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Toby accepted his bag. Nell immediately peered into hers.

“Later,” Gabe reminded her, folding the top closed again.

“I was only looking,” Nell insisted, all innocent. “And maybe smelling.”

“That’s how eating usually starts,” Gabe answered with a warning look, but the humor was still there in his eyes.

Dana pulled Nell’s jacket straight and turned to Mara. “We’ll probably see you again if you’re here for ten days. Bear Creek isn’t very good at letting people stay strangers.”

“I’m starting to see that. I’ve met more people over breakfast than I expected to meet all day.” Mara took a sip of coffee while Dana double-checked they hadn’t left anything behind.

The bell above the door rang.

The woman entering did not bother with hello. She wore jeans, sturdy boots, and a purple scarf with matching gloves, and carried an empty bakery crate. “Tell me you haven’t submitted the form for pumpkin pie.”

Gabe closed his eyes briefly.

“Good morning, Karina,” Dana said. “Nice to see you too.”

“Morning, Dana.” Karina set the crate beside Gabe and pulled off her gloves. “I brought this back. Now tell me you haven’t submitted pumpkin pie.”

“Morning, Karina,” Gabe said evenly. “Thanks for returning this.” He tapped his hand on the crate.

“Oh, we’re going for evasive, are we?” Karina narrowed her eyes as she looked at him. “Or does it mean you have finally realized I am the Pumpkin Pie Queen?”

“Pumpkin Pie Queen?” Gabe scoffed. “Three points doesn’t suddenly make your pie unbeatable.”

“Three points means I won.” She thumbed her chest.

“Three points means one panel of judges made a questionable decision. My pastry had the better color, and you know it.” Gabe’s cheeks flushed as he spoke.

Karina smiled. “Ah, there you go with your delusions. For a second I thought something was wrong with you.”

“I’m fine.” Gabe glanced at Mara, and the color in his cheeks deepened.

“Are you?” Karina studied him briefly, then followed the direction of his gaze toward Mara. “Oh.”

Mara hid her smile behind her coffee.

Karina came over and offered her hand. “Hi. I’m Karina. Sorry you had to meet me in the middle of a pumpkin-pie argument.”

“Mara.” She shook Karina’s hand. “And don’t worry. Curtis warned me about the rivalry.”

“Then he probably told you not to take sides.” Karina glanced back toward Gabe, who had busied himself wiping down the counter.

“He did,” Mara confirmed.

“Smart man.” Karina eyed Mara’s plate. “Cinnamon bear? Good choice. Gabe’s pumpkin pies need work, but he does make a reasonable cinnamon bear.”

Before Gabe could object, she crossed to the counter and stole one from the edge of the cooling rack.

“You own a bakery,” he said. “You could make your own.”

“I could, but I could also try one of yours.” Karina tore off one of the bear’s ears and ate it. “Call it quality control.” She chewed, considered, and delivered her verdict. “Too sweet.”

“That’s a matter of taste,” Gabe shot back.

“It is.” She gave a nod as if that ended the matter. “Maybe a little less glaze.”