Stepping Up: Book Six in the Who's Your Daddy series

STEPPING UP

Rhonda A Marks

For Marianne, Doe and John. Thanks for stepping up.

Chapter One

Mortgage
foreclosure specialist Vance Ryan stepped out of his car and stood across the street from Catherine’s Diner. Like other businesses in the small town of Devinne, Pennsylvania, the restaurant’s financial standing was shaky. Like one step away from bankruptcy if his research was correct. For his job, he liked to check out the viability of the businesses on his caseload before moving forward with the process. So here he was on this chilly March evening. Drawing in a lungful of air, he headed inside.

As he pushed the heavy steel front door open, the tinkling of a small bell signaled his arrival. Small but cozy place. Looked like a typical diner, nothing special. Reminded him of the one on the old television show, Alice. To his right was a long counter with ten red stools. The kitchen laid further right, a small window cut out of the wall to pass orders through. The rest of the space was taken up with booths near the windows and a couple tables and chairs to complete the seating.

He checked his watch and noted that it was a little past seven. Dinnertime. But you wouldn’t have been able to tell by the lack of patrons. There was exactly five in the diner, three at the counter and two in one booth. No wonder the owner was having problems keeping up with the mortgage.

Since he needed to evaluate the business anyway, he’d might as well grab a bite to eat before talking with the owner. He slid onto one of the stools and waited for someone to come take his order.

Soon the door to the kitchen swung open and a woman backed out, her hands full with customer dinners. Vance inhaled sharply as she turned in his direction. She certainly didn’t look like Alice, Vera or Flo! Gorgeous was the only word he could use to describe her. She stood about five three, with curves in all the right places. Her caramel colored skin looked so soft, it practically called out for him to caress. Black curly hair bounced up and down as she set the plates on the tables and bent over to talk with the diners.

Suddenly she turned and began walking toward him, her hips gently swaying and a welcoming smile on her face.
led out for him to touchbusiness anyway lungful of air, he headed inside.o aurant
ing out to be very interesting.
vide s
“Welcome to Catherine’s.” 

Their hands briefly touched as she handed him a menu, sending shockwaves throughout his body with the contact. She must have felt it too because she snatched her hand away as if it were on fire.

“Thank you,” he managed to say while continuing to stare at her. He broke eye contact to glance down at the menu. “So what’s good?”

Her laugh skittered across his skin and he couldn’t help but to join in.

“It’s all good, but I’m kind of partial. This is my diner.” She gave him a wink and walked back to the kitchen, leaving him frozen in place.

If he had a lick of common sense, he’d forget about ordering any food and immediately introduce himself as the bank employee who would possibly be in charge of foreclosing upon her restaurant. Better yet, he should run out of here, get into his car and drive home. He could pick up something to eat on the way.

Instead, he stayed on the stool and slowly looked over the offerings. What would it hurt if he got a bite to eat?

A couple minutes later, the stunning woman reappeared and gifted him with another dazzling smile. “Ready to order?”

“Maybe,” he said slowly. “I have a question first.”

“Shoot.”

“Does everything come with a side order of your beautiful smile?” Warmth spread over him as she watched her face flush with color. He’d never noticed that African-Americans blushed and was enchanted by her reaction to him.

“For you, yes,” she replied with a wink.

“Then I’ll have the BLT and a double heaping of that gorgeous smile of yours.”

“You are so bad,” she threw over her shoulder as she walked toward the kitchen.

Guilt zinged him as he considered her words. If she only knew.

“So we’re flirting with the customers now?” Ginny Frelic, cook extraordinaire pinned her boss with a pointed stare.

Summer Hughes stuck her tongue out at her and whirled around to grab a couple slices of bread for the BLT. After inserting it in the toaster, she faced Ginny, hand on hip. “I was just being friendly, that’s all.”

“Friendly my foot. I may be old, but I remember what flirting looks like.”

Summer suppressed a smile and made herself busy gathering other ingredients. Since she and Ginny were the only ones on duty tonight, she wanted to help the cook out as much as possible.

“I need to do whatever I can to make our customers comfortable.”

“Uh-huh, Ginny replied, her tone indicating she didn’t believe a word Summer had uttered. “Just watch yourself, okay.”

“You worry too much, Ginny.”

“That’s part of my job description, missy. I’ll always look out for you. I made that promise to your mama, God rest her soul.”

Summer swallowed hard and willed away the tears pricking the back of her eyes. She didn’t know what she’d do without her late mother’s best friend. Many a day, Ginny’s encouragement kept her from throwing in the towel and closing the diner.

