“Nice?” an indignant female voice interjected. “Look at those carvings. The Hattan isn’t just nice. It’s the most beautiful building in the whole town.”
Mitch spun around. He’d been so focused on admiring the building’s facade that he hadn’t noticed Cassie’s arrival. She stood on the other side of Alex, her dark hair twisted in a halfhearted ponytail. With her well-worn jeans and bulky oversize sweater, she looked like she’d just hopped out of bed and pulled on whatever was on the floor.
He couldn’t help but smile, remembering his days in grade school when whatever was on the floor had usually been all there was to wear. For him, because his dad drank any extra money away. For her, because her single-parent mom was more interested in her boyfriends than in providing for her daughter.
Though his life had gotten easier, Cassie still struggled. Her sewing ability was the only thing keeping her out of the welfare line. Last night when they’d shared a beer on her porch, he’d mentioned how tired she’d been looking. She’d assured him that with Stacie’s wedding dress now finished, she was through burning the midnight oil.
“I thought you promised me you’d sleep in,” he chided. The older-brother role was a familiar one for him. After all, he’d looked out for her since they were kids.
“Change in plans,” Cassie said with a rueful smile. “Trenton left his math assignment at home.”
“Uh, Cassie, the high school is that away.” Mitch gestured with his head.
She shoved her shoulder against him. “I know that, you goof. I was headed back home when I got a craving for one of Stacie’s gooey cinnamon rolls. I saw you standing on the sidewalk and wondered if you’d like to join me.”
While a cinnamon roll sounded good, business had to come before pleasure.
“Your friend is welcome, too,” Cassie said quickly.
Mitch thought for a moment. “Can you wait while we check out the inside?”
Cassie’s eyes brightened. “Can I come, too? I promise I’ll zip my mouth and be quiet as a mouse.”
Mitch had to laugh. She wouldn’t last five minutes. “Of course you can come. And talk all you want. You know I value your opinion.”
Cassie blushed. “That’s nice of you to say.”
A look of speculation filled Alex’s eyes. He turned toward Cassie and stuck out his hand. “If we’re going to break bread together, we should know each other’s names. I’m Alex Darst, a new attorney in town.”
“Cassie Els. I live just down the street from Mitch.” She took his hand. “I’ve heard so many nice things about you. It’s a pleasure to finally put a face with a name.”
Mitch pulled his brows together. By the way they were acting, he’d have thought the two were strangers. “Didn’t you meet at the Young Professionals meeting?”
Alex shook his head. “I wasn’t there. I sent Anna Anderssen to represent the office for me. Remember?”
Of course Mitch remembered the evening. He remembered his shock at seeing Anna after so many years. And he remembered how determined he’d been to keep the conversation strictly business.
“You’re Anna’s boss?” he heard Cassie say. “She and I are friends.”
“Yep. Anna works for me.” Alex’s proprietary tone set Mitch’s teeth on edge. “She’s a great employee.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Cassie said. “Even back in high school, Anna was very responsible.”
Anna. Anna. Anna. Mitch hadn’t heard the name in years. Now it seemed he couldn’t go five seconds without being reminded of her.
“Are you and your husband happy you made the decision to move back?” Alex asked, abruptly changing the subject.
“I’m divorced.” Cassie lifted her chin. “It’s just my two boys and me now. And of course my friends.”
To Mitch’s surprise, she reached over, slipped her hand around his arm and gave a squeeze.
“Well, if this isn’t a motley crew…”
Cassie’s hand dropped from his arm and she took a step back.
Perhaps Mitch should have been surprised to hear Anna’s voice. But he wasn’t. As many times as her name had been mentioned already, it would have seemed odd if she hadn’t appeared.
“Anna. What are you doing here?” Surprise flashed across Alex’s face. “You’re supposed to be watching the office.”
The hint of censure in the man’s voice roused Mitch’s protective instinct but he reminded himself this was Anna’s battle, not his.
“I am watching the office.” Anna slipped her hand into her bag and retrieved a hot-pink cell phone. “Electronically. I gave the papers to this morning’s client, then forwarded your calls to my cell.”
Her smile was engaging but Alex’s gaze narrowed. “What about walk-ins?”
“No one seeing an attorney just stops by,” Anna said with a dismissive wave. “Since I’ve worked for you, I’ve yet to see one person walk through the door without an appointment.”
“I still don’t understand what was so important that you had to leave the office,” Alex said.
“You forgot these.” Anna pulled a sheaf of papers from her oversize bag.
The tight lines bracketing Alex’s mouth eased. Puzzlement filled his gaze. “What are they?”
“Documents for your ten-fifteen meeting.” The papers Anna held flapped in the wind. “I was worried you wouldn’t have time to make it back to the office before your next appointment.”
Alex took the papers from her outstretched hand and slipped them into his briefcase. A rueful smile tipped his lips. “Thanks. I shouldn’t have made assumptions before I had all the facts.”
“No worries.” Anna shivered and her gaze settled longingly on the building’s front door. “Could we step inside for a minute? It’s freezing out here.”
Mitch resisted the urge to smile. For someone who could be so hot in bed, the entire time he’d known Anna she’d been notoriously cold-blooded. Just like now. Though the temperature had to be at least sixty, tiny goose bumps dotted her arms and nylon-clad legs. Of course, he had to admit the thin fabric of her wraparound dress provided little protection from the wind.
Before he had a chance to think about what he was doing, Mitch whipped off his coat and settled it around her shoulders. He wasn’t sure which of them was more surprised.
“I couldn’t—” Anna said, even as she pulled the jacket tight around her.
“I’m plenty warm,” Mitch said, dismissing her protest. She’d been away from Montana too long. She’d obviously forgotten that in Sweet River, men took care of women. It didn’t matter if they had feelings for them or not.
“After we tour the building, we’re heading over to The Coffee Pot.” Cassie spoke for the first time since Anna had appeared. “Care to join us?”
Anna’s gaze settled on Alex and a look of uncertainty filled her eyes. “As long as you don’t mind the office being unmanned a little while longer?”
Mitch turned and headed for the building’s front door. He didn’t bother waiting for Alex’s response because it didn’t matter to him whether Anna came along or not. She meant nothing to him. Nothing at all.
Chapter Five
Anna stared at