Using flashlights, they walked to the dock, where they sat on the bench and looked out over the lake. The stars above them twinkled in the sky, and the lights across the lake seemed to blink in greeting.
“You have a gift with my dad,” he said. “The way you convinced him to give your idea a try was phenomenal.”
She shivered and hugged his jacket against her. “Thanks.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Em. I didn’t even think about how it was colder out here than at the house.” He pulled off his jacket and draped it across her shoulders.
“You keep it.” She tried to hand the coat back to him, but he shook his head. “You must be cold.”
“I’m fine. Please put it on.”
“You sure?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’m positive.” He blanketed her in the coat, and she hugged it close.
She stared out over the lake, and the smile he loved reappeared. “I love it here.”
“Then stay here.” He moved closer to her, and she reclined against him. He sighed and then rested his arm across her shoulders. This felt so, so right.
She gave him a small smile and he held his breath, waiting for her to tell him she was going to stay. But she remained silent.
“The grand opening is going to be wonderful,” she finally said.
“Because of you.”
She looked surprised.
“Oh please. You know it’s true. I’m grateful you came to help me.”
“And I’m grateful you asked.”
They were quiet while they peered across the lake, and Jake tried to imagine more nights like this. In fact, he wanted to spend every night like this—for the rest of his life.
He just had to find a way to convince Emily to stay in Splendid Lake.
Chapter 16
Emily and Jake climbed out of his pickup truck Sunday afternoon and walked toward Lorna Cavanaugh’s Whimsical Wonders. The air smelled like rain, and the dark clouds had been threatening a downpour all morning while they ran a few errands before the orchard opened on Wednesday.
Emily smiled as they walked up to the adorable shop. Whimsical Wonders’ front window was decorated with colorful leaves, a pumpkin patch, a couple of smiling scarecrows, and twinkling orange lights. Jake held the door open for Emily, and they headed toward the counter at the back of the store.
“Emily! Jake! What a nice surprise,” Mrs. Cavanaugh called. She looked just as Emily remembered, with her stylish gray bob, purple cat-eye glasses, and bright red lipstick. Her store had always been one of Emily’s favorites. She could spend hours browsing through the variety of tchotchkes and novelty items, from lava lamps to handmade baskets and quilts to funny little greeting cards and figurines and candy. If you were looking for an unusual gift, Whimsical Wonders was the place to visit.
“Hi, Mrs. Cavanaugh,” Emily said. “We have a request that’s a little unusual. We were wondering if you could sell us a couple hundred bushel baskets.”
Mrs. Cavanaugh pushed her purple glasses on top of her head, and her gray eyes grew wide as saucers. “A couple hundred?”
“Yeah.” Jake’s heart-stopping grin appeared on his lips. “Do you have that many?”
“I have about a hundred here.” She pointed toward the back of the store. “And there are plenty more at my house.”
“Great!” Emily pulled her wallet from her purse. “We’re here to take them off your hands.” She fished out her credit card. “Name your price.”
Jake cut her a look, but she ignored it. So far he hadn’t allowed her to pay for anything, but that was going to change today.
“May I ask what you’re going to do with them?” the store owner asked.
Jaked rested his muscular arms on the counter. “We’re planning a celebration at my family’s orchard. The grand opening of a brand-new market is on Wednesday, and then our hundredth anniversary is Saturday.”