But how could she do that anyway? Catherine’s had been her mother’s dream. Eleanor Hughes had been one of a kind. Strong in every way. Guilt sliced through Summer thinking about how her mother encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a Broadway actress. Her senior year in high school, her dad fell ill, and Summer thought her dream was dead. No way could she abandon her family and the diner. But her mother insisted she go, and she did. Maybe if she hadn’t and stayed to help Mama and Spring run this place, her mother would still be here.

“Your beau’s dinner is ready,” Ginny teased as she handed her the plate.

“He’s not my beau,” Summer hissed as she headed out into the dining room.

Her eyes lit up as she watched him watching her. She’d never been particularly attracted to white men, but for him she’d make an exception. What would it feel like to run her hands through that silky blond hair? And a taste of those kissable lips? A shiver slid down her spine at the thought of kissing them. Get it together, Summer. The guy is not interested in you that way. He probably flirts with all women.

“Here you go,” she said as she placed his meal in front of him. She then noticed he didn’t have a drink. “I’m sorry. I forgot to get your drink order.”

“That’s alright. Do you have lemonade?”

“Sure do. Coming right up.” Summer walked over to the drink area and poured the largest glass she could find full of Ginny’s delicious lemonade.

“How come I can’t get a glass like that?” Henry Wilson whined as she set the glass down on the counter.

Summer turned to him and gave him the evilest look she could muster. “Now Henry, stop telling tales. You and I both know you drink twice as much pop with all the free refills we give you.”

Henry sheepishly lowered his head and turned his attention back to his meal. Satisfied that he’d been properly chastised, Summer checked on her other guests before retiring back into the kitchen.

From there she had a perfect angle to watch that handsome fellow eat his dinner. The way he bit into that sandwich made her knees weak. And she’d never seen a man’s Adam apple move like that when he gulped down his drink.

“You gonna stand there all evening getting off on that man or are you going to work?” Somehow Ginny had sneaked up on her and was standing there with the silliest grin on her face.

“Mind you own business,” Summer shot back, embarrassed that she’d been caught.

“I’ve never seen you so taken with a man,” Ginny said softly, all hints of amusement gone from her voice.

“I’m not taken with him,” Summer replied in an irritated tone.

“Okay,” the cook drawled.

Peeved with Ginny, Summer stormed out into the dining room to check on everyone once more. By the time she got around to the new customer, his plate was clean.

“Wow, that was fast!”

“Couldn’t help myself, um Summer?” He bent over to read her name on her shirt. “Everything was delicious.”

“Glad you liked it and yes, I’m Summer. And your name is?”

He hesitated for a second then said, “Vance.”

“Nice to meet you Vance. This is the first time I’ve seen you in here.”

“Yeah, I was just passing through and decided to stop in. Nice place you have.”

“Thanks. It was my mother’s dream to open a diner like this. My sister and I are doing our best to keep it going.”

Vance got a funny look on his face, cleared his throat and quickly hopped off his stool. “Well, I guess I ought to be going.” He dropped a couple bills on the counter, picked up his briefcase and started for the door.

“Before tasting Ginny’s famous apple pie,” she shouted as he placed his hand on the door knob.

He stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around, making her heart skip several beats when she spied the smile on his face. “Did you say apple?”

“Yes sir. We sell dozens of them every week.”

He returned to his seat and slapped his hand on the counter. “Bring it on.”

Summer hurried behind the counter and slid a big slice of pie on a dessert plate and poured him a steaming cup of coffee. Again, she couldn’t help herself and watched him scarf down the pie in record time. Boy did she love a man with a hearty appetite!

Vance glanced at his watch and again rose to leave. “I really have to go.”

“So soon,” she asked without thinking. She was really putting her foot in her mouth.

“Work,” he said shrugging his shoulders. “But I’ll be back.”

“We’ll be here,” she replied as he headed for the door once more.

“Goodbye, Summer.” With that, he was out the door, leaving her staring after him like a high school girl watching her crush walking away.

“Summer’s got a boyfriend,” Henry sing-songed, making the others laugh.

She stuck her tongue out at him and picked up the dirty dishes off the counter. That was interesting.

As soon as Vance slammed his car door shut, he dropped his head onto the steering wheel. What just happened in there? He blew out a frustrated breath and jammed the key into the ignition. How was he going to fix this?

He turned the engine over and carefully eased his way out into the light traffic on Main Street. He could kick himself for getting into this predicament. The plan was to go into the diner, check out how the business was being run and be on his way. Instead, he sat down, had dinner and met the most beautiful woman in the world. Who happened to be the owner.

