Chapter 14
The next few hours were spent sitting around Gram”s dining room table, laughing and talking as if we”d all done this a million times before. Conversations flowed effortlessly from one topic to another, and the banter between Brant and Brock never failed to bring a smile to my face. I loved watching them interact with each other. Anyone could tell that they would have each other”s backs at any given moment, but at the same time, they could razz each other relentlessly. And I was sure the same could be said for Brooks who was away at school.
I liked watching Brant in this atmosphere. He seemed to be relaxed and at ease. He was comfortable. At home in this place with these people. Watching him converse so easily with my dad did something to my heart. There was a mutual respect that hung in the air between them. I couldn”t help but wonder what Dad would think if I were to ever date Brant. Would his easy, friendly demeanor change to a protective, stern attitude?
Shoving the thoughts deep down, I focused in on one of the many conversations happening around me. I found myself in this situation often, sitting back and taking it all in while things happened around me. I was content to sit back and fluidly jump from conversation to conversation while never actively participating. Sometimes, I would catch myself responding in my head, not being confident enough to state my thoughts out loud.
I didn”t mind it, though. Taking on the role of the observer gave me the ability to read people and situations well. It was a skill I had honed over the years. I was used to Mia being the outgoing one in our duo while I sat back and observed.
Brant”s leg bumped my own beneath the table, catching me off guard. At first, I thought it was an accident. His leg got too close to mine while he shifted in his seat and accidentally brushed against me. But when it happened again, I chanced a look at him.
When our gazes met, it was almost like he was trying to silently communicate something to me. I just wasn”t sure what exactly it was. I squinted my eyes, trying to convey that I had no idea what he wanted from me.
His brow furrowed, but his eyes danced with mischief.
What are you up to, Landon?
He quickly jerked his head toward the front of the house. The movement was so small I almost missed it. My eyes widened in response before he nodded to confirm it was what I thought he meant.
I pushed my chair out as quietly as possible, trying my best to be invisible and not disrupt any of the conversations happening around me. I slid out of my chair and nonchalantly walked until I was out of sight, standing next to the front door of Gram”s little cottage.
I took a moment to take inventory of her delightful home. It wasn”t tiny but also couldn”t be considered large in any sense of the word. It looked clean and put together yet lived in and comfortable. It was one of those homes that looked inviting, beckoning you to come in, remove your shoes, and get comfy with a cup of coffee and a good book. It was exactly the type of home I hoped to have one day.
A few minutes later, Brant”s large frame rounded the corner, stopping right in front of me. He was standing so close I had to crane my neck to see his face. The smell of his cologne tickled my nose as I inhaled deeply. I could make out accents of wood, leather, and something else that I had learned was entirely Brant.
“Hey,” his deep voice reached my ears, bringing my thoughts back from analyzing his smell.
“Hi,” I gave him a small smile.
I stared at him for a few beats before he reached out and grabbed me by the elbow, spinning me around.
”Follow me,” Brant whispered as he opened the front door as quietly as possible.
We both slipped out into the night and paused on the front porch. I glanced up at the stars, in awe of the beauty of the world we lived in. It was impossible to look up, see the stars and the vastness of it all, and not believe in God. He truly created a masterpiece, and I loved stealing little moments to appreciate it.
I felt the heat of Brant’s presence at my back before he even said a word.
”Walk with me?” His breath tickled my ear, sending a shiver through my body. I gave him a slight nod before taking the steps down to the gravel drive.
We walked side by side for a few minutes before he finally broke the silence.
“How are you?” His voice was so genuine. But he cut me off before I could give him an answer. “Don’t even think about telling me you’re fine.”
The demanding tone in his voice gave me pause. My hackles began to rise. He had no claim on me. He couldn’t tell me what to do or how to express my feelings. Just to spite him, I gave him a cool smile.
“I’m fine, Brant,” my words came out as if there was an exclamation point at the end of each one.
His chuckle caught me off guard. Against my will, the sound softened my heart a little.
“Look. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come off as demanding. I just want to know how you’re holding up. I want to make sure you are taking care of yourself,” the gentleness in his voice softened my heart the rest of the way, causing me to release a long sigh.
“I’m doing okay. I know I can’t keep this pace up for too long, but honestly, I’m good. I enjoy it just as much as I thought I would. There are definitely hard days, and I am only two weeks in, but I love creating new treats for people to enjoy. Eventually, I will hire some help when I feel I’m financially able.”
