He took the roll of paper towels off the floor, ripped off one, and brushed it across her cheek, then ran it down a strand of her hair. “Some of it got on you. Shame that Zed’s gravy got wasted. He makes the best biscuits and gravy I’ve ever eaten. Want me to go around to the café and get you another order?”

“No, thank you. I’ll just grab a package of chocolate doughnuts and a cup of coffee,” she stammered. What was wrong with her? She was acting like a sophomore in high school, not a mother in her midthirties.

With a brief nod, he rolled his cart back to the tank and then over to the refrigerator where the other forms of bait were kept. “I think that’s the best I can do for today, but I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“It’s Easter Sunday,” Dana reminded him.

“My daughter and I go to early Mass, so there’s no problem. See you same time tomorrow.” He flashed a brilliant smile and waved.

“God, you have one wicked sense of humor to send Marcus around that I have no chemistry with and then let this man walk into my life and he’s got a daughter and likely a wife,” she muttered as she rushed off to the bathroom. The little mirror above the sink was cracked in two places, but it showed what a mess she was. Specks of gravy dotted her hair, and sweet Lord, there was even a smudge of it, complete with sausage, behind her ear.

What’s God got to do with you bein’ clumsy? If you hadn’t leaned over the counter to look at the way Payton filled out his jeans, you wouldn’t have slung gravy halfway to the Oklahoma border. Granny Annie was back in her head, so clearly that she almost expected to see her reflection in the mirror right along beside hers.

“That’s not what I was talkin’ about. Marcus is probably going to ask me out and I feel nothing around him. Yet Payton is probably married and his touch makes me think unholy thoughts,” she said out loud.

Like you told Brook, life ain’t fair.

Tawny had just finished canceling a weeklong reservation for cabin number six when a guy tapped on the door of her cabin and then eased the door open. His blue eyes met hers, and he blushed slightly.

“Can I help you?”

“I stopped at the café and Zed said to come to this cabin. It would help if you’d put an office sign on the door. I didn’t know whether to knock or just walk in,” he said.

“Good idea. I’ll make a temporary one until I can get a permanent one ordered.”

“I’m here to see if you have a vacancy. I’d like to check in now and stay until Tuesday morning,” he said.

Tawny picked up the number six key and dangled it. “You are one lucky guy. I was booked solid until two minutes ago. Number six, right next door to this one, is empty, so if you want it, it’s yours. But if you check in now, I’m going to have to charge you for today. Regular check-in isn’t until three. Want to go fishin’ or do some hiking until then?”

“I’m not a fisherman or an outdoors person. I just want three days of peace and quiet to do some reading and relaxing.” He handed her his credit card and driver’s license. “I’m Marcus Green. You are the youngest sister, right?”

“That’s right. Do I know you?” Those blue eyes were boring right into hers, and her pulse kicked in an extra beat.

“I went to school with Dana in Frankston,” he said. “I heard about y’all a lot through Zed and Annie when I came to the café. I was so sorry to hear of her passing.”

Tawny ran his credit card through the machine and handed both it and his license back to him, along with the cabin key. A copy of the transaction ran through the printer, and she laid it on the desk. “Please sign right there. Checkout is at eleven.”

“I’ll be gone before eight. I’m a teacher at Frankston.” His hand brushed against hers when he took the pen from her. “Reckon Zed is still serving breakfast?”

Tawny glanced at the clock. “For another fifteen minutes. If you live in Frankston, why are you renting a cabin? You could come to the lake anytime and go home to your own bed at night.”

“Sometimes it’s good just to get away from everyday life and have some quiet time to myself.” He smiled, and her heart did a couple of flips. “I don’t fish, but I love the lake and the idea of unplugging for the weekend. Be seein’ you around, Tawny.”

She pushed back her chair and watched him get into a vintage Ford Mustang, bright red, and pull it around to park in front of the cabin right next to hers. He wasn’t tall, but he was muscular, and her fingers itched to see if his curly hair was as soft as it looked.

“Marcus Green,” she said out loud. “Where have I heard that name?”

“Hey, Aunt Tawny.” Brook startled her when she slung the door open. “I brought you a set of clean sheets. I’ll pick up the dirty ones when Flora and I get done with number one. Was that Mr. Green goin’ into the unit next door?”

“That’s where I heard the name. Is he one of your teachers?” Tawny asked.

“Yep, history. He also teaches some math. What’s he doin’ here?”

“Unplugging for the long weekend. Thanks for the sheets.” She loved her niece and she didn’t want to push her out, but the longer Brook stayed, the more questions she’d ask. And then she’d tell Dana. And that’s when the problems could and would start, because Dana would want to boss her about Marcus being so much older.