“They’re planning Mistletoe on Main,” Olivia said, sounding far more enthusiastic than Benny.
“I know,” Gracie said. “It’s on my calendar for December sixth. I’m supposed to make a gingerbread house for that, aren’t I?”
“Well,” Benny said slowly, glancing at Olivia, “yes. You and?—”
“My dad,” Olivia cut in, sharing an unreadable look with Benny.
“He’ll make one, too?” Of course he would, Gracie thought. With granola and monk fruit and icing full of self-righteous healthiness.
“Actually, you’re making it together,” Olivia announced.
“Excuse me?”
“You know, like group projects in school,” Benny said. “Only I bet Mr. Hampton won’t miss a deadline and will be on time for every team meeting.”
“Of course he will,” Olivia said. “He’s totally dependable like that, Miss Gracie.”
Dependable and…gorgeous.
Gracie swallowed, unsure how she felt about this bombshell. Well, her stomach knew how it felt. Like it just got thrown down a rollercoaster and invaded by hummingbirds. And, of course, she felt blood rush to her cheeks like a billboard announcing her innermost feelings to the world.
Because no one blushed quite like a strawberry blond with freckles and a crush on the father of her son’s best friend.
“I just don’t know about this,” she said, looking down.
“You’re not still mad about the Snack Stats, are you?” Olivia asked, true concern in her eyes as she no doubt observed Gracie’s pink cheeks.
“Oh, of course not,” she said. “Ilovedhaving my ingredients plastered all over town and social media with actual devil faces next to my top-selling pastries.”
Olivia bit her lip. “I’m sorry, Miss Gracie. So is my dad. He said Ashleigh Borrell will never darken his door again.”
She laughed softly at the expression, suspecting those were Olivia’s words, since she had a flair for the dramatic and a vocabulary that was lifted straight from Red’sNew York Timescrossword puzzle.
“It’s fine,” she assured Olivia. “I’m just surprised we’d be paired, since our approach to baking is so different.”
“Well, Mrs. Locke really only wanted one gingerbread house on this block, so you’re doing it together,” Benny said.
Gracie sighed. “That will be…challenging.” Also thrilling and terrifying, and the blushing might actually give her a heart attack.
Olivia’s eyes sparkled. “You can blend your styles.”
How could they do that? First, she hated…chia seed sprinkles. Second, she melted like a truffle over a double boiler every time they were in the same room.
“My dad will be at the shop later today,” Olivia told her. “You should go talk strategy or whatever.”
“Yeah,” Benny agreed. “The festival’s soon, so you need to start planning now. That’s how we approached our science project. You’ll see, Mom. It’ll be fun.”
“And good for business,” Olivia added. “Plus, you and Dad should…” She gave a meaningful look that Gracie took to mean they should be civil like normal adults who worked on the same street and whose kids were friends. Notcompetitors.
“I know,” Gracie said. “Embrace our differences.”
“Or each other,” Olivia muttered. Gracie jerked backwards, not sure she’d heard right. “In the spirit of Christmas, of course,” the little girl added.
Before she could respond, a small group of tourists walked in. “I’m going to run the counter for this rush. I’ll talk to your dad,” she added to Olivia. “Is he cool with this idea?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Mrs. Locke was going to see him but he’s out until this afternoon. So you better tell him.”
“I will,” she said with all the enthusiasm of a skydiver about to jump for the first time.
