Chapter 7
SEVEN
ZOE
Zoe told herself not to overthink anything that morning—which, naturally, meant she overthought everything. The way she styled her hair. The way her pulse skipped whenever she thought about Jackson showing up.
This was their first public outing as a “couple,” and if Maple Falls was good at anything, it was gossip. She could practically feel her mother’s voice echoing through town already: Zoe and Jackson, the cutest thing since matching porch swings.
The Spring Market was held every Sunday of the season, just past the end of Oak Way, in the community park.
It was one of Zoe’s favorite parts of spring—especially since her flower shop was closed on Sundays.
She didn’t always participate, but when she had extra blooms or creative energy to spare, she loved being part of it.
The early morning springtime air was fresh and breezy, blowing Zoe’s caramel locks back as she set up her table. She’d dressed in a soft cream cardigan layered over a floral wrap dress patterned with tiny wildflowers. A pair of well-worn leather ankle boots peeked from beneath the skirt.
The market had transformed the park into a sea of color. Tables lined the gravel paths, each one brimming with handmade crafts, baked goods, or local produce.
Today, Zoe’s booth was cheerful and full of color. She’d arranged miniature bouquets of lemon-yellow daffodils and fresh potted tulips. Each pot came with a small card explaining how the buyer could replant the bulbs for next spring. Flowers for now and later, the sign read, in her handwriting.
Next to her, Cassidy was setting up her chocolate stand, complete with seasonal spring flavor chocolates—white chocolate lavender bonbons, raspberry lemon truffles, and strawberries dipped in pastel-colored white chocolate.
Around them, the park was waking up with Sunday morning energy.
Locals and tourists alike wandered in before the stands were even fully set, coffee cups in hand and smiles on their faces.
Parents, already up for hours with their little ones, strolled the paths while toddlers darted ahead to the playground.
Couples wandered the rows hand in hand, stopping to sample bread still warm from the oven or to taste jam straight from a tiny wooden spoon.
The air was rich with fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, sugary kettle corn mixed with the earthy smell of damp grass and Zoe’s bright blooms. Quilts in every shade of spring—from soft lilacs, butter yellows, robin’s egg blues—hung from one stall, swaying softly in the breeze.
Shoppers left with bags and baskets, heading home for a lazy Sunday.
Zoe’s pulse kicked up, realizing that Jackson would be joining her soon.
“So… you and Jackson, huh?” Cassidy asked, not even trying to be casual as she stacked trays of lavender bonbons.
Zoe adjusted a display of daffodils. “Is that a new chocolate?”
“Nice try,” Cassidy said, smirking. “Don’t change the subject. Spill.”
Zoe took a breath and improvised. “Honestly… I think we were already dating before we realized it. It all just happened really fast. We weren’t going to say anything, but then my mom saw us together and, well…
you know how she is. She nominated us for Couple of the Year at the Spring Fling.
So, Jackson and I decided to go for it.”
Cassidy grinned. “Oh, I bet you went for it alright. I love this. Unexpected romance and swapping steamy stories before noon. My favorite kind of Sunday.”
“Stop.”
“Speak of the devil,” Cassidy murmured, tipping her head as Jackson strolled up the path. “You ready for your close-up, Miss Couple of the Year?”
Zoe rolled her eyes but couldn’t help laughing. “Barely. I’ve had butterflies since breakfast.”
She felt her breath quicken as she watched him.
He wore dark jeans and a fitted charcoal T-shirt that left nothing to the imagination, the fabric stretched over his chest and shoulders.
His beard was trimmed, his hair a little tousled from the wind.
He looked effortlessly rugged, and Zoe felt overwhelmingly happy that she got to pretend that he was all hers.
Without hesitation, he slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. “Morning, sweetheart.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Zoe’s world tilted. Jackson’s breath brushed her skin, warm and steady. For a second, she forgot where she was. The market, the flowers, even Cassidy’s grin—all of it blurred into background noise as she leaned into Jackson’s solid form.
“Hey, you,” Zoe managed to reply, her voice sounding shaky.
“Figured I’d check in on my favorite florist,” he said, smiling down at her. “Business going okay?” he asked, stepping back and nodding toward the row of booths. He waved down the market to Liam, manning their farm’s table, which featured hot honey, cherry jams, and hand-poured beeswax candles.
Zoe finally found her voice. “Yeah—business is good.”
“I was going to bring you tea, but I wasn’t sure if you take honey or lemon.”
“Depends on the day,” she said, the corner of her mouth curving. “You’ll just have to keep studying me if you want to pull off the perfect boyfriend act.”
He chuckled softly, a low, velvety sound that did terrible, wonderful things to her insides.
Zoe shook her head, trying to will away the heat rising in her cheeks. “No, seriously, this is great. The way you kissed me just now? That was perfection.”
She had to stop herself from turning her head and meeting his lips instead of his cheek. Anyone watching would think they were whispering sweet nothings to each other. Which, of course, was the point… wasn’t it?
Zoe turned to see Mrs. Bishop and her best friend, Mrs. C.
, making their way toward the booth. Mrs. Bishop was in crisp white linen pants, a raspberry blouse, and a dramatic sun hat.
