Page 75 of Trick or Tease

Fuck me. The man would look good in anything. He belonged on the cover of magazines. He could model for any outdoorsy campaign or an upscale designer for suits. There was nothing he couldn’t wear and rock it.

He caught my eye and gave me a small smile that made my cheeks warm. I quickly looked away, focusing on Billy’s animated explanation of his costume ideas.

“Tommy Rodriguez said he’d be the headless horseman if we can figure out how to rig up the bike thing,” Billy was saying. “His girlfriend Amber could be like a ghost bride or something, jumping out from behind the trees.”

“Sounds perfect,” I managed. I could see Garrett approaching us but was doing my best to look chill.

But dammit, I wanted to throw myself into his arms. Kiss him and demand he take me into his room for another round.

“How’s it going out here?” Garrett asked, positioning himself so that Billy was between us. Whether that was intentional or not, I couldn’t tell, but it created a safe buffer zone that we both seemed to need.

“Amazing,” Billy said, oblivious to any tense undercurrents. “Sabrina thinks we might need to expand parking. And look.” He gestured toward the corn maze entrance where a steady stream of people were paying their admission fees. “We’ve made more money today than we usually make in a whole weekend.”

Garrett nodded as he surveyed the crowds.

“We’ve got the parking and admission lines under control,” I told Garrett, gesturing toward families making their way through the entrance. “But I think our biggest problem is going to be food and drinks.”

I pointed toward our single refreshment table, where a line of at least fifteen people waited somewhat impatiently for bottled water, sodas, and the few snacks we’d managed to throw together. The setup looked pathetic compared to the professional operation we needed.

“That’s not going to cut it,” Garrett observed, following my gaze. “Especially if the crowds keep growing like this.”

“Exactly. People are going to get hangry, and hangry people don’t leave good reviews,” I said. “We need real food options. Something that feels special, not just gas station snacks.”

Garrett was quiet for a moment, studying the situation with that analytical lawyer brain of his. “What about Granny Mae?” he asked suddenly. “Do you think she’d be willing to sell some of her desserts and baked goods? Her apple pies and cinnamon rolls are legendary around here. That candy we made. Just for a little variety.”

My face lit up. “Oh my God, that’s brilliant. People would go crazy for Granny’s homemade stuff. It’s exactly the kind of authentic farm experience they’re looking for.”

The more I thought about it, the more excited I got. Granny’s baking was the stuff of local legend.

“And I could ask Carolina’s Diner if they’d be willing to set up a stand here and sell their burgers,” I added, the ideas flowing now. “Their food is amazing, and Maria’s always looking for ways to expand the business. This could be perfect for both of us. She takes her food truck to the fair and sometimes she sells at the farmer’s market.”

“The bacon cheeseburgers with the homemade fries?” Garrett asked. “Those are incredible.”

“Can you imagine the smell of burgers grilling mixed with Granny’s apple pies?” I asked. “People would never want to leave.”

“That’s genius,” Billy said. “We could set up a proper food area over by the picnic tables. Maybe string some lights, make it feel like a real festival.”

I felt that familiar rush of excitement that came with a good plan coming together. This was exactly what we needed to take the farm from a fun local attraction to something truly special.

“I’ll call Maria in the morning,” I said, already mentally composing my pitch. “And Granny.”

“Might as well spread the wealth in the community,” Garrett said.

I loved that he wasn’t just thinking about making money—he was thinking about helping our neighbors. That was how we did things around town. Every day he was back, I saw little bits of the old Garrett.

“Exactly,” Billy agreed enthusiastically. “Half the people here today are from out of town. It’s nuts how going viral works.”

I nodded. “The trick is riding this momentum while we’ve got it. Making this into something that’s regularly successful, not just a flash in the pan.”

“We could add new stuff every day,” I said, the ideas coming faster now. “More obstacles in the maze, different targets for the pumpkin chunking. Maybe even better prizes.”

“What kind of prizes?” Garrett asked.

“Gift certificates to local businesses,” I said, getting more excited. “Dinner at Carolina’s Diner, shopping at the feed store, maybe even weekend stays at the bed and breakfast over in Millfield. Keep the money circulating in the community like good neighbors should.”

Billy’s eyes lit up. “That’s perfect. People love winning stuff, and it gives them a reason to come back to the area even after the festival’s over. I’ll talk to Lucy and have her reach out and see if businesses will offer up some gift certificates.”

I watched Garrett’s face as he processed the idea. I could practically see the wheels turning in his brain. “It’s smart business,” he said finally. “Creates partnerships with other local businesses, gives people more reasons to visit, and builds goodwill in the community.”