Jake pushed his loaded shopping cart over to the front of the home improvement store the following afternoon. All his muscles ached after working until dark last night, but he was grateful that he and Vince had finished one side of the barn. Emily had insisted that he and Vince continue concentrating on the barn walls while she started painting. He couldn’t help himself from checking on her frequently while she was balanced on the scaffolding, and each time he peeked around the side of the barn, she waved him off, promising to yell loudly if she fell. As if that would calm his nerves at all.
He moved forward in the line and chuckled to himself. He was enjoying having Emily at the orchard. Not only did she keep him entertained with her jokes, sarcasm, and quirky personality, but he felt more settled around her. She’d always known how to calm him down when he was stressed.
But it wasn’t just that. There was something different about her. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he was almost certain something had shifted in the way he felt about her. But surely that was just his stress talking.
Jake loaded the painting supplies on the conveyor belt and retrieved his credit card. He was easing ever closer to his limit, but he was determined not to accept Emily’s money. The orchard belonged to his family and wasn’t her problem—no matter how much she insisted she wanted to help him.
After paying, Jake began loading the supplies into the bed of his truck. When he thought he heard someone call his name, he spun just as Seth Wingate rushed toward him. “Seth! What’s up?”
“I thought that was you.” Seth picked up a gallon of red paint and set it in the bed of Jake’s truck. “Andi told me she ran into you and Emily the other day. She said you’re working on some projects at the orchard.”
“That’s true.”
“Well?” Seth raised his palms. “What are you working on?”
Jake summarized the rumors that were going around about Apple Haven and then gave him a rundown of what they were planning with the barn. “I’m hoping we can get it all together in time, but I found out that two of my three employees quit to go work at Apple Haven. So now they’re not only threatening to take my customers, but they’re also poaching my employees.” He pushed the cart into the nearby cart corral. “Maybe it’s a blessing since I’ll save on their salaries and can put those funds into the supplies. But how can we get it all done in time?” He rested against the open tailgate. “Em says it’s going to work out, but I’m not so sure.”
“Man, that’s a lot. Want some help?”
“Thanks, but I’m sure I can’t afford you.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Seth leaned beside him. “I’ll do it for some of your mom’s apple pie and a candy apple.”
Jake lifted a suspicious eyebrow.
“Seriously,” Seth insisted with a chuckle. “I have three crewsworking for my landscaping business, and I pretty much spend my days handling clients while Andi takes care of the books. I can handle client calls while I’m working at the orchard.” He held up his cell phone. “You know, technology and all. So do you want my help or what?”
“I definitely want it, but I don’t want you to feel obligated.”
Seth gave him a look. “And how many times did you drive me to and from school when my jalopy was in the shop?”
“Um.” Jake adjusted his hat on his head. “Pretty much all of junior and senior year.”
Seth chuckled. “That’s true.” Then he tapped the side of the pickup truck. “I’m glad you kept your grandpa’s truck. It suits you.” He held out his hand. “Do we have a deal?”
“Deal.” Jake shook his hand, and the tension in his back released. Emily was right—thingsweregoing to work out. He made a mental note to ask his mom to start on some apple pies after she finished the candy apples.
“I haven’t seen you in a while. How’s Claire?”
Jake closed the tailgate. “Things are... rocky right now.”
“Really?” Seth seemed surprised. “I thought y’all would be married and have a couple of kids by now.”
Jake shook his head. “Nope.” Time to change the subject. He gestured toward the truck. “I need to get back to the orchard, but it was great seeing you.”
“I’ll come by tomorrow.”
“Thanks, buddy.” Jake climbed into the truck and headed home.
The sound of a diesel engine drew Emily’s attention toward the dirt road spanning the short distance from the orchard entranceto the barn. She climbed down the scaffolding and met Jake at the back of the truck as he hopped out.
“How’d it go at the store?” she asked while lowering the tailgate.
“Great.” He climbed in and began handing her supplies. “I got us some more help.”
“What do you mean?”
“I ran into Seth Wingate. He’s going to come over tomorrow and start helping in exchange for some of my mom’s apple pie and candy apples.”
