine.”

Mason chuckled. “But not something you’d have in your home, right? There is nothing in this town says contemporary. Let me guess—you have a beautiful Victorian home with a refurbished Roper stove in your vintage kitchen.”

She started to laugh and saw Mike out of the corner of her eye. The bar was getting crowded as the Friday night crowd assembled. But he was standing still in the midst of the chaos, staring toward the booth she and Mason shared. He was not smiling. When he realized he’d been caught, he gave her a reassuring grin, then raised his brows in curiosity and gave a tentative thumbs-up, asking if all was okay. She nodded quickly, then turned back to Mason.