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“We have to run,” Ana said firmly, before her mother could try to sell the poor man on her cooking. “Love you.”

“Your daughter is all business, Mrs. Gutierrez,” Rory called over his shoulder. “Maybe next time.”

The sound of her mom’s laughter floated out of the shop after them.

“You made rice and beans?” he asked Ana, holding the door open for her.

She slipped past him, willing herself not to notice the warmth that seemed to pour off his big body, or the spicy scent of his aftershave mixed with the masculine hint of gasoline and burnt carbon from the shop.

“Last night,” she said, shrugging. “That was just heated up leftovers.”

“I’m not a very good cook,” Rory admitted, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Not yet.”

“You just need practice,” Ana told him. “I only have a handful of recipes I make all the time. The main thing is choosing meals you really like, so your leftovers won’t go to waste.”

“I mostly make grilled cheese sandwiches these days,” Rory said with a wry smile. “And there are definitely no leftovers to waste.”

“Grilled cheese is delicious,” Ana told him. “You should learn to make homemade vegetable soup to go with it.”

“Is that something a woman would like?” he asked, his eyes on the sidewalk in front of them. “A man who can make homemade soup?”

“Every woman loves a man who can cook,” Ana told him, laughing. “I feel like that goes without saying.”

“Maybe you’ll teach me?” he asked.

She glanced up at him, but his blue eyes were serious.

“Sure,” she said, feeling pleased about it, but not sure why. “You can come by tomorrow night. I was actually going to make soup anyway.”

“Thanks,” he said. “Let me know what I can bring.”

“We can shop together,” Ana told him. “After we get coffee.”

He nodded, looking pleased.

They had passed the toy shop and the hardware store already. As they reached the corner of Park, they almost bumped into Sasha Nilsson, who was coming out of Gabriel’s.

“Hi, Sasha,” Ana said.

“Hey,” Sasha replied, looking back and forth between Ana and Rory. Whatever she saw clearly caused her to make some big assumptions, because she winked at Ana. “Good to see you.”

Ana opened her mouth to try and set the other woman straight, but Sasha was already hurrying down Ambler.

“Who was that?” Rory asked.

“Oh, I’ve known Sasha forever,” Ana said, feeling her cheeks heat. “She teaches kindergarten at the elementary school now.”

“Just like Maggie,” Rory said, nodding.

“Yes, and no,” Ana said. “Maggie teaches second grade.”

“Oh, right,” Rory said, looking a little embarrassed.

He clearly hadn’t been paying very close attention. Or maybe he was so nervous that the info hadn’t stuck. Maybe he really wasn’t good with women.

“Don’t worry,” Ana told him. “I’ll make sure you’re ready for her.”

They reached Jolly Beans, and Rory opened the door, nodding for her to go in first.