by Zoe Chant
“Eva!” Stella called. “Can you come here for a second, please?”
There was a pause, and then a blonde head poked through the door. Blonde with a streak of blue, Pauline noted. That was new since the last time Eva had come into Oliver’s.
Stella didn’t seem surprised, although she sure wasn’t the type of woman to get irritated over a little hair dye.
“What’s up?” Eva’s eyes caught on Pauline.
“I wanted to come by and ask about your friend Drew,” Pauline said cautiously. “I’m a bit worried about him.”
Eva immediately rolled her eyes to the ceiling and came in to drop down on the couch next to her mother. “Please be worried about him. He’s got this whole schtick where he insists that he’s totally fine and nothing is wrong and his mom is just out of town for a few days. I could practically recite it for you by now.”
She was trying to sound cavalier, but her shoulders were tense, and her hands twisted together. Stella tugged her in closer. “Do you know where his mom is? Has he mentioned it?”
Eva hesitated. “I—have a guess. But he wouldn’t want me to tell you. And if I’m right, you won’t be able to get her to come back, anyway.”
Pauline sat forward. “Eva, I really want to help Drew. Whether we can get his mom to come back or not, I just want to make sure that he and Troy and Valerie are all okay.”
Eva nodded vigorously. “Yeah. I want that, too. Whenever I talk about going to school in September, he gets all dumb and cagey, like he’s not going to be there. I asked him if I could help, and he said no. Someone needs to help.”
“I’m going to help,” Pauline said firmly.
“Well, don’t tell him beforehand, that’s my advice.” Eva sighed. “He’ll probably just run away or something.”
Pauline was struck by this sudden and unwelcome possibility—could Drew decide to take his siblings and go somewhere else? Surely not. Their house, as run-down as it was, was here in Montana. Did Marsha own it outright, or was there a mortgage to pay?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door again, and the sudden noise of several masculine voices, all heartily pleased with whatever they were doing. Lynn and Stella both looked toward the hall with almost-identical expressions of pleasure. Normally, it was hard to see the family resemblance between them, apart from their coloring, but at that moment, they couldn’t have looked more like sisters.
Before Pauline could make her excuses and leave to think about what to do next, the men were in the doorway. They piled into the room like big dogs, noisy and warm and seeming to overflow a space that had barely been taken up at all by three full-grown women and a teenager.
Nate and Ken were uncomplicatedly happy to see their mates. Carlos, though—he stopped short, looking at Pauline with a piercing, assessing gaze.
“Is everything okay?” he asked her quietly.
Pauline stood, smoothing her hands down her skirt, trying not to seem too off-balance or abrupt. “Everything’s fine.” She tried a friendly smile. “How are you?”
He looked at her for a second longer, a frown wrinkling between his eyebrows. But then he smiled back and said, “Doing great. We went for a—ah—a run. Very exhilarating.”
Pauline glanced around; none of the men were in running gear. In fact, they were all dressed the same as they’d been when they came into the diner—including Carlos’ expensive suit. Add that to the fact that none of them were sweaty or panting...they’d probably gone for a shifted run.
Pauline knew that Lynn’s mate was a lion shifter, and Stella’s mate was a panther. Small-town gossip had informed her that both men had served in the Marines with the head ranger at Glacier National Park, who was a snow leopard shifter.
Was Carlos a wild cat, too? Eyeing him, she wouldn’t have been surprised. He was big and graceful like one.
“I guess you saw some of the scenery, then, out in the woods,” Pauline said politely.
His face warmed with understanding: she wouldn’t have phrased it like that if she’d thought he’d gone for an ordinary run along the streets. “Gorgeous scenery.” His tone was heartfelt. “The mountains, the trees, the sunset—I can see why people love it here. Makes me never want to leave.”
And when are you planning to leave? Where are you going when you do?
None of her business.
“I’ve lived here all my life,” she found herself saying. “Hardly been anywhere else, and hardly wanted to.”
His eyes kindled with interest. “Really? When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was get out and see the world. But now that I’m older, I’ve started to realize that having somewhere to really call home, where your roots are, might be a good thing, too.”
Had he seen the world? Judging by his clothes, it looked like he had some money. Maybe he’d traveled all over. A little embarrassed, Pauline admitted, “I’m a homebody. I like having my own home in my own familiar territory.”
Besides, anytime she wanted, she could shift into her owl form and fly into the sky, where it felt like she was skimming the edge of the world. Why would she need to go anywhere else, when she had that?
Carlos was smiling softly, his eyes still lit with that warmly interested spark. Pauline had to look away.
“I’d like to learn more about you, Pauline,” he said quietly. “Would you go to dinner with me?”
Pauline meant to say no. She really did. She never dated tourists, and she had far more important things to think about right now than a handsome, smiling man.
“All right,” she said instead.
His smile broke free into a beautiful, happy grin. “Great. Are you free tomorrow night?”
She was working the opening shift tomorrow. She nodded, caught up in a weird combination of excitement and misgivings.
“Six-thirty?” he offered.
“That works.” She couldn’t believe she was actually doing this.
