Page 14 of Mechanic’s Christmas Match

“Hey, Maggie,” Ana said. “Can I help?”

“Oh,” Maggie said, looking a little embarrassed as she lowered the dress. “I was just browsing.”

“That would look amazing on you,” Ana told her. “And I think the size is just right too. Can I carry it to the fitting room for you?

“Oh, gosh,” Maggie said, looking torn.

“No pressure to buy it,” Ana said quietly. “But I think my mom would love to see you try it on. She said to tell you that if you love it, the price isn’t set in stone.”

“Wow,” Maggie said. “I’ll think about it.”

“No rush,” Ana told her. “Just let me know if you want the dressing room.”

The door to the shop opened again, letting in a rush of cold air, and Ana felt a shiver of anticipation along with it for some reason.

She turned to see Rory Dunn standing just inside the threshold, looking larger than life in the tiny storefront.

“Hey, Ana,” he said when his eyes landed on her.

“Um, hi, Rory,” she managed as butterflies filled her chest.

“Do you think you could fit any more people in this shop?” he asked, raising one brow.

She blinked at him and then glanced around, seeing that he was teasing her for good reason. It wasn’t as busy as earlier, but the little shop was definitely buzzing.

“It’s our winter clearance sale,” she explained as she walked over to join him.

“Or is it the amazing company?” he asked, nodding to her mom, who was laughing with a lady she was ringing up.

“You’re here to find something for your sister, right?” Ana asked him, trying to stay on track instead of getting weak-kneed over the man just because he liked her mom. It wasn’t easy.

“That, and I saw something I really liked in the window,” he said, winking at her.

Ana looked back to the window, where Maggie Sullivan was still standing, holding up another dress.

So that’s what he likes.

“Oh,” she said, surprised at the bitter disappointment that sank like a weight on her chest.

Thankfully, Rory was examining a rack of warm fluffy scarves, which gave her a moment to compose herself.

Maggie Sullivan is such a nice person, she reminded herself. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be interested. Any man would be lucky to go out with her.

Rory looked up with a question in his eyes, but his expression dropped when he saw Ana’s face.

“You can’t blame a man for feeling lonely,” he muttered under his breath, before stalking off toward the back of the shop.

Ana was frozen in place, amazed. She hadn’t said a word.

On the other hand, she didn’t have much of a poker face. Rory must have seen her moment of self-pity and interpreted it as a judgement about his crush on Maggie Sullivan.

Why would he think I would judge him for liking her? She’s so nice.

But she didn’t dwell on that question, because her heart was aching for him.

Of course he was lonely. He’d been living with his sister Evangeline and her husband and the baby for a while when he first got to town.

And even though he had his own place now, he was still far from the city and all his friends there. With his sister so busy with her family, and expecting another little boy very soon, Ana doubted she was spending much time with her brother these days.