“Understandable,” his steady breathing and the sound of birds and trees swaying in the light breeze were the only sounds between us for a few minutes.
”We should head back before anyone notices we’re gone,” Brant said quietly.
I tried to mask the disappointment coursing through me at the thought of going back, ”Sure.”
We turned around and walked the rest of the way back to Gram”s in a comfortable silence. That was one of the things I enjoyed most about Brant. He didn”t make silence feel awkward. We could just exist in each other”s presence and not need anything else.
When we walked up the gravel drive, my parents and Eden stood on the porch saying goodbye to Brant”s parents, Brock, and Gram. I gave Brant a small wave before hurrying to join them, giving my round of goodbyes and thank you’s.
I followed Eden, avoiding eye contact with everyone. When I reached the safety of the backseat of Dad”s truck, I sagged with relief. I was unprepared to talk about what was running through my brain. Thankfully, my family must have picked up on the signals because the conversation was easy and drifted nowhere near where I had disappeared to.
The jingle upfront drew my attention to a new customer entering the bakery. I was glad I had Dad install the little bell above the front door for moments like this. I was in the back, elbow-deep in flour, preparing another batch of blueberry scones.
After the incident where Brock scared Mia I knew I needed something to alert me if someone were entering the bakery. No more coffee spills on my watch!
“Out in a minute!” I called out to the mystery customer while I rushed to the sink and washed away the dough remnants from my hands. There was still flour covering my apron and probably my hair, but this was what I did. It was impossible to not be covered when working in a bakery. It came with the territory.
I dried my hands on the dish towel before tossing it over my shoulder and pushing through the swinging door.
“Welcome to Whisk Me Away! What can I get for you?” I asked cheerfully, scanning the bakery for the person who had caused the bell to jingle a few minutes before. It took a few seconds to spot them, and when I did, the air got caught in my lungs. I stopped behind the display case, taking in the large frame folded into the pink velvet armchair in the corner by the built-ins.
Brant was in uniform today, which did nothing but enhance his attractiveness. Was there anything this man wore that didn’t make him look good?
He was sitting in the chair with one ankle crossed over the other knee, with a book in one hand while his other moved in slow circles over the arm.
I leaned forward, squinting to read the book title he was pretending to read. I sauntered around the counter and leaned my hip against the front of it.
“Fantasy, huh?” I asked, my tone laced with amusement.
Without removing his gaze from the book, he smirked.
“Oh yeah. Big fan.”
I couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped past my lips. I wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or not.
“Can I get you anything, Sheriff?” I asked sweetly.
“I’m good. Just had a few minutes and figured I’d stop by and read a book,” his tone was so calm and nonchalant, like he didn’t just flip my world upside down with that one comment.
He remembered my random ramblings from last week in his truck. He came to my bakery today to start the culture of people taking up residence in my little nook area to take a load off and relax. The gesture did funny things to my stomach and my heart. The telltale sting lit my eyes, and I blinked furiously, determined to hold the tears at bay.
Once my emotions were under control, I turned back and headed for the swinging door.
“Holler if you want a coffee or something sweet while you read,” I called over my shoulder. I could have sworn I heard Brant mumble something but I couldn’t quite make out what it was before the door swung closed behind me.
I spent the next hour moving back and forth between baking and helping customers. All the while, Brant never moved from his seat in the corner. From what I could tell, he looked to be reading the book he’d pulled off the shelf. Maybe he really did read books about Fairies and dragons. The thought made me smile. I could picture him curled up at home, reading a book about different creatures in different worlds. It wasn’t my all-time favorite genre, but I had a few favorite authors I liked to read.
After finishing up with the last customer in line, my gaze drifted to Brant, and to my surprise, a young girl was standing in front of the bookshelves, searching through the books. A feeling of excitement bubbled up within my chest as I watched her select a book and get comfy in the chair opposite Brant.
It’s happening! I could hardly believe it! people were sitting down to relax and read, and it was all thanks to the handsome man now staring straight at me.
An unbidden smile took over my face as my eyes locked with his. I mouthed “thank you”, which he returned with a single nod of his head. The sound of the oven timer registered through the fog in my brain, pulling my attention to the kitchen.
When I finished pulling the scones from the oven and loading them in the display case, Brant was no longer seated in one of the pink velvet armchairs. Instead, a group of teenage girls crowded around the seats, each reading a book while they laughed and talked over the pages.
My heart fluttered in my chest at the sight. My dreams were coming true, one small step at a time.