Page 23 of Mechanic’s Christmas Match

“Not that I think you would do that with her,” she said quickly. “You tease me because we’re friends and I don’t mind it. I… I like it, actually.”

A smirk tugged up one side of his mouth and Ana felt her cheeks burn.

“Anyway, I know you’ll open up to Maggie,” she said, dropping her eyes to her hands. “If you really like her, you’ll want to get to know her and let her know you.”

“Is that what you like on a date?” Rory asked. “Or would it feel too forward for someone to ask you personal things?”

“What personal things?” Ana asked.

“What do you do when you’re not at work, Ana?” he asked her.

“Oh, I spend time with Theo and my mom,” she said, shrugging. “We cook and we play together.”

“But what do you like to do?” Rory asked.

“I’m a homebody,” Ana said, laughing. “That is what I like to do. Although Theo gets me out of the house a lot more these days. It’s been really fun.”

“What do the two of you do together?” Rory asked.

“He likes to go to the corner and watch the trains come in,” she said, wondering if it sounded stupid now that she was saying it out loud. “I never really thought about how neat it is that the train goes all the way to the city and back every day.”

“That is neat,” Rory agreed.

“And Theo wants to know about all the people who get off,” Ana said. “We usually watch the first one after preschool is over. We know a lot of the people at least a bit, and then I make up stories for him about the ones we don’t know.”

“He’s a very inquisitive kid,” Rory said.

“Yes,” Ana said fondly. “And he’s in a super-curious phase right now, so he asks why a lot.”

“Here we go,” Holly said, approaching with a tray.

They watched as she set down two cappuccinos in red mugs followed by two green plates with a slice of cranberry loaf on each.

“Incredible,” Rory said. “Do you get tired of this stuff, working here?”

“Honestly?” Holly replied, her eyes twinkling. “Not even a little bit. I keep wishing Pete would share the recipe.”

They all glanced down at the counter, where Pete, the owner of the place, was stocking the coffee machines, a grim expression on his handsome face.

“I wouldn’t hold your breath,” Ana said, shaking her head at the sight of the man.

Pete ran a laidback little café and Holly clearly had a good relationship with her boss, but the man was a classic grump.

“Aw, Pete’s okay,” Holly said with her usual smile. “He’s a teddy bear on the inside.”

“And a grizzly bear on the outside,” Rory quipped, chuckling.

“A grizzly bear who knows how to bake,” Ana allowed.

The older gentlemen at a nearby table waved to get Holly’s attention.

“Enjoy your snack,” Holly said. “And let me know if you need anything else.”

“Thanks,” Ana said.

Holly hurried off to help her other customers, leaving Ana and Rory to their own devices again.

“Was it hard?” Rory asked, his face suddenly serious.