Chapter Twelve #3
Sexy farmer guy reached out and snagged it out of the air just before it could hit the ground. With a smirk, he juggled it between his hands. “Watch out for these guys. Vicious attack pumpkins are a real issue in these parts.”
“They are?” Emma asked, instantly regretting it. Was there a hole in the ground around here somewhere that could swallow her up?
Fortunately, he laughed with her, not at her. “You’re Emma, right?”
“Yeah. And you’re Lucas? Hunter’s friend.”
“Long-suffering,” he agreed with what seemed like pride. One side of his mouth rose in an insouciant smile. “Though based on the other night, I think it’s fair to say that you’re Hunter’s friend, too, now.”
Heat rose to her cheeks. That was basically the same thing Granny had said, but she expected that kind of teasing from Granny, at this point. This relative stranger bringing it up, though? “I mean, we hung out a bit…”
Lucas raised his hands in front of his chest as if to declare his innocence. “No judgment implied. He could use a new”—he cleared his throat—“friend.”
Her face was definitely scarlet now. “I’m sure he could.”
“No, seriously.” The hint of insinuation fell away from his tone. “He’s a good guy, and I don’t really know you, but you seem like a nice girl.” He raised his brows. “Clumsy, but nice.”
She stood up straighter, hugging the vase more securely. “Thanks. I think.”
He shrugged. “Hunter might not believe in it, but I think there’s a reason fate threw you two together.” For a fraction of a second, a shadow passed across his eyes. “Maybe you both deserve a little happiness.”
Emma swallowed and glanced away. She still didn’t know what she thought about all of this fate stuff herself. Honestly, it seemed like it mostly kept people from doing what they wanted to do, as opposed to helping them along.
But she’d ended up here in this town by her own weird, convoluted twist of fate. If she could make a happy ending out of it, then why wouldn’t she?
“Who knows,” she said, as ambiguously as she could.
She started to set down the little pile of decorations she’d amassed, but then she hesitated. Random chance had also led her to this little discount bin outside this little hardware store. And she really did like the wreaths…
Sudden decisiveness stole over her. Clutching her finds to her chest so as not to accidentally drop any of them again, she turned to Lucas.
“You know, I think I could use a little help here after all…”
Emma’s walk back up Heart Street was a lot less meandering and self-indulgent than her walk down it had been.
Mostly because she was lugging two giant shopping bags full of discount fall decor and half a dozen stalks of dried corn.
Lucas had offered to give her a ride back to the bookshop, but his boss had scowled, and really, Emma could manage more or less on her own.
“Whoa, did a pumpkin spice latte vomit all over you?” Hattie was stepping out of the Sunny Days Diner, her hair up in a high bun. Even though she was wrestling a big chalkboard easel sign onto the sidewalk, she still found the energy to grace Emma with her snark.
“Vicious attack pumpkin,” Emma clarified.
“A what now?”
“Never mind.” She lifted the shopping bags, which were admittedly brimming with fall cheer. “Just a few things for the bookshop. Thought it would be nice to make it a little more festive.”
“Love it. And I bet it’ll be good for your Bookstagram account, too.”
Emma’s brows knit together. “You know about that?”
“Sure. I followed you the other day, though you might not have recognized me. I mostly just use it to share my doodles.” One of said doodles was on prominent display on the chalkboard, where Hattie had drawn an adorable cartoon squirrel drinking down a bowl of the butternut squash soup that was apparently one of the diner’s specials for the day.
“Cool. I’ll have to find you and follow you back.”
Hattie shrugged. “No pressure.” She double-checked that the sign was straight and then reached into her apron for an envelope. She held it out. “By the way, Granny told me I should give you this.”
“Granny?” As in, the Granny she had just been talking to less than an hour ago? “Why didn’t she just give it to me herself?”
“She didn’t have it, silly. It’s a ticket to this cooking class Chef is putting on this Saturday afternoon—which, by the way, I have to miss crafting club for.
” She gave an exaggerated pout but then shrugged and moved on.
“It’s a brand-new concept, and Granny bought a ticket, but apparently she forgot she was going to be out of town.
Chef offered to give her the money back, but she said you should take her spot. ”
“Oh.” Emma frowned. “I mean, I probably have to work. You know, since Granny is out of town and all.”
“Really? She seemed pretty sure you’d be free.” Hattie reached forward and tucked the envelope into one of Emma’s bags.
Emma would have to check the calendar when she got back to the store. They had half a dozen employees, so it was possible they had enough coverage, but it would take a minor scheduling miracle for her to randomly be off on a Saturday afternoon…