Page 35 of Trick or Tease

Igrabbed Garrett’s arm before he could change his mind about helping. “Perfect. Come on.”

“Where are we going?” he asked, looking slightly alarmed as I started pulling him toward the driveway.

“We’ll see you guys later.” I waved at Billy and the others, who were grinning.

“Granny’s house. We’ve got candy to make.”

“Candy?” He dug his heels in a little. “I don’t know anything about making candy.”

“That’s okay. I do.” I kept tugging him along, ignoring his protests. “Besides, you said you wanted to help, and this is how you can help. We’re making sour apple hard candy to sell at the farmer’s market tomorrow. It’s going to help fund some of the Halloween decorations for the corn maze.”

Garrett looked like he was reconsidering his offer to help, but he followed me anyway. “Sour apple candy?”

“Think Jolly Ranchers, but better. Granny’s got this recipe that’ll make your mouth pucker and beg for more at the same time.”

“And you think that’s going to make you money?” he asked.

“Yep. It does every year. Look, just help make the candy. I’ll worry about selling it.”

We walked the short distance to Granny Mae’s house. I could already smell something sweet wafting from her kitchen windows. She’d probably started the sugar syrup already.

“Granny!” I called as we stepped through her back door. “I hope you’re wearing pants because I brought reinforcements!”

She looked up from where she was stirring a pot on the stove, her eyes immediately zeroing in on Garrett with obvious delight. “Well, well, well. Garrett Hogan in my kitchen. When’s the last time that happened?”

“Too long, Mrs. Mae,” Garrett said. I was surprised by how genuine his smile looked. “Something smells incredible in here.”

“That’s the sugar syrup for our candy,” she said, beaming at him. “Sabrina roped you into helping with our little venture, did she?”

“Something like that,” he said, shooting me a look that was half amused, half resigned.

“Don’t look so worried, honey. It’s not rocket science.” Granny Mae wiped her hands on her apron. “Though I suppose after all those years in the city, you might be rusty at working with your hands.”

I bit back a laugh at the slight challenge in her voice. Granny Mae had always been good at poking people just enough to get them motivated.

“I think I can manage,” Garrett said dryly. “I’m a fast learner.”

“We’ll see about that.” She gestured toward the counter where she’d already laid out candy molds, bottles of flavoring, and food coloring. “Sabrina, get him an apron. Can’t have him ruining those fancy pants.”

I pulled one of Granny’s flowered aprons from the drawer and held it out to him. Garrett stared at it like I was offering him a live snake. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. Hot sugar syrup stains, and I’m betting that shirt cost a lot.”

He sighed and took the apron. It barely covered his front and fell right at his crotch instead of mid-thigh. But it was the most endearing and hilarious sight I had seen in a long time. I watched Garrett try to tie the apron strings behind his back. The sight of this powerful man defeated by a simple kitchen apron was almost too much to handle.

“Here, let me,” I said, stepping behind him to tie the strings properly. I tried not to notice how broad his shoulders were or how good he smelled even in Granny’s kitchen full of sugar and spice scents.

“Alright, you two,” Granny Mae called from the stove. “Time to get to work. Garrett, I need you to measure out the apple flavoring while Sabrina gets the molds ready.”

I handed him a small bottle of green liquid and pointed to the measuring spoons. “Just one teaspoon for now.”

“Got it,” he said, unscrewing the cap.

What happened next was like watching a slow-motion disaster. He tipped the bottle, but instead of a careful teaspoon, a glug of bright green flavoring poured out, splashing onto the counter and dripping down to the floor.

“Shit,” he muttered, then immediately looked mortified.

“Language, dear,” Granny said mildly, though I could see her trying not to smile. “And that’s about three teaspoons too much.”