At that moment, the happy family by the couch broke up from their hellos and turned around, Ken and Nate offering their greetings to Pauline and Stella and Lynn standing up as Eva escaped the crush of adults to thump upstairs.
“I was just leaving,” Pauline told the men. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“You’re welcome to stay,” Nate offered, glancing over at Stella and Lynn. “We have tea—”
The big, tough-looking security specialist offering her tea gave her a moment of pause, but she shook her head. “Thank you very much, but no. I have a few things to take care of. Have a good evening.”
They said their goodbyes, and she watched, bemused, as Carlos skillfully maneuvered everyone so that he was walking her to the door while the rest of them decamped to the kitchen.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow,” he said, taking her hand. “Can I pick you up somewhere?”
Pauline hadn’t thought of that. Should she give him her address? She’d just met him. He seemed so kind, and safe, but years of being cautious made her hesitate.
“Actually, here, let’s exchange numbers,” he said, just before her hesitation would’ve become awkward. “Maybe you can help me pick out a place to go.” He grinned, already pulling out his phone.
Grateful for the rescue, Pauline quickly rattled off her number. “See you tomorrow,” she told him.
He kissed her hand. Kissed her hand. And somehow it wasn’t weird or old-fashioned; it seemed entirely and completely natural. She shivered when his lips brushed her skin.
“Tomorrow,” he agreed, and she somehow pulled herself together enough to trip outside to her car.
She had a date. A date. With a handsome, thoughtful world traveler.
Who would probably be sweeping his impressive self back out of town in a few days.
That thought sobered her. She took a deep breath as she got back into her car, reminding herself that this wasn’t the start of anything. They’d have a nice dinner, maybe kiss a little bit—maybe more? her traitorous body tried to suggest—and then go their separate ways.
Carlos back to his glamorous, suit-wearing, jet-setting lifestyle, and her back to the problem of Marsha’s children.
Just one night of distraction. That was all.
It gave her a pang in her chest. Her owl was fluttery and dissatisfied at the thought of Carlos flying away.
Sometimes people do that, she reminded herself.
Pauline knew better than to expect any kind of long-term commitment, after all.
***
Carlos
She’d said yes.
Carlos hadn’t realized how tense he’d been about her answer until he knew it. As he closed the door behind Pauline, his shoulder relaxed and his tiger purred in relief.
He’d have to take her to the nicest restaurant in town. Maybe Stella or Lynn could recommend something; he wouldn’t trust Ken or Nate to know a nice restaurant if it bit them.
And he’d meet her there. It didn’t quite feel right to do that—he’d rather pick her up, make sure she didn’t have to put any effort in at all.
But giving out your address was a different prospect out here than in New York, he realized. There, all a woman had to do was name an intersection, and she’d be coming out of a building filled with anonymous apartments, maybe with a doorman between her and the street.
Here, a house might be out in the woods without any neighbors in sight. It might not have any security measures at all.
Well, Carlos was just going to have to show Pauline how trustworthy and safe he was. As he turned to rejoin the others, he had the thought that the process would be a pleasure.
Carlos had barely reached the doorway to the kitchen when Ken said, “So, Pauline, huh? That was fast.”
It was funny. Normally, with Ken teasing him about some woman he’d asked out, Carlos would either tease back, or just roll his eyes.
But this time, before his brain had any input over his mouth, he heard himself say, “Don’t talk about her like that.”
There was a long moment where everyone in the kitchen just blinked at him. Carlos stood his ground and refused to blush.
Finally Ken said slowly, “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant—uh—”
“Pauline doesn’t date much,” Stella cut in, and Ken let out an obviously relieved breath. “I’d be surprised to see her out with anyone, much less someone she just met. So be careful, all right? Since you’re not sure if you’re sticking around.”
Stella’s voice had a hint of steel that was surprising from a woman who’d so far seemed cheerfully nice.
The warning should have made him defensive. But instead, Carlos found himself feeling pleased that Pauline had someone looking out for her.
“I promise,” he assured Stella. “She seems like an impressive woman. I really do want to get to know her better.”
Stella sat back, looking thoughtful. “All right,” she said.
Next to her, Lynn poked Ken in the side. “Besides, you’ve got no room to criticize anyone for moving quickly,” she chided. “How long was it before you asked me out? Five minutes? Four?”
Everyone laughed, and the mood lightened. Stella got up to make them all something to drink, and Carlos got to sit back and think about what he’d just done.
A date with a local woman. A local woman who didn’t date much, apparently—he tried not to let himself be satisfied by that, but it was a lost cause. Because if Pauline didn’t date much, but she’d agreed to a date with him—
—Well, then what? What did that mean? Was he going to settle down here in Glacier Park and marry Pauline?
Was that what he wanted?
God, it was frustrating not to be able to define his goals.
And he did need goals. That was the issue, he decided. Carlos disapproved of complacency. That was his whole problem—he’d gotten everything he worked for, and now there was no goal to work for any longer.
