Page 229 of Pumpkin Spice Promises

Jax stared at her and Rosie stared back. Neither moved or blinked.

Clover appeared beside me. “How long do you think this is going to take?”

“The ramp?”

“Them.”

I looked between Jax and Rosie. She had one hand on her hip. My brother had the expression he usually reserved for seized engines and people who asked whether they could drive another six months with the oil light on.

“No idea what you’re talking about,” I said.

“Sure.” Clover walked away, shaking her auburn locks.

“Beau!” I turned at Carson’s voice. She stood beside a pumpkin.

“No.”

“You don’t even know what I’m asking.”

“You’re looking at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m about to do something stupid.”

She smiled.

Five minutes later, we were standing at the top of the hill with a pumpkin between us.

“This is your fault,” I mumbled, trying to balance a large pumpkin.

“You’re the one holding it.”

“Because you told me to.”

“Since when do you listen to me?”

“Excellent question.”

Rosie counted down. Carson and I shoved. Our pumpkin made it six feet before taking a hard right, bouncing over a hay bale, and rolling directly beneath Darlene’s folding table.

She screamed, and Carson folded against me laughing. Her forehead pressed against my chest, shoulders shaking while Darlene yelled something about disqualification.

The festival carried on around us. Kids screaming. Country music from the barn. The smell of cider and kettle corn. Leaves scraping across the grass.

I kissed the top of her head. I had known I loved her since opening weekend. Somehow, knowing hadn’t made it easier to keep quiet. It had made it harder.

Every day gave me another reason to say it. Every day also reminded me why I hadn’t.

Carson had spent years protecting herself from needing anyone. I wasn’t going to turn my feelings into another thing she had to answer before she was ready.

So, I simply held her while she laughed.

Two Tuesdays later, Carson walked into Jones Automotive carrying lunch.

It had become a habit.

Sometimes I went to Marigold. Sometimes she came to the shop in between dairy deliveries. Sometimes we managed an actual date.