Chapter 6
“When did you draw these?”
The next morning Emily stood with Jake outside the barn as he flipped through her detailed sketches of the renovation for
the market, one of the outside and three of the inside. She had included details of the booths and also customers milling
about. She’d added shading and even utilized her colored pencils to complete the drawings.
Emily jammed her hands into the pockets of her jean shorts. “Last night.”
“They’re pretty enough to frame.” He flipped to the last one and then met her gaze, eyeing her with something that looked
like shock or possibly wonder. “Did you sleep?”
“I mean, yeah,” she said quickly with a shrug. “Why wouldn’t I?” She tried to laugh, but it came out as a squeak.
Way to be obvious!
She’d finally fallen asleep after five and then woke up at eight when she heard Diane rattling pans around the kitchen.
The truth was that she’d tried drowning thoughts of her parents and her feelings for Jake in the sketches, but she still couldn’t turn off her brain.
The thoughts haunted her while she drew, and after she fell asleep, she dreamed about marrying Jake in the renovated barn with her parents, his parents, and the entire town of Splendid Lake in the congregation.
But if she admitted that out loud, then Jake would know that not only was she crazy about him, but she was just plain crazy.
Jake lifted a sandy-blond eyebrow, and a blush creeped up her neck to her cheeks.
Oh boy. Time to take the focus off me!
“If you flip to the next page, you’ll see I started a shopping list for Lowe’s. It complements the one you wrote yesterday.”
She pointed to the sketch pad. “We can go now if you want.”
He consulted her list and nodded. “Vince, the new manager at the orchard, gave me a list of roofing supplies too. The guys
are going to help me with the roof and then we’ll worry about the walls and the interior.” He grabbed a piece of paper from
the pocket of his athletic shorts. “We can take my truck.”
“Great.”
She followed him to his truck and tried to focus on their to-do list and not her insane wedding dream or the way he’d wrapped
his strong arms around her last night.
Jake steered his pickup through the Lowe’s parking lot a couple of hours later. The bed of his Dodge was loaded down with
roofing supplies, and with the windows open, a warm breeze swept through the cab.
Emily flipped on his radio, and when a hard rock song came through the speakers, she switched it to the oldies station and sang along with “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen. Turning, she grabbed Jake’s ball cap and yanked her long ponytail through the back before adjusting it on her head.
“You change my radio station, and you steal my hat,” he grumbled while slowing to a stop at a red light. “You’re awfully bold.”
She batted her eyelashes. “Yup, and I’m also cute.”
“That’s true, but now my hair’s a mess.”
“I can help with that.” She threaded her fingers through his soft hair, doing her best to arrange it. “There you go.”
His baby-blue eyes assessed her, and her stomach fluttered.
Oh boy.
She settled back in her seat and folded her arms. “You’re not getting this hat back.”
“Typical,” he muttered, but the corners of his mouth lifted in a ghost of a smile. He turned onto Main Street, which ran through
downtown Splendid Lake, driving past the town hall and the library. When he came to the line of stores, he chose a spot in
front of Scoops.
“What are we doing here?”
He shifted into Park and plucked his keys from the ignition. “Getting ice cream,” he said, his brow furrowing. “What else
is there to do at Scoops?”
“Oh, okay.” She pushed open the door and met him at the front of the truck.
Jake held the parlor door open and made a sweeping gesture for her to walk in. The little shop was decorated in a 1950s theme
with a black-and-white checkerboard tiled floor, red vinyl booths, chrome high-top tables, and red vinyl stools. Photos of
ice cream sundaes, banana splits, and cones dotted the walls.
The shop buzzed with conversations as people enjoyed their sweet treats, and Emily nodded and waved to acquaintances as she
stood in line beside Jake.
“Are you going to get your usual?” he asked her.
She tipped her head to the side. “What’s my usual?” she asked, quizzing him.
He rolled his eyes. “Chocolate chip cookie dough in a waffle cone with chocolate sprinkles.”
“Very good.” She poked his impressive bicep. “And I know you’re getting chocolate peanut butter in a waffle cone. You never
deviate.”
They made their way to the counter and placed their orders before Emily retrieved her wallet.
When Jake started to protest, she held up a hand. “My treat. I insist.” She swiped her card and took the receipt.
“Emily?”
She spun just as Andi Wingate rushed over and hugged her. “It’s been forever.”
“Andi!” Emily squealed. “How are you?”
“I’m great.” Andi looked up at Jake. “Hey, Jake.” Then she focused on Emily. “I was across the street at Morningside Bakery,
and I thought I saw you two walk in here. Are you back for good?”
Emily shook her head. “No, but I’m here for a while.” She could feel Jake watching her while she spoke. “How’s your hubby?”
“Seth’s great.” Andi pushed her hand through her short brown bob. Her brown eyes sparkled while she talked about her husband,
who was their high school classmate and one of Jake’s good friends. “His landscaping company has really taken off. He has
three crews working for him now and pretty much makes his own hours floating from jobsite to jobsite. He’s doing more managing
and less landscaping.”
“Good for him. Want some ice cream?” Jake asked.
“Sure,” Andi said. She gave him her order before she and Emily found a booth and sat.
“Are you and Jake . . . ?” Andi asked once they were seated in a booth.
“Together?” Emily asked.
Andi nodded.
Emily gave her a nervous laugh. “No, no, no. He asked me to come home to help him plan a celebration for the orchard. What
have you been up to?”
“I’m the bookkeeper for our landscaping business. How about you?”
“I’ve been doing this and that.”
“With your art?” Andi actually seemed hopeful.
Emily shrugged. “Sort of.” She was grateful Jake arrived with their ice cream just then. She didn’t want to discuss failures—not
even with an old friend. “Here’s our ice cream.” She slid over to make room for Jake on her side of the booth.
Jake sank down beside her and handed Andi her cone. “Pistachio for you.” Then he held out Emily’s. “Chocolate chip cookie
dough for Em.”
“Thanks,” Emily said before taking a bite.
They spent the next hour enjoying their treats and catching up with Andi. After their ice cream was gone, they walked out
to the sidewalk.
Andi hugged Emily. “Don’t be a stranger. If you need any help at the orchard, give me a call. My number’s the same.”
“I will,” Emily promised.
“Tell Seth hi for me,” Jake told her before climbing into the truck.
Emily rested her elbow on the console as she looked out the back window toward the truck bed. “I guess the plan is to start
with the barn roof.”
Jake nodded. “That’s right, but I need to hit one more place on our way back to the farm.
” He stopped the truck at a stop sign and snuck a glance at Emily.
She hummed along with a song on the radio while she wound her finger through her thick dark hair and peered out the windshield.
She looked adorable wearing his hat. No, adorable wasn’t the right word.
She was striking. His eyes lingered on her high cheekbones, her radiant golden-brown eyes, her cute
button nose and pink lips. Her ivory skin was makeup free, but honestly, she didn’t need any makeup. She was naturally pretty.
He’d always considered her attractive, but lately she seemed . . . different. Or maybe he was the one who had changed.
Emily met his eyes, and her dark brows lifted. “Why are you staring at me?”
He narrowed his eyes and pretended to assess her. “I’m plotting how to get my hat back.”
She touched the bill, and those sumptuous lips presented a coy smile. “It’s mine now.”
“Is that right?” He wagged a finger at her. “We’ll see about that.”
He drove through town and steered into the parking lot for the Splendid Lake Food Bank.
“You still donate apples here?” she asked, looking impressed.
He parked near the building and retrieved two large bags of apples from behind the driver’s seat. “Of course I do.”
They jogged up the front steps and into the building, where he headed toward the office.
“Jake!” Ms. Alexander hurried out from behind her desk. She divided her smile between him and Emily. “Hi, Emily. What have
you two brought us?”
He set the bags on a nearby chair. “These ripened early.”
“Oh my.” Ms. Alexander examined the bag.
“They’re perfect.” The middle-aged woman studied him.
“How are you feeling about the new orchard? What’s it called now?
” She snapped her fingers. “Apple Haven. I heard from Joyce Robbins that they’re going to have a petting zoo and face painting for kids.
It’ll be like a festival every day for the entire season. ”
Jake’s posture stiffened. “I heard something about that.”
“Could be some stiff competition for your orchard. You have always been so traditional—just apples and atmosphere, which is
great, but customers expect more of an experience now. What are you going to do about it?” Ms. Alexander asked.
A warm hand rested on Jake’s forearm as Emily stepped closer to his side. “We’ve got it under control. We’re planning some
exciting upgrades to the experience at Hughes Family Orchard.”
“Oh! What kind of upgrades?” Ms. Alexander’s hazel eyes sparkled.
“It’s a surprise.” Emily’s pretty face lit up like a kid watching fireworks on the Fourth of July. “You’ll have to come see.”
She gave Jake a warm smile, and the tense muscles in his shoulders and neck began to ease.
“Well, I’ll pass along the news that exciting things are coming to Hughes Family Orchard. Be sure to let the community know
so that folks come check it out,” Ms. Alexander said.