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pulled it away.

      “Don’t think so. Departmental rules. You wouldn’t want me to get into trouble for accepting gifts, would you?”

      She reached for her purse, heavy with the tip money that would keep her account from flatlining later this morning. “That’s not a thing. Wait. Would you really?”

      “Want to risk it?”

      She frowned but lowered her arm. “Well, thanks. Then I’m sure Evelyn will help you at the cash register, and you—I mean we—can get out of here.”

      “Sure thing. Want to run up there with me, buddy?”

      Her son didn’t even look her way before trailing after his hero. The funny thing was she couldn’t blame him. There was just something about Jamie Donovan. An unassuming quality that could tempt an unsuspecting person to trust him. That might charm someone who wasn’t careful into sharing her secrets.

      Neither of those things could ever happen. She had to protect Andrew—no, Aiden—as always. And she would.

      Still, when Jamie slipped out the front door and her son skittered back her way, Sarah’s shoulders slumped forward. Her hands gripped the chair back for support. Relief. That had to be what she was feeling. She’d wanted him to leave, and now he was gone. That was a good thing.

      So why did one part of her, no matter how small and ridiculous, wish that he would stay?

      * * *

      “He’s back!”

      Aiden and his mom were just on the other side of the gaggle near the diner’s front door, but Jamie could have heard that excited voice all the way from the kitchen. Sarah had slipped one arm into her rain jacket, but she stopped and stared.

      As Jamie opened and closed his hand in a wave, Sarah’s gaze darted away from him, while Aiden was waving as if they hadn’t crossed paths in months. Well, at least one of them was happy to see him again. The other one wasn’t thrilled at all. Jamie had predicted both things as he’d stood outside on the same sidewalk where he’d paced the night before. Only instead of wishing he could run from the building and escape from the thoughts pursuing him, this time all he’d been able to think about was going back inside.

      To the woman who’d all but booted him to the literal curb with his bakery bag.

      He glanced down at the white sack just as Aiden managed to snake through the crowd to reach him.

      “Hi again, Mr. Jamie.”

      Sarah caught up with them before he could respond. Her arms were gripped tight over her chest, though one of her jacket sleeves still dangled empty at her side. She spoke only to her son.

      “I said to wait for me.”

      “But Mr. Jamie is back.”

      “I see that.”

      She lifted her head and pinned Jamie with her questioning stare.

      “I’d just thought of something,” he said, and then cleared his throat.

      That something had seemed like a far better idea while he was still outside, his shoes resting on last night’s puddles that had dried to a crusty mud. But he couldn’t just watch her pulling away after spending the past year dreaming up ways to get closer to her. When his questions multiplied exponentially with every vague answer she gave. And when each moment with her made him crave another.

      “That you can play before work?” Aiden asked hopefully.

      “Not today. Sorry. But I was wondering if you,” he paused, his gaze darting to Sarah, “and your mom...might like to join me for a day at the Detroit Zoo on Saturday.”

      “The zoo! Really?”

      Aiden’s squeals caused several diners to turn toward the commotion. In contrast to the boy’s body, which vibrated with excitement, Sarah stilled.

      “That’s nice of you to ask, but I don’t think—”

      “Please, Mom!”

      She shook her head, her gaze darting to the door before settling again on her son. “Sorry, Aiden.”

      The boy crossed his arms. “But I want to go.”

      “Not this time.”

      “We never get to go to the zoo. Never ever.”

      Sarah tightened her jaw as if preparing to correct her son, but then her shoulders slumped.

      Jamie swallowed. He was a jerk, wasn’t he? Worse maybe than even the lechers she dodged at work every day. What kind of guy used a child to get to his mother? What kind of person invited them on an adventure a struggling single mom couldn’t easily afford?

      He still had so many questions. How did the two of them end up here? How could Aiden’s father have left him? Left her? Most of all, though, Jamie wanted to know what put that stark look in her eyes. But just because he regretted not asking Mark enough questions before it was too late, that didn’t make wanting to know things about Sarah excuse enough to manipulate her. She deserved better than that. Better than him.

      “It was just an idea,” he began.

      “Please...!”

      This time Aiden’s plea was so drawn out that it sounded like two syllables.

      Again, Sarah shook her head, and when she spoke again, she didn’t look at Jamie.

      “It was so nice of you to ask, but I always work the day shift on Saturdays.” She finally met his gaze.

      “Well, not this Saturday.”

      They all turned at the sound of Ted’s voice. When the restaurant owner had slipped past other diners to reach them, Jamie wasn’t sure.

      Ted patted Sarah’s shoulder. “Marilyn can take your shift. She owes you, don’t you think? And every kid needs a trip to the zoo, right?”

      He gave an exaggerated wink and then patted Aiden’s shoulder. Sarah’s side glance suggested she didn’t appreciate Ted’s matchmaking any more than she relished Jamie’s invitation, but she sighed.

      Aiden must have noticed the change, as he was bouncing again.

      “So, can we go, Mom? I want to see the new penguin exhibit and the tigers and the Kodiak bears.”

      Whether it was because her son had just listed some of the most popular exhibits at the Detroit Zoo as if he’d been researching them or that their arguments had worn her down, she nodded.

      “Yes, we can go.”

      The words rang in Jamie’s ears. He’d won. He would get to spend a full day with a woman he’d dreamed of and a child he adored. She’d required some convincing, but they would have a great time on Saturday. He would make sure of that. So why did he get the feeling he was just one in a long line of people who’d taken something away from Sarah Cline?

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