“What’s your last name?”
Sophia stared at him.
“Lauron.”
Jake closed his eyes.
Of course.
Sophia’s mouth opened.
“Wait.”
She looked at him more carefully.
“Jake…”
He looked back.
Her eyes widened further.
“Jake Morrison?”
Jake pointed at himself with one glove.
“Unfortunately.”
Sophia covered her mouth.
“Oh my God.”
Jake began laughing.
Not polite laughter.
Actual laughter.
Sophia stared another second, then started too.
She leaned against the Mercedes.
“You’re my date?”
Jake nodded.
“You’re the woman Avery investigated?”
“What?”
“My daughter apparently interviewed Maya about you.”
Sophia laughed harder.
“I told Maya I didn’t want pictures.”
“So did I.”
“Why?”
Jake shrugged.
“Because if I was already agreeing to blind date, I wanted one part actually blind.”
Sophia wiped snow from her eyelashes.
“I said almost exactly that.”
“Terrifying.”
She looked at the running Mercedes.
Then at him.
“You just fixed my car.”
“Badly timed heroism.”
“And refused money.”
“I can reconsider.”
She smiled.
Jake checked road.
“You should still follow me.”
“To café?”
“If car cuts out, I don’t want you alone again.”
Sophia’s expression changed.
Softer.
“All right.”
Jake walked toward his truck.
She called:
“Jake.”
He turned.
“I was planning to leave after one drink.”
Jake smiled.
“So was I.”
Sophia’s eyes brightened.
“Now?”
He looked at the snow.
Then at her.
“Now I’m curious how much worse this can get.”
She laughed.
“See you at Evergreen.”
Evergreen Café occupied a converted railroad station near Silverpine’s old downtown. The windows glowed amber against snow, and Maya Chen was standing behind the counter when Jake walked in twelve minutes later.
She saw him.
Then Sophia behind him.
Then the snow covering both.
Her expression turned suspiciously delighted.
“No.”
Jake pointed.
“Do not.”
Maya folded both hands on counter.
“What happened?”
Sophia removed her coat.
Underneath she wore the black evening dress Jake had glimpsed on the road.
Simple.
Elegant.
Far too refined for a café where one wall held framed photos of local high-school hockey teams.
Maya looked between them again.
Sophia said:
“My car died.”
Maya’s grin widened.
Jake groaned.
“He stopped?”
Sophia nodded.
“He fixed it.”
Maya actually clapped once.
Jake glared.
“You arranged a breakdown?”
“I have limits.”
“Questionable.”
Maya came around counter and hugged Sophia.
Then whispered loudly enough for Jake to hear:
“You’re welcome.”
Sophia laughed.