He had a feeling that even if Pauline turned out to be the woman of his dreams, and he married her and moved to this gorgeous town and watched the sunset with her every night, he still wouldn’t be satisfied, because he wouldn’t have anything to accomplish.
Well, that was something to figure out, then, wasn’t it.
Because frankly, the rest of it was starting to sound pretty good.
***
Pauline
Pauline went through the next day in a haze.
She couldn’t believe she had a date.
She couldn’t believe Carlos had asked her on a date—handsome, successful men didn’t tend to notice her, unless they were the sort of jerks who noticed everyone with an XX chromosome and expected them all the be grateful for the attention.
Carlos didn’t seem like that type. Unless she was blinded by how handsome and charming he was.
But no, she had a feeling that the Davidsons—especially Lynn, who did not have a reputation for putting up with egos—wouldn’t have invited him into their house if he were that kind of jerk.
Maybe it would be all right to have a fling with him.
Pauline didn’t do flings. She’d hardly dated anybody apart from Gary, her ex-husband, who’d been her high school boyfriend.
Maybe it was time to start? Forty-five was probably too old, though. And it wasn’t like the men were pounding on her door.
Except for one.
God, she didn’t want to fall for him. He would leave town and break her heart, and then everything would be the same as it had always been, except she’d be missing a man she barely knew.
But she’d already said yes, and anyway, she didn’t want to say no. She wanted to go out with this man.
Yes, her owl trilled. This man. This one.
Don’t get too fixated, Pauline instructed sternly. Both to her owl and to herself.
The day dragged on and on. Carlos texted in the middle of an extremely dead shift to say that he’d love to take her to Nourish, the new tourist place that had opened up right near the Park a couple of years ago. Pauline had never been, because—well, because it was a tourist place, but also because she’d glanced at the menu once online and the prices were well out of her range.
She’d never been too wistful about it, because who wanted to go to a tourist place? And a place that probably had weird fusion organic gluten-free everything, at that.
But—well, it might be fun to try some weird fusion organic gluten-free something-or-other, just this once.
And that was the best way to look at this, she decided. A fun, one-time experience. Going to a restaurant she’d never normally go to, with a man she’d never normally be with, for a nice break from her life and her worries.
She’d do a quick check on Drew and Troy and Valerie after the date was over, just to remind herself what her real priorities were. Yes, that was a good idea, and the decision kept her from feeling guilty about obsessing over what the evening would be like instead of thinking about the kids.
One night. That was all.
***
Carlos
Carlos was nervous.
Which was crazy. He was never nervous. He’d stood in boardrooms engaging in hostile negotiations with some of the richest, scariest businessmen in the world. As a Marine, he’d faced down enemy forces trying their best to kill him and his platoon. After that, most of the regular things the world had to throw at him seemed like a nice sunny afternoon with nothing to do.
But he was nervous about meeting up with Pauline.
He knew hardly anything about her, but somehow he was convinced that she was a woman who wasn’t too interested in the wealthy businessman’s lifestyle. She seemed tough, and working as a waitress in a restaurant next to a national park probably meant that she’d seen it all.
Seen a lot of men come and go, that was for sure. And hardly dated any of them, from what Stella said.
So it was important that he treat her right.
He arrived early, so that he could be waiting for her when she pulled up. Her car was an older model, inexpensive, but it was spotless and seemed well-maintained
. That fit with his impression of her: careful, not the type to take risks.
The business world was full of ostentatious waste, and Carlos had always been a bit disgusted by it. He appreciated the opportunity to have nice things—expensive clothes, luxury cars—but that only made it more important to take care of those things, appreciate them, make them last, so that he could enjoy them for the full extent of their lifetimes.
He’d grown up having to make things last. It was a hard thing to learn, but not one he ever wanted to forget.
Pauline got out, wearing a lovely cotton dress that accentuated her mouthwatering curves, in a deep red that flattered her tanned skin and dark hair and eyes. She met him on the sidewalk, and hesitated, clearly not sure what to do for a greeting. Carlos took her hand, and for the second time, brushed his lips against it.
And for a second time, she blushed, hiding a smile. He smiled back. If she’d looked taken aback or put off the first time, he wouldn’t have tried it again...but it was clear that she enjoyed it.
This was a woman who worked hard at a tough job; she could probably use some pampering, some thoughtful attention. And Carlos was here to give that to her.
He gestured to the door of the restaurant. “Shall we?”
Pauline’s cheeks pinked a little more, but she let her smile through and said gravely, “We shall.”
He offered his arm, she took it with a little laugh, and they went inside together.
***
Pauline
Pauline knew this was ridiculous.
The hand-kissing, the arm-offering, the fancy restaurant, all of it.
It was just...trappings. Silly window dressing, that men used to impress women. It didn’t say anything about the substance or the character of the people underneath all of the games.
And yet.
It was fun.
Pauline didn’t have a very fun life, most of the time. She worked, she volunteered at the church, she spent time with a couple of friends she still had after the divorce, mostly talking about their kids. She cleaned her house, she worked in her garden, she read novels.
All of it was fine, and all of it could be fun if she was in the right mood.