Page 5 of A Simple Love

And she was staring at me, a frown forming a vee between her eyes. I stepped toward her, unsure and cautious. She caught her lip between her teeth, an action so familiar after all these years that it made my chest ache. She always did that when uncertain.

I pulled off my hat and my sunglasses, meeting her gaze. Her friendly expression turned shocked, and she stepped back.

“Hello, Kassie,” I murmured.

“You,” she hissed. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Well, this was an interesting start to my break.

3

KASSIE

Itucked the phone between my shoulder and ear, continuing to stir the juicy fruit and sugar in the bowl.

“That’s great, Laura!”

“I know,” she replied. “She wants it for two months but says her client might only need part of the time, though will pay for the entire stay.”

“I didn’t expect such a long booking so soon. Where is she coming from?”

“California. LA, to be precise.”

I paused with a frown. “Why would someone come to Richton for two months from LA?”

“I gather she’s in the industry and is part of a movie shoot happening here.”

“Oh, I heard about that. A cowboy movie.”

“Yep. Brent and the boys are excited that they’re using the Colby Ranch as a backdrop. Sadie is pretty pumped too. She is going to be an extra—in fact, they’re using most of the hands.” She chuckled. “I think even John and Quinn are going to get in on it. And of course, Cody and Abby.”

I laughed with her. Quinn owned the restaurant Kind of a Big Dill. I baked pies for her as a side hustle. It was a great break from accounting. I knew her husband John and daughter Abby, or “Pumpkin,” as John called her. Her son, Cody, was a regular at the diner, as were Laura and Bob, her husband. They were a great bunch. I had gone to school with Laura and reconnected when I’d moved back to Richton a couple of years ago. She’d helped me find this house and, with all her connections, assisted with the renovations, including listing and maintaining the rental unit on the second floor. Richton wasn’t a mecca for visitors, but I’d had a few rentals, and this one was going to be a boon.

“Are you interested in being an extra?” Laura asked. “I know there’s an email where you can sign up.”

“Maybe,” I hummed, not sure I was keen on the idea.

“It’ll be great for the town’s economy. I know the local hotels are booked, and most of the businesses are hiring. Quinn said they contacted her about some catering. The whole town is excited,” Laura said with another chuckle. “And filming doesn’t even start for a while, I think.”

“That’s awesome.”

“Okay. I’ll send you over the contract. The agent has already paid in full, so it’s all good.”

“Fabulous.”

I hung up, thinking about how lucky I was. Moving back here hadn’t been planned, but it had happened. Reconnecting with Laura had been serendipitous. She was a real estate agent and a fellow accountant. She admitted the real estate portion of her career was so busy she was having to give up accounting clients, and she was thrilled to pass them on to me. That was how I met Quinn. I’d gone by to go over her bookkeeping the same day she’d lost one of her suppliers.

“Damn,” she swore, sliding into the booth where I was waiting. “Pies are huge here, and I have no time to bake them anymore. Josie made good pies, and they sold out continually.”

I leaned forward, eager. “I make great pies.”

“Really?”

I nodded. I had always loved baking, and pies were my thing. “Cherry, blueberry, lemon, pumpkin, apple, raspberry. You name it. I have some specialty combinations I’ve made up, and my caramel apple is to die for. I also do banana cream, Boston cream, coconut⁠—”

Quinn held up her hand, stopping me. “Bring me a sample, and we’ll talk. I need at least six pies a day. Can you handle that?”

“Yes.”