She shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not.” He reclined back against the tree, and she snuggled closer to him. “I keep trying to make it clear to Claire that I want space and she needs to stay away. But she keeps inserting herself. Before she left tonight, she offered to come back over to help, but thankfully my mom told her she doesn’t need her. If she comes around again, I’ll make it clear that she’s not welcome here anymore.” He rubbed Emily’s back, and she rested her head against his shoulder. “And just ignore her mom. She has no filter.”
Emily glanced in the direction of her former home and tried to imagine walking over to the fence, but her insides twisted up. She couldn’t do it. Her grief was still too raw and painful. Maybe someday she’d visit it again, but she doubted it would be anytime in the near future.
“So we’ve signed some vendors,” he began. “Now we just have to get it all together. In three days.” He rested his hand on her arm. “Are you certain we can do this?”
“Of course I am. We have to make sure the booths are ready, hang the banner and the lights, and go through our last-minute list. Andi texted me earlier. She and Seth will be here tomorrow.”
“Good. We definitely need their help.”
She snuggled closer and kissed his cheek. “Let’s just enjoy a little bit of rest and relaxation before tomorrow.”
That wolfish grin returned, sending tingles racing down her arms. “Good idea.”
As Jake began to kiss her again, Emily was certain she was floating. And she didn’t want to return to earth anytime soon.
Chapter 18
Emily dropped down on a stool and swiped her hand over her forehead. Every muscle in her back was screaming after spending the day sticking labels on jugs of cider and the bushel baskets. “I think we’ve done all we can do,” she told Andi. “I think we’ve labeled just about everything we’ve got.”
It was Monday night, and Emily was grateful that Seth and Andi had spent the day helping. While the guys worked in the barn, Emily and Andi had set to work on the cider and baskets.
Andi retrieved two bottles of water from the nearby refrigerator and handed one to Emily before hopping up on a stool beside her. “All right. I let it go all day, but now you need to spill it.”
“Spill what?” Emily opened the bottle and took a long draw, enjoying how the cold liquid soothed her parched throat.
Her friend rolled her eyes. “Something’s changed in the past few days since I’ve seen you and Jake. What’s up?”
Uh-oh.This secret was going to be more difficult to keep than Emily had imagined. “What do you mean?”
“I feel a different vibe between you two.” A grin spread over her lips. “Are you guys dating?”
Emily longed to deny it, but her flushing cheeks made that impossible.
“I knew it!” Andi hopped off the stool and hugged her. “I’m so happy for you. I always knew you and Jake would make a cute couple.”
“Thanks, me too. But you can’t tell anyone.”
Andi returned to the stool, and her forehead furrowed. “Why?”
“Jake wants to keep it just between us for now. After we get through the orchard opening, then we’ll tell the world. But right now we want to keep our stress to a minimum.”
Andi’s nose wrinkled. “That’s odd, but, um, okay.” She shrugged. “I’ll keep it quiet, but I still think it’s great. I can see you two getting married and raising a family together here in Splendid Lake.” She held up her bottle to toast her. “Here’s to you and Jake. And also, I’m very proud to say, I told you so.”
“Thanks.” Emily tapped her bottle against Andi’s, and her heart skipped a beat as she imagined a future with Jake. Was that possible for them? Could they settle down together, have a family, and be happy?
Right now she needed to focus her attention on the orchard and not worry about her future. “How about we load up the cider and baskets in those two wagons and haul them to the barn?”
Andi took another long drink from her water bottle. “All right. Let’s do it.”
“Here goes nothin’.” Jake plugged in the extension cord, and the inside of the barn illuminated with thousands of white fairy lights. And just as Emily had promised, it looked magical.
No, it lookedromantic.
Jake cringed. What was wrong with him? He’d turned into a lovesick guy within the twenty-four hours since he first kissed Emily.
Maybe I’ve lost my mind. Or maybe I’m actually falling in love with Emily, and this is how love is supposed to feel.
