than that. After all, history had proved she was a lousy judge of what constituted romance.
“SO JUST HOW BIG was Mitzi’s boyfriend?” Max asked as he and Hagan stood at the front counter.
“Very big.” Hagan rubbed his jaw, which was taking on a purple tinge. “Good thing I turned or he would have broken my jaw.”
“Funny how she forgot to mention this boyfriend.”
“I suspect she was trying to make him jealous.” Hagan studied the menu and shrugged. “It happens.”
“Yeah, but games like that can get a man killed. Or at least crippled.”
“Worse, I’m out twenty dollars for the binding strap.” He scowled. “Women. Never trust them.”
“That’s what you get for dating strangers.”
“And as I said before, you are not one to be giving advice about dating.” He looked up as Patti approached. “Would you go out with him?” He pointed to Max.
Patti raised one eyebrow. “What? Is he your broker or something?”
“Ignore him,” Max said. “He took a punch to the jaw and it rattled his brains. Bring us a couple of specials.”
“Poaching on someone else’s territory, Hagan?” Patti asked.
Hagan straightened. “Why do you say that?”
Patti shook her head and began assembling their burritos.
“Why did she say that?” Hagan asked Max.
“You have a reputation, dude.”
“Hmmph. At least they don’t call me Mad Max.”
“A name I happen to like.” He frowned at his friend. He should have taken Heather up on her offer to join her and Casey for lunch. The conversation was bound to be better. He turned away. “Holler when the food gets here.”
Hagan grunted and went back to brooding. Max walked over to Heather and Casey’s table and took a seat. “What’s new at the chamber of commerce?” he asked.
“Casey got the full treatment this morning,” Heather said. “Jerry Rydell brought her moose poop and Bill Whitmore asked her to lunch.”
“Isn’t Bill dating Marcy over at the library?” Max asked.
Heather shrugged. “Guess he’s keeping his options open.”
Max grinned at Casey. “I’m sure you made a good impression on all of them.” He ignored the pinch in his gut that might be jealousy. After all, he’d been the first to welcome her to town, and living across the hall from her, it was only natural he’d feel a little territorial.
“I don’t want to make an impression on any of them.” Casey shifted in her chair. “I’m sure they’re very nice guys, but I didn’t come to town on some kind of man hunt.”
“Enjoy it while you can,” Heather said. “After you’ve been here a while you’ll be just another local like me. Yesterday’s news.”
“Did she tell you a bunch of lifties serenaded her last night?” Max grinned.
“No!” Heather laughed. “I’ll bet that was a riot.”
“Sounded like a bunch of raccoons fighting over leftovers,” Max said.
Casey joined in the laughter. “It was pretty terrible,” she said. “Max ended up rescuing me and taking me home.”
“Any woman who drives halfway across the country by herself with only a houseplant for company doesn’t need rescuing,” he said. “I figured you were worn out from your trip and didn’t need the hassle of dealing with those guys anymore.”
He’d been standing by the bar, making fun of the singing when he’d locked eyes with her across the room. She’d looked exhausted and more than a little lost in the midst of the raucous crowd. What man wouldn’t have stepped in to help her?
“Well, I appreciate it, anyway,” Casey said. She rearranged her silverware, avoiding his eyes. Which was a real shame. She had beautiful eyes. The gray of a stormy sky.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the letters that had come for her this morning. “These were in the mail for you,” he said.
She took the letters, frowning when she read the address on the first one—the one from Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jernigan. When she got to the one from Paul Rittinghouse she positively glowered. “You don’t look too thrilled with mail from home,” he said.
She glanced up at him, her cheeks flushed, then folded the envelopes in half and stuffed them into her pocket. “I’m surprised, that’s all. I mean, I just got here.”
“They must have been mailed before you left,” he said.
“You’re probably right.” Her expression brightened, but he had the impression the look was forced. “Heather has been telling me about the Flauschink Polka Ball,” she said.
“I was explaining to her she needs to come up with a costume,” Heather said.
“And I’ve been trying to explain to her I’m not really much for fancy parties,” she said. She’d attended enough overdone celebrations in Chicago to last a lifetime.
“I wouldn’t call the Polka Ball fancy,” Max said. “It’s mostly just fun.”
“Your costume will have to be something simple,” Heather said. “We’ve only got a week. And I don’t think anything in my closet will fit her.”
“What about that ball gown or whatever it is in your closet?” Max asked. The thing had taken up half her car, like one of those hoop-skirted costumes from Gone with the Wind or something.
“No.” She shook her head, her cheeks a deep pink. “That wouldn’t be appropriate at all.”
Heather gave Max a questioning look. He shrugged. Whatever was in that bag, Casey clearly didn’t want to talk about it and he wasn’t going to push it.
“Why do I have to have a costume?” Casey asked. “Couldn’t I stay home?”
“And miss one of the best parties of the year?” Max asked.
“You haven’t lived until you’ve heard the polka version of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’” Heather said. “Besides, we’ll need you there to help sell tickets and things like that.”
“Maybe I’ll wear what I have on and go as a normal person,” Casey said. “I can wear a sign around my neck that says Endangered Species.”
Max laughed. “That’s pretty good. But the whole point is to shake you out of normal person mode. It’ll be good for you.” She obviously had a sense of humor, but there was a certain tension about her, as if she were always reining herself in.
“Do
