“That’s the wonderful aroma I smell.”
The woman wiped out a display case with a damp rag. Jenna recalled seeing it empty except for crumbs when she made it back to the lodge the night before. “It’s a new recipe I’ve been dying to try,” the woman explained. “Shouldn’t be more than ten minutes.”
“Actually, I’m headed to some place called Moosecakes.” Jenna debated how much to share with the woman, who despite her unexplainable familiarity, was still a complete stranger. “I’m supposed to meet a friend.”
“How about I save you one?”
Jenna felt a layer of ice around the outside of her heart crack and fall away. There were still several layers fortified in place, but in only two days, the town of Sunset Ridge was embracing her in a way she’d never experienced at home. She was beginning to understand why her grandpa planned to retire here. “That would be wonderful, thank you.”
“What room are you in?”
“Seven. But my dog’s in there. He’d help himself for sure.”
“Dog person. I knew there was a reason I liked you.” The woman wiped her hands on her apron. “I’m Tessa, by the way.”
“Tessa Whitmore.” The name clicked it all into place. Jenna remembered her from a reality TV show. “You were onOrder Up: Las Vegas!”
“Feels like a lifetime ago,” Tessa admitted.
“I’m Jenna. I rooted for you from the first episode.” Jenna didn’t care that she was fangirling. Watching that cooking competition had gotten her through one of her roughest rough patches with Whitney. Binging the reality TV show helped Jenna tune out her sister’s negativity long enough to finish an overdue book in her most popular series. One her publishing company threatenednotto publish if she didn’t get it turned inasap. “I still think you should’ve won. Especially after that snake sabotaged you and got you kicked off the show. I was so happy when they brought you back for the finale.”
“You know what? I’m going to save youtwomuffins. Stop by the kitchen when you get back, Jenna.”
Before she dashed out into the rain, Jenna pulled her hood up and switched her phone to silent mode. If she didn’t need the GPS to navigate to the restaurant, she’d have turned her phone off and left it in the nightstand drawer.
The drive to Moosecakes was surprisingly short. Had it not been for the weather, she might’ve walked.Or accepted the ride Cody offered. But Jenna was nervous enough about spending the day with the man who made her heart flutter in a way it never had. She needed these spare minutes to compose herself before she met up with him again.
Jenna shuffled through the influx of texts, finding the one that wasn’t from her sister or part of the group text from earlier.
Cody:I’m inside.
The diner-style restaurant, complete with a counter in the middle with bar-style seating, was packed. Checkered black and white flooring traveled throughout the space. A variety of moose-themed decorations from professional photographs to tin-cut designs covered the walls, sprinkles of Alaskan license plates filling in most gaps.
Dozens of curious gazes lifted to the newcomer, making Jenna wish she’d waited to turn down her rain-splattered hood. She scanned the restaurant twice before she caught Cody’s wave from a corner booth.
“Is this place always so busy?” she asked, slipping into the booth opposite Cody.
“Pretty much.” He slid a steaming cup of coffee toward her as she shrugged out of her jacket. “Wasn’t sure if you were a coffee drinker.”
“On occasion.” Jenna tended to drink the bitter liquid for two reasons. Either she was on a deadline and in desperate need of caffeine or she was chilled to the bone. She dumped a couple of creamer and sugar packets into her cup and stirred.
“You need something besides coffee?” a waitress asked, appearing at the table with a nearly empty coffee pot.
“Apple juice?” Jenna asked.
“You got it. You two ready to order?”
“I haven’t seen a menu.”
Cody lifted one from behind the condiment holder and set it in front of her. “This place is famous for their moose-shaped pancakes. Kids and adults alike go nuts for them. They’re not just fun, they’re delicious.”
“I don’t like pancakes.”
Both Cody and the waitress did a double take. “You don’t like pancakes?” Cody repeated the words slowly, his eyebrows drawn in confusion. “As inallpancakes? Because these are made from scratch. I’ve been all around the world and never had better.”
Jenna scanned the omelet section of the menu, unsurprised by his reaction. She’d never met another person who didn’t like pancakes. “Can I have the Denali omelet with wheat toast?” she directed at the waitress.
“Of course, hun.” She looked at Cody. “Usual for you?”
