Page 4 (1/2)

Prologue

M r Always-Pays-Cash-And-Tips-Well Bella St Clair spotted the hot, sophisticated dark-haired customer in the back corner of the packed Atlanta bar He’d been there four of the ten nights she’d worked at Monahan’s Always polite, he’d chatted with her a few ti her feel like a person instead of just a cocktail waitress Despite the fact that in terms of romance her heart was deader than a doornail, and she was distracted about her aunt’s latest probleht of him

He gave a slight nod and she ht?” she asked, setting a paper napkin on the tableHe hesitated a half beat then shrugged “I’ve had better,” he said

A shot of eh her She could identify with him Her aunt’s business had been turned over to the bank one o today and Bella kneas at least partly her fault “Sorry,” she said “Maybe the at in a little while What can I get for you?”

“Maclellan single malt whiskey,” he said

She lifted her eyebrows at the expensive beverage and nodded “Excellent choice for either a rough night or a celebration Can I get you anything to eat with that?”

“No thanks Rowdy crowd tonight,” he said, nodding toward the large table in the center of the room “Must be the snow”

She glanced toward the curtained s in dismay “I’ve been so busy since I arrived that I didn’t notice I heard the forecast, but it’s rare to get the white stuff here Think it’ll be just a dusting?” she asked hopefully

He shook his head “We’re already past a dusting The roads should be covered in an hour”

“Great,” she onna love this trip home”

“What do you drive?” he asked, curiosity glinting in his dark eyes

“Volkswagen Beetle”

He chuckled “I guess that’s better than a motorcycle”