Page 16 of Mechanic’s Christmas Match

She looked down, but not before he saw the pleasure on her face.

Does she not know how talented she is?

“Is there anything else that Evangeline might need?” Ana asked.

“Hey, Ana,” the woman who had been shopping up front said before he could answer.

“Hi, Maggie,” Ana said, giving the other woman a sparkling smile. “Would you like to try that on?”

Maggie nodded, looking pleased.

“Maggie, do you know Rory Dunn?” Ana asked. “He’s Evangeline Ward’s brother.”

Evangeline Ward…

It was still strange to think of his little sister having a different last name from his.

“Hi, Maggie,” Rory said, forcing himself to smile and not think about his sister growing up so fast.

“Hi,” Maggie said softly.

He couldn’t tell if she was just naturally shy, or maybe she thought he was attractive. Plenty of women around here seemed to like his rugged outer appearance. He wondered what they would think if they knew he still felt like a wounded kid inside sometimes.

“Here, let me get you set up, Maggie,” Ana said to break the awkward pause. “Be sure to come out and model for us, okay? My mom is especially fond of that dress, so she’ll want to see it on you.”

“Okay,” Maggie said, hurrying into one of the little rooms.

Ana watched after her with a smile on her face.

“You really like your job,” Rory realized.

“I do,” Ana said, turning back to him. “Some days, it doesn’t even feel like work. I get to see people from around town and help them find a nice outfit or a gift.”

“And you get to have your mom here with you,” Rory said, nodding.

She smiled a warm sweet look that went all the way to her eyes, and straight to his heart.

Hold it together, he reminded himself as he ached to tell her how he felt about her. This isn’t the right time.

“Okay,” Maggie said a moment later as she stepped out from behind the little curtain wearing a nice green dress that looked good on her.

“Wow,” Ana said. “You look beautiful, Maggie. Doesn’t she look nice, Rory?”

Both women turned to him and he realized that he was supposed to say something. He figured he’d better make it good if he wanted to help Ana make a sale.

“You look gorgeous, Maggie,” he said, nodding. “Absolutely stunning.”

Maggie’s face flushed with pleasure and Ana smiled at him, nodding encouragingly.

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Maggie asked Ana before taking a look in the floor-length mirror.

“You heard the man,” Ana said with a smile. “You’re stunning. Want to go show my mom?”

Maggie nodded and headed for the counter where Mrs. Gutierrez exclaimed over her.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Ana said, watching after her. “Inside and out.”

She turned to look at him expectantly, as if there was something else he was supposed to say or do.