Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
The Harvest Festival was being held at one end of Old Town, near a parking lot. Lila had to put together not just the booth itself but all the decorations too. Thank goodness Tilly and Jack had a generator they could use to keep the coffee hot.
She’d just started loading her car when TJ showed up. “Hello,” he greeted.
Lila jumped. She had no idea why. She’d seen him pull into the lot in front of Pleasant Beans. “Hi.”
“What are you doing?”
“Getting ready to go set things up.” She straightened, turned to him, and smiled. “Here to get coffee?”
“Yes, and to help you, if you’d like.”
“That bored, eh?”
He shrugged. “Well, maybe a teensy bit. But since I volunteered to help with the booth, the least I can do is help set it up.”
“Thanks, TJ. I appreciate that. I just need to grab a few more things from inside.”
He smiled. “How have they been behaving the last couple of days?”
She knew exactly who he meant. “They’ve been fine. No major accidents, and they haven’t set anything on fire. Always a big win as far as Grandma’s concerned.”
He laughed. “Good.” He motioned toward the shop. “Let’s go.”
She followed him inside. Paddy was taking orders as they passed and continued down the hall. “Is what you need back here?” TJ asked.
“Yes, in the storeroom. There’s a box of twinkling lights on the top shelf I can’t reach.” She pointed when they entered. “See?”
“Yeah, I see it.” TJ stood on tiptoe and pulled the box down. He set it on the floor in the hall. “What else do you need?”
Lila studied the shelves. Tilly was good about labeling, but a few boxes had nothing written on them.
“We’d better check the unmarked boxes. Tilly has a small cash box she uses for petty cash and booth money. She said it was in here, but…”
“Never fear, I’ll get them down for you.” TJ grabbed the unmarked boxes and set them beside the lights so they could sort through them.
“Thanks,” Lila said. “It must be nice to be tall.”
He laughed. “Yes, though in England there are a lot of low ceilings I have to contend with.”
She snorted. “I’m sure you do.” Opening the first box, she found the steel cash box. “We’re going to need this.” They gathered the twinkling lights, fall decorations, and a few other things for the booth, and loaded everything into her car.
When they were done, they set off. It didn’t take long to reach Old Town and find the area where everyone was setting up their booths.
“All right, we’re in space number 12,” Lila announced.
TJ gave a curt nod and went to the back of the car. She followed, noticing the breadth of his shoulders. Her gaze traveled lower before she forced herself to look away. Oh, my heavens! Stop ogling his backside! she scolded herself.
She opened the trunk and TJ pulled out the main box.
There were also a couple of bags of decorations.
Lila grabbed those, and together they carried everything to space 12.
That done, they got the poles and canvas out for the actual booth.
With TJ’s help, it didn’t take long. She was glad he’d come.
She wasn’t the most graceful creature, and who knew how long it would’ve taken alone.
“What do we want to do next?” TJ asked. “Decorate? And what’s being used as a counter area?”
“I’ll have to go to the hotel. We’ve got a portable counter over here,” Lila said.
“Oh?” He glanced down the street toward the Van Cleet Hotel. “Well, all right. As long as this stays safe.”
“Who’s going to steal decorations?” She started toward the hotel at the other end of Old Town. Their booth was located about thirty feet from the museum, closest to the parking lot.
When they reached the hotel, they went inside. Lila led the way down a hall to the back. She pushed through a rear door and crossed the yard to an outbuilding.
“Wow,” TJ said. “I’ve never been back here.”
“Really?” Her eyes widened. “I thought everybody came behind the hotel to make out.”
“What?” His voice cracked. “Make out?”
She nodded. “See those benches back here?” She pointed at several benches lined against the hotel’s back wall. There were more beneath a group of shade trees.
“What about them?”
“Well, when I was in high school, people used to come back here and make out. My dad would chase off kissing couples all the time. It was funny, actually. He used to threaten me and my siblings, that if he ever caught us back here, we’d have extra dish duty for months.”
TJ laughed. “That’s hilarious.”
“At the time, it wasn’t. I used to hate to do dishes.”
Still chuckling, he headed for the outbuilding. “So, what we need is in here?”
“Yes, hang on, I forgot the key.” She ran inside, grabbed a key off a hook behind the counter, and hurried back. TJ was waiting by the door, still studying the benches.
“So,” he drawled with a grin. “Did you ever get extra dish duty?”
“No, I didn’t!” she said emphatically, unlocking the door. “There it is, that’s what we need.”
“How heavy is it?” he asked, eyeing the three sided wooded counter. “Can the two of us carry it?”
“Yes,” Lila said. “But we might have to stop now and then so I can rest. You can probably carry it just fine without passing out.”
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Let’s get it outside.”
She grabbed one end while he took the other. “I’m not very good at walking backward,” Lila warned with a cringe.
TJ smiled. “Then let’s switch places.”
They did and soon had the counter outside. “Oh, I guess this isn’t so bad,” Lila said.
“No, not at all. I can carry it around the building if you’d like.”
“Sure.” She was about to grab her end again when he hoisted the whole thing onto his shoulder and started walking.
“Hey, wait a minute! I was going to help you!” Lila trotted after him.
“No need, sweetheart,” TJ said. “I’d rather you not hurt yourself. It’s not that heavy, I just hope I don’t hit somebody with it.”
She laughed as they crossed the backyard behind the hotel and walked around the building. He didn’t stop and headed for the festival area.
Okay, not only was TJ Jones handsome, but capable and strong.
She sighed inwardly and tried not to walk behind him.
That would result in her staring at those broad shoulders of his, and eventually other parts.
The last thing she needed was to be caught ogling his backside while walking down Main Street in Old Town.
