The Way to a Man's Heart (The Miller Family 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

April took them beverages and then banged through the swinging kitchen door. “What’s wrong with you, Leah?” she asked, her grin showing off her gold back tooth. “Surely you’ve seen Amish people before?”
    Leah backed up against the chest freezer. In a kitchen this small there was no place to hide.
    “Jah, I’ve seen them, but I don’t know those two. They’re not from my district. Why don’t you wait on them while I mix up another batch of tuna salad? It’s really selling well today.” She tried to step around her boss.
    April held up her palm like a crossing guard. “No way. You didn’t know any of the English folk during the past two weeks and you still managed to be cordial. Don’t pay any attention to the fact that they are Amish.”
    Leah couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “The problem isn’t that they’re Amish.” She parried to the left, but April blocked her escape with her hands on her hips, elbows out. Leah sighed. “The problem is that they are…men, young men. I’m nervous, that’s all.”
    “That’s all?” April asked. “Aren’t you eighteen?”
    Leah nodded.
    “And you haven’t started courting yet?”
    This time Leah shook her head. She was beginning to feel like her bruder’s trained pony.
    “I was married by your age!”
    “Not everyone is in an all fired-up hurry. My life is quite pleasant just the way it is.” Leah lifted her chin higher.
    “Oh, Leah.” April studied her carefully. “Pleasant, you say? Old grannies rocking on porch swings should have pleasant lives, not somebody eighteen years old. You go out there and take their order.” She nudged her toward the door, pushing an order pad into Leah’s hand. “Go talk about the likelihood of rain later in the week. I know that’s your favorite topic with elderly customers. Let’s see if young ones appreciate your weather forecasts just as much. I’ll take care of the tuna salad.”
    Ready or not, April shoved Leah through the swinging door. The motion drew the attention of all the patrons present, including the Amish fellows. Leah had no choice but to walk to their table. As she did so, she saw one elbow the other and say something behind his upraised menu. She cleared her throat and asked, “What’ll you have to drink?”
    The dark-haired man laughed while the other pointed his index finger at their Cokes. He had light brown hair, cut shorter than usual, and hazel eyes. The fact that he looked even handsomer up close did nothing to calm her nerves.
    “Oh, I see you’ve got drinks. Have you spotted something you like?” She poised the tip of her pen on the pad.
    The dark-haired one’s gaze trailed from the hem of her apron to the top of her kapp. “Jah, you could say that.” He burst out laughing as though the joke were funny.
    “Mir leid about him,” said the other apologetically. “It’s his first time off the farm in weeks.” He took off his hat and set it on the seat. “My name is Daniel and that dummkopp is Steven.” He offered both a nice smile and his hand.
    Leah shook his hand like a quick priming of an old-fashioned pump. “Leah Miller, nice to meet you. What do you want for lunch?” She glanced at the other tables to give them the impression that she was busy.
    Daniel replied without an ounce of urgency, “What’s good today, Leah Miller? What do you recommend?” He appeared to be studying the very short menu as though he had all the time in the world.
    She was uncomfortable with their easygoing banter and yearned to answer I recommend that you two hightail it out to your buggy and git! But she knew April wouldn’t appreciate that, so instead she said, “You can’t go wrong with the ham-and-cheese with a side of coleslaw.”
    Steven met her eye, looking contrite. “Sounds great. I’ll have that, Miss Miller.”
    Daniel handed over his menu. “Double that order. I have a feeling we’ll be back often enough to try just about everything.”
    She picked up the menus and