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"Maybe." Cinnamon returned his embrace then stepped back. "I better get to the store if I want to have lunch ready for the guests."
"Yeah. I should get back to work, too."
"I'll see you Sunday." Cinnamon waved as he strolled away, a whistle on his lips. She shook her head and laughed, leaving the coffee shop.
After shopping, Cinnamon pointed her car toward Linden Farms. The scenery flew by as she went over her conversation with Mayson.
Swallowing her nerves, she stopped herself from smacking her forehead. What had she done? Yes, she wanted to get married and start a family. She also wanted someone to share in life's joys and burdens. Was Mayson the companion she longed for?
Cinnamon supposed there was only one way to find out. That meant stepping out of her comfort zone and going on a date with a friend. Doubt crept its way into her mind. Was it wise to date a friend?
And yet, that's how she started with Kaleb. Look where that got her. Dating friends may not be the best idea. But nothing else seemed to work over the years. What choice did she have?
Cinnamon pulled the car to a stop and climbed out, grabbing the bags from the back seat. She closed the door and turned on her heel, running into a solid block of chest.
"Need help with those?"
Eyes darting up, Cinnamon gulped. Kaleb's lips twitched as if he fought to stop from grinning. He took the bags from her arms.
"I can get those."
Kaleb shook his head, his dark brown hair flopping over his eyes. "I don't mind. I was headed into the house for a drink anyway."
"Thanks." Cinnamon held the screen door open for him and waited for him to walk through. "I'll have lunch ready and set up in the lodge."
Kaleb set the bags on the counter. "Sounds good. Need any help prepping?"
Cinnamon bit back a decline, but truthfully, the sooner she had lunch ready, the sooner she'd begin on dinner. "If you don't mind. That's not what you're paying me for, though."
"I have time. Grady's going over the schedule with the guests, and Scarlet's out in the field with Shane checking the sheep." Kaleb shrugged, drawing Cinnamon's gaze to his broad shoulders.
Her heart skipped like the rocks they used to skip over the lake in days gone by.
"We pay Shane to watch over our flock, but we help him, too."
Cinnamon sobered. He didn't want to spend extra time with her. He was merely being nice. It'd be good for her to remember that, especially since she had a date in a few days. "If you'd like to take out the rolls, I'll get the condiments."
"Sure." Kaleb turned his back and pulled the bread out of the bags. "Think this'll be enough?"
Cinnamon nodded. "I made potato salad last night. With fruit and cookies, the guests should be fine." She made quick work of getting out the lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, mustard, and mayonnaise.
"I was hoping to talk to you about something." Kaleb hesitated, pulling Cinnamon's gaze in his direction.
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I, uh, well, we know we said you could have Sunday and Monday off. But we were wondering if you could possibly make a dinner on Sunday night?" Kaleb cleared his throat. "This group has extended their trip one more day."
"I'm sorry, Kaleb." Cinnamon took out the cutting board and started slicing the tomatoes. "I just made plans that I don't feel comfortable canceling."
"Oh, yeah, sure." The confidence in Kaleb's voice, which Cinnamon was so used to hearing, disappeared. "No problem. Never hurts to ask, right?"
Tossing him a half-smile over her shoulder, Cinnamon nodded. "Right."
"So, uh, what do you have planned?"
Cinnamon's hand froze above half of a tomato. What good would it do to tell him the truth? Then again, why should she lie and hide the fact she had a date? She didn't want to hurt him, but they hadn’t been a couple for almost a dozen years. "I have a date."
Tension radiated from Kaleb as she continued slicing the rest of the tomatoes. Cinnamon kept her lips closed. Not knowing what the man behind her thought, she didn't know quite what to say to ease the strain between them.
