“Want to take some of this back to the shop? Just the syrups, someone might steal them.” He offered a crooked grin, and something in her chest fluttered.
“All right. Let’s each grab a box and take them to the car.”
They carried their supplies, steps slow, shoulders almost brushing. Lila told herself it was exhaustion making her heart race and her body lean toward his, but she knew better. Lila only hoped she could handle it. She still had to get through tomorrow.
“We’ve got two more boxes,” TJ said, breaking into her thoughts. “We’d better go get them.”
Back at the booth, they had just picked up the last two boxes when a mechanical whine caught their attention. “What on earth is that?” Lila turned toward the sound.
A golf cart came barreling out of the parking lot and down the path between booths, weaving like a drunken bumblebee. Grandma was at the wheel, Irene beside her, hanging on for dear life. Titus Cooke and several other men chased them on foot.
“Stop that golf cart!” Titus hollered. “You’ll kill somebody!” He ran past, followed by several other men Lila didn’t recognize.
“Oh hush, Titus!” Grandma yelled back as the cart slowed. “We’re fine!”
“Where’s the brake on this thing?” Irene shouted.
Grandma must have stomped on the accelerator. The cart lurched forward, knocking over a stack of hay bales before Grandma turned the wheel and got them straightened out.
Lila gasped. “Oh, goodness gracious, they’re going to crash the way they’re driving that thing!”
TJ stepped in front of her as if to shield her from two old ladies in a runaway cart. “Hit the brake!” he yelled.
The vehicle veered to the right and slowed, thankfully. Grandma swung it around in a wide circle at the far end of the aisle where there were no more booths. Then, to Lila’s horror, she started heading back toward them, faster this time. Titus and the other men scattered like chickens to get out of the way.
TJ waved both arms. “Hit the brake, Grandma!”
Grandma smiled with glee as the cart slowed. “See? Everything’s fine!”
Titus and the others took off after her again. By some miracle, Grandma and Irene managed to bring the cart to a stop in front of TJ and Lila’s booth.
“That was fun,” Grandma said. “Let’s do it again!”
Irene glared at her. “Let’s not.”
Lila fixed Grandma with a stern look. “I take it you’ve never driven a golf cart before?”
“It didn’t sound that hard when Titus explained it to me,” Grandma said.
Titus put a hand on her shoulder and helped her out of the cart. Another man did the same for Irene. “Let’s keep you away from golf carts for now, Mrs. Waller. You too, Mrs. Dunnigan.”
Irene just shrugged and turned to TJ. “I can bake a few more pies tonight if you think you’ll need them for tomorrow.”
“Sure, Irene.” TJ grinned, brushing his shoulder against Lila’s.
She smiled at the contact then turned to Grandma and Irene. “Are you two all right?”
“I’m wore out,” Irene said. “Come on, Grandma, let’s head back to the inn and get some sleep.”
Titus said goodbye to the other men and thanked them for their help. He then crossed his arms and blocked Grandma and Irene’s path. “You two are coming with me. I’ll drive you home.”
Grandma beamed. “That’s nice of you, Titus.”
Lila watched the three head for the parking lot and laughed as Grandma’s voice carried back through the night. “Irene, next time you drive, and I’ll steer!”
Her heart raced, but at least this time it was worry over Grandma and Irene’s antics. She’d rather have that than think about a kiss from TJ Jones that was never going to happen. Besides, it could only lead to heartbreak, and she wanted to stay as far away as possible from that business.
Chapter Fourteen