Mrs. C. wore cropped khakis and a no-nonsense expression, her gray hair clipped short in a style that matched her personality.
“I hear you’re Maple Falls’s latest and greatest couple,” Mrs. Bishop said, approaching the table. “This is what I get for taking two days off from the shop.”
“It was a long time coming,” Jackson replied.
Mrs. C. peered at them over her glasses. “I’ll say. Half the town’s been waiting twenty years for you two to figure it out.”
Zoe laughed a little too loudly. “Guess we like to keep people on their toes.”
Jackson squeezed her hand gently—a quiet You’re doing great.
“I’ll be, would you look at that?” Mrs. Bishop cooed. “He even holds your hand like he means it.”
Jackson’s lips twitched. “I do everything like I mean it.”
Mrs. Bishop’s eyes sparkled. “Mmm. I bet you do.”
Zoe nearly choked on air. “Okay, and on that note—why don’t you try some of Cassidy’s chocolates? They’re divine.”
Once the pair wandered off, Jackson leaned close, his breath warm against her ear. “You okay, sweetheart? You’re blushing.”
“Am not,” she whispered, even though she knew she absolutely was.
“Sure,” he teased, eyes glinting. “Want me to kiss the other cheek to even it out?”
She smacked his arm lightly, pretending to focus on rearranging tulips, though her pulse was sprinting. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Can’t help it. You make it easy.”
Before Zoe could reply, Krista appeared, her grandmother, Alice, on her arm. Her grandfather, Walt, ambled beside them carrying a jar of wildflower honey.
“Morning, Zoe!” Krista said cheerfully. “Got your daffodils, I see.”
“Fresh this morning,” Zoe replied. “Hi, Alice. Hi, Walt. How are you two?”
“Oh, we’re fine, dear,” Alice said, her voice lifting with warmth. Her silvery-gray hair was pulled back into a neat low bun at the nape of her neck, and her crystal-blue eyes sparkled. “Though Walt nearly ran over my toes twice parking the car.”
“Only once,” Walt muttered. “And I missed.”
Krista rolled her eyes affectionately, and Jackson bent to shake Walt’s hand. “Morning, sir. How’s the honey harvest looking?”
“Good year so far,” Walt said proudly. “Brought some honey by for your brother to try. Know how well it sells at his shop.”
Krista leaned closer to Zoe while the men chatted. “By the way, you look adorable today.”
Zoe glanced down at her sundress, smoothing the skirt with a faint smile. “Thanks. It’s our first official couple outing—I didn’t want to look drab next to this devastatingly handsome man,” she said with a laugh.
Alice winked. “That he is.” She grinned. “You’ve got good taste, dear.”
Zoe’s cheeks warmed as Jackson glanced over.
“Oh, before I forget, I asked Gram and Gramps here about that mystery flower you were talking about,” Krista said.
“Old ridge blooms is what I used to call ’em. Bees used to go wild for them.” Walt nodded.
“Yes, the silvery-blue ones,” Alice murmured. “I haven’t seen them since I was a girl. Some people called them moonlight… something. It was such a romantic name. Such a shame they vanished. They made the best honey. Sweet and light, like sunshine.”
Zoe’s heart fluttered. “Do you remember where you last saw them?”
Alice frowned thoughtfully. “I can’t quite picture it now… but it was a lovely spot, high up in a glen. Always smelled like clover.”
As the trio moved on, Mrs. C.’s voice carried faintly from the next booth. “That girl Krista’s an angel, looking after her grandparents like that. I don’t know how she does it all.”
Zoe watched them go, a pang of tenderness mixing with determination.
Jackson’s voice pulled her back. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”
“That we have a lead,” she said, grinning. “We’re looking for a ridge. Somewhere high up.”
“Do you have any idea how many ridges there are around here?”
Zoe could tell he was already making a mental list of the ones in the area.
“It doesn’t matter; we’ll hike them all. And when we find the flowers, we’ll bring them back for Edith and the mayor’s wedding. Revive a little Maple Falls history. It could even be the centerpiece of our local blooms project.”
“And maybe earn us a little extra credit toward our Couple of the Year votes,” Jackson said. His playful look turned deeper when they locked eyes.
Zoe held her breath. His gaze held a warmth that made her toes curl in her boots.
She’d love nothing more than to go up on her tiptoes and kiss him right there in front of everyone. To forget about the fake dating performance and small-town gossip, and just—feel.
In her mind, she did. She pictured it so clearly she could almost taste the hint of coffee on his lips, the warmth of his hand sliding to the small of her back as he leaned down, slow and deliberate.
The kiss would start soft, careful, like he was testing the waters.
But she knew herself; she’d tilt her head, chase him a little, deepening it before she could stop.
He’d smile against her lips in that quiet, infuriating way of his.
And when they finally broke apart, both of them a little breathless, she could already imagine the ripple through the crowd—the gasps, the whispers, the knowing smiles.
The whole town would be talking, but she wouldn’t care.
Because at that moment, it wouldn’t be about pretending anymore.
It would be real.
And after a kiss like that, no one in Maple Falls could ever doubt they were Couple of the Year.