Free Handful of Heaven by Jillian Hart Page B

meals instead of letting me give you a meal in thanks, so I’m bringing supper to you. Did you think I was a pushover? That I was a woman who gave up easily?”
    Evan remained motionless. “I guess I never much thought about that.”
    Okay, I guess that’s answer enough. She was making way too much of this. No wonder he was staring at her as though he was in the greatest pain. He was put out. She’d never been to his place before, although she drove past his driveway numerous times every day.
    She’d never been much more than a distant acquaintance with him, despite the fact that they’d had teenage sons in sports and school and church groups together. He’d asked her to come to a Bible study with him, not exactly the full-blown date she was making this out to be. What do you bet he’s really regretting asking me to go with him now?
    It was time to fix what mess she’d made and retreat. “I hope you’ll accept this in good faith. Are you still thinking about coming to this week’s Bible study?”
    “Couldn’t say.”
    “I don’t want you to miss out because of how I’ve behaved.”
    “That’s not it. Really.” Okay, that wasn’t exactly the truth, Evan thought as he fought the blinding pain hacking through his spine, but it was close enough. Now he wasn’t sure if he would go. What if his back was still out? At least he could salvage his pride. “It was nice of you to stop by. Are you working at the diner tonight?”
    She looked flustered. And if it was possible for Paige to look lovelier, then she certainly did now. A delicate pink bloomed across her cheeks and nose from the cold but also from her emotions as she glanced longingly in the direction of her vehicle. “I shouldn’t have bothered you. I’ll let you get back to your shoveling. Want me to put this on the step for you?”
    Since he didn’t want to admit he couldn’t move, he nodded and made a grunt that would pass for a “yes.” He gave thanks that he wasn’t blocking the pathway to the porch because a herd of rampaging buffalo couldn’t have forced him to move an inch out of the way.
    Trying not to breathe too deeply and not to force his spine to move in the slightest, he prayed, God, please let this pain end. He wasn’t sure if he was asking for relief from the physical or emotional agony.
    He could tell Paige thought he was mad at her. That he was holding against her the fact that she’d turned him down. How did he admit that he had bigger problems, like the ability to stand tall the way a man should and not whimper? Stand tough, Thornton. It’s only a little back pain.
    Determined to maintain mind over matter, Evan tilted his head in her direction. The resulting strain on his lower spine wasn’t too bad. Encouraging. Maybe he could fix this situation he’d found himself in with a few kind words. “That’s mighty decent of you, Paige, to come all this way.”
    “It’s all right. I owe you, too, for recommending Phil. He walked me through the first phase of repairs he wants to do, and I know he’s given me an extremely low price. I suspect that might have something to do with you.”
    “I just told him how hard you work to keep that diner going and supporting your family is all. Phil’s a family man. He knows what that takes. I’m glad you’re happy with him. After all, your diner is where I eat most of my dinners these days.”
    “I wouldn’t want that to change. Or for you to feel as if you couldn’t risk coming in and seeing me behind the counter.” She slipped the sack on the top step of the porch, and even in her layers of winter wear, she moved like poetry. Lithe and limber and graceful.
    He felt it again, that overwhelming impulse gathering on his tongue. Just like before. He wanted to stop her from leaving. He wanted to ask her to stay, and he already knew her answer. She had a diner to run, she wasn’t interested, she didn’t date and she probably thought he was a dud for standing as still as a rock in