Chapter 1 #2
“Obviously,” he says with another chuckle. Then he swipes a towel off the counter and starts rubbing the sugary shrapnel off his shirt and pants.
I wish he—of all people—didn’t have a front-row seat in the splash zone of my frosting mishap.
I look down and another glob lands on the counter. I chuckle.
“Well. I’d better clean this up.”
“Here. Let me help,” Cody offers.
“Didn’t you come back here for something?” I need to get Cody out of my sphere of mortification.
“Oh, yeah.” He walks toward a side table. “I need these.” He picks up a stack of the pink bakery boxes emblazoned with the shop logo. Then he says, “I’ll be back,” and disappears out the swinging door into the bakery.
I blow out a long breath into the space he leaves behind. Then I busy myself looking for some towels.
Hours after I arrived, we’ve cleaned up the Great Buttercream Blowout.
I’m in a borrowed shirt from Sydney—who lives in the apartment over the bakery.
Cody’s wearing the T-shirt he had on under his station shirt.
Of course the man looks good even after a frosting disaster, while I probably look like I stuck my head in the industrial mixer.
We’re all lingering in the now-empty front of the bakery.
Sitting around tables, while Patrick leans against the wall and Dustin stands off to the other side with his arm slung loosely around Emberleigh’s shoulder.
Dustin is recounting some of the more memorable moments of this morning’s rush when my phone buzzes with a text notification.
Syd’s and Emberleigh’s go off a second later.
We all grab for our cells.
“Group text,” Emberleigh says to Dustin.
“You book club girls,” Dustin says with affection in his voice.
I glance at my screen.
McKenna: Reminder: I land TOMORROW. I’ll be the girl in sunglasses, looking like I’ve been living in Hollywood for months.
A grin blooms—big, warm, like my whole soul just turned on a light behind my face. My best friend’s coming home. Six months of McKenna in Tennessee again—my favorite person in my favorite place.
Carli: I’m counting down the hours—not like I’m eager or anything ;) (P.S. It’s 20 hours and 10 minutes … or something like that).
McKenna: Carli, this is what I love about you.
Carli: My ability to keep time?
McKenna: The way you always lay out the welcome mat and we pick up right where we left off. You’re the best friend a girl could ask for.
Sydney: Can’t wait to see you, Mac!
Emberleigh: Book club meeting as soon as you’re settled! Or at least, girls’ night.
Cass: Is there a difference? Aren’t we always talking about books?
Winona: Squeeeee! Can’t wait to give you the biggest hug! Do you look the same? Has Hollywood changed you?
McKenna: I’m the same. You can take the girl out of Tennessee, but you can’t take the Tennessee out of the girl. I’ve gotta run. See you all tomorrow.
“All the girls with their heads in their phones,” Dustin muses.
“We were texting McKenna,” Emberleigh says with a playful whack to Dustin’s abs.
The radio on Cody’s belt sounds with a call. The atmosphere shifts from relaxed to urgent in a breath.
Dustin leans over and places a peck on Emberleigh’s cheek. “Duty calls. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The kiss is simple—the smallest gesture. Watching them tugs something warm in my chest.
I watch as Cody runs behind Patrick to the fire truck out front.
“I guess I’d better get going too,” I say. “Duty doesn’t call, but I’ve got a to-do list I’m conveniently avoiding.”
I leave Baker From Another Mother, driving my old red Ford F-250 through our small downtown and turning out through neighborhoods until I’m on the open roads leading to our ranch.
Something tight unfurls in my chest. It’s still a little too cold out to roll the windows down, but I do it anyway.
The faint smell of wood smoke and damp earth fills my senses.
I tug out my ponytail and shake my head to let my hair fly like a blonde mane, wild and free.
I pull into the driveway that runs alongside the main house and leads back to the barn and sties.
Dad is on his knees next to a gate that leads to one of the hog lots.
Our eyes meet and he stands, slowly rising to his feet, bracing his hand on his knee.
He’s been just a tad slower than usual lately.
I sigh. My smile is instantaneous when he strolls over to my truck.
I jump out, closing the door with a satisfying clank.
“Mom said you ran into town?”
“I was helping at the bakery.”
“That’s my sweet girl.” He tucks me into his side and gives a tug. We stand there, Dad’s arm around me. He absentmindedly mentions farm updates. “Lawson said a heifer calved early this morning.”
“Does Cody know?” I ask.
“He was on shift at the station. The ranch hands and the other Lawson boys handled it.”
I chuckle.
“What’s so funny?”
“Referring to those grown men as boys. They’re the farthest thing from boys …” my voice drifts off.
“I guess you’re right. It’s hard to think of them as anything other than the boys the next property over, even if half of them are in their thirties. I’ll always view them as my second set of sons—our extended family.”
Yep. Cody Lawson—just like a brother—at least according to everyone who matters, he is.
But, what I feel for Cody? Definitely not sisterly.
Which is exactly why I keep it locked down.