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Iliana grins. “Thank goodness. I can’t stand this much lovey-dovey energy.”
Mac squeezes my shoulders while I tilt my head.
“You used to love all things lovey-dovey,” I tell her. “What happened?”
Iliana shrugs. “Life happened.”
A banging starts, and the hum of conversation dies. My sister Candice is holding a pot and a wooden spoon, whacking the two together as she climbs up on top of a table. “Attention, attention!”
“Aunt Candice, why are you standing on a table?” Katie squeals, immediately trying to climb up with her. Mac leaves my side and nabs my daughter around the waist, throwing her over his shoulder as she squeals, delighted.
Candice clears her throat. “Next week, our very own Jen Newbank and Fallon Richter will compete for the title in the Boss Baker competition.”
Cheers sound in the café.
Candice continues: “I’d like to announce an official event on the day of the final competition. We’ll start here and head over to the live filming together. There will be T-shirts and signs to be decorated for the finale. I want every single one of you over there cheering them on!”
I can’t help but grin. Jen probably hates this—but when I glance over at her, she’s just tucked up against Fallon’s side, listening to him saying something else in her ear.
“Home court advantage, huh,” a booming voice from the door calls out. “Y’all are playing dirty.”
A man with a cowboy hat and a huge belt buckle is standing next to another equally large cowboy-looking man.
“You scared, Tex?” Jen calls out, and my jaw nearly drops.
Jen does not banter with people. She doesn’t tease. It takes her about a decade to warm up to new arrivals—yet here she is, laughing at the sight of the two of them.
Tex snorts. “Only thing I’m scared of is how all these people will react when we beat your ass.”
A low hum courses through the café—until Jen juts out her chin. “Bring it, Tex.” Her smile is bright, and Fallon squeezes her shoulders with a grin of his own.
Iliana leans across the table. “Jen seems different. More confident.”
I look at the baker as she moves to greet the two other competitors, and I nod. “She’s finally growing into herself.”
“Took long enough,” Iliana says, and all I can do is hum in agreement.
Took me a while, too, but it feels damn good to be comfortable in my own skin again.
CHAPTER 21
Lily
When I leave Four Cups and head back toward the hotel, I let out a sigh. It feels strange to be here. Candice moved here years ago with her husband before he died, and it seems like the whole family has been drawn to the place like magnets.
Even me, perpetually looking forward to my next trip, has been dragged back to this small town.
I have a reason, though. A secret that will come out sooner rather than later—and I’m so not prepared for the consequences.
Veering off course, I cross the street and enter the bookstore. Agnes is a grumpy old lady, but I have a bit of a soft spot for her. I don’t think she’s actually all that negative. I think she’s a realist.
But Agnes isn’t behind the counter. Instead, her grandson Rudy is sitting behind the till, head bent over a book. He’s sitting on a stool with his knees spread wide, one hand wrapped around the seat in between his legs. A chunk of unruly blond hair falls over his brow.
I don’t know if it’s the light, or my vulnerable state, or the fact that everyone in this town seems to be in love, but I stop in my tracks and stare.
Rudy looks good.
But he’s young, isn’t he? I’ll be forty in six weeks, and I’m sure Rudy is in his early-to-mid thirties. What’s that stupid rule again—half your age plus seven? Does that apply to women?