The smart thing in this situation would be to do a U-turn, go back into the diner and do what he originally planned. Take her aside, introduce himself as an employee of the bank and let her know he was there to because she was seriously behind in her mortgage.

But he knew that ship sailed when he sat down and lost himself in her deep brown eyes. He could just imagine the pain he’d cause if he told her the truth now.

He gave himself a mental head slap and decided his next step. Someone else would have to take over the file and he’d have to forget about ever going back to the diner.

Satisfied with his plan of action, Vance continued on his way. Now if he could just follow through. 

Chapter Two

Summer
hurried downstairs and into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her father. She’d overslept, something she never did. A smile tilted one side of her face as she remembered her dream from last night. A dream that starred a certain handsome man with blond hair and quite a kissable mouth.

“Whatcha thinking about over there?”

Startled, Summer almost dropped the carton of eggs in her hand. After setting them on the counter, she whirled around to face her little sister. “What are you doing sneaking around?”

Spring Hughes laughed and pulled on one of Summer’s curls as she headed for the fridge. “Girl you know I’m not the quiet sort. Looks like you were lost in a daydream.”

Summer scowled at her sister and went to work on breakfast. Soon, the small kitchen smelled like bacon and eggs, their father’s favorite foods.

“How was business last night?” Spring asked as she sipped on a cup of coffee.

Summer shook her head and looked off into the distance. “Not good. We only had a few guests, the regulars.”

“Not enough to pay the bills, I’m guessing.”

“You’d be right. We got another letter from the bank. I don’t know how much longer we can put them off.”

“What are we going to do, Summer? We can’t let the diner go under.”

All Summer could do was nod her head, not trusting herself to speak. It was bad enough they’d lost their mother. No way would she lose Catherine’s.

Unable to hold them back, the what-ifs started playing in her head. What if she had stayed home after high school instead of running off to New York to pursue an acting career? What if Pop hadn’t fallen ill? What if Mama had insisted she stay home and help with the diner instead of encouraging her to follow her dream of becoming an actress?

Not that any of that mattered now. Her mother was still dead. Her father was bound to a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis. And they were on the verge of losing the diner.

“What’s that wonderful smell?” Walter Hughes rolled into the kitchen with an ever present smile on his face.

“You say the same thing every morning, Pop,” Summer said while giving him a kiss on the cheek.

“That’s because everything you cook is so delicious.” He took his place at the head of the table and laid a napkin in his lap. Spring brought him a plate and a cup of coffee and kissed him on top of his head.

“You two are so good to me,” he said in a trembling voice. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“And you’ll never have to worry about that, Pop,” Summer quickly responded.

After her father began to eat, Summer retreated to the living room and pulled out that letter from the bank. Time was quickly running out for them to get current with the mortgage. What were they going to do? If business did not pick up, Catherine’s would have to close.

“So, what’s your reason for turning in this file, Ryan?” Frank Peters peered up at Vance as he walked into his office.

Vance took a seat and tried not to fidget under his boss’ intense stare. Why hadn’t he practiced an answer before coming in here. He should have known Peters would have wanted an explanation why he wanted off this case.

“Well, I’ve got too many other projects going on and since this one is just getting underway, I thought it would be the least difficult to let go.” He held his breath as his boss leaned back in his chair, their gazes locked onto one another.

Frank Peters could be your best friend one minute and the next your worst nightmare. He was for the most part a fair boss, giving his subordinates compliments when warranted. But if they screwed up, he’d come down on them with a hammer. Hard.

“Although I have a feeling there’s more to this request than you’re telling me, since it’s the first time you’ve asked for something like this, I’ll make it happen.”

Vance jumped out of his seat and quickly walked to the door. “Thanks, boss,” he said as he placed one foot over the threshold.

“Ryan, keep your nose clean. The higher ups are keeping an eye on you. You’re doing a great job. Might be a promotion if you keep it up.”

Vance simply nodded and quickly exited, closing the door behind him. Once on the elevator, he let out a sigh of relief and sagged against the wall of the car. That was close.

Back in his office, he prepared the Hughes file for transfer and walked it over to the secretary. For a minute, he felt bad about what he’d done, but quickly recovered. There was no way he could work on the case after meeting Summer Hughes. Just the thought of the woman sent his heartbeat into double time.

Vance picked up another file and began to work on it. Before long, it was after eight and time to head out.

As if his car had a mind of its own, it headed back to Devinne and Catherine’s Diner. Despite a nagging feeling that this was not the right thing to do, he continued on his way. He wasn’t on the case anymore, so why not stop in for a bite to eat?