When they reached their booth, he set the counter down and centered it neatly. Stepping back, he admired his handiwork. “There. That looks good. Now let’s decorate.” He clapped his hands together, grinning.
“Wow, I’ve never seen anyone so excited to decorate a coffee booth,” she teased.
“Well, it’s something fun! I love these hometown festivals, don’t you?”
She nodded. “Yes, I admit I do. Didn’t you mention you’re going to man the booth while I go shopping?”
“Yes, then we can switch. Maybe I’ll find a few Christmas presents here and wrap them before I leave.”
Her heart sank at that last word. ”Oh… right. You’re going back to Cornwall.”
He looked at her a moment, his expression softening. “I’m afraid so. But I’ll think of you.”
She stopped breathing for a heartbeat. “You will?”
“Of course! I’ve enjoyed our time together. It’s been fun. Way more entertaining than hanging around home.”
“Oh. Well.” She gave him a shy smile and hoped she hadn’t gone bright red.
They strung the lights, hung the decorations, then returned to the hotel’s storage building for a long folding table to hold the coffee paraphernalia and a smaller one for the accompaniments. Once everything was arranged, they stood back, admired their work, and high-fived.
Lila had to admit she enjoyed her time with TJ.
Maybe a little too much. Was it wrong if she liked it?
She should be careful; he was leaving soon, and there was no point letting herself catch feelings.
But doggone it, she wanted to have a good time.
And in doing so, feelings naturally grew.
She couldn’t ignore him now, nor tell him she didn’t need help tomorrow when the festival opened.
“Something wrong?” he asked. “You’ve got a funny look on your face. Did we forget something?”
She gazed up at him, her heart pounding. “No, I’m good.”
“Do we need to get back to Pleasant Beans? Is all this okay just sitting here?”
“No one’s going to steal our stuff. Besides, someone parks their RV in the parking lot overnight to keep watch. It’ll be fine.”
He nodded, eyes still on her.
“What?” she asked, glancing down. “Do I have something on me?”
He smiled and stepped closer. “No, darling, you’re fine. More than fine.” He blinked a few times, then turned away. “So… we should get back to the shop.”
She stared at him. What was that? And did he just call her darling? Her stomach did a little flip at the endearment. “Yeah. We should go.” She headed for the parking lot.
TJ followed, thankfully silent. Lila was afraid she’d trip over her own tongue if she had to talk right now.
When they reached the car, she was surprised when he opened her door for her, even though she was the one driving. Not that she minded; she just wasn’t used to anyone being so gentlemanly.
Back at Pleasant Beans, they found Mary and Paddy along with Cyrus and Polly finishing up for the day. Grandma and Doc, plus Wilfred and Irene, were taking the afternoon shift.
“How’d everything go?” Cyrus asked.
“Fine,” Lila said. “The booth’s all set up.”
“Wonderful,” Polly said. “I bet you’re glad that’s done. Are you taking supplies down in the morning? Need any help?”
“I’m her help,” TJ announced behind her.
The couples exchanged knowing smiles. “And fine help I’m sure,” Polly said with a wink at Cyrus. The elderly pair headed for the door. Not a minute later their replacements shuffled in.
“Polly’s smiling like a Cheshire cat,” Grandma quipped, hands on hips. She studied Lila and TJ. “Just what have you two been up to?”
“What? Us?” Lila blinked. “We just got back from setting up the booth for the festival.”
Grandma crossed her arms. “Hmm. Well, Polly doesn’t look that sly for no reason. But never mind. How’s the booth look?”
“It looks great,” TJ said with a smile. “Wait till you see it.”
“I’ll see it eventually,” Grandma said. “Come on, Irene, let’s go put our things away.”
Irene gave them a beady-eyed look as she followed Grandma to the back.
Wilfred shook his head. “She’s in a mood today.”
“Uh-oh. What happened?” Lila asked.
“She gets these notions in her head, and when she doesn’t get her way, she pouts. This time she can’t decide on a chocolate pie recipe. Now she thinks she ought to make all six kinds.”
“Heavens, no!” Lila threw up her hands, then facepalmed. “I forgot about the pastries.” She looked at TJ apologetically. “We’re going to need another table in the booth for them. We can stash coolers underneath to save room.”
“Do we need to go back to the hotel?” TJ asked.
“Do you mind?” she said, making a face.
He took a step closer. “Not at all.”
Her heart skipped a few beats. If this kept up, she wasn’t sure she’d make it through the day. He was getting awfully hard to be around. How was she supposed to guard her heart? Maybe she should avoid him after the festival. But how, if he kept coming into the shop?
She pushed the thought aside, told Grandma about the afternoon shift, then she and TJ headed out again.
He opened her car door for her again. “You know,” he said as she got in. “You’re really good with them.”
She glanced up. “Thank you. I guess they’ve grown on me. At first, they were annoying, and I was worried about the chaos. But now that they’re getting the hang of everything, I’m beginning to enjoy them.”
“I enjoy them too,” he said softly. “And you.”
She gave him a shy smile, then hurried to get in the car. He closed her door, sauntered around to the passenger side, and got in.
They didn’t say much on the drive back to the hotel. Lila did her best not to sneak glances at him. That led to turning her head outright and staring at his handsome face. He caught her doing it and her cheeks flamed.
They parked behind the hotel to load the folding tables into the back. When they returned to the festival lot area, more people were setting up their booths.
“This place has livened up,” TJ said as he climbed out. He opened her door and offered a hand. Before she could think, Lila took it and a jolt of something electric raced through her.
He met her gaze with a bright smile, then helped her out of the car. She didn’t know what that was, but she liked it far too much. Okay, she told herself, you just have to survive tomorrow and the next day. That’s it. That’s all you have to do.
She prayed her little chant would make it through her thick skull. Otherwise, this was going to be a very long weekend.