Chapter 2
Dina
“First customer!” My sister, Myka, called out.
I dusted the coffee grounds off my palms. “Starting early this morning,” I respond to her as she walked past me toward the back, having just unlocked the door a moment ago. She grunted in reply, and I sighed at her less than personable mood that appeared every morning that she opened the diner with me.
Turning to the door, I pulled in a breath to greet the customer, but my lungs caught. The man striding through the doorway was the same man who moved in next door to our house. He was tall, broad, and looked like sex on a stick in his blue jeans and long-sleeved shirt. It was casual, yet there was something purposeful in how he looked. In a suit, he’d be deadly to every girl who crossed his path.
The idea of other girls desiring him had me scowling. This wasn’t my man, why did I feel jealous? My man. That absurd thought was enough to get my mouth to pull into a smile at my insanity.
“Good morning!” I said brightly to the man. “Pick a seat and I’ll be right with you.”
His grin was immediate. “Mornin’.”
The closer he got to me, the more my breathing stuttered. There was an energy around him that warned he was dangerous. At the same time, I realized I wasn’t scared of him. It was like my instinct told me that I’d always be safe with him.
“How’re you doing today?” he asked with a smile as he found a seat at the counter.
I smiled at him, “I wasn’t too sure, but with you as our first customer, the day is already looking better.”
His chuckle wrapped around me with an incredible warmth. “Why, Ms. Neighbor, are you flirting with me?”
The question threw me off. Was I flirting? “A handsome new stranger in this small town? Expect that a lot.” I winked at him in my least awkward way, praying I didn’t look like an idiot. His answering chuckle once again put me at ease with him.
“How about we start with introductions? I’m Ivan Baranov. My mother and I recently moved here because she prefers the weather in Russia. She dedicated her life to me, so it was time she got what she wanted.”
His explanation warmed my heart to him even more. The love he held for his mother was obvious, but at the same time, he didn’t seem like the typical Momma’s Boy. Just a man who was able to now take care of the woman that had always been there for him.
“Dina Johnson. My sisters and I own this diner. There are four of us, but only three live next to you. Cassy lives with her fiancé, Devon. What about you? Any brothers or sisters?”
“None, just cousins, I’m afraid. Have you lived in Wintervale your whole life?” He asked as I poured him a cup of coffee and put a cranberry muffin in front of him.
“On the house, as a welcome to Wintervale.” Grabbing sugar and cream, I replied to his question, “I have. I travelled a bit before we lost our parents, but no place felt quite right. Wintervale and being close to my younger sisters have always been the right choice for me.”
Ivan’s smile lit up his whole face. “A woman after my own heart. Family comes first always. If I may be so bold, what made you buy the diner?”
“I’m the oldest, and when we lost our parents in a car accident, I knew we needed something to give us an income beyond their life insurance. I was picking up dinner for us and discovered it was for sale. It was well established and just needed some updating with the decor and menu. So I invested the insurance money into the diner.
The locals welcomed the change in ownership and menu, and business has been great. It’s a place where people meet with each other and do what everyone around here does best… sharing gossip.”
“Smart and beautiful.”
I started to blush at his words and quickly turned around to get him some silverware. “So what does local gossip think of us?”
I grinned at his question, happy to change to a subject that doesn’t make me blush. “Well, everyone seems to really like your mom. She fits right in like she’s always been here. But if what Mrs. Willowby thinks is true, your tattoos will be the downfall of us all.”
Ivan smirked, his stormy grey eyes held an intensity as he asked, “And what does Dina Johnson think?”
“That tattoos tell a story, and I wonder what your’s say about you.” Before he could respond, the front door’s bell sounded. “Welcome to Trudy’s, take a seat anywhere and I’ll be right with you.”
I started to turn away when Ivan asked softly, “Go out with me, Dina Johnson. You captivate me.”
I nodded shyly before turning away to get orders from the new customers. The whole time, my mind was racing with excitement. ‘He wanted to go on a date with me? I was no one, just a girl who took care of family and ran the diner.’ I glanced at him discreetly and fought against a giggle escaping as my eyes met his.
Taking a fresh pot of coffee over to him, I said to him softly to keep our conversation private, “I would love to go out with you, Ivan Baranov.”
The smile that lit up his face filled my heart with joy, and I knew that my answer was the right one. “What time are you off today?”
“Three.”
“Then how about I pick you up at four, or is five better? I found this beautiful spot on our property that I was thinking we could have a picnic dinner at,” Ivan said as his fingers tenderly caressed mine.
“Four is good, and that sounds lovely. I look forward to it.” I reached up and ran a finger softly along his jaw before I went back to helping customers as the diner started to fill up. I watched as discreetly as I could as Ivan finished his coffee and muffin with a smile.
Before he could leave, I left him a note with my phone number. With a big smile, he put it up against his lips before putting it in his wallet. After placing cash on the counter, he walked by me as he walked out. I felt his arm caress my lower back before placing something in my pocket. I watched as he climbed into his blue truck and drove away.