Without another word, Lisa marched down the hallway, her ragged-edged jeans dragging along the hardwood floor. Amazed that Josie had such control over the firebrand, he couldn’t help a twinge of admiration.
Though he hated to have to go through Josie to get to Lisa, at least now he knew Lisa was safe and had a roof over her head. He should be grateful to Josie for that much.
She took three steps to the front door and held it open for him.
He stepped out onto the front porch. “By the way, can you recommend a hotel?”
“You’re not going to find the Ritz.”
“I don’t expect the Ritz.”
“No?” She attempted a tired smile. “Go right at the end of my street. Once you hit the main road, take a left. The Comfy Inn’s on the right. I know the owner. She’s a fanatic about cleanliness.”
Apparently, Josie was starting to know him as well as she knew Lisa. “Sounds perfect.” He put his hands in his pockets and inspected his shoes. “I’m sorry about tonight.”
She shrugged. “No harm done to me. You ought to be apologizing to your niece.”
“I’ll try. If she’ll even listen.”
Josie gave a quiet laugh. “We’ll find out, won’t we?”
“I also owe you a debt of gratitude. For taking care of Lisa. I’ve worried where she might be resid—” He glanced across the room where she had disappeared. “…Where she might be staying.”
Josie smiled, and he sucked in a breath. This time her smile seemed genuine, not nervous or forced. And it really packed a punch.
“You’re welcome, Mike. I view it as part of my calling.”
“Your calling?”
“From God. To care for people like Jesus did.”
It was one thing to attend church regularly. Michael, himself, did that. But hearing God call you to take in runaways? “I see. Well, good night.”
As he drove past the row of tiny wood and stone houses, he pondered his options. Not only did he have to fight a teen who hated him, but he also had to deal with a woman who, because of a calling from God, might try to come between him and that teenager.
He wondered which one would prove the more worthy adversary.
He suspected the pink-haired waitress.
Chapter Three
Josie crouched behind the counter restocking the to-go boxes and paper cups. The bell on the front door clanged as someone entered. It was almost time for Mike to arrive, and her pulse kicked up a notch.
She hurriedly stacked the items and wadded up the plastic they came in. By the time she finished, a hint of Mike’s rich, enticing aftershave had wafted her way.
It’s definitely him.
Was she forever destined to be stooped behind the counter when he arrived? Her nose would know him better than her eyeballs would.
She stood up, smoothed the wrinkles out of her uniform and found him in the same corner booth he’d sat in yesterday. She could have guessed he would be a creature of habit. “Mornin’, Mike. How’d you sleep?”
When he looked up at her, she wanted to groan. The morning sunlight streamed in through the window she had cleaned earlier. It reflected off his shiny black hair. The blue of his eyes was so deep it appeared blue-violet. Thick, dark lashes made her want to shout that it wasn’t fair.
The creature was even more spectacular in daylight.
He scanned the grill area. “My niece better be here.”
The suspicion in those intense eyes snapped her right back to reality. He might be beautiful, but he wasn’t someone she should be thinking about that way.
“I asked you how you slept last night,” she said. “Shouldn’t you answer before you start barking orders?”
One eyebrow lifted ever so slightly, and she thought for a second his mouth would follow suit. “I slept fairly well, thank you.”
“So everything was up to snuff?”
“The accommodations were fine. I appreciate the recommendation.”
“Good. I’ll run and get Lisa from the back. She’s washing pots and pans.”
“Bud hired her?”
“Sort of. He pays her a little. But mostly, she’s here to help me. She gets a cut of the tips. And room and board.”
“I’ll certainly reimburse you for any lodging and food.”
Yet another reason to ignore his gorgeous eyes and yummy smell. Everything had a price for men like him. She waved off his offer and went to holler through the kitchen door for Lisa. Then she returned and slid into the booth across from him. Fiddling with her bracelets, she tried to look anywhere but at those amazing eyes.
“You like jewelry, I see,” he said.
“It’s one of my weaknesses. I don’t shop for clothes or shoes. But get me in a bead shop, and I go crazy.”
“Do you mean you make the pieces yourself?”
“Most of them. It’s relaxing.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who made her own jewelry.”
At the tone of his voice, a burst of irritation flared through her chest and right out her mouth. “Well, I can’t quite afford to shop at Tiffany’s.”
“I didn’t mean—”
Lisa plopped in the booth beside Josie and said, “I’m not gonna, like, jump when you say jump or anything. But I promised Josie I’d listen.”
Wishing he could take back his careless comment about the jewelry, Michael refocused his attention on the problem at hand. “I want to apologize about last night, Lisa. I know it scared you.”
“Forget it. It doesn’t matter.”
“Well, I want you to know I’m sorry.”