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didn’t need a good-looking cowboy carpenter with a reputation of being a ladies’ man.
    As they ate, the diner began to fill with people, and Abby was glad she’d taken Luke’s advice and come early enough to beat what appeared to be a dinner rush in the making.
    She felt the curious gazes of other diners on her and the kids and knew that probably strangers in town were a topic for gossip. It wouldn’t be long and everyone would know she was Inferno’s newest resident, and not just a passerby who had stopped in for a meal.
    â€œHow about some dessert?” Stephanie asked when they had finished the meal. “I’ve got a fresh apple pie back there that’s still warm from the oven.”
    Abby looked at the kids, who both shook their heads. “I’ll take a piece, and a cup of coffee,” she said, deciding she could enjoy the pie and coffee while the kids played the jukebox.
    Minutes later, the kids stood at the music maker armed with a handful of quarters, and Abby nursed her coffee and cut into the luscious-looking apple pie.
    She’d just taken her first bite when Luke Delaney walked into the diner. Instantly, she felt as if the air pressure in the room subtly increased.
    He paused inside the door, his long-lashed eyes scanning the room. When his gaze landed on her, a slow smile curved his lips. As he sauntered toward her,she was aware of every other woman in the room watching his progress.
    He stopped at her table and smiled. “I see you got here okay.” He flickered his gaze to the empty space beside her. “Mind if I join you?”
    She wanted to tell him no but found herself scooting as close to the wall as possible to allow him plenty of room to sit next to her.
    â€œStephanie.” He raised a hand to the waitress.
    â€œBring me the usual.” The waitress nodded, and Luke slid into the booth next to Abby. “Where are the munchkins?” he asked.
    She pointed to the jukebox near the door where the two were feeding in coins and punching buttons. “On the cross-country drive they discovered the joys of the jukebox,” she said.
    â€œDo they know what they’re playing? I mean, can they read the titles?”
    â€œJason can read a little, enough to recognize all the Alan Jackson songs.”
    He laughed. “At least the kid has good taste in music.”
    â€œYou like country music?” she asked, trying to ignore the clean male scent of him that seemed to wrap around her so effectively. His body warmth seeped to her even though their bodies weren’t touching.
    He turned sideways so he could look at her, his thigh suddenly pressing against hers. “As far as I’m concerned, there’s no other kind of music. What about you? What’s your listening pleasure?”
    She tried to focus on what he was saying and not on the sensory overload of his nearness. Despite thematerial of his jeans and hers, she could feel the heat of his thigh intimately against her own. “I used to enjoy old rock and roll, but when we were driving across country, there were times when we could only pick up country stations, so I have to admit, I’ve grown pretty fond of it.”
    â€œYou should come down to the Honky Tonk one night.”
    â€œThe Honky Tonk?” She was intensely aware of speculative glances being shot their direction from the other diners, particularly the female diners.
    â€œIt’s a little tavern on the north side of town. I pick a little guitar and sing there most nights.”
    â€œReally? So you’re a singing carpenter cowboy rancher.”
    â€œYeah, although I’m hoping eventually I can drop carpenter cowboy rancher from my résumé.”
    She looked at him in surprise. “So, you want to be a performer?” He was certainly handsome enough. She wondered if he had any talent, other than the one of seduction that Stephanie had mentioned earlier.
    â€œIn